We’ve seen energy drinks with 50 or 60 percent juice, but AMP has upped the standard with their new 100% juice, AMP Energy Juice.

Juice implies it’s good for you, yet energy usually means the opposite, so can AMP, with both of their flavors (Orange and Mixed Berry), get the best of both worlds, and oh yeah, make it taste at least halfway decent?

Taste

I tried both the orange and mixed berry flavors of AMP Energy Juice and must say I’m not usually a fan of mixed berry drinks, so I wasn’t too keen on the taste of that, yet the orange was very impressive! Both were incredibly smooth and were very nice to drink. Orange tasted just like a pulp free orange juice with no real after-taste or bitterness.

Ingredients

Both juices had nearly identical nutritional facts. Not only loaded with vitamin C as you would expect from the “juice” part, this “juice” also packs 120mg caffeine along with 150% Niacin, 150% vitamin B6 AND B12, Taurine, Ginseng, and Guarana, making this not just your normal Sunday morning breakfast juice.

Effect

Effect was right on. A Nice boost and alertness to the beginning of my day, that lasted for about 5 hours, with no real crash towards the end. Not really an energy buzz, more like a lift that left me feeling good all day.

Verdict

My verdict is a huge thumbs up on AMP Energy Juice. If you’re a mixed berry fan you will love the mixed berry, yet in my case I can definitely see myself reaching for the Amp Orange the next time I need that little kick in the morning when my average breakfast wont cut it. AMP has continually made solid products from the beginning and their new line of energy juices continues in that direction.

Reviewed by Brandon Trouten

Well the site explains how it’s a “healthy” energy drink, so to me that means only one thing… it’s got to be disgusting right?

Taste

I was pleasantly surprised with the taste of XB. The can says “fruit for life” and I definitely got that from the first gulp. The drink consisted of a grapefruit/orange flavor and not an overpowering grapefruit taste like others that contain grapefruit. XB-Fit was very smooth with no real aftertaste.

Ingredients

An 8.3 ounce can of XB-Fit contains your basic energy drink ingredients such as Taurine (1000mg), caffeine (100mg) and sugar (26g), yet also included high levels of your daily values of Vitamin A (50%), Vitamin B (2500%), Vitamin C (500%) and Vitamin E (200%). Not to mention, Green tea, aloe vera, acai berry, mangosteen and 65 trace minerals. So not only will XB-Fit keep that early afternoon crash away, it may also keep that seasonal cold away too!

Effect

The effect was both positive and negative. I didn’t really get the jolt I like to have from my energy drinks, yet on the other hand, I didn’t get the crash that usual follows a few hours later. So, a little boost at the beginning and after awhile XB-Fit slowly faded still letting me feel good and able to continue on with my day instead of leaving me with an energy crash and lying on the office floor.

Verdict

Overall, I was pleased with the drink. No, it wasn’t the greatest tasting drink of all time or did XB-Fit pack the energy rush to scale a prison wall, but it was packed with a lot of the “good” stuff that many other drinks lack, while gently letting me down from my caffeine high. A healthy energy drink? If it’s possible, I’d say XB-Fit comes close.

Reviewed by Brandon Trouten

I have found myself using them almost as a Gatorade replacement, taking them to our weekly pickup basketball games to partly give me that energy boost, but also because of  the great flavor. So will the R continue to Hydrive trend?

Taste

I slowly open then bottle containing the purple liquid, took a wiff, and WOW, very strong grape scent. I took a sip and the flavor follows the scent, strong, even stronger then normal. Most grape drinks have a hint of grape in the flavor, yet Hydrive R gives you a very pure grape taste. Very enjoyable, and I’m not much of a grape person.

Ingredients

I guess Hydrive R wouldn’t totally classify as your traditional energy drink, it lacks some of the larger amounts of Taurine (50mg) and Sugar (6g), yet replaces those with higher levels of B Vitamins and Potassium. Seeming to give your immune system more of a boost then your heart and attitude. Hydrive also contains Acai Extract, Aloe Vera, Caffeine (145mg), Electrolytes, and Amino Acids.

