With a 12 oz. glass bottle that narrows to a pointy tip, the red-highlighted label design accentuates the cherry-flavored beverage inside. Crack open the cap and you are greeted by a strong cherry scent. It's quite pleasing!

The flavor isn't as strong as you'd think it would be, but it's quite sweet! Using pure cane sugar, it's a clean taste with very little negative aftertaste. The "Herbal" inclusion of this drink adds ginseng and guarana to make this beverage more energy drink-like. Surprisingly, the odd tastes usually associated with those herbs don't really show up in the flavor.

The overall flavor could be described as slightly syrupy ("cough syrup"), but I like that overwhelming sense of cherry. It's nothing like the other cherry drinks out there. It doesn't just taste like cherry; you are rather overcome with cherry boldness!

Dr. Enuf Cherry Herbal
Filtered carbonated water, 100% pure sugar, natural and artificial flavors, citric acid, potassium benzoate (preserves freshness), caffeine, guarana, ginseng, FD&C Red 40, niacin, thiamine, FD&C Blue 1, and potassium iodide

A 12 oz bottle contains 180 calories, 11 mg sodium, and 47 g carbs (46 g sugars).

I really like how Dr. Enuf Cherry Herbal provides a wonderful cherry taste, while also packing in bonus vitamins and all that good energy stuff. Something you don't typically see… and that's why I give it a thumbs up!

Strawberry Lemonade energy drink? I was intrigued. I could certainly see how the flavors could work in an energy drink, and after a moment of pondering, I was surprised that no other beverage manufacturer had thought of the idea… or if they had, why one hadn't floated across my desk. But there it sat, Wired Energy Strawberry Lemonade, in some terribly designed red can with yellow flames. I noted the same disconnect between can's artwork and the purported beverage inside in my review of Wired Energy's X-3000. Artwork complaints aside, I was ready for a sip.

The light pink fizzy liquid hit my nose with a very sour lemonade scent. The kind of smell that makes the sides of your mouth hurt, forcing you to drool a little. Then I smelled a faint sweet strawberry scent. This drink showed all the potential of a great summertime beverage. Then I took a sip.

The Strawberry Lemonade was nothing like I was expecting. The first thing I noticed was a LOT of fizz. This may be the most carbonated drink I have ever tasted. Once I got past the excess carbonation, I realized that the flavoring of the drink was very mild. I almost had to struggle to taste the lemonade or the strawberry. The bright side of this was that there was also a lack of chemical taste that one normally associates with energy drinks.

Three or four sips into the drink, I began to see the drink's appeal. The lemonade almost builds in your mouth. The more I drank, the more I could pick out the distinct lemonade and strawberry flavors. While subdued, Wired had done a good job of developing a nice sour lemonade and sweet strawberry flavoring, while hiding the flavor of the energy boosters.

So, Wired, good start here, but I would like my energy drink to smack me in the face with flavor. The flavor I picked up was great, but there just wasn't enough of it. Maybe they ran out of flavor in my can and tried to make up for it with fizz.

The 16 oz can of Wired Energy Strawberry Lemonade contains 200 calories, 52 g of sugar, 94 mg of caffeine, and 54 mg of taurine. This is a lot less than a typical energy drink, and explains the lack of chemical taste to the drink.

Official Website: WiredEnergyDrink.com

To be honest, we weren't really in love with WhoopAss. We cover a lot of drinks here at BevReview, and with energy drinks possessing their own idiosyncrasies and supplement-oriented flavors, it often depends on the flavor palette. That said, we really do like WhoopAss Grapple quite a bit, even more so than the original!

Continuing the design of the flagship WhoopAss, Grapple comes to you with a green can, cleverly overlaying a 4-leaf clover on top of the iconic iron cross logo. A clover pattern continues around the top edge of the can as well, highlighting the inclusion of yerba mate, catechins, polyphenols, and b-complex vitamins. Like many energy drinks, the pull tab matches the primary color of the beverage, in this case a yellow/green hue.

Of particular interest is the flavor name, Grapple. I'm not sure folks automatically associate "Green Apple" with the name. On the back, the can notes that "Grapple is defined as '… a contest for superiority or mastery…'" I think the phrase probably has more historical associations with grape and apple combinations. (I have relatives who own an apple orchard in Michigan that I know don't like the idea of that sort of hybrid!) I guess it's probably a good thing that Jones explains the "green apple" flavor on the front of the can to clear all this up.

