Cane Sugar - 601 Reviews
Nawgan Alertness Beverage Strawberry Kiwi
Every time I drink one of these alertness beverages, Nawgan or other, I find myself wondering if there would be a time in my life when I would actually need one. I am long done with school; where this would have been greatly welcomed for late night study sessions. Okay who am I kidding I very rarely did school work outside of school, but I can see where kids would want this beverage for that. I have an accountant that does my taxes, due to my business, so I'm not going to be annoyingly trying to figure out what form mean. As much as I would like to pretend that I am at times, I'm certainly not an intellectual; logic rules my life. So where do such beverages fit into my life? The closest I can come to is when I'm figuring out how to play a bass line for a song, and that doesn't take too much concentration.
It looks like these drinks were not made for me in at current station in life. I do know many people who would benefit from them though. I wish I had something that I needed to concentrate on so I could have tested the true functionality of this, but as much as I think I felt more alert, it could have all been placebo.
I can write about the flavor though. This has a light strawberry kiwi flavor to it, and that is due to the fact that they thankfully did not go overboard with the sweetener. So many drinks of this flavor are so full of sugar that they taste like candy. This at least tastes minimally like fruit. The use of erythritol/stevia along with the cane sugar gives it a bit of that natural diet taste, but it's not very strong. The thing that will always through me for a loop with drinks in skinny cans is when they are not carbonated. I believe I've said that with each flavor of this I have tried, but I always expect bubbles, and when you don't get them it takes a bit to adjust. Flex your head.
It looks like these drinks were not made for me in at current station in life. I do know many people who would benefit from them though. I wish I had something that I needed to concentrate on so I could have tested the true functionality of this, but as much as I think I felt more alert, it could have all been placebo.
I can write about the flavor though. This has a light strawberry kiwi flavor to it, and that is due to the fact that they thankfully did not go overboard with the sweetener. So many drinks of this flavor are so full of sugar that they taste like candy. This at least tastes minimally like fruit. The use of erythritol/stevia along with the cane sugar gives it a bit of that natural diet taste, but it's not very strong. The thing that will always through me for a loop with drinks in skinny cans is when they are not carbonated. I believe I've said that with each flavor of this I have tried, but I always expect bubbles, and when you don't get them it takes a bit to adjust. Flex your head.
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- Diet and Sports/Dietary Supplement
- Company
- Nawgan — Website — @DrinkNawgan
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 10/6/14, 6:17 PM
- Buy It Amazon.com
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Zobo Hibiscus Drink Ginger
I will say this for the hundredth time. Deep breath. Here we go:
If you are going to flavor your drink, just commit to it.
Don't say that it tastes like ginger if it's not going to taste like ginger or burn like ginger. It's just kind of annoying. This drink tasted like hibiscus which was good but only tasted very, very slightly like ginger. No burn. So sad. I saved this one for last because it should have been a treat and a half.
It's not a total loss. Like I said, it's a fine hibiscus drink but if I told anyone else that this was ginger hibiscus they would call me a liar. I can't have that on my conscience.
If you are going to flavor your drink, just commit to it.
Don't say that it tastes like ginger if it's not going to taste like ginger or burn like ginger. It's just kind of annoying. This drink tasted like hibiscus which was good but only tasted very, very slightly like ginger. No burn. So sad. I saved this one for last because it should have been a treat and a half.
It's not a total loss. Like I said, it's a fine hibiscus drink but if I told anyone else that this was ginger hibiscus they would call me a liar. I can't have that on my conscience.
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- Mix/Concentrate
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- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
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- Mike Literman on 9/30/14, 12:26 PM
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Grand Teton Brewing Company Kettle Brewed Soda Mountain Berry
Climbing to the top of the Grand Teton Mountains, you have to remember one thing; bring a basket. You have to earn your keep so on your trip up, you have to pick berries of all shapes and sizes to get juiced. People live atop the mountain. You didn't know that? Yeah. Some people who are scared of heights live up there. They climbed it to try and beat their fear of heights but forgot that climbing is only half the voyage. They got scared, acted resourcefully, and set up a little tiny town. Now, everyone who climbs has to, by law, bring up food and drinks for the people. Trouble is, they're vegetarians so you can forget bringing any meat. For those that forget, you have to strap a basket to yourself and you and everyone around you picks berries on their way up the mountain for the people.
When you bring it up, they've got a little operation of people that juice them and for the thousands of dollars you spend on the trip up, they will make you a bottle of pop with it. It's not bad either. It's a bit fruity but they don't have a lot to work with. Huckleberry, Blueberry and Blackberry together would make a better juice than it does a pop but don't tell them. They work really hard. It's fruity and pretty sweet but it just seems like if you didn't carbonate it and left in some of the pulp from the fruit you could have a really great juice.
Next time you climb, if you do, don't forget a couple of cans and jars of food. They're picky. They also don't like lima beans as a community. They voted on it. It's weird.
When you bring it up, they've got a little operation of people that juice them and for the thousands of dollars you spend on the trip up, they will make you a bottle of pop with it. It's not bad either. It's a bit fruity but they don't have a lot to work with. Huckleberry, Blueberry and Blackberry together would make a better juice than it does a pop but don't tell them. They work really hard. It's fruity and pretty sweet but it just seems like if you didn't carbonate it and left in some of the pulp from the fruit you could have a really great juice.
Next time you climb, if you do, don't forget a couple of cans and jars of food. They're picky. They also don't like lima beans as a community. They voted on it. It's weird.