Effect

Not to much of a buzz from Hydrive, yet not sure that that’s what they are going for with this one. The label says “When do you need to recover? When you party to hard? You always recover quicker with Hydrive Recovery” So it seems that Hydrive R isn’t looking to give you that insane afternoon rush, its giving you that boost of energy to get up (maybe after waking up in the front yard after a looonnng night of partying) and get you on your feet to face the upcoming day.

Verdict

I am a fan of Hydrive R, yet depending what you’re looking for you may turn another way. Hydrive R breaks the “standard” energy drink rules, so this isn’t your drink if you’re looking for that caffeine buzz, yet when you need that little boost to get you back on track, then reach for  Hydrive Recovery, it won’t disappoint.

Reviewed by Brandon Trouten

Editor’s Note: We’ve combined forces on this one with both input from Dusty and Brandon, so see what they both thought about Rockstar Energy Cola and vote for who you agree with

Brandon: Interesting… an Energy cola… from Rockstar? Ok. Very exciting to see Rockstar coming out with new flavors and types. Even more excited to finally get my hands on one of these new flavors. The can… very nice, all black, flat finish, great job on the outside, but now lets pop this top and explore the contents…

Dusty: Rockstar Cola, is the most gorgeous beverage I have ever laid eyes on. That’s where I’m going with this. The first time I saw this black beauty in the cooler I literally stumbled a bit as I came to a screeching halt in awe. With the main matte black powder finish and gloss black accent up top, It couldn’t help but be reminded of a sexy JDM-style import car with a flat-black finish (like this GT-R). Seriously, I just can’t get over this can’s good looks, you have to see it in person!

Taste

Brandon: Not only is the paint on the outside of the can flat, so is the liquid inside. Flavor wise, Rockstar Cola tastes like a flatter version of an off brand cola. The aftertaste was a little off, but taste wise, thought they could do better. Compared to Red Bull Cola, I’d go with Red Bull.

Dusty: You know what Rockstar just did with this drink? Once again, they made Red Bull look like absolute fools. Rockstar Cola is a whole level above Red Bull Cola when it comes to taste. I still don’t get what Red Bull was thinking when they littered our cooler shelves with their half-baked cola recipe.

Don’t tear into this drink with expectations of a Pepsi or Coke replacement, because it’s not. Pepsi and Coke are THE staple sodas of the globe, and we can’t expect Rockstar to step into the ring and best them. What we can expect from Rockstar is the refinement of a category and establishment of the standard to beat. That’s what Rockstar Cola is – the best cola energy drink ever made, and the one to beat.

Ingredients

Ingredients are close to regular Rockstar 2000 mg taurine, 160mg caffeine, 50 mg guarana, yet carries a little boost of 300 mg Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, so its got to be good… right?

Effect

Brandon: No real buzz felt, I guess I would compare it to your regular Rockstar, but no where near the best of the Rockstar line, at least that’s what I thought. So if you need that boost to truly party like a Rockstar, then go back and grab something else, this Rockstar Energy Cola isn’t going to cut it.

Dusty: Rockstar Energy Cola was able to send unto me a solid, confident energy boost. It was the perfect amount to pull me through an early morning, and it faded off smoothly just in time for lunch. Upon which I could bust open a shot I had waiting. Hmm I might be a tad dependent.

Verdict

Brandon: Little disappointed. Was looking forward to Rockstar hitting a home run with this cola as they did with their Recovery Lemonade, yet Energy Cola left me looking for more. Taste just didn’t match the coolness of the outside of the can. If you’re looking for a drink to go along with your dinner, you’ll be alright, but if your looking for an Energy Cola to give you that boost to do something your mind is telling you “no” to, then your better off looking somewhere else. Sorry Rockstar fans…

Dusty: Truthfully, on the whole, I absolutely love this drink. I was very pleased with the uniquely smooth cola taste and standard Rockstar boost. If you’re feeling bored or overwhelmed by the usual energy drink tastes out there, grab a Rockstar Energy Cola and throw a wrench into the systematic monotony that is your energy drink cycle.

Reviewed by: Dusty Smith and Brandon Trouten

Very few have attempted a lemonade energy drink, and none very well, but I will keep an open mind and give you a shot. Rockstar, you haven’t failed me yet, so lets give Recovery a try…

Taste

Wow, wow, and wow. As for energy drinks, Rockstar Recovery has hit a home run, not even a home run, a lemonade flavored Grand Slam! For sure in my top 5 all time. Not a strong lemonade flavor, but very smooth and very delicious, a MUST try for all energy drink and lemonade fans.

