No Fear Gift Pack

To enter, BevReview.com readers had to list their biggest fear. We had come pretty interesting ones, including:

• Being irrelevant
• Throwing up
• Being pooped on by a bird
• Republicans
• Spiders
• Blood & Needles
• Swimming in the ocean

We put all the entries into Random.org to calculate a random winner of the great gift pack from No Fear. The winner is Tim Walston (Kirksville, MO)… who by the way, had a fear of failure. Congrats Tim! We'll be sending out that Gift Pack to you right away.

Thanks again to everyone who participated and to the folks at No Fear for making this giveaway possible!

You could win all these No Fear prizes!

This rather tasty energy drink contains real sugar and a bunch of different juices, combined with a bitter-smooth orange flavor that's a good fit for those looking for a pick-me-up in the morning. Here's a look at our reviews for this and the three other available flavors:

• No Fear Regular
• No Fear Sugar Free
• No Fear Motherload
• No Fear Bloodshot

One thing I learned about the No Fear lineup — which incidentally is distributed by Pepsi — is that they like to combine a uniquely bitter flavor with something of complimentary smoothness.

It's an odd mashup, but for some reason, it just works, especially in the Bloodshot flavor. I really like that one (and I'm not just saying that because they sent me a free can!)

Look under the tab to Earn Some Cred!

No Fear is currently running an interesting promotion called Earn Some Cred. Think of it as the energy drink version of Pepsi Stuff or My Coke Rewards. But what's interesting is that the codes that you redeem for prizes are actually hidden under the pull tabs. I don't think I've ever seen that before… rather clever! You can redeem your points at EarnSomeCred.com… or in some cases, you may be an instant winner. (I, unfortunately, was not!) This includes trips to mixed martial arts competitions with WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting), a chance to learn motocross, surfing in Hawaii, and some live music events.

But that's not the only way you can get some stuff. Thanks to the No Fear folks — and to people like you who proved to the No Fear folks that you like getting free stuff — BevReview.com has been provided with a gift pack valued at $100. It includes the following:

• 1 12-pack of the new No Fear Bloodshot Energy Drink
• 2 No Fear Hoodies
• 2 No Fear T-shirts (two different styles)
• 1 No Fear Bloodshot Hat
• 1 CD featuring Lamb of God's latest: "Wrath" (released Feb. 24)
• 1 Sticky Bumps Surf Wax

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that there's quite a bit of stuff there. Frankly, I'm a bit jealous that I have to give this away! Those hoodies look pretty comfy!

I've only got one of these gift packs, but it can be yours!

Here are the rules:

1. Write a comment to this post stating whether or not you have actually tried any No Fear energy drinks before. What did you think?
• Include your full name (which will be displayed) and e-mail address (which will be hidden) so you can be contacted should you win
2. Tell me how you heard about this giveaway from BevReview… was it by browsing, RSS feeds, Twitter, etc.?
3. Share what your biggest fear is and why
• Entries are due by Monday, March 30 at midnight CDT.
• Random winner(s) will be announced by Tuesday, March 31
• Contest limited to folks in the continental United States

This is a great giveaway, so you won't want to miss your chance to win. Please spread the word via e-mail, Twitter, Digg, or by yelling at the person who sits next to you! Have No Fear if you want to win!

We've 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, which had a nice sweet/bitter taste, but was hard to describe to others. The folks behind the No Fear drink clarified some of those questions with Bloodshot, starting with the packaging.

First of all, the standard black can with No Fear and "skull with wings" logos are in place. These sit above the phrase "Bloodshot" written in lowercase script similar to a biker-style font. The complimentary color on the can? Orange. What do you think the flavor of this drink is? In fact, right there on the bottom it mentions "with Blood Orange & Dragonfruit Juice." Makes sense to me. This is supported by some extended prose on the side of the can:

If you ask us, the only good thing about morning is finding out your're still alive.

So, we mixed up this little courage concoction to take the edge off last night.

With a hit of both real juice and vitamins, synched with some serious energy,

No Fear Bloodshot gets you back on your feet just in time to do it all over again.

