The pathogen they have taken to get here has been an interesting one spattered with creative innovation.

Was Blood Energy Potion a successful transfusion made from their positive old ways?  Or have they been engorged by a negative influence?

Taste

Once you get past the initial frenzied rush of images and emotions from the donor’s entire life history, things smooth out nicely.  If fruit punch could curdle without losing its taste, it would be in the same consistency arena as Blood Potion.  As you sip from the bag’s surrogate teet for your nourishment, the liquid clumsily proliferates through your mouth without conviction.  If it weren’t for the sweetly satisfying fruit punch flavor, I’d assume it’s the real thing I’m drinking.

Ingredients

Swimming amongst plasma is the “similar nutritional content to natural blood.”  This makes sense considering that Blood Energy Potion contains caffeine just like my own blood (80mg).  Filling out the rest of the energy blend is a bunch of randomly spelled words with hyphens tossed in to make them sound professional.  Just like Mana Potion which Harcos started with, Blood Potion is also packing an enzyme blend.

Effect

Not being a vampire, I knew that the only way for me to experience Blood Energy Potion would be to introduce it to my own bloodstream via IV drip.  Unfortunately, it seems Harcos had a problem in their production process as the bag’s connection does not properly fit my IV accessories.  I’ve had to settle with drinking it instead, and this only yielded a mild energizing effect for me.  It’s obvious that my mortal digestive system is keeping me from extracting the nutritional value, so I cannot make a solid claim here.

Verdict

From mortal to mortal, I have to say Blood Potion is not for you.  From mortal to hopeless vampire scene wannabe, Blood Energy Potion is exactly what ales your aching artificial fangs.  From mortal to true vampire, I have to say be careful with Blood Potion.  I understand for many it’s effective enough to retire you from the hunt and many have lost century-long relationships with their partners in harvest.

Vampires in the USA can get there Blood fix from ThinkGeek.

UK vampires can transfuse from The Geekest Link.

Reviewed by Dusty Smith

As energy fiend wrote earlier, Monster has teamed up with DUB magazine to create a drink marketed to the custom car enthusiast.

So did the #2  leader in energy drinks outdo themselves with their recent creation of a custom energy drink?

Taste

Not in a long time have I been so excited to get my taste buds on a  new drink, yet Monster Dub got me there.  So I took the can, popped off the plastic rim, and pressed my lips to the can.  I slowly poured the contents down my throat, and then began a roller coaster of flavor.  As the icy cold liquid hit my mouth, I tasted grape,(ok not bad, another grape drink), yet as it slid past each taste bud I caught a hint of the original Monster, especially in the aftertaste.  Many different feelings and tastes within one can, not sure how they do it, but I enjoyed it!

Ingredients

As with most energy drink, you get your normal ingredients, yet Monster Dub amped up with an extra helping to get you through the day, and night, and probably the following day as well if your a lightweight.  4000 mg of taurine, 800 mg Guarana and a healthy dose of B vitamins.

Effect

To be honest, the Monster drink line doesn’t give me the boost I’m looking for, (maybe just becoming immune) and was slightly disappointed in the boost from DUB.  Don’t get me wrong, It had a little energy buzz, yet only lasted about an hour or 2.  Nothing to get excited about.

Verdict

In my eyes Monster DUB fits right in line with the rest of the family of Monster drinks.  The Taste was there and pleasing, yet the kick was lackluster.  So if you’re a fan of the other Monster drinks, then you will be pleased with DUB, but if Monster isn’t your thing, then save your cash and gamble on another drink.

If you want to try Monster DUB you better act fast because it’s not listed on Monster’s new website so it most likely won’t be around for long. Maybe buy two cans one to drink and one to sell 10 years from now on ebay.

Reviewed by Brandon Trouten

Sorry Reed, lucid honesty is priority #1 on this site.  Let me elaborate:

Taste

You know that face that your mother demanded you stop, with shady threats of it getting stuck that way?  This drink does you the favor of bringing you back to that nostalgic moment of your childhood.  The taste profile is overflowing with confusion, the foundation is unstable, and the aftertaste burns.  Wait, no, this drink burns even long after the taste assault fades.  Burns.  No drink should ever do this.

Before typing anything too rash like I just did, I even let a group of close friends try the drink.  I did so without giving them any indication of my stance, and every single one of them could not even finish the can.

Ingredients

As given away by the title, this drink is also formulated to allow for unfounded health benefit claims.  This is actually a pretty interesting list: Ginger, Green Tea, Goji, Jiaogulan, Camu Camu, Ginseng, L-Theanine, B-Vitamins (few hundred percent).