- Rating
- Categories
- Soda Pop
- Company
- Grand Teton Brewing Company — Website — @GrandTetonBrew
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Mike Literman on 9/23/14, 4:06 PM
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Zobo Hibiscus Drink Original
Why don't more hibiscus drinks exist? Sometimes you get a strange one in there but for the most part, they fill me with pleasure like a kid's first trip to a Chuck 'E Cheese or the last time I, at thirty-one, went to Chuck E' Cheese and discovered that they have French hot dogs. Oh the glee.
This is a good drink. It's teetering on the theoretical tether line of tea and juice but whatever you want to call it; it's a nice, light, floral drink. It's sweetened well and I honestly wouldn't change a thing with it. Why isn't it getting five bottles then? Hey, they can't all be golden, right? If I knew what it took to make a five bottle beverage, I would be a rich and happy man.
Back to Hibiscus Alley. It's nice in there. I only have one packet of that and it went by too fast. It's an easy mix that doesn't chunk or gross up. I really milked it, too. I have been drinking the same bottle for the last four hours and it was as if it was never a mix. The wonders of science. The wonders of hibiscus.
This is a good drink. It's teetering on the theoretical tether line of tea and juice but whatever you want to call it; it's a nice, light, floral drink. It's sweetened well and I honestly wouldn't change a thing with it. Why isn't it getting five bottles then? Hey, they can't all be golden, right? If I knew what it took to make a five bottle beverage, I would be a rich and happy man.
Back to Hibiscus Alley. It's nice in there. I only have one packet of that and it went by too fast. It's an easy mix that doesn't chunk or gross up. I really milked it, too. I have been drinking the same bottle for the last four hours and it was as if it was never a mix. The wonders of science. The wonders of hibiscus.
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- Mix/Concentrate
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- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
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- Mike Literman on 9/17/14, 5:19 PM
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Grand Teton Brewing Company Kettle Brewed Soda Root Beer
When Armageddon finally comes and those of us who survive are hidden away in different pockets of world figuring out how to survive technology will not be our savior. I realize that sounds a bit evangelical, but I don't believe any sort of omnipotent being will save us either. What will keep the survivors alive is reverting to the old ways. Working the earth with our hands and learning how to build things, instead of relying on contractors. If there's something that you want you will have to figure out how to produce it yourself, or barter with someone who does. If you ignore all of the death and the end of civilization as we know it, this actually sounds appealing.
When I'm living in my mountain residence that my friends and I have constructed I hope one of us had good enough sense to learn iron work so that they could forge us a kettle to make our own root beer. This bottle of soda is exactly what I hope/expect our home brew would taste like. It's heavy on the wintergreen and the sassafras, just as any good mountain brew should be. It's a nice herbal root beer that screams of the mountains…β¬Β¦and licorice. This is by no means a standard “store brand” root beer. Care was put into brewing this, not just adding flavor syrup to carbonated water.
I wonder how many batches it would take our survivor crew to get our soda to this level. I hope not too many because I the idea of enjoying my own root beer that I brewed in a metal pot over a bonfire is so appealing that it's killing me.
When I'm living in my mountain residence that my friends and I have constructed I hope one of us had good enough sense to learn iron work so that they could forge us a kettle to make our own root beer. This bottle of soda is exactly what I hope/expect our home brew would taste like. It's heavy on the wintergreen and the sassafras, just as any good mountain brew should be. It's a nice herbal root beer that screams of the mountains…β¬Β¦and licorice. This is by no means a standard “store brand” root beer. Care was put into brewing this, not just adding flavor syrup to carbonated water.
I wonder how many batches it would take our survivor crew to get our soda to this level. I hope not too many because I the idea of enjoying my own root beer that I brewed in a metal pot over a bonfire is so appealing that it's killing me.
- Rating
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- Grand Teton Brewing Company — Website — @GrandTetonBrew
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- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 9/16/14, 6:12 PM
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Marley's Mellow Mood Lite Raspberry Tea Lemonade
I have no idea what is up with me lately. Up until recently I have never had a problem with falling asleep. For my entire life, any place or time, I could just lay down my head and in a few minutes I would be out in blissful sleep. Things started to change when energy drinks hit the scene. I don't drink coffee, so my caffeine intake is pretty low, so these drinks affect me a lot. If it's in the evening when I drink one, I can kiss sleep goodbye. I'm aware of this issue though, so I know how to control it. Recently though, sleep tends to avoid me for no good reason. There are times when I haven't had any caffeine, or other stimulants, my mind isn't racing and I'm not worried about anything; I just can't sleep. I don't understand it at all. I'll be watching a movie late at night, feeling like I'm about to nod off, so I'll go to bed and as soon as I lay down, BAM I'm awake. Luckily it's not a constant, just once or twice every couple of weeks, but it's still bloody annoying. It's for times like these that I like to keep a bottle of Mellow Mood in my fridge.
Now, as you can see from our older reviews these drinks will make you feel all warm and cozy, while your will to stay awake washes away. They aren't as strong as they originally were, but they still get the job done. It confuses me when I'm on a decent hike and I find a bottle deep in the woods. Who thought that would be a good idea? You're trekking through the woods and you decide, shit I need to sleep right now and then leave my trash behind. Scumbag idiots roam this planet.
There are a handful of flavors of Mellow Mood on the market these days, some are teas and some are sparkling. I am more a fan of the tea varieties. I mean who wants to drink bubbly water before sleep? (Yes I know this is just meant to relax you and not actually put you to sleep, but everyone I know who has drunk them falls asleep quickly.) Marley's has done a great job making functional beverages that actually taste delicious. This is very clearly raspberry tea mixed with lemonade and it tastes natural. Sure it's sweetened erythritol as well as cane sugar, but it doesn't taste very diet and the other functional ingredients are completely hidden from your taste buds. I would drink this even if it didn't help cure my ailments. I'm just lucky it serves other functions as well as tasting nice.