The drink itself is very greenish/yellow, far more green than the original WhoopAss. A sip starts with a very sour apple taste, which I guess is a good thing, given that's sort of the professed flavor. It tastes very candy-like and quite carbonated. There's a certain pucker-ness as well. As the drink flows over your tongue, however, it shifts from sour to sweet with a defined apple flavor. Then the aftertaste kicks in, and you can pretty much cut-and-paste the description normally associated with an energy drink aftertaste here. A bit medicinal, packed with the flavors of things you probably can't pronounce, but are listed under the "Supplement Facts" on the back label. Nothing too horrible if you are used to the flavor, but for energy drink newbies, it may be a bit shocking.

Probably the funniest element that hinted at the humor of the Jones Soda folks was the disclaimer on the back: "Not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, those sensitive to caffeine, or leprechauns." Nice!

Jones Soda WhoopAss Grapple Energy Drink starts with a great sour apple flavor that transitions to a sweet taste profile. We like it considerably more than the flagship WhoopAss and highly recommend it for those liking energy drinks with distinctive flavor.

Official Website: JonesSoda.com

When I grabbed the unassuming can of Wired Energy X-3000, I was a little put off. In a marketplace where each energy drink maker is attempting to make their can more fierce and intimidating than the last, Wired seems to have missed the memo. The periwinkle background and the orange to yellow "flames" on the can make the drink seem less extreme or intense from many other energy drinks.

When I pulled the tab, my nose was greeted with that all familiar energy drink smell: cherry citrus, slightly chemical, with a sugary sweetness to it. The drink fizzed out on to the top of the can, exposing a color very similar to that of traditional energy drinks, but perhaps slightly more pale yellow.

I closed my eyes and took a swig. Initially, I found the flavor to be nearly identical to Red Bull. Slightly sweeter, but just as citrus and sour. However, for an energy drink, the flavor of Wired's X-3000 is rather complex. You get the typical blast of sour when the bubbly liquid hits your tongue, but the aftertaste of X-3000 is very pleasant. For several minutes after my first sip, I could still taste the drink's sweetness on my palette. I found this to be a very agreeable experience. The more I drank of the giant 16 oz can, the more I began to pick up on what made this drink so complex. The flavor it left dancing on my tongue was much akin to fruit and honey.

If you're a fan of Red Bull, you'll likely enjoy the flavor and overall experience of X-3000. Slightly more complex, and full of a huge burst of energy which hit me only three minutes after my first sip, X-3000 is a winner in a crowded energy drink arena. The only complaint I have with the drink is the can art. I felt like the marketing department is planning on hanging its hat on the drink's taste and big burst of energy… which in this case, just might work.

Wired X-3000 is aptly named, as a 16 oz can contains 3,000 mg of taurine; that's three times the amount of taurine found in an 8 oz can of Red Bull. Additionally, it has 188 mg of caffeine. With that much energy in a single can, one would expect a huge rush of energy and a huge crash sometime thereafter. I drank my can of X3000 at about 1:00 in the afternoon, felt the rush of energy and came down in fairly good fashion, without a huge crash at the end.

The caffeine content breaks down to 11.8 mg/oz., which is slightly more than Red Bull's 9.6 mg/oz.

Official Website: WiredEnergyDrink.com

As I stood in the energy drink section of my local grocer, preparing for another late night of studying Torts, Contracts, Constitutional Law and Civil Procedure, I came to the realization that I was in need of a new energy drink experience. I had downed every version of Red Bull and Monster on the shelves, so it was time to look elsewhere. That's when I saw it; there before me was an energy drink bottled under the authority of Dr Pepper. Could this be? I had to try it. So, I grabbed the bottle of Venom Energy Black Mamba and proceeded to the checkout.

I was excited the whole way back to the law library. Could I have found an energy drink that tastes like my favorite soda? I set the aluminum can down in front of me. The packaging is what you'd expect from an energy drink. Dark red hues and blacks make the fangs in the white "Venom" logo pop off the can. Coupled with the angry serpentine eye, the label design looks to intimidate the drinker. The can itself is a very thick aluminum, more akin to some industrial production rather than a disposable beverage container. I really liked the thick heavy feel of the aluminum.

I twisted the cap off with anticipation and listened for that typical carbonated hiss. Here it was. I inhaled deeply and my nose was shocked. Not Dr Peppery at all… but rather, Venom Black Mamba hit my nostrils with a very familiar berry and taurine smell. If I didn't know any better I could have sworn I was inhaling the all too familiar scent of a low-carb Monster. Now I had to taste it.