It’s Reed’s stance that traditional energy drinks hurt our health while doing the nasty.  The Natural Energy Elixir, with these ingredients, is said to energize and improve your health.  Don’t you just love a battle of claims that have zero credibility on both sides of the argument?

Effect

After committing oneself to muscling through one of these drinks, failure here is absolutely not an option.  I was ready to chain the remaining pack of drinks to a cinder block and toss them in the lake after finishing a can.  I reminded myself, though, that I must wait for effects.  I did this three times.  End story: the drinks are at the bottom of the lake after all. Metaphorically.  These drinks are a dud, the natural ingredients just don’t pack the punch.  Surprise, surprise.

Verdict

I hope evolution takes over and this strain does not replicate.  It needs to be exterminated, now.  A trimming of the energy drink gene pool, if you will.  What’s that word?  Ah, yes.  Eugenics. Reed’s Natural Energy Elixir’s label is ugly, the taste is assaulting, and the energy is paltry.

Sure, it’s supposed to be an aid to your health – a medicinal “elixir.”  Truth is, when I need medicinal interventions I go to my doctor for proven methods, so this feature to me is no consolation for the inexcusably poor performance of the drink.  But that’s just all my opinion.

I don’t take forever making my decision in the drive-though line.  I turn off my Bluetooth headset’s blinking light in the movie theater.  I even say hi back to the WalMart greeters, knowing they couldn’t care less about my entrance into their store.

I also don’t go around deliberately bashing energy drink products sent to me for review, menacingly rolling my hands together as I relish the opportunity to tank a start-up company.   But sometimes, manufactures just make my job downright frustrating with horrible products.  I would love to dish out unconditional praise to all the companies out there making energy products, because I don’t want to dampen growth in the industry.

Without blinking an eye, though, I will drop all those aspirations.  For you, the reader, I will always call energy drinks exactly as I see them.  I don’t care how many gobs of samples are sent to me, how nice the PR letter is, or how sweet the swag is.  When it comes to sitting down and cracking open the drink, everything is equalized.  When it comes to that first contact with my tongue, all those words on the container mean nothing.  When it comes to listening in for the effects of the energy drink, I’ve pushed all of the claims out of my head.

It is only when my fingers hit the keyboard that I again pay attention to the image and claims of the energy product.  At that point I’ll introduce my findings to the claims, and what happens, happens.

To anyone who is or who has sent an energy drink product to me for review, this is directed at you just as much as it as the readers of EnergyFiend.  I’m sorry if I diss your brainchild.  It’s nothing personal.  I ask of you, please just try to stay professional and take the review for what it is: free constructive criticism and publicity.

Hmmm… alright.  How about this: don’t raise your hand if you want the review.  Commonnnn it’s got a new label and formula!

Ugh, ok… Simon says don’t raise your hand if you don’t want the Amp Sugar Free review.  Raise your hand.  HAH didn’t say Simon Says!  You sucker, here’s the review.

Taste

For some odd reason, my first few sips tasted salty.  Maybe it was because of the tears I cried.  I adore the taste of the original Amp, I really do.  It was the first energy drink I ever fell in love with and still holds a nostalgic value for me.  So when I first tried the sugar free version and realized the original Amp taste was obliterated, it broke my heart.

The sucralose flavoring is not just riding backseat to the standard Amp taste as it should be.  It’s taken the wheel and the Amp taste is tied up in the trunk.

Ingredients

The usual mediocre 160mg of caffeine is lurking around in New Amp Sugar Free along with an eyebrow-raising 252mg of guarana.  200% of your daily value of niacin, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid are standing in as the B-vitamin complex (those words just so happened to be vitamins B2, B3, and B5.  The more you know).

Effect

Not all hope is lost, because this new sugar free version will give you as much energy as a standard Amp.  Okay, correction, so most of the hope actually is lost.

Verdict

There’s two people that should be looking out for Amp sugar-free: diabetics who are a little short on sleep and the energy fiends who try everything without question.  If you don’t fall into those two demographics, move along there’s nothing to see here.

Reviewed by Dusty Smith

How does Amp Sugar Free compare with other Sugar Free Energy Drinks?

They’re the ones that never deliver the energy they promise, except for the extreme gustatory wakeup call you get from the unfortunately “all-natural” taste.

Much to my confusion, though, I have an herbal energy drink sitting right in front of me that refuses to confirm my bias.  Say yo to Heat E.S.P., it’s an unexpected winner!

Taste

The label on Heat energy drink tells me I’m supposed to witness the taste of acai berry and pomegranate.  Ya know, acai berry is getting to be a big thing and I can honestly say I still don’t know what it tastes like.  Truth is that this drink tastes a lot like Chaser 5 Hour Energy, but with a little more pomegranate to smooth it out.  Heat E.S.P.’s taste is alright up until you swallow, upon which an all too familiar energy shot bitter aftertaste creeps up on you.  Weird to find an energy shot experience in a full energy drink, it’s even uncarbonated.