Ingredients

Ingredients are quite close to those of a normal Rockstar. 2000 mg Taurine, 160 mg of so called caffeine, 100 mg ginseng, but with electrolytes to help you “recover” from whatever you need “recovering” from and only 20 Calories per can. Yet most importantly, most very much importantly, 3% lemon juice, so there mom, its got juice in it, it has to be good for me…

Effect

Actually didn’t realize any sort of buzz or jolt from Rockstar Recovery. I actually drank the whole thing without even realizing it, it’s that smooth. So if your looking for that all out energy rush, sorry my caffeine addicted fella’s, there’s nothing more here then your basic lemonade drink from your local carnival, well ok, maybe a little more if you’re a caffeine light weight…

Verdict

Rockstar truly produced a one of a kind energy marvel with the release of Rockstar Recovery. Even though I didn’t seem to get any extra energy from the drink, the flavor will definitely keep me coming back for more and will regularly be in my rotation. Bravo Rockstar, Bravo!

Reviewed by Brandon Trouten

Now that we have the pointless matters out of the way, let’s get onto the meaningful content, shall we?

Taste

I was sent three flavors of SLAP, and they are all born from a quality blood line. Frost is the default flavor, given that it also comes in a low calorie version. There’s also Crisp Apple.

Frost is a treat to drink. It’s solid-bodied with a crisp, clean finish and a very slight hint of Monster. Frost Low Calorie, as you may expect, is a defunct offshoot of the regular version with its more conservative ingredients. Crisp Apple is just as good as, if not better than, Xyience Xenergy Apple Jak’d (the only other apple flavored energy drink I’m aware of). It tastes like Sprite combined with an apple Jolly Rancher, and is downright tasty.

Ingredients

While all three SLAP drinks pack 200mg of the good stuff and a combined 300% of vitamins B3, 6, and 12, Crisp Apple also adds in a measure of green tea solids. Guarana also says what’s up from deep within the “Energy 9.0” Blend, whatever that means.

Effect

Yep! I mean, isn’t that all you need to hear? Honestly. Yep, SLAP Energy Drinks wake you up. Yep, they do so reliably. Yep, they won’t make you crash. Yep, they perform wonderfully. Yep!

Verdict

From my viewpoint, these drinks are an outright success. For the makers of SLAP, they may currently be feeling a twinge of disappointment. Why’s that? Because I said nothing about the drinks and their claimed “multi-stage energy” abilities or Frost’s claimed mouth “chilling” ability. Why didn’t I address those points? Because neither of them existed, that’s why. No hard feelings.

Reviewed by Dusty Smith

This is a limited one-time offer, so act now! Certain restrictions may apply.

Taste

This version of Crunk serves as a deluxe playground for mango and peach to play together and get along. That flavor combo isn’t exactly my kind of thing, but thankfully Crunk sent me enough samples to give to my friends who can appreciate this category of taste. Invariably, it was a huge smash-hit among them all. If mangoes and peaches are your thing, then you’re gonna love Crunk Mango-Peach. Guaranteed.

Ingredients

Caffeine: 192mg (likely over 200mg with the undisclosed guarana content). B-vitamins: Roughly 200% of the ones that matter. Now let’s get trippy: awkwardly mingling amongst the standard energy drink content we have ashwaganda, skull cap, white willow, and horny goat weed. Take all of that as you like. Feel free to chime in with a comment if you have any idea why those ingredients are supposed to matter.

Effect

Solid energy drink. No crash, consistent, and easily perceptible with a smooth operating curve. Incomplete sentences. English teacher. Take that.

Verdict

Here’s the wrap up: Crunk Mango-Peach is a wonderful contender as an energy drink. As a sipping drink, it can be your new best friend, provided you have the proper prerequisites in your taste buds (read: a love for mango and peach flavors).

Reviewed by Dusty Smith

One more thing, they’re probably going to succeed.  Come to think about it, Vuka Functional Drinks are another unique and promising entry to the Energy Fiend blog, you’re invited to read on.