Wow! My nose was wrong. Tiny bubbles splashed against my tongue. The carbonation in Venom's Black Mamba is much smaller and more dense than a typical energy drink. Immediately the back of my mouth and jaw were hit with an intense sour splash. The taste of the drink is very sweet berry, without the chemical taste of some energy drinks. The drink itself was much thicker than I expected and was reminiscent of a typical cola.

After the initial splash of tiny bubbles and the sweet berry taste, the aftertaste was again devoid of the typical energy drink leftovers. While there was some berry and cherry flavor left over, the general experience was not like that of your average energy-filled beverage. If you're a fan of berry and cherry and are looking for an atypical flavored energy drink, Venom Energy's Black Mamba is a great break from the ordinary.

Venom Energy Black Mamba
Carbonated water, corn syrup, glucose, citric acid, malodextrin, taurine, sodium citrate, L-carnitine, inositol, caffeine, sodium benzoate (preservative), potassium sorbate (preservative), niacinamide (Vitamin B3), natural and artificial flavors, sucralose, ginseng extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), guarana extract, caramel color, riboflavin (Vitamin B2), cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

A 16.9 oz bottle contains 250 calories, 320 mg of sodium, 60 g carbs, and 57 g sugars.

The caffeine content breaks down to 10.1 mg/oz., which is slightly more than Red Bull's 9.6 mg/oz.

During our coverage of the National Restaurant Association show last year, I got a chance to talk to Brian Boate, Marketing Manager at Roaring Lion. He made no apologies for the brand's messaging of being like Red Bull, instead pointing out the advantages to a retailer and consumer for going with Roaring Lion.

For example, the 12 oz. Roaring Lion can contains more drink than a default 8.3 oz. can of Red Bull. Additionally, he noted the per unit savings that bars and other locals have by serving up Lion over the Bull — casual customers also see savings per can. The company also showcases taste test statistics that prove (in their eyes) that customers can't detect a difference between Roaring Lion and Red Bull.

The packaging is pretty attractive for a clone brand, showcasing a blue and yellow color scheme, anchored by the line drawing of a lion that feels like it was pulled from the Broadway poster of "The Lion King". Upon opening the can you are greeted with that expected Red Bull scent, something akin to liquid candy, but with an odd smell thrown in. Personally, I wasn't a big fan of this.

As for the flavor, it's typical "energy drink," if that makes any sense. Starts out sour and "puckery." It ends up with more of a sweet aftertaste. The overall flavor sports hints of cherry, green apple, and probably some liquid Smarties candy for good measure!

So what's the overall take on Roaring Lion? If you are a Red Bull fan, you'll probably like this drink… and maybe embrace it even stronger as the flavor tastes slightly better than the well-known brand.

Roaring Lion Energy Drink
Carbonated water, sucrose, glucose, sodium citrate, taurine, glucuronolactone, artificial flavor, caffeine, ascorbic acid, inositol, niacinamide, calcium-panthothenate, pyridoxine hcl, Vitamin B12, and caramel

Interestingly enough, enough though Roaring Lion comes in a 12 oz. can, the nutritional information is listed in servings of 8.3 oz. – the size of Red Bull. This results in the questionable listing of 1.4 servings per can.

Calculating up for a 12 oz. size, Roaring Lion contains 172 calories, 506 mg sodium, 37.6 carbs, and 36.6 g of sugars. The caffeine content breaks down to 9.3 mg/oz., which is comparable to Red Bull's 9.6 mg/oz.

Official Website: RoaringLionEnergyDrink.com

So what exactly is this stuff? Well, first the pitch from the folks that make it: "When talking to soccer players, we found that many of them would combine Red Bull with Gatorade to get the energy and hydration they needed for play. We set out to remove this step and create the first ever 'Sports Energy' drink." I guess that would be why there is such a strong soccer theme to the packaging of Golazo.

Speaking of the look, frankly, it's quite sharp. Bold white/green/black color scheme with an iconic "crest" emblem typically associated with professional soccer teams. The name "Golazo" is easy to spot, accented with a subtitle of "Born to score". Cans are slim 12 oz. ones you typically find with energy drink brands. The brim of the can denotes that this is a "Sports Energy" drink and provides both "hydration" and "energia" (yes, we're going bilingual!) Of course, as a space buff, I also noted that's also the name of the rocket system the Soviet Union developed to launch their Space Shuttle-clone, the Buran. But I'm pretty sure that's not what the Golazo folks were aiming for! Other callouts on the can include "Naturally Flavored", "Naturally Sweetened" (it contains both sugar and Stevia), and "No Preservatives".

