Drink it!

Celsius, a new soda, is actually claiming to burn calories and boost metabolism.

"Celsius is the first of it's kind. It's the only soft drink that's been proven to burn calories," Haley said. "It's this extended rise in metabolism, so you don't get a crash and a spike you might get with an energy drink or the jitters."

Celsius is available in the following flavors: Lemon-lime, cola and ginger ale. Orange and Wild Berry are said to be coming soon.

Read more about it. Has anyone tried this yet?

Posted by Mike at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I finally saw my first Coca-Cola Blak single this week. I should have waited before spending $4 on a 4-pack.

There are a few more reports of Blak singles in the comments area of this former post.

Anyone starting to see these out there?

Posted by Mike at 02:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Good news?

The scientists looked at diet and soda consumption and found that those with the highest intake of diet soda were half as likely to get esophageal cancer as those who did not drink diet soda.

Pass me the Diet Coke please.

Posted by Mike at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Kudos, of course, to the students in Oklahoma who are collecting soda tabs to fund a fellow student's cheimotherapy. Here's the story.

Students in Kerr-Drummond Hall are collecting soda tabs for a good cause. Tabs are being collected for a six-year-old boy who was diagnosed with cancer. The boy is a relative of an employee of Stillwater High School, which initiated the idea for a tab collection. Students are trying to collect as many tabs as possible for the boy to receive the necessary chemotherapy treatments.

The story doesn't say, but I'm guessing they're going to recycle these for cash.

Posted by Mike at 05:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Did you know that the "coca" in Coca-Cola comes from the use of cocaine in early versions of the drink? 'Tis true. Sounds like it's time for a come back of the original "flavor."

Since January, the Nasa native community has been offering the soft drink locally and in neighboring Popayan, where it is bottled. By the end of the year, the Nasa hope to sell Coca-Sek nationwide, targeting the same consumers who drink Gatorade or Red Bull, both highly popular with Colombians.

Wonder if they'll make a "blak" version of this?

Posted by Mike at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Okay. So the latest energy drink trend seems to be "Juiced" energy drinks. I'm pretty sure that Monster started things with their Khaos Juice, and then they also did a juiced version for Lost, "Lost 5-0." The former is much better than the latter, but that's not much of a surprise. Why would Monster give a licensee a better tasting drink, right?

Anyway... Now Rockstar is getting in on the fun with Rockstar Juiced, boasting 70% juice, 100% energy. The juices listed are Mango, Passion Fruit, and Orange. A close look at the ingredients also reveals Pear and Apple juices, which are basically filler juice staples.

The can is a shiny metallic orange, with accents that give it the look of that textured metal plate that you see in truck beds, etc... And then of course the Rockstar logo in the middle. This doesn't work too well for me. A little too much orange.

I was surprised that the taste still has some of that medicinal energy drink feel to it, especially since this is 70% juice. It definitely has a fruity, juicy taste, but it's a little on the sour side, and the smell is a little weird, too.

On the whole, it's not terrible, but I'd take Monster's Khoas over this any day.

Here's BevNet's review. They were more impressed than I was. On their scale, I'd give this a 3.

Posted by Alan at 03:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I know the Coca-Cola Company really wants people to try and enjoy Coca-Cola Blak, but forcing consumers to try your new product by only offering 4-packs isn't the way to go, methinks.

I want to try this product. I don't, however, want to spend an average of $5 for a 4 pack of something I'm not sure I'm going to like, and I don't want to be stuck with a couple more bottles if it sucks.

Where are the Coca-Cola Blak singles? I've looked in grocery stores, convienence stores and even Wal-Mart. Nothing? What gives?

Have you seen Blak singles anywhere?

Posted by Mike at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I loathe these survey type quizzes, but hey, this one was at least somewhat relevant...

What kind of soda are you?

You Are 7 Up

Understated and subtle, people warm up to you slowly. But once they're hooked, they can't imagine going back to anyone else! Your best soda match: Diet Coke Stay away from: Mountain Dew

I never figured myself a 7UP guy. I'm at least a Dew, I think.

Posted by Mike at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Did you know that if you add Mentos to Diet Coke, you get quite the interesting effect? Check out this video:

There are a a ton of similar videos. Neat, huh?