Now, as you can see from our older reviews these drinks will make you feel all warm and cozy, while your will to stay awake washes away. They aren't as strong as they originally were, but they still get the job done. It confuses me when I'm on a decent hike and I find a bottle deep in the woods. Who thought that would be a good idea? You're trekking through the woods and you decide, shit I need to sleep right now and then leave my trash behind. Scumbag idiots roam this planet.
There are a handful of flavors of Mellow Mood on the market these days, some are teas and some are sparkling. I am more a fan of the tea varieties. I mean who wants to drink bubbly water before sleep? (Yes I know this is just meant to relax you and not actually put you to sleep, but everyone I know who has drunk them falls asleep quickly.) Marley's has done a great job making functional beverages that actually taste delicious. This is very clearly raspberry tea mixed with lemonade and it tastes natural. Sure it's sweetened erythritol as well as cane sugar, but it doesn't taste very diet and the other functional ingredients are completely hidden from your taste buds. I would drink this even if it didn't help cure my ailments. I'm just lucky it serves other functions as well as tasting nice.
- Rating
- Categories
- Iced Tea, Lemonade and Relaxation
- Company
- Marley's — Website — @drinkmellowmood
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 9/6/14, 11:01 AM
- Buy It Amazon.com
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Zobo Hibiscus Drink Strawberry
Pete loves drink mix. It's a strange thing to love but something about the manufacturing of his own drink and turning powder into a delicious drink really made him happy. He grew up drinking Tang and Kool-Aid and has graduated to drinks that are better suited for a fully-fledged adult. He recently found a company that makes hibiscus tea with different flavors. It's a powder which was his one prerequisite but it also came in original, strawberry and ginger. He decided to give the strawberry a test to see if it was up to snuff.
He mixed it in an old water bottle, gave it a couple solid, vigorous shakes and gave it a try. It passed with flying colors. It was floral like a hibiscus should be but had some of the sweetness and fruitiness from the strawberry. It tasted like a juice made from hibiscus and strawberry. It was great. It passed the test and he bought a case; an excessive gesture for something that he had one serving of but he needed a change. Now if they only made food in powder he would be the happiest guy in the world.
He mixed it in an old water bottle, gave it a couple solid, vigorous shakes and gave it a try. It passed with flying colors. It was floral like a hibiscus should be but had some of the sweetness and fruitiness from the strawberry. It tasted like a juice made from hibiscus and strawberry. It was great. It passed the test and he bought a case; an excessive gesture for something that he had one serving of but he needed a change. Now if they only made food in powder he would be the happiest guy in the world.
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- Mix/Concentrate
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- United States
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- Cane Sugar
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- Mike Literman on 8/28/14, 11:58 AM
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Bing Raz
- Phil? Hey! Phil? Phil Connors? I thought that was you!
- Hi, how you doing? Thanks for watching.
- Hey, now don't you tell me you don't remember me because I sure as heck-fire remember you.
- Not a chance.
- Ned! Ryerson! Needlenose Ned. Ned the Head. Come on, buddy. Case Western High. Ned Ryerson, I did the whistling belly button trick at the high school talent show. Bing! Ned Ryerson, I got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn't graduate. Bing again! Ned Ryerson, I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple times till you told me not to anymore. Well?
- Ned Ryerson?
- BING!
- So, did you turn pro with that belly button thing or what?
- No Phil, I sell drinks.
- What a shock.
- Do you have anything to drink? Cause if you do you could always use a little more. Am I right or am I right or am I right? Right? See after graduation I fell into the whole beverage world. My family owns a cherry farm, and it just made sense to sell cherry juice. I mean why do you think I say “Bing” all the time? I'm trying to get people to subconsciously think of cherries! Anyways I've worked out a new drink that is a combination of our famous cherries and raspberries that I get from Bill Klepler from back in high school. I know what you're thinking, cherry-raspberry juice is nothing new, but what if I were to tell you that I carbonated it and added B-Vitamins, caffeine and ginseng to turn it into a safe, healthy energy drink. I think it will be all the rage with the kids. I added some sucralose to keep the sugar content down, but let me tell you Phil, this tastes like nothing but pure juice with some bubbles in it! It's fantastic, and you'd be doing yourself a great disservice by not giving it a try.
- Ned, I would love to stand here and talk with you, but I'm not going to. See you.
- Hey, that's all right, I'll walk with you. You know whenever I see an opportunity now I charge it like a bull. Ned the Bull, that's me now. You know, I have friends who live and die by the actuarial tables and I say “Hey, it's all one big crap shoot anywho.Tell me, have you ever heard of our Bing Black? Because I think that really could be the ticket for you. God! It is so good to see you! What are you doing for dinner?
- Something else. It's been great seeing you, Needlehead. Take care.
- Watch out for that first step. It's a doozy!
- Hi, how you doing? Thanks for watching.
- Hey, now don't you tell me you don't remember me because I sure as heck-fire remember you.
- Not a chance.
- Ned! Ryerson! Needlenose Ned. Ned the Head. Come on, buddy. Case Western High. Ned Ryerson, I did the whistling belly button trick at the high school talent show. Bing! Ned Ryerson, I got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn't graduate. Bing again! Ned Ryerson, I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple times till you told me not to anymore. Well?
- Ned Ryerson?
- BING!
- So, did you turn pro with that belly button thing or what?
- No Phil, I sell drinks.
- What a shock.