Upon opening the can, you are greeted with a fruity scent, but one that can easily be identified as an energy drink. There's just something about all those supplements that creates a unique smell, in this case d-ribose, yerba mat extract, taurine, caffeine, and guarana. The color is clearish is a tint of yellow, and is lightly carbonated.

Our initial taste can best be described as slightly bitter, with an influx of a flavor that had parallels with licorice. I'm sure that's not what they were going for, but it's probably the best that could be described. As it settles in the back of your mouth, however, the fruity flavor punches out. It was definitely not a berry taste, but rather something more on par with citrus, hinting at orange, but not as strong as tangerines. The Golazo folks describe it as "refreshing mango-lime," which I guess could be valid here — but honestly we didn't place those flavors until AFTER we read their description. Power of suggestion? The aftertaste also sparks of residue associated with energy drinks packed with supplements. It was a tad filmy, bitter, and had a diet-ish aftertaste, probably sourced from the use of Stevia. We weren't too happy with the aftertaste experience.

Golazo Energy Drink
Carbonated Water, sugar, citric acid, natural flavor, sodium citrate, yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) leaf extract, potassium citrate, Stevia rebaudiana leaf extract, calcium d-Pantothenate (B5), niacinamide (B3), guarana (Paullinia cupana) seed extractive, pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), cyanocobalamin (B12)

A 12 oz. can features 90 calories, 23 g carbs (21 g sugars), 65 mg sodium, 60 mg potassium, 2 mg Vitamin B6, 6 mcg Vitamin B12, and 10 mg pantothenic acid. Each can contains 100 mg of caffeine, which breaks down to 8.3 mg/oz. (For comparison, regular Mountain Dew has 4.5 mg/oz.)

Overall, I really like the Galazo concept. The branding and story are excellent. The purpose is clearly identified. The flavor may not be exactly my cup of tea, given the negative association one typically assumes with energy drinks. But with that in mind, an energy drink fan would probably really dig the citrus-y taste. A lot of thought and brand positioning seem to have been put in place for this drink out of Seattle… and it shows. I'd say they've met their "awesome goal!"

Official Website: GolazoEnergy.com

Jones Soda recently sent some 16 oz. samples of the new drink to review so we did just that. We're a general beverage site, covering a broad array of soft drinks, waters, teas, juices, etc. Thus we know that our opinion on energy drinks is probably not the same as those who patronize the genre and its ever-growing desire for a "buzz", thus your mileage may vary.

Original WhoopAss packaging
(Source: Jones Soda)

That said, we were impressed with the packaging on the new WhoopAss, especially when compared to what it used to look like. The new style is black, clean, and very clearly branded. It's also hard to miss the name of the product (which got lost a bit in the old design) as well as who makes it, Jones. The tagline "Open a Can" at the bottom is a friendly hint at the catchphrase associated with the product name. Jones calls the primary icon a "gritty red and grey Iron Cross graphic" and then rattles on about how it symbolizes strength, courage, and whatnot. The old anime "Little Guy" character from the original can design shows up next to the ingredients on the back of the can as a nice hat tip to the past. Oddly the can called out "Est. 96", which you would assume is when WhoopAss was originally created, but Jones keeps insisting that date is actually 1999. What gives?

So why is Jones all of the sudden getting back into the energy drink game? Well, it's no secret that they've been going through some financial challenges as of late. Looking through their recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, they talk about having to drop certain product lines (Jones Naturals and Jones Organics) because of distribution loss at such retail outlets like Panera Bread and Barnes & Noble. They got a new CEO, Bill Meissner, who has experience working for other brands such as Fuze, Talking Rain, and SoBe. It's noted that Mr. Meissner "knows the energy drink space," so it would appear that a reboot of the brand was a logical extension with the current Jones Soda leadership. Personally, we think it's a bit risky given the climate, but probably a safer bet than launching something completely new.

Back to the drink itself, when you open the can you are greeted by a very berry-infused scent, nothing like citrus or berry. It's a deeper, darker berry smell. The color of the drink is a red/purple with the translucency associated with energy drinks. While I never tried the previous WhoopAss personally, Jones' marketing materials note that the old version was bright yellow with a tart/sweet flavor.

