Nitrous Monster: Truth Behind the Name?
courtesy of edjunkie.com
Our comments have begun to come alive with information about the new Nitrous line from Monster.
Nothing about the drinks has shown up on Monster’s official website yet, but the internet is already coming alive with reviews.
At energy fiend we wanted to make sure consumers understand what this new line of energy drink really is. Unfortunately, it is a clever marketing campaign by Monster.
These drinks do not contain Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas). How do we know this? Well it is illegal in the USA to market and sell a food product containing N2O as a ingredient for human consumption and it can only be used as a propellant such as in whip cream. So if you were planning on getting some type of euphoric feeling from these drinks, you will be disappointed.
We haven’t seen the ingredient list, but our guess is that they are putting Nitric Oxide (NO) in the drink which is a completely different substance. This gas has relaxing properties when consumed and occurs naturally in the human body, but is not considered an illegal substance and is in many body building products.
So Monster, by calling their new line Nitrous is hoping that people will associate the new drink with what they know about nitrous oxide, which is also used as a power enhancement for engines and equate the drink with performing according to this prior knowledge, thinking it will give them some euphoric rush of energy.
Clever marketing, but slightly deceptive. What do you think about Monster’s new line?
Update 11/8/09 – Lots of great debate and info in the comments so keep them comming! We’ve contacted Monster and are hoping someone will reply or comment here about how they are nitrogenating the water. We still aren’t entirely convinced it’s Nitrous Oxide because of the FDA regulations. Maybe someone could test it for us in their school’s Chem Lab?
You can purchase Monster Nitrous online by clicking here.
113 Comments
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This drink is amazing. You cant describe the taste…or feeling, you just have to try it. You will know what i mean.
I had the Anti-Gravity drink yesterday, and it was amazing. As someone else said above, the texture is totally unlike any other energy drink on the market. It reminds me of drinking the foamy parts of a 7-UP/Sherbet punch, but with a passion fruit flavor.
I’m not sure what to make of the Killer-B, though. It has the same great texture, but the flavor just doesn’t seem right. It’s not necessarily bad, but it tastes like something that just shouldn’t exist.
“Also, it comes in a unique resealable can.”
It’s not unique, I’m pretty sure Monster has been using them for awhile, and Jolt before them
As an addendum to my post above, I realized that the Killer-B flavor smells like the lemon honey I have in my cupboard. Furthermore, my wife says it tastes like Brisk Iced Tea, and I’m inclined to agree, although there’s something there that reminds me of alcohol. It’s definitely one of the strangest beverages I’ve had.
I wish I could find these in Australia.
I think I will have to import some for myself and my friends.
It says right on the can that they have combined Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide in large letters. This article needs to be updated. Why would they lie in such big letters if there was no nitrous oxide in the water?
Monster nitrous is pretty good tasting. Kind of has a silky smooth texture going down the throat (thats what she said). Too bad Monster can’t come up with more drinks with Lo-Carb, and lo-sugar content.
I admit that at first I thought it was real nitrous oxide. I guess there is a slight chance it might be, or like others have suggested, nitric oxide. I do like the flavor of the super dry though, and the fact that it comes in a 12 oz can that is also resealable. Not too little of a drink, not too much, just right.
Also, keep in mind that there has to be some truth to what they say, otherwise they can really get nailed for false advertising. It may really be nitrous oxide, but they may have had to use it in such an amount or in such a way that it wouldnt be illegal for them to use like this.
To be honest its a bit of relief to hear its not nitrous oxide…i thought i was gonna have a heart attack or something lol…regardless the drink still tastes great and still gives you that kick of energry we all seem to be attracted to..
i read this a 10 minutes later tried a drink i just bought. A&W’s float. supposed to be like a root beer float in a bottle.
nitrous oxide is an ingredient. says “(creates foam)”
it’s the very last item on the list, so it can probably be allowed in small enough concentrations.