- Do you have anything to drink? Cause if you do you could always use a little more. Am I right or am I right or am I right? Right? See after graduation I fell into the whole beverage world. My family owns a cherry farm, and it just made sense to sell cherry juice. I mean why do you think I say “Bing” all the time? I'm trying to get people to subconsciously think of cherries! Anyways I've worked out a new drink that is a combination of our famous cherries and raspberries that I get from Bill Klepler from back in high school. I know what you're thinking, cherry-raspberry juice is nothing new, but what if I were to tell you that I carbonated it and added B-Vitamins, caffeine and ginseng to turn it into a safe, healthy energy drink. I think it will be all the rage with the kids. I added some sucralose to keep the sugar content down, but let me tell you Phil, this tastes like nothing but pure juice with some bubbles in it! It's fantastic, and you'd be doing yourself a great disservice by not giving it a try.
- Ned, I would love to stand here and talk with you, but I'm not going to. See you.
- Hey, that's all right, I'll walk with you. You know whenever I see an opportunity now I charge it like a bull. Ned the Bull, that's me now. You know, I have friends who live and die by the actuarial tables and I say “Hey, it's all one big crap shoot anywho.Tell me, have you ever heard of our Bing Black? Because I think that really could be the ticket for you. God! It is so good to see you! What are you doing for dinner?
- Something else. It's been great seeing you, Needlehead. Take care.
- Watch out for that first step. It's a doozy!
- Rating
- Categories
- Energy Drink, Juice and Sparkling
- Company
- Bing — Website — @BINGdrink
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 8/26/14, 5:05 PM
- Buy It Amazon.com
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Rage Boost Hydrating Citrus
Dude, I'm so pumped that someone decided to throw this Rave Class Reunion. Man the 90's we're a crazy time and I really missed this. Remember when we used to have to go to random convenient stores with an egg to find out the secret location of the party? Oh that was an episode of 90210? Seemed like real life man. Well remember that time you needed to come up with money quick, or you'd be evicted from your apartment so we sold common aspirin and pretended it was E? Oh, that was the movine Go!? Okay dude you caught me; I've never been to a rave before in my life. I was too young and scared when they were still cool. I was totally into the music though. I would jam Paul Oakenfold and 808 State in my bedroom so loud my mom would yell at me. I would get hog wild.
I'm just glad this party is happening so that I get to experience it firsthand, well kind of if a couple decades too late count. Since we're going to be raging hard all night dancing until our arms are sore from flinging around glow sticks like maniacs, I brought these drinks for us. They are called Rage, get it…β¬Β¦because we're going to be raging at the party…β¬Β¦not rage mad, but like party rage. Whatever, even if you don't get it they will help keep us hydrated. It's a vitamin enhanced water with a whole mess of electrolytes in it. The bottle says it will allow us to push harder and avoid hitting the wall. That sounds like exactly what we're gonna need. They sweetened it with sucralose as well as cane sugar, so you get a little diet taste, but it's not too bad. I just wanted to warn you, as I know that junk can come as a shock if you don't know it's there. I don't want to harsh your good time.
This stuff actually tastes pretty decent. It's like a Vitamin Water that tastes more like one of the citrus varieties of Gatorade. It certainly has that slight harshness on the back of your throat like Gatorade does. It's like a mellower melted Freezee Pop. It's citrus flavored, that tastes like someone took some Tang and slightly changed it to be more…β¬Β¦I dunno…β¬Β¦other citrus instead of orange. You know what I mean man. It's nothing particularly new, but it tastes pleasant enough, and if it keeps us hydrated tonight that's all that matters. I unfortunately don't know if I'll be able to find this again. I mean it's not bad, but it's not filling any sort of gap in the beverage world. There are a whole mess of different companies putting out drinks like this, and most consumers would rather grab a brand name like the previously mentioned Vitamin Water or Gatorade, and these small guys don't' stand a chance, even if they perform better. Whoa, where did all of that come from? Must be the pills I took. Speaking of, want to buy some ecstasy? Just kidding, it's just aspirin, I get headaches from loud bass.
I'm just glad this party is happening so that I get to experience it firsthand, well kind of if a couple decades too late count. Since we're going to be raging hard all night dancing until our arms are sore from flinging around glow sticks like maniacs, I brought these drinks for us. They are called Rage, get it…β¬Β¦because we're going to be raging at the party…β¬Β¦not rage mad, but like party rage. Whatever, even if you don't get it they will help keep us hydrated. It's a vitamin enhanced water with a whole mess of electrolytes in it. The bottle says it will allow us to push harder and avoid hitting the wall. That sounds like exactly what we're gonna need. They sweetened it with sucralose as well as cane sugar, so you get a little diet taste, but it's not too bad. I just wanted to warn you, as I know that junk can come as a shock if you don't know it's there. I don't want to harsh your good time.
This stuff actually tastes pretty decent. It's like a Vitamin Water that tastes more like one of the citrus varieties of Gatorade. It certainly has that slight harshness on the back of your throat like Gatorade does. It's like a mellower melted Freezee Pop. It's citrus flavored, that tastes like someone took some Tang and slightly changed it to be more…β¬Β¦I dunno…β¬Β¦other citrus instead of orange. You know what I mean man. It's nothing particularly new, but it tastes pleasant enough, and if it keeps us hydrated tonight that's all that matters. I unfortunately don't know if I'll be able to find this again. I mean it's not bad, but it's not filling any sort of gap in the beverage world. There are a whole mess of different companies putting out drinks like this, and most consumers would rather grab a brand name like the previously mentioned Vitamin Water or Gatorade, and these small guys don't' stand a chance, even if they perform better. Whoa, where did all of that come from? Must be the pills I took. Speaking of, want to buy some ecstasy? Just kidding, it's just aspirin, I get headaches from loud bass.