So, from that we can pretty much interpret that this is being positioned as a morning beverage. The mention of real juice (30%) supports that as well. Add in the parallels to this orange-flavored energy drink and the traditional breakfast staple of OJ, and it's pretty clear what this drink is about. I applaud the folks at No Fear for more-targeted marketing on this beverage.

You'll get a nice "orange soda" scent when you open the can, and upon looking inside, you'll see an orange/yellow-colored drink. So far, so good.

The taste produces the bitterness we've found with the other No Fear drinks, especially Motherload. But there's also that orange flavor we were looking for. Not a sweet orange, more of a muted one, with a grapefruit influence, not unlike the flavor we found in the Halloween limited edition flavor of Jones Soda Blood Orange Soda last year. I liked it… a lot.

Given its positioning as a morning beverage, it did seem a bit smoother when compared to No Fear Regular and No Fear Motherload, probably taking a page from other drinks who have tried subdued versions of normal flavors in the morning (i.e. Gatorade AM/Shine On). Also, this is of interest… there's no high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in this drink. According to the ingredients, the sweetener used is sugar! How about that? No wonder it tasted better!

No Fear Bloodshot contains 174 mg. of caffeine, which breaks down to 10.9 mg/oz. — the same as No Fear Regular and No Fear Sugar Free, but lower than No Fear Motherload. This compares to Red Bull's 9.64 mg/oz. and Monster's 10.00 mg/oz. Pepsi's Amp Energy features 8.875 mg/oz., while Coke's Full Throttle has 9.0 mg/oz.

Partaking of all 16 oz. of this beverage will run you 200 calories, 320 mg of sodium, and 46 g of sugars. That's less calories than the original flavor, but also the highest amount of sodium in the lineup. When you take a look at the inclusion of nutritional supplements, this 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 Bloodshot
Carbonated water, sugar, grape juice concentrate, orange juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, taurine, citric acid, natural flavor, sodium citrate, dragonfruit juice concentrate, pectin, blood orange juice concentrate, ascorbic acid, monopotassium phosphate, inositol, caffeine, purple grape juice concentrate (color), gum arabic, L-carnitine, grape seed extract, cochineal (color), L-arginine hydrochloride, zinc methionine sulfate, panax ginseng root extractive, glycerol ester of wood rosin, guarana seed extractive, pyridoxine hydrochloride, soy protein isolate and rice flour, selenium complexed with amino acids and polypeptides, folic acid, di-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, cyanocobalamin

With the use of sugar and real fruit juices — including orange, pear, and grape — No Fear Bloodshot is an incredibly-tasty energy drink targeted for morning consumption. The combination of smooth fruit flavors and bitter bite actually produces a refreshing experience that can start your day with a little extra pep!

Now, one might be scared with the green color given our negative experience with another beverage that shared that same hue AND also had the word "Mother" in the title. We, of course, are talking about Full Throttle Mother. Luckily, this 16 oz. can of No Fear Motherload doesn't share much in common with that now-discontinued, disgusting drink.

The marketing angle of Motherload seems to be "300% Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamins B6, B12, and C" while also having a "guanabara-berry flavor." Like the other flavors in the No Fear line (distributed by Pepsi), the can is black and highlighted by an accent color — which as we've previously noted, is green. The No Fear logo sits at the top of the can, right above the "skull with wings" logo. A green-colored banner proclaiming "Super Energy" is below that, followed by the bold, green lettering of "MOTHERLOAD".

Unlike the berry scents of No Fear Regular and No Fear Sugar Free, Motherload smells more like citrus when opened. The color skews more towards a orange/yellow rather than a yellow/green.

As for the taste, we're talking an experience more akin to tropical fruits… grapefruit, guava, kiwi… thrown in with an energy drink blend. There's a bitterness present, like the other No Fear drinks, but I found it a tad bit smoother. As I mentioned, this drink tends to have a tropical influence, but it's hard to pin point exactly just what that is. This drink hit the marketplace in 2008, and frankly, I think I like the flavor a bit more than No Fear Regular. As for what the self-described "guanabara-berry flavor" is, your guess is as good as mine.

Also of note is the inclusion of glycerol ester of wood rosin in the ingredient list. Wikipedia notes that this "is a food additive used as an emulsifier and stabiliser, to keep oils in suspension in water," and is common in soft drinks. The different, smoother texture of this beverage might be associated with that ingredient.