Posted by Mike at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This week, we tracked down both the regular and diet versions of the new Berries and Cream Dr. Pepper. I'm seeing it in more and more places now, so you should be able to track it down pretty easily now.

We had the diet version earlier in the week, which wasn't bad. You can definitely taste the berries in there - even more so in the diet version then the regular. The weird diet plastic taste was present, but it wasn't too bad.

The regular version tasted more like regular Dr. Pepper and you couldn't taste the berries as much as you could in the diet version.

I might buy this one again, and as Justin noted in the comments a few posts ago, this would be great as a drink mixer - throw in some rum and enjoy.

Posted by Mike at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Heather called me this morning to tell me that she had spotted Coca-Cola Blak at Target yesterday. I couldn't believe it. How could she have NOT bought any for us (and by us I mean me)? So she said she would pick some up today when she got done with work. Well, she finished up work, did a little shopping, bought a little ice cream, and realized she had forgotten to stop at Target for the Blak. And couldn't really stop now because of the aforementioned ice cream.

So she called me up to tell me I should stop to get some on my way home. She also volunteered to go back down to the Waterfront and pick some up for me, but I wouldn't wish an extra trip to the Waterfront on anyone (If you don't live near me, I apologize for the obscure reference, but it's really not exciting enough to explain in detail. It's a crappy, over-trafficked shopping area.). So I said I'd pick some up at the Target that I pass on the way home. Yep. That's what I thought I'd do.

Then, I realized that I could just fly over to the Target near our other office building real quick during regular business hours. No one would miss me for 20 minutes. I walked around the store for a few minutes, a creeping fear building up inside me that this Target hadn't received a shipment of Blak. But I kept walking, kept scanning the end caps, and lo and behold, there it was, in all of its weird marble-labeled glory.

I grabbed two four packs ($4.99 each) and headed for the checkout. I know buying two was risky (what if I hated it?), but I figured if I did like it, I didn't want to have to make another trip to Target over the weekend. Or even this evening (they're only 8oz. bottles).

I drank my first Blak over ice. Upon pouring it into my little paper cup, I was impressed by the creamy, almost frothy head. I slurped at it a little bit, and I have to say that it did taste a little like the foam on the top of a cappuccino or some such other beverage. After working my way through that, I could finally see the "Carbonated Fusion Beverage" itself. You know. Caramel color. Nothing too exciting there.

So you're wondering about the taste. Well, I give it two thumbs up. If this were a five star rating system, I'd probably give it four out of five stars. The coffee flavor is definitely there, but I almost feel like it could be a little bit stronger. I also didn't experience an aftertaste anywhere near as bad as that described by the review on BevNet. In fact, I didn't feel there was much of an aftertaste at all.

I guess the only thing I'd complain about is the size. I feel like it should be at least a 120z. bottle. But that's life, I guess. My recommendation to you is to go out and try some. It probably won't be around forever, and you'd hate to miss out, wouldn't you?

Posted by Alan at 03:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Hmmm... Interesting stuff, this Sobe No Fear Gold. It's Sobe's latest Energy Drink offering (to go with their regular and sugar free No Fear brands).

First of all, can I tell you how much we used to make fun of all of the people who wore No Fear shirts when I worked at Kennywood in 1995? Just buying this stuff kinda makes me a little embarrassed. But sometimes we need to make some personal sacrifices in the name of high art. Or even beverage reviews.

The packaging is definitely eye-catching. As the name implies, it's this big shiny gold can, with ornamentation that’s kind of reminiscent of an old Fendi bag or something. Also, gold chains.

So anyway... The taste. Hmm... I'd say it's mostly inoffensive, which is more than I can say for a lot of these things. I think I like it better than the regular Sobe No Fear, but it doesn't come anywhere near Monster Khaos, which, to me, is the gold standard (no pun intended) by which all other energy drinks are judged.

Sobe contends that it's a citrus flavor. Would I call it Citrus? Maybe. Would I buy it again? Maybe. Maybe not. I mainly just try these things because I like to believe that there's something better out there. Something that's going to change my life in the most amazing way. Is it possible for that something to be in the form of an energy drink? Geez, who knows? In all honesty, I kinda hope not. But it's a good excuse.

Posted by Alan at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)