- Rating
- Categories
- Sports/Dietary Supplement
- Company
- Rage Boost — Website — @RageWater
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 8/18/14, 10:24 PM
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Bolthouse Farms Limited Edition Watermelon Mint Lemonade
Sometimes your friends pretend to be adults and throw a brunch. Is there anything more grown up then brunch? Most self-respecting kids and teenage malcontents would still be asleep during the brunching hour. In order to be a little more refined I decided I should not show up empty handed like common street trash and I brought this bottle of watermelon mint lemonade. What better way to celebrate an adult meal than with the adult version of a childhood favorite (no not Mike's Hard Lemonade, that's just for grown up children).
It was a nice warm summer day and this beverage fit the bill just nicely. It was refreshing, tasty and unique all at the same time. Let's deconstruct this for a second shall we? The lemonade base in here is nothing more than water, lemon juice and cane sugar. It's exactly what lemonade should be; a bit tart but also sweet. It's the flavor that inspired Wonka candy, okay that may not be true, but let's pretend that Senior Wonka was sipping on nice lemonade when he came up with the idea of Sweet Tarts. Back on track: So we have ideal lemonade to start with and then some watermelon juice is added. We're no fools and we know that watermelon is a hard flavor to capture. It's very distinct, but it's also watery, so adding it to other beverages tends to make them a bit watered down and the sought after flavor is lost. Bolthouse has found a way to make that flavor present. It may not be bold, but it's definitely there, and it does not detract from the lemonade, making it weak. Things are looking good. There is just one thing to add and that is a touch of mint. It's so easy to go overboard with mint and wind up with a beverage that tastes like you're drinking it while chewing five pieces of Wrigley in your mouth. It's lucky for us that Bolthouse knows restraint. The mint in here is very light. It's noticeable and gives the lemonade bit of a twist, but it doesn't just taste like a mint drink. Throughout this entire adventure the lemon juice has been driving the car, and it's not going to pull over for anything. No one is allowed behind the wheel of its baby, but it.
So what we have here is a perfect summer beverage that goes well with a tofu scramble, fresh fruit, bagels and donuts. Hey brunch doesn't have to be fancy, it just needs to come with a side of melon.
It was a nice warm summer day and this beverage fit the bill just nicely. It was refreshing, tasty and unique all at the same time. Let's deconstruct this for a second shall we? The lemonade base in here is nothing more than water, lemon juice and cane sugar. It's exactly what lemonade should be; a bit tart but also sweet. It's the flavor that inspired Wonka candy, okay that may not be true, but let's pretend that Senior Wonka was sipping on nice lemonade when he came up with the idea of Sweet Tarts. Back on track: So we have ideal lemonade to start with and then some watermelon juice is added. We're no fools and we know that watermelon is a hard flavor to capture. It's very distinct, but it's also watery, so adding it to other beverages tends to make them a bit watered down and the sought after flavor is lost. Bolthouse has found a way to make that flavor present. It may not be bold, but it's definitely there, and it does not detract from the lemonade, making it weak. Things are looking good. There is just one thing to add and that is a touch of mint. It's so easy to go overboard with mint and wind up with a beverage that tastes like you're drinking it while chewing five pieces of Wrigley in your mouth. It's lucky for us that Bolthouse knows restraint. The mint in here is very light. It's noticeable and gives the lemonade bit of a twist, but it doesn't just taste like a mint drink. Throughout this entire adventure the lemon juice has been driving the car, and it's not going to pull over for anything. No one is allowed behind the wheel of its baby, but it.
So what we have here is a perfect summer beverage that goes well with a tofu scramble, fresh fruit, bagels and donuts. Hey brunch doesn't have to be fancy, it just needs to come with a side of melon.
- Rating
- Categories
- Lemonade
- Company
- Bolthouse Farms — Website — @BolthouseFarms
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 8/17/14, 11:22 AM
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Glaceau Vitamin Water Energy Orange Mango
This happened to the beverage world. Two youths were walking down the street, one with a Vitamin Water the other with an energy drink and they collided causing a tasty mess to be born.
Actually to be more accurate it would be like someone boiled down an orange mango Vitamin Water and dried out what was left over until it was a powder that they mixed into sparkling water, added some green coffee bean extract and B vitamins for energy and called it a day. So I guess it's nothing like that commercial, but it's still tasty. It has a bit of a stevia taste, but nothing that would put anyone off. It actually tastes kind of like a candy from when I was a kid, but I can't place exactly what. If I think of it I'll make sure to not remember to let you know.
Actually to be more accurate it would be like someone boiled down an orange mango Vitamin Water and dried out what was left over until it was a powder that they mixed into sparkling water, added some green coffee bean extract and B vitamins for energy and called it a day. So I guess it's nothing like that commercial, but it's still tasty. It has a bit of a stevia taste, but nothing that would put anyone off. It actually tastes kind of like a candy from when I was a kid, but I can't place exactly what. If I think of it I'll make sure to not remember to let you know.
- Rating
- Categories
- Diet, Energy Drink and Sports/Dietary Supplement
- Company
- Glaceau — Website — @vitaminwater
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 8/14/14, 3:56 PM
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True Solution Nutrition Shake Chocolate
You know what? We don't have time to work out today, Fred. Let's just drink these protein drinks and play video games instead. No, I know you have a routine and today was "legs" but you can do legs tomorrow. Today we've got things to do in this game. It's raining and I don't want to go outside. I bought these the other day and thought that we could load up on the necessary proteins that we need to get ripped.