No Fear Motherload contains 182 mg. of caffeine, which breaks down to 11.4 mg/oz., one of the highest levels for a No Fear energy drink. (The regular flavor averages out to 10.9 mg/oz.). This compares to Red Bull's 9.64 mg/oz. and Monster's 10.00 mg/oz. Pepsi's Amp Energy features 8.875 mg/oz., while Coke's Full Throttle has 9.0 mg/oz.

Feeling thirsty? If you drink the entire can, it's going to cost you 260 calories, 200 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. The big "300% DV" numbers are produced by 360 mg of Vitamin C, 12 mg of Vitamin B6, and 36 mcg of Vitamin B12.

Did I noticed an increased "buzz" or "boost" from this drink? Well, not more so than I previously experienced with the other No Fear flavors. Don't get me wrong, I liked the taste, but wouldn't go out of my way to drink it because it proclaimed to have a lot of Vitamin C. That's what a multivitamin is for!

A full ingredient list is as follows:

No Fear Motherload
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, taurine, natural flavor, sodium citrate, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), inositol, caffeine, monopotassium phosphate, gum arabic, grape seed extract, L-carnitine, glycerol ester of wood rosin, panax ginseng root extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride, L-arginine hydrochloride, zinc methionine sulfate, guarana seed extract, caramel color, selenium complexed with amino acids and polypeptides, beta carotene (color), folic acid, cyanocobalamin

No Fear Motherload is a rather tasty, tropical-influenced drink that has a smooth taste that is bookended by a harsh bitterness. For some reason, the smooth/bitter combo works, producing an energy drink that's bound to keep you bouncing off the walls with its 11.4 mg/oz. of caffeine!

Featuring a back 16 oz. can, No Fear Sugar Free is highlighted by a blue color to denote its "diet" status. You'll find the No Fear logo towards the top of the can along with the "skull with wings" logo. The phrase "Super Energy" can be found on a blue-colored banner above the blue letters marking this product as "Sugar Free". Like the original flavor, a callout of typical energy drink supplements is found towards on the bottom: taurine, L-carnitine, and arginine.

The smell of the drink is pretty similar to No Fear Regular, somewhat tropical in nature. This beverage is also yellow/green in color.

The taste is where this drink differs with its Regular brethren. Enter the world of artificial sweeteners! In the case of No Fear Sugar Free, those would be both sucralose and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), a common combination of sweeteners. And you know what? You can definitely take the fake! The flavor follows along the lines of the officially described "berry-passion fruit flavor," but with the added "benefit" of a artificial sweetener aftertaste that is pretty pronounced. As longtime BevReview.com readers know, I'm not a huge fan of diet drinks, so I readily admit my bias in flavor. Those of you who are more open or used to diet beverages will probably find this drink right at home.

No Fear Sugar Free contains 154 mg. of caffeine, which breaks down to 9.6 mg/oz., slightly under the 10.9 mg/oz. found in No Fear Regular. This puts Sugar Free on par with Red Bull (9.64 mg/oz.) and under Monster (10.00 mg/oz.). Pepsi's Amp Energy features 8.875 mg/oz., while Coke's Full Throttle has 9.0 mg/oz.

The big savings with this drink is in calories. If you drink the entire can, it's just 20 calories vs. the 260 you'd get with the regular version of No Fear. There's also 200 mg of sodium and obviously 0 g of sugars (it does say "Sugar Free" on the label, remember?) 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 Sugar Free
Carbonated water, citric acid, taurine, grape juice concentrate (color), sodium citrate, natural flavor, inositol, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), caramel color, fruit extract (color), sucralose, caffeine, monopotassium phosphate, acesulfame potassium, L-carnitine, grape seed extract, panax ginseng root extract, L-arginine hydrochloride, guarana seed extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride, soy protein isolate and rice flour, selenium complexed with amino acids and polypeptides, folic acid, cyanocobalamin

If you are watching your caloric consumption, No Fear Sugar Free is a strong contender, though it has a bitter aftertaste produced by the artificial sweeteners. Far more syrupy in flavor than No Fear Regular, the sour berry/grape taste tends to be a little different, which is nice. Still, if sugar free isn't a concern, then go for the Regular version.

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.