I just found these drinks for the first time earlier today. I’ve tried all three, and the Super Dry and Anti-Gravity are pretty good. The Killer-B, however, is disgusting in my opinion. It smells like a really bad beer mixed with green tea and honey that’s been sitting out for about a week, and the taste is just horrible. Super Dry, to be honest, reminded me a lot of regular AMP or Vault, just with a more creamy texture to it. Anti-Gravity had sort of an orange-juice after-taste, but it wasn’t bad tasting at all. My personal favorite is Super Dry, however.
Also, they DO contain small amounts of Nitrous Oxide. Through drinking they don’t give the same affect as they do when used as “Laughing gas.” Companies use Nitrous Oxide to keep a creamy, and foamy texture to their drink. For example, if, like Joshua Perry says, yo uget one of A&W’s floats, they use the chemical to keep the root-beer style foam to the drink. You can also poor the Nitrous Monster into a clear plastic or glas drinking cup, and compare it to a regular Monster. You’ll no doubt notice that Nitrous Monster has MUCH more foam to it. (The Killer-B when I poured it into a glass, looked like a dark beer… Seriously.)
All in all, I think they used the Nitrous Oxide in it to keep its foamy, creamy texture. Oh, and the “unique resealable can” as someone has already stated, isn’t so unique since it’s been used before, however, when you open a Nitrous Oxide for the first time, or after letting it sit for a while, it will startle you with a loud pop and kindof “explode” so to speak. It’s an interesting occurance, and I actually like opening it to hear that “exploding sound.” The reason it does this is all the foam from the nitrous oxide, by the way.
“The reason it does this is all the foam from the nitrous oxide, by the way.” is actually supposed to say the “CARBONATION” from the Nitrous.
oh, thanks Josh, that helps, at least A&W were clear in their ingredient list…
Nitrous Oxide _is_ listed as an ingredient on the can, but my guess is that the NO2 is used the same way as in whipped cream and Guinness ‘draught in cans’–as an aeration or emulsifying agent that dissipates almost instantly upon breaking the seal, resulting in a highly-aerated, almost foamy liquid but nothing else. The trace amount left in the drink after opening would then be far below the ‘legal limit’ as set by the FDA. All in all, more marketing buzz than anything else, but my guess it will be a very effective marketing ploy.
FWIW, I just had one about an hour ago–pretty tasty but probably not worth the extra cost, IMHO.
Guys, it’s SALT.
Drinking one now and it tastes alright but the NOx won’t add anything to it, it’s just hype.
When you open the can, there is a little smoke/fog at the top and that’s the NOx dissipating.
I’m sure they will sell millions on hype alone, people will probably pour it into their gas tanks too.
Thomas
I drink the Anti Gravity version quite often and my son prefers the Killer-B (although many say they hate it, I have found several that love it, it tastes like honey, hence the name) but I haven’t tried the third flavor.
Very smooth and full of gusto when you first open it (foamy) which makes for a good drink when cold.
As one commenter said, the Monster Import is fantastic as well. The resealable can is not like the Nitrous version, it’s much different, and they claim the idea came from Europe and it’s not been done in the USA yet.
I think the other responder (that said it “had been done before”) was thinking of the usual resealable cap/top instead of what they actually used, which is more of a can seal. Great marketing!
I actually googled “Nitrous Monster” to get to this page. Just finished my first can of Anti Gravity, I have to agree that they really nailed the flavor. It’s the first time I actually enjoyed drinking an energy drink, not to mention I’ve never had a soda with a foam head. It’s been 10 minutes and I’m starting to feel the buzz, as well. Definitely worth a shot, though it’s a 12 oz. can for $3.19 at my local Quick Chek.
Is it just me, or does the Killer B (could be the other nitrous ones too, but I’ve only had the Killer B) taste like beer…?
I think its beery (BEER-y, not berry) flavor is because of the nitrogenated water, since that’s used in beer, too. All I know is that I don’t drink beer, and it tastes freakin’ nasty to me even though I like almost all of their other flavors.