Fred...this is strange. Does it taste like if you ate a crayon and it tasted like chocolate? I mean, it's not too gritty and it's pretty smooth, the way I like a chocolate milk to be but something in here is throwing me off. No, I didn't mean...Fred. I didn't mean throw me off the cliff in this game. You're wasting my guys. I know we used cheat codes for infinite guys but it's still annoying.
What is it in this drink? I mean we've been drinking it for ten minutes and it was pretty decent when it started but as it began to warm up, it got a little strange. You can taste the Stevia more and it regrows the "bad protein" flavors back that it didn't have when it was really cold. If "new car chocolate" was a flavor, this would be it.
Stop throwing me off cliffs, Fred! I guess I deserve it since I'm just talking about this drink and not crushing guys like you. How did you get so good at this game? Have I been talking for that long? Man, I must be in the zone, chief.
Fred...this is strange. Does it taste like if you ate a crayon and it tasted like chocolate? I mean, it's not too gritty and it's pretty smooth, the way I like a chocolate milk to be but something in here is throwing me off. No, I didn't mean...Fred. I didn't mean throw me off the cliff in this game. You're wasting my guys. I know we used cheat codes for infinite guys but it's still annoying.
What is it in this drink? I mean we've been drinking it for ten minutes and it was pretty decent when it started but as it began to warm up, it got a little strange. You can taste the Stevia more and it regrows the "bad protein" flavors back that it didn't have when it was really cold. If "new car chocolate" was a flavor, this would be it.
Stop throwing me off cliffs, Fred! I guess I deserve it since I'm just talking about this drink and not crushing guys like you. How did you get so good at this game? Have I been talking for that long? Man, I must be in the zone, chief.
- Rating
- Categories
- Sports/Dietary Supplement
- Company
- True Solution — Website
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Mike Literman on 8/6/14, 3:45 PM
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True Solution Nutrition Shake Vanilla
When you've forsworn soy and dairy where is one to turn for protein based nutrition shakes? Why would you avoid such things? Oh I don't know, maybe a little thing called allergies, or perhaps a moral stance? Either way, those people exist in the world, and they need some protein after a workout just like the rest of us. True Solution is here to help those people out. They have developed a nutrition shake that derives its protein from peas and rice. I have no idea there was protein in peas. I guess that dumb, smelly vegetable had to be good for something. Luckily their gross taste isn't noticeable in the beverage. You can definitely taste rice though, but I'm not complaining. Actually the rice flavor is as potent as the vanilla, if not more. Who hates rice though? It's the water of food stuffs. It also cuts down on the grittiness that is common in protein based drinks.
In addition to the protein there are also 23 vitamins and minerals packed into this little carton to help in recovery and to just improve your life and diet. You know you've been slacking on your diet and every little bit helps.
Overall this tastes like a sweetened vanilla rice beverage with a tad bit of stevia in it. When it's nice and cold that flavor is masked, but if you take too long sipping your shake it starts to come out more and more until it leaves you with a weird gross aftertaste. You deserve to enjoy your beverage, so drink fast my friends.
In addition to the protein there are also 23 vitamins and minerals packed into this little carton to help in recovery and to just improve your life and diet. You know you've been slacking on your diet and every little bit helps.
Overall this tastes like a sweetened vanilla rice beverage with a tad bit of stevia in it. When it's nice and cold that flavor is masked, but if you take too long sipping your shake it starts to come out more and more until it leaves you with a weird gross aftertaste. You deserve to enjoy your beverage, so drink fast my friends.
- Rating
- Categories
- Sports/Dietary Supplement
- Company
- True Solution — Website
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 8/1/14, 4:59 PM
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OrganicMe FocusMe Citrus Berry
At first, I had to double check this because it smells like something alcoholic. It also is deceiving since it tastes half as strong as it smells. I'm trying to come up with an example of something that is half as strong as it smells and it's a really gross thought. Someone must be really smelly or really weak to have that ratio work.
Citrus Berry? Alright. It should be switched since it's berrier than it is citrus but it's all there so I'm not complaining. It's lightly carbonated, too and isn't too bad. It's considered a "Focus" drink but it's giving me the jitters like an energy drink would. Do people take cocaine to concentrate? Isn't that an "upper?" Shouldn't weed help you concentrate since you are calm? I don't know anything. I do know that although I might be cranking through this review because my hands are moving faster than my mind will let me go. If there was no backspace key, this review would be a pile of garbage. I suppose it's letting me focus on this lightning fast cursor tear across the screen as I write a review on the drink that's making me speedy. Is that what the kids call "meta." Kids, stop supplementing and go outside. Always on those drugs. Calm down. I need some water.
Citrus Berry? Alright. It should be switched since it's berrier than it is citrus but it's all there so I'm not complaining. It's lightly carbonated, too and isn't too bad. It's considered a "Focus" drink but it's giving me the jitters like an energy drink would. Do people take cocaine to concentrate? Isn't that an "upper?" Shouldn't weed help you concentrate since you are calm? I don't know anything. I do know that although I might be cranking through this review because my hands are moving faster than my mind will let me go. If there was no backspace key, this review would be a pile of garbage. I suppose it's letting me focus on this lightning fast cursor tear across the screen as I write a review on the drink that's making me speedy. Is that what the kids call "meta." Kids, stop supplementing and go outside. Always on those drugs. Calm down. I need some water.