Ingredients

Must be some crazy psychoactive stuff to give you E.S.P., right?  Nah, curb your excitement.  E.S.P. in this case stands for Energy Stimulation Performance.  Lame.  Here’s what’s responsible for Energy: caffeine (undisclosed), 5000% B12, 100% B2, B5, and B6.  As for Stimulation we have amino acids and electrolytes added to Heat energy drink.

Now for Performance, what exactly were you thinking they meant?  “Social and sexual well-being” is what the bottle says; yeah that’s totally what I was thinking.  Not.  To pull this one off, Heat contains herbs such as MACA, Yohimbe, L-Arginine and of course horny goat weed.  Throw in some antioxidants for good measure and you have a drink that should have you covered for any task of the day.  Even random sexual encounters.  Gotta love a drink that’s considerate of random sexual encounters.

Editor’s note: Heat is “all natural” and is formulated to counteract the negative effects of alcohol consumption.

Effect

This department is where Heat E.S.P. really shines for a good 3-5 stable hours.  I’ve thrown every curve ball I can think of at this drink.  I drank it first thing in the morning, mid-day before and after eating, late at night, and during long boring drives.  No matter what the scenario, you can lean on this drink and it won’t let you down.  For an energy drink lover, that alone is downright arousing.  Forget the horny goat weed.

Verdict

Heat E.S.P may be a little rough around the edges, but when it comes to what counts, it’s a gorgeous product.  Look for Heat “herbal” energy drink in the cereal aisle of your local grocer (I’ve just always wanted to say that).

Reviewed by Dusty Smith

Why is this good? Well, they set themselves up as a drink that can be easily exported to countries with a caffeine content in drinks restriction.

They didn’t have to adjust can size, change formulation, or do a can reprint. Wired X just had to find a distributor and load the boat.  A few weeks later a new energy “drink” has landed on New Zealand and Australia’s shores.

Supplements don’t have the same guidelines as drinks do and whoever discovered this loophole should get a round of applause from all the energy fiends down under as it has opened up a whole new world of choice here. Let’s just see if it lasts as there is already a push in Australia to have these “suplements” banned.

Since this is the same Wired X 3000 found in the States, this review is for all you Yanks as well.

Taste

Mango, passion fruit is what Wired X 3000 promised and that’s the taste they delivered. This drink has a similar flavor to Rockstar juiced, but it doesn’t have real juice in it and has a lighter, more refreshing taste with no sucralose to be found anywhere! Good on you, Wired!

Ingredients

3000mg of taurine is this drink’s big boast as its title proclaims, along with 188mg of caffeine which is the most potent energy “drink” down under, at least of the ones we’ve found. There are rumors that the NOS that’s here has more but we have yet to get our hands on any. Wired offers some B vitamins as well but at very low concentrations.

Effect

I sampled Wired X 3000 as a late morning pick me up. Did it push me out of my Monday morning slump? Well, it did wake me up, but I feel a little jittery and still a little tired just under the surface. We’ll see how the gym goes this arvo. Find out how many Wired X 3000’s it would take to kill you in our new Death by Caffeine: Australia & New Zealand.

Verdict

Overall, this drink was a nice and refreshing find.  I will definitly get Wired X 3000 again because of the flavor alone. Perhaps a bigger dose of B12 would make this drink just right.

Photo courtesy of Bevnet.com

Monster X-presso Hammer? Yes, I know. Yet another Monster?  How can one company have so many different energy drinks and each one be totally unique?

Monster was one of the first major energy drinks and  became very successful. Then they were one of the first to create a Java energy, another success, yet can they strike gold again with a energized, nitrous oxide infused espresso?

Appearance/Image

Monster Hammer has kept up the classic look that Monster has portrayed throughout all their cans.  Hammer comes in a 6.75oz can with a dark wood grain background and their signature M ripping through.  Also, the font covering the can only adds to the uniqueness of Monster cans.  Truly one of the better looking cans out there.

Overall appearance: A

Taste

Popping the top instantly gave me that classic espresso aroma.  Taking the first sip, one thing leaped out at me and that was how SMOOOOTH this drink was.  I found it very creamy, with a hint of chocolate in the aftertaste.   There’s a number of java/espresso based energy drink on the market, some good and some tasting and resembling puddle water, yet  Monster Hammer truly gives you a coffeehouse quality espresso in a can.