Let's get to the taste, shall we? In my opinion, it's not very good. It actually reminded me quite a bit of Fanta Wildberry, which we also did not care for. The flavor is bitter overall (Jones describes it as "exotic, subtle fruit flavor"). Your initial sip starts with a bubbly, pucker-inducing dynamic that translates into something like stale SweetTarts candy, hinting at a grape/berry combination flavor. The aftertaste sticks with you with the residue you typically will find with energy drinks like Red Bull or Monster (and unlike more soft drink-like products such as the Amp lineup). In the end, the flavor feels "empty" and a tad bit watered down, yet effective in making you go "what was that?" Other energy drink fans may disagree, but in our opinion, when it says "WhoopAss" on the can, should you really be surprised at a taste like this?

Here's the ingredient list of the new WhoopAss:

Jones WhoopAss
Carbonated water, pure cane sugar, citric acid, taurine, natural flavors, sodium citrate, L-carnitine base (levocarnitine), yerba mate extract, L-arginine, L-lysine HCL, caffeine, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (as preservatives), green tea extract, grape concentrate, niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Red 40, pyridoxine HCL (Vitamin B6), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), cyanocobalamin HCL (Vitamin B12)

If you compare, it's quite different from the original WhoopAss:

Jones WhoopAss 1.0
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, taurine, citric acid, natural flavors, inositol, potassium benzoate (to preserve freshness), caffeine, potassium sorbate (to preserve freshness), niacin, panax ginseng extract, guarana seed extract, pyridoxine HCL (Vitamin B6), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), and thiamin HCL (Vitamin B1)

A 16 oz. can of WhoopAss contains 220 calories, 52 g of carbs (all of them sugars), 3.4 mg riboflavin, 40 mg niacin, 4 mg Vitamin B6, 12 mcg Vitamin B12, and 320 mg sodium. Amongst the other supplements you'll find 200 mg of caffeine, which breaks down to 12.5 mg/oz. (For comparison, regular Mountain Dew has 4.5 mg/oz.)

The drink definitely provides a buzz and a pick-me-up. We tasted it at 9 a.m. and still could feel the effects later in the day (granted, we're probably more sensitive to caffeine than most readers).

Overall, we were disappointed in the flavor of Jones WhoopAss. Energy drink fans will want to check it out to see if it fits into their style of beverage, but from a generalist perspective, there are probably better drinks you could be exploring.

Official Website: JonesSoda.com

Bing gets its name from the use of bing cherries and not the Microsoft-owned search engine formerly known by a bunch of unmemorable names like Live Search, Windows Live Search, and MSN Search. In fact, Bing includes 5% cherry juice in its formula, which would explain the emphasis on red in the packaging color scheme.

Bing comes in 12 oz. slim cans packaged in 4-Packs. The can design features a dark red color with a black "B" logo that contains a cherry-shaped outline. The pitch on the front of the can notes that this is a "delicious energizing beverage with Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng, and Vitamin C."

It's also only 40 calories per 12 oz. can. How do they pull that off? Well, even though the sweetener is cane sugar, it's complimented by the one-two punch of sucralose and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) as artificial sweeteners (though the marketing materials claim that there is less than 0.02% of sucrolose content).

Bing CEO Lamont Seckman

In talking with Mr. Seckman, he mentioned that the inclusion of the artificial sweeteners to cut down on the calorie count was intentional to broaden the appeal of the drink. Bing is being positioned not against the likes of Red Bull and other energy drinks. Rather, it's going up against standard soft drinks, while also walking that line between full-calorie and sugar-free. Thankfully, it does seem to succeed better than other hybrids we've seen in years past such as Coke C2 and Pepsi Edge.

By being cherry-flavored, Bing is hoping to be more demographically appealing to a broader audience, especially females. Traditionally, energy drinks tend to skew towards young males with cash to burn. The lower calorie count, use of real juice, inclusion of various nutrients, and natural colors/flavors also are being aimed at the more "health conscious" energy drink-type customer.

Upon opening a can, you are greeted with a tart cherry scent, thus supporting the branding of the beverage. Bing possesses a very sweet, cherry flavor that is quite a break from what you'd come to expect from an energy drink. The dark-but-translucent red color of the beverage reminds me of something you'd see in a Jones Soda bottle. The initial "wow" of cherry flavor is quite refreshing if the drink is chilled well.

