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Monster Energy Drink

Monster Energy Drink

SHARK SCORE · ENJOYABLE · SHARK SCORE · ENJOYABLE · 