Overall taste: A-

Effect

With the drink being so smooth and tasty, I found the can empty before I knew it and without any effects.  Yet shortly after, I got the boost I had hoped for. This drink offers the same energy blend as Java Monster so the caffeine content should be comparable.  Not sure if it will provide the boost to get you out of bed in the morning, yet when your crashing at work during your post-lunch break, Monster X-presso Hammer will provide the kick to get you to the finish line.

Overall effect: B+

Verdict

I went into this review with high hopes and high expectations.  Monster never let me down before and with Hammer they only kept up their reputation. This is one of the better drinks I’ve had in a long time, and will definitely be reaching into the fridge to get more in the future and look forward to the future varieties of Monster X-presso.

Overall verdict: A-

Reviewed by Brandon Trouton

No?  Well how about a two-for-one deal at a car lot, have you seen one?  I wish.

What about a farmer’s market?  Ever been to one and found an incredible energy drink product you’ve never seen before?  No?  Well nah nah in your face I have!

This summer I took a trip to the local farmer’s market with my mom, my greatest excitement being the possibility of finding a flawless eggplant to complete my cornucopia crafting project.  Sarcasm.  Anywho, I walked by a table where a nice lady was selling Advocare performance products.

This table just reeked of multi-level marketing, but I couldn’t resist inquiring about the “Spark” energy drink powder packets.  Without even telling the saleswoman about my status as an EF writer, she grabbed a bottle of water, filled it with a whole packet of Spark, and let me continue on my way while I drank the bottle down.  < 20 minutes: holy organic cucumbers Batman!

Taste

I later bought three flavors of my own Spark packets: grape, fruit punch, and mandarin orange.  They also offer citrus and cherry.  All you need is a cold bottle of water,  one of these packets mixed into it, and it will plaster a smile onto your lethargic face.  The experience was better than I could have even expected, especially after E-Boost set my standards so low.  Not one stage of the show can be categorized as bitter, transparent, overly sweet, or overly tart.  Delish!

Ingredients

/begin list/ 120mg caffeine, 750% B12, 750% B6, 300% niacin, GABA /end list/

Effect

No matter how you consume a packet of Spark, whether it be straight, snorted, mixed into your Easy Mac flavor packet, or… oh ya mixed into water, you are guaranteed the perfect long-lasting energy boost.  No joking around here, these packets are simply the perfect pick me up.  This will be my first product review where I end up purchasing more of what I sampled.

Verdict

Advocare Spark changed my energy drink life.  I can now truthfully say that given the immediate availability of a Spark packet, I would choose a bottle of water from a cooler instead a stand-by favorite energy drink.  That’s right, a flavored bottle of water over, say, a NOS or Rockstar Punched Citrus.  Up until Spark, that’d just be crazy talk.

These days, water is downright boring.  What, no pretty colors or packaging?  No flavor?  No energy?!  Boo! E-Boost agrees with all of those shortcomings, and has offered water an upgrade with their own special version of Kool-Aid.  “Ohh ya!!”

Taste

I received two flavors to review: Mandarin Orange and Pink Lemonade.  Both of them fail to make water consumption as enjoyable an experience as the bottled pre-flavored waters already rampant in the beverage market.  Their flavor descriptions are accurate, but overall the flavors are hollow and watered down.

You may be thinking to yourself, “he just called a water-based energy mix ‘watered down’ what an idiot.. duh of course it is!”  If I may beg of your mercy a moment, I meant to say what I did.  Take Crystal Light, for example.  Drop one of their flavor packets into a bottle of water and the taste is completely transformed.  You can tell you’re drinking a flavored bottle of water, but the flavor is robust enough to radically modify the experience for the better.  You truly have a flavored bottle of water.

E-Boost packets offer more of a tainted water flavor that leaves you wishing for more.  Kind of like using only half the Kool-Aid packet in your pitcher.

Ingredients

Hitting what I believe is an energy product record 5 spots from the Periodic Table of Elements we have Copper, Chromium, Potassium, Selenium, and Zinc.  On the less perplexing side, there’s 4,166% of your B12 DV, 100% of B6, 75% Niacin, and a proprietary blend with green tea leaf and grape seed extract.

Effect

If you’re driving along and hit Empty, don’t expect to find a spare tank of gas in the trunk.  Now, this of course pertains to the review metaphorically.  I’m not actually sending ill-wishes your way for debilitating car problems.  Jeeze you’re being rough on me today.

Seriously, though, E-Boost offers a light tickle to your senses.  It’s just not enough for my lifestyle.

Verdict

In case I bounced around this review too much, I’ll give it to you straight.  My conclusion is that E-Boost comes up short in both flavor and energy.  You may have noticed from the ingredients section that this product has other nutritional aspirations, but that’s not the kind of review you came here for.

Reviewed by Dusty Smith