We did detect that "artificial sweetener aftertaste" with the drink. If you are used to low- or no-calorie soft drinks, this should not be an issue. However, if you are more adverse to the sucralose/Ace-K combo, this might turn you off. Consistent with other energy drinks, there's a bit of syrupy flavor combined with what we assume are the supplements packed into the beverage, producing an expected taste for the genre. Speaking of what's inside, let's take a closer look, shall we?

Bing Energy Drink
Water, dark cherry juice (from concentrate), cane sugar, natural flavors, citric acid, grape skin extract (color), potassium sorbate (preservative and potassium source), sodium benzoate (preservative), sucralose, acesulfame potassium

As previously mentioned, a 12 oz. can contains 40 calories. It also features 10 g of carbs (10 of which are sugars), 20 mg of sodium, 60 mg of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), 1.7 mg of riboflaven (Vitamin B2), 20 mg of niacin (niacinamide), 2 mg of pyridoxine HCl (Vitamin B6), 6 mcg of cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12), and 10 mg of d-calcium pantothenate (pantothenic acid). Caffeine is 10 mg/oz.

As far as your added energy drink-oriented supplements, they include 1000 mg of taurine, 100 mg ginkgo biloba left extract, 100 mg ginseng root extract, 100 mg beta-glucan, 10 mg guarana seed extract, 0.01 mg acai berry extract, and 0.01 mg of flax seed extract.

Being both beverage connoisseurs and Web enthusiasts, if there is anything we'd advise the folks at Bing, it would probably be in their positioning on the Internet. It's got to be a challenge to maintain any easy search engine ranking now that they share a name with a Microsoft property (in the drink's defense, it came first!)

The promotional materials point to no less than 3 web addresses for the product (getbinged.com, bingenergydrink.net, and bingme.net — all which point to the same location), which is rather confusing when you want to share information. As for the official site, it's loaded with images and Flash objects that make it really hard to read, very difficult for search engines to index, and seem to bring into question the target market. On the social media front, an associated MySpace page reflects the drink's usage in bars as a mixer. We like the drink, but if we were to tell a friend about it by providing them a web link, it probably would be hard to take the marketing seriously. The Internet is probably low on the radar of a brand trying to establish itself, but perception goes a long way. Getting involved with Facebook and Twitter would be very low-cost venues to spread the word.

Overall, I really liked the refreshing cherry taste of Bing. It's the type of drink that you wish more folks knew about because of the unique approach it takes on the energy drink category. It's not "scary" like the marketing of a lot of energy beverages, which are very in-your-face and alienate anyone not in the targeted demographic. While I'm not totally sold on the artificial sweetener-influenced aftertaste, it's rather hard to argue with just 40 calories per can!

Official Website: BingEnergyDrink.com

Boston America, a beverage company based in Woburn, Massachusetts, is known for producing licensed novelty products. Among other things, they're behind the real-world version of Tropic Thunder's Booty Sweat, an energy drink sporting Mario's visage urging drinkers to "Power-Up!," and Pop-Secret popcorn-flavored lip balm. Now, after successfully selling it in a 2007 promotion for The Simpsons Movie and yielding to popular(?) demand, Boston America has revived Duff Energy Drink.

For those unfamiliar with The Simpsons, Duff is the fictitious brand of beer that Homer Simpson is particularly fond of. For obvious reasons, Duff's real world counterpart is something less legally regulated but almost certainly just as potentially harmful to your health: an energy drink.

The can, modeled after Matt Groening's in-show depictions, has the trademark Duff logo and red/tan color scheme that pervades Springfield's bars.

Inside, the amber-red drink is about what you'd expect from an energy drink born specifically for tie-in purposes: it smells a bit citrusy and tastes a bit bitter. The closest item on the market I could approximate it to would be Rockstar Energy Drink, with its biting taste dialed back. An even fainter bitter aftertaste lingers around after each sip. Overall, not something to phone home about.

Each 12 oz. can has 160 calories and a hefty 40 grams of sugar. It's chock full of B vitamins, giving you 50% to 1000%(!) of your daily recommended values of the various B varieties. It also has a full gram of taurine and 120 milligrams of caffeine, comparable to Rockstar. (Hmm… tastes like Rockstar, smells like Rockstar, has the same makeup as Rockstar… there's an analogy to ducks in here somewhere, I can feel it.)

In the end, the most that can be said about Duff Energy Drink is that it's a wonderful novelty to have on your shelf if you're a Simpsons fan… and a wonderful can to look at on the store shelves if you're not.