Monster Maxx Rad Red Zero Sugar Energy Drink Review

Here we have another one of those Monster Maxx drinks, the ones with nitrous carbonation. It is a gimmick that has never truly influenced the flavor the way the can promises, but let us not dwell on missed opportunities here; the design is splendid! Sitting on store shelves as the weather outside gets colder, the icy effect on the iconic "M" logo really works as a timely looking potable.

We have zero sugar, and that really does not affect the flavor too much. Erythritol, sucralose and ace-k get about an "A-" for their work here, a wonderful trilogy that understands the limitations of each other. But the surprise character here is the nitrous effervescence, in particular how it plays with the diet sweeteners, giving mouthfuls a lighter, almost foamy texture. It does not quite achieve the heaviness real, caloric sweeteners offer, but it is a quality substitute. The flavor is a mixture of strawberries, cherries and cranberries, not quite a fruit punch, lacking the acidic citrus bite and the tropical influence by fruits such as guava or pineapple, but for the limited twelve ounces, the sedated complexity is an easy time on the palate.

Each can contains 200 milligrams of caffeine, as well as some B vitamins, taurine, l-carnitine and inositol. The buzz is OK I suppose, lasting around 3 hours, but its lack of a crash is what sets it apart. Overall, this is a pretty good drink overall, even if its name "Rad Red" sounds like a relic of the 90's.

official site

Note: an untrained eye may notice the word "ginseng" on the back of the can, but it is not a supplement here- it is "ginseng flavor." I suppose the folks at Monster felt fans prefer the taste of the root than its supposed medicinal benefits.