Review: No Fear Regular
Mar 22nd, 2009 by Steve
No Fear is a clothing brand that launched in 1989 by brothers Mark & Brian Simo, targeting the action sports market. You've probably seen someone wearing one of their shirts at one time or another. In 2004, the brand partnered with Pepsi to distribute an energy drink that was branded under the Pepsi-owned SoBe name. Eventually, in 2008, the SoBe name was dropped, leaving the drink to stand on its own solely using the No Fear Energy name. There are currently 4 flavors in the No Fear energy drink lineup. The first is the original flavor, No Fear Regular.
One wonders where No Fear currently fits in the Pepsi energy drink lineup, given that they have a owned flagship brand (Amp Energy) and just landed distribution of another established entry (Rockstar, previous distributed by Coke). No Fear would seem to be pulling up the rear as a smaller #3 in the eyes of the Pepsi distribution empire, which may be why you might not find it as easily as the previously-mentioned energy drink brands. It also seems that Pepsi has backed off pushing energy drinks with its SoBe brand, reducing the visibility of SoBe Essential Energy and SoBe Adrenaline Rush offerings.
Previously used SoBe No Fear logo
The original flavor of No Fear, which seems to be referred to by the bland name "No Fear Regular" on the official website, doesn't mention a flavor on the black can — though the website notes it's a "great berry-passion fruit flavor". Capped by the No Fear logo and "skull with wings" logo, a red banner proclaims "Super Energy" on the front. The red color is used as a highlight on various places on the can, basically setting up "red = original flavor". A callout of typical energy drink supplements is found on the bottom of the 16 oz. can, including taurine, L-carnitine, and arginine.
Upon opening the can, it's really hard to place just what in the world this drink smells like. At first, I noted a bit of pineapple smell. Something along the lines of a tropical fruit. The ingredients note the inclusion of grape seed extract, but you'd be hard-pressed to smell grape. However, the use of grape juice concentrate does seem to influence the color of the beverage, which leans towards a light yellow/green hue.
As for the taste, it's somewhat bitter. Not a bad bitter, mind you, but probably not something you are expecting right away. I'd also throw in a hint of sour grape flavor. It definitely was more berry-ish rather than citrus, on par with something you would experience drinking Full Throttle Blue Demon or faintly like Amp Energy Elevate. There wasn't much aftertaste present, and what was there was rather clean.
For those looking for a pick-me-up, No Fear Regular contains 174 mg. of caffeine, which breaks down to 10.9 mg/oz. Comparatively, industry leaders Red Bull (9.64 mg/oz.) and Monster (10.00 mg/oz.) have just a bit less. Pepsi's Amp Energy features 8.875 mg/oz., while Coke's Full Throttle has 9.0 mg/oz.
If you drink the entire can, you'll be ingesting 260 calories, 230 mg of sodium, and 66 g of sugars. When you take a look at the inclusion of nutritional supplements, this 16 oz. can contains 100 mg of guarana extract, 2000 mg of taurine, 200 mg of inositol, 100 mg of ginseng extract, 50 mg of L-carnitine, and 20 mg of arginine.
A full ingredient list is as follows:
No Fear Regular
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, taurine, grape juice concentrate (color), sodium citrate, natural flavor, inositol, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), caffeine, caramel color, fruit extract (color), monopotassium phosphate, grape seed extract, L-carnitine, panax ginseng root extract, L-arginine hydrochloride, zinc methionine sulfate, guarana seed extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride, soy protein isolate and rice flour, selenium complexed with amino acids and polypeptides, folic acid, cyanocobalamin
No Fear Regular has a bitter, yet rewarding taste often associated with energy drinks. The berry/grape taste combined with an attractive sour flavor is surprisingly welcome, while the high amounts of supplements quench those desiring an energy soft drink with a little charge.
"No Fear would seem to be pulling up the rear as a smaller #3 in the eyes of the Pepsi distribution empire, which may be why you might not find it as easily as the previously-mentioned energy drink brands."
You hit the nail on the head. The Sugar Free No Fear is my current pick-me-up beverage of choice and finding it on a groggy morning in my area is like going on a totally not fun scavenger hunt. Meanwhile AMP is everywhere. No Fear had a wonderful "Gold" flavor that is now totally gone. I hate how Pepsi launches these products, gives you time to get attached to them, and then discontinues them.
[...] reviewing the regular version of No Fear energy drink, we set our eyes on the sugar free variant, suitably named No Fear Sugar Free. Like the original [...]
[...] you've used the color red to denote No Fear Regular, and blue to mark No Fear Sugar Free, that probably would lead you to green… which is the [...]
[...] previously taken a look at the berry-flavored No Fear Regular and its low cal sibling, No Fear Sugar Free. Then there was the hard-to-figure No Fear Motherload, [...]
[...] No Fear Regular [...]
Why did they have to drop the SoBe logo? At least the stuff's still awesome, I buy it all the time.
Why are the cans always dented and crushed at the lip when they stock them on the shelves at Kwik Trip?
No Fear is better than Amp and Rockstar, and is at a tie with SoBe Energy.
I heard no fear regular is discontinued. Is this true?
I heard today at the local drive thru that I go to that it is discontinued as was rumored last year. I went to a local Meijer to buy their last 20 cans. I don't know what I am going to do anymore. I don't like most of the other energy drinks.
I love No Fear and drink the sugar free cause I'm diabetic.
It does not taste like any other energy drink. As a matter of fact not long ago I had ordered a case from Amazon Fresh and they ran out before my order processed. They offered me a free case of rock star and I turned it down. Free mind you.
It makes my stomach feel better and has a better vitamin ratio than the other drinks I have looked at. The slightly bitter, tart tropical flavor leaves an after taste on my tongue that I just love. Unfortunately its so hard to find now even though people are having to push store managers to look for it. It is literally a fight to get it as the shelves empty out really fast. There are always plenty of the other drinks but not the No Fear sugar free.
As a side note I was told over a year ago that this drink was discontinued by a store manager so I contacted Pepsi my self. I was told that they did not discontinue it but that some of the food distributors had dropped it from their order list. So who are these middle guys making our food choices for us?