- Rating
- Categories
- Energy Drink
- Company
- OrganicMe — Website — @OrganicMeBrands
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Mike Literman on 7/29/14, 4:37 PM
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Real Soda Chocolate Covered Maple Smoked Bacon
Chocolate pop sounds like it would be a good idea right? Well it is rarely good. Having drunk a couple of them in my day, I can say that it's strange first, and "just alright" second. It's not bad but it feels like something that just shouldn't be. This, though. What would you think of if I gave you this? You've got not only chocolate but maple and everyone's clichè favorite food bacon in it. Now look. You've got to be some sort of madman to think this was going to be great. Are you a madman? I did not think so.
You taste the chocolate pop in this. It's not like a chocolate really. If there was, and there probably is, chocolate candy that isn't actually milk or dark chocolate, that is the chocolate that is used. Something about the way real chocolate melts is smooth and nice. This is sharp and sweet. You do not get bacon but you do get a bit of a salty chocolate. I really searched for it when I drank it. Jay did the same as you can see in the video below. It just tastes salty. The maple might be in the tail end of the drink when the salt and "chocolate" calms down.
All in all, it's not fantastic. Seems like a better gag-gift than an actual drink. They probably don't make too many of them so I'm sure they aren't losing their shirts at Real Soda putting everything they have into a really niche drink.
Want to see what Jay and I thought with the "help" of my jerk kid? Welp, here you are, friend:
- Rating
- Categories
- Soda Pop
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Mike Literman on 7/27/14, 7:39 PM
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Bundaberg Passion Fruit
Australian favorite's Bundaberg gave guava soda a shot, but they just missed the mark. You see they make their soda the old fashioned way, by brewing it with yeast, and as a result it ended up tasting a bit too alcoholic for my liking. Now the creators of some of my favorite ginger beer are trying their hand at my second favorite fruit, passion fruit. With this one the bases were loaded and they didn't blow it with a lot of grandstanding. They took what simple ingredients they had, and hit that pitch right out of the park for a grand slam.
This is soda brewed the way it should be, with a less processed flavor that what most of us are used to. It tastes like carbonated passionfruit juice, with a little something extra from the yeast brew that just makes it perfect. It does border on the wine cooler flavor, but it stays to the proper side and not the alcoholic side that far too many people became acquainted with in the 80s.
I am thoroughly disappointed that I only had one bottle of this. It simply wasn't enough, and I'm already craving more. Is it wrong to book a rip halfway across the world just for soda? Oh wait, I could probably get more of this at a Cost Plus. I'll probably have to do that.
This is soda brewed the way it should be, with a less processed flavor that what most of us are used to. It tastes like carbonated passionfruit juice, with a little something extra from the yeast brew that just makes it perfect. It does border on the wine cooler flavor, but it stays to the proper side and not the alcoholic side that far too many people became acquainted with in the 80s.
I am thoroughly disappointed that I only had one bottle of this. It simply wasn't enough, and I'm already craving more. Is it wrong to book a rip halfway across the world just for soda? Oh wait, I could probably get more of this at a Cost Plus. I'll probably have to do that.
- Rating
- Categories
- Soda Pop
- Country
- Australia
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 7/21/14, 3:10 PM
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On Powered Refreshment Blueberry Lemonade
Blueberry lemonade is something I have never had in real life. I was at a wedding in Massachusetts where some kid wore a kimono and no one said anything and made my own cherry lemonade which was great. I mulled it myself. I don't mess around. Blueberry lemonade seems easier since there are plenty of blueberries around and lemonade isn't hard to come by. Problem is, if I made it myself, it would be better than this. "Audacious!" you say? Well perhaps but it would be closer to the model of blueberry lemonade since there would be no mucking about with artificial sweeteners, preservatives and the like. Mash up some blueberries and put it into some water with lemon juice and sugar and you've got it. This is pulpless and not sour. It just "tastes like" blueberry lemonade like when markers "smell" like fruit but when you take a small nibble, you've discovered that you have discovered that it's a very one dimensional impression.
What this lacks is what makes lemonade great and that's pulp, bite, attitude and clean ingredients. The Reb A gives it a bit of an unwarranted bitterness that just tastes like lies. This isn't bad but it's like taking a girl home at the end of a long night that is wearing a lot of makeup and you know that when she inevitably stays the night and wakes up, your pillow is going to look like a towel behind the Chanel counter at your local department store and your face will be as red as her lips were the night before with regret and self-embarrassment.
What this lacks is what makes lemonade great and that's pulp, bite, attitude and clean ingredients. The Reb A gives it a bit of an unwarranted bitterness that just tastes like lies. This isn't bad but it's like taking a girl home at the end of a long night that is wearing a lot of makeup and you know that when she inevitably stays the night and wakes up, your pillow is going to look like a towel behind the Chanel counter at your local department store and your face will be as red as her lips were the night before with regret and self-embarrassment.
- Rating
- Categories
- Energy Drink and Juice
- Company
- On — Website — @ONbeverages
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Mike Literman on 7/17/14, 12:24 PM
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Old Town Root Beer Company Root Beer
Call me old fashioned but long days can only be cured by sitting on a porch stoop drinking root beer. Early mornings with not enough sleep followed by staying late at work and who knows what the rest of the day holds? Probably a handful of garbage. You deserve something nice. A treat. A root beer.
What's better than root beer? Root beer that has honey in it. What better with root beer with honey in it? Root beer with honey and licorice. Since this root beer doesn't have that, and beggars cannot be choosers, honey it is. It's probably a difficult task to keep the smooth taste of honey and the bite of root beer but they've done it. That's why they're in the root beer major league. They have hats. Nice, embroidered hats. As if there were any doubts. What? Did you think they were silk screened? Please. They embroider everything when you get to the pros. Everything.
What's better than root beer? Root beer that has honey in it. What better with root beer with honey in it? Root beer with honey and licorice. Since this root beer doesn't have that, and beggars cannot be choosers, honey it is. It's probably a difficult task to keep the smooth taste of honey and the bite of root beer but they've done it. That's why they're in the root beer major league. They have hats. Nice, embroidered hats. As if there were any doubts. What? Did you think they were silk screened? Please. They embroider everything when you get to the pros. Everything.
- Rating
- Company
- Old Town Root Beer Company — Website
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Mike Literman on 7/15/14, 6:20 PM
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Joe Tea Raspberry
Yeah yeah yeah, raspberry tea I get it. The stuff is everywhere. It's possibly more prevalent than unflavored tea in most gas stations/convenient stores. Why should we care about yet another raspberry tea that's available? Oh, maybe because Joe Tea is a hell of a company who not only uses cane sugar to sweeten their beverages, but who also uses real tea and actual fruit? I think that is more than enough reason in this age of garbage drinks in which we life.
This is great. Period. End of story. Everything that you liked about raspberry tea just got better. It's like someone took a tall boy of Arizona and switched out the ingredients with superior ones. First of all it actually tastes like raspberries and not a proximity that is just flavored syrup. Secondly you can still taste the tea underneath the fruit. That is something that doesn't happen often these days. I do wish the tea taste was a bit stronger here, but I don't have a huge problem with it. This is nothing like the sugar water you have been told was tea your whole life. This is real, or at least a lot closer to reality.
This is great. Period. End of story. Everything that you liked about raspberry tea just got better. It's like someone took a tall boy of Arizona and switched out the ingredients with superior ones. First of all it actually tastes like raspberries and not a proximity that is just flavored syrup. Secondly you can still taste the tea underneath the fruit. That is something that doesn't happen often these days. I do wish the tea taste was a bit stronger here, but I don't have a huge problem with it. This is nothing like the sugar water you have been told was tea your whole life. This is real, or at least a lot closer to reality.
- Rating
- Categories
- Iced Tea
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 7/13/14, 4:03 PM
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Anchor Ginger Root Beer
If us here at Thirsty Dudes are anything we are men of the sea. The crashing waves and the salty air are all we know of life. With the ocean breeze in our hair we point our bow towards whatever fancy we have at the time. Wait no, that's not us at all. The ocean is a terrifying place that holds many creatures that mankind will probably never know of. I'm actually shocked that I even knew what a bow was. Mike and I are content to sit on the shoreline, stare out at the ships on the horizon and sip on some root beer. I mean I do have an anchor tattoo, but I never claimed that I wasn't a hypocrite. I also never complained about double negatives.
While we may be full of lies, one thing that is a truth is that we have dreams of creating (more like having someone make for us) a hybrid of root beer and ginger beer. We've proposed it to several companies, but they didn't seem very interested. They are all fools. How perfect would a nice dark, woody root beer be with the kick of some hot ginger beer? I'm sure ratios would have to be very specific to keep the flavors in line, but that is what folks in lab coats are for.
When I came across this Anchor Ginger Root Beer, I thought that perhaps my prayers had been answered. The sea is an unknown place (for the most part) and so is this beverage. It could hold wonderful secrets or disastrous monsters. You have no idea how many creatures I find in bottles of sodas; at least most of them are vaguely indifferent to me.
While this was not the soda of my dreams, it is almost there. Really the only thing that is missing is the heat. There is no burn at all in this bottle. It's more of a ginger ale root beer instead of the ginger beer root beer that I so desperately wanted. I will happily take what I am given though. This really tastes like someone made a batch of ginger ale the correct way, with real ginger, and mixed it with a creamy root beer. It has a nice classic root beer taste that is on the darker side of the spectrum that ends with a strong vanilla after taste. The ginger is the majority shareholder in the beginning of each sip, but the vanilla in the root beer is all you are left with seconds after you swallow.
I am a big fan of this, and I hope to come across it again in my travels. I can use it to help me get by until I can talk a company into perfecting my vision. Maybe I should just try combining sodas myself to see how it turns out. I mean that has to end well…β¬Β¦right?
While we may be full of lies, one thing that is a truth is that we have dreams of creating (more like having someone make for us) a hybrid of root beer and ginger beer. We've proposed it to several companies, but they didn't seem very interested. They are all fools. How perfect would a nice dark, woody root beer be with the kick of some hot ginger beer? I'm sure ratios would have to be very specific to keep the flavors in line, but that is what folks in lab coats are for.
When I came across this Anchor Ginger Root Beer, I thought that perhaps my prayers had been answered. The sea is an unknown place (for the most part) and so is this beverage. It could hold wonderful secrets or disastrous monsters. You have no idea how many creatures I find in bottles of sodas; at least most of them are vaguely indifferent to me.
While this was not the soda of my dreams, it is almost there. Really the only thing that is missing is the heat. There is no burn at all in this bottle. It's more of a ginger ale root beer instead of the ginger beer root beer that I so desperately wanted. I will happily take what I am given though. This really tastes like someone made a batch of ginger ale the correct way, with real ginger, and mixed it with a creamy root beer. It has a nice classic root beer taste that is on the darker side of the spectrum that ends with a strong vanilla after taste. The ginger is the majority shareholder in the beginning of each sip, but the vanilla in the root beer is all you are left with seconds after you swallow.
I am a big fan of this, and I hope to come across it again in my travels. I can use it to help me get by until I can talk a company into perfecting my vision. Maybe I should just try combining sodas myself to see how it turns out. I mean that has to end well…β¬Β¦right?
- Rating
- Country
- United States
- Sweetener
- Cane Sugar
- Author
- Jason Draper on 7/13/14, 11:49 AM
- Buy It Amazon.com
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