Taste

Vuka offers 4 flavors as follows:  berry lemonade (“Workout”), orange (“Awaken”), pomegranate lychee (“Think”), and mango peach (“Renew”).  The truth of the matter is that Awaken is an instant hit in my book, while the rest are simply unique in their own little way.

Awaken’s orange flavor is meant to stand in for nature’s boring version of a morning drink, and it tastes phenomenal.  It puts orange juice to shame and blows Rumba’s attempt at this out of the water.  It’s one of the few drinks out there that forced an involuntary “wow” out of me immediately following the first swallow.

The next best flavor in this writer’s eyes is the mango peach found in Renew.  The first taste analogy that came to my mind was those gummy ring peach candies.  Mango and peach tag-team to deliver a fruity assault on your taste buds, and it’s well done (if that’s your kind of thing).

Workout and Think’s flavors are both overshadowed by their more talented siblings.  Nothing about their flavors really stood out, except that they are both undeniably unique.

Ingredients

Each Vuka drink is rooted in 160mg of caffeine and about 600% combined B vitamin values.  On top of that, Awake adds in some morning vitamins (A, E, C), Workout sports Roobios and potassium, Think includes Gingko Biloba and DMAE Bitartrate, and Renew tosses in some Panax Ginsenge and D-Ribose.  Those are actually just some highlights, hit up their website for the full lists.

Effect

Being functional beverages, I attempted to consume each of them at the right time, my perceived results are as follows:

• Awake: Offers a light, smooth transition from morning sluggishness to afternoon readiness.
• Renew: I felt a slight twinge of energy, but “renewed” is not a word that crossed my mind.
• Think: This one actually tweaked me pretty good.  Much like Neuro’s thinking drink, Neurosonic, it was almost too strong for me to keep my thoughts in a straight line.
• Workout: Who knows if it worked or not.  I don’t lift weights, and I’m not going to down the whole can before I go out on my run.  So I took it in the evening, and it felt like Renew.

Verdict

So this functional line-up is not perfect, but you know what?  The same goes for the rest of the functional beverages out there.  Nobody’s got it right yet.  Vuka, however, has come close enough to make it easy for me to honestly recommend you try them if you get a chance.  Individual results always vary.

Oh one more thing: I read up on the materials Vuka sent me with the samples.  The group behind the beverages has one of the tightest focuses I’ve ever seen coupled with an ambitious drive.  Based on this and my personal experience with the drinks, Vuka has one bright future ahead.

Reviewed by Dusty Smith

If I may, here’s a snippet to help direct your decision: Spider was over two YEARS in the making, with one of those years being dedicated to flavor alone.  Let’s continue on, shall we?

Taste

If a modern classical masterpiece could be met with a new age influence and then remixed by a melodic trance DJ, only to be covered by Metallica, it would be the auditory sensory equivalent to the gustatory thrill ride that Spider delivers.  No, I don’t expect you to get the slightest clue from that pertaining to what this drink actually tastes like.

Speaking more directly, Spider Energy Drink utilizes light carbonation and a little magic to build upon a wonderful orange undercurrent much like Rumba.  There is no doubt in my mind that Spider’s taste was a year in the making.  It’s not the best tasting drink out there, but it is shockingly developed with a tangible introduction, plot, and conclusion.

Ingredients

Now if this isn’t a lust-worthy list, I’m not sure what is: 240mg caffeine, 200mg guarana, 500% B12, 400% B6, 600% of B vitamins 2, 3, and 5, and 2000mg of taurine.

Effect

After popping this can open, dig in and strap yourself down; you’re about to get launched!  Waking up, slumping through the afternoon, succumbing to a boring day, failing nocturnal abilities – every circumstance Spider Energy Drink corrected for me.  The strong energy boost lasts for a few productive hours, after which it fades off a bit steep.  All in all, this is a top-performing energy drink.

Verdict

So there you have it: hard work pays off.  Spider looks wicked, tastes in-freaking-credible, and never fails to give you a welcomed kick in the butt.  If I had a seal of approval, it would be on Spider Energy Drink.   It would also feature a graphic of a seal sitting on a beach ball and clapping in approval.

Reviewed by Dusty Smith