28 Black Classic Energy Drink

I found this drink at the local Sobeys grocery store for $1.69. The regular price was $2.99, but there was a sale going on.

Taste

You'd be right to label this as another Red Bull clone, because not only does it scream clone from the outside, it is almost a clone on the inside as well...like 75% on the inside. Sure, there is no taurine and the color is paler than the regular Red Bull, but the smell and taste are almost bang on. I say 75%, because the sweetness feels rounder, is dialled down a notch, there is a citric bite at the end and an interesting creamy-like start...but the base flavor is definitely that of a Red Bull.

Energy

Yup, there are 80 mg of caffeine in this can and the effects are the same as a can of Red Bull. You chug it, the sugar quickly hits you, you get jittery for a bit, then the caffeine make you overenergized and an hour and a half later you feel about the same as before you had the drink.

Scores:
Cost - $1.69
Taste - 8.5/10 (still love the taste, though)
Energy - 6/10

Overall - 14.5/20...still love the taste

Anchor Coffee Cold Brew

I was visiting Windsor last week and went to Anchor Coffee House, a highly recommended coffee shop on the west end. Aside from the easy to miss sign that blended with the rest of the building, the coffee shop was like an oasis in a sea of boring, identical commercial buildings. I tried a couple of coffees there and decided to get a cold brew for the road and for a review. If I remember correctly, the bottles were $5.

Taste

The coffee is very clear and not too dark. In fact it is more dark amber than black. The aroma is heavy on the coffee, but also features other notes like roasted nuts and sweet dried fruits. 

The flavor is mellow at first, but the coffee hits as it travels down the tongue. Subtle notes of sweet dried fruits (yes, some sweetness is present), chocolate and roasted nuts are present, but don't last too long. The finish is surprisingly clean for a coffee, but traces of coffee do linger. Very easy and enjoyable to drink without any of the acids and a lot less of the bitterness hot brewed coffees have.

Energy

It doesn't say how much caffeine is in here, but if it is anything like the cold brews I have made, then it is a ton! I was feeling it very energetic within 20-30 minutes of consuming the bottle. While I was drinking it, I felt focused for a bit until the caffeine kicked into overdrive and I was ready to fly off. That made for fast paced walk to work in the morning. The kick lasted for almost 4 hours and ended without drama.

Scores:

Cost - $5

Taste - 9/10

Energy - 9/10

Overall - 18/20...flavorful and easy to drink, great alternative to regular coffee in the summer

Red Bull The Summer Edition

New, from Red Bull and right in time for the summer - this green Red Bull can that I walked by multiple times in gas stations and convenience stores. From what I read, The Summer Edition has been out for a few weeks, but because the color is so close to the lime can they released last year, I didn't see it until now.

Red Bull should really work on their design. In a semi-illuminated fridge full of energy drinks, this green looks just slightly different from the other green. Unless the fridge is empty, or very brightly illuminated, it would be hard to distinguish the two. I know the label is a dead giveaway, but I usually just glance at energy drinks. I don't read the labels until I know there is a new drink somewhere.

Taste

The interesting thing is that the liquid inside the can has a hue that is very similar to the green on the can - light kiwi green. The energy drink smells like a medley of gummy bears and of nothing specific. The taste? Same. Don't get me wrong, I love this blend of mysterious flavors, but I had a hard time putting my finger on what exactly it was. I knew there had to be kiwi in there somewhere, but I couldn't pick it out. I know what kiwi tastes like. I am staring at a bowl of them to my right. I eat them almost daily and this does not taste like a straight up kiwi. Even if there was kiwi in here, it is masked by a ton of other flavors. I detect a blend of tropical fruits, some forest fruits, maybe some kiwi, some other stuff, and a twist of the good ol' Red Bull.

Despite this, I LOVE this flavor. I don't know what it is, but the blend of everything just kinda works.

Energy

If you can read the label (light green background with reflective silver text? Try reading that in the sunlight without squinting.), you will note that there are 114 mg of caffeine...a standard for 355 mL cans.

The effects are like any other Red Bull - sugary jitters kicking in quickly, followed by a burst of energy in 20-30 minutes that keeps you going for a couple of hours, followed by a semi-crash thanks to the sugar. I had this first thing in the morning and did not experience a severe crash, but try having it later in the day to see what happens.

Scores:
Cost - $3.49
Taste - 8.9/10
Energy - 7/10

Overall - 15.9/20...interesting medley of flavors without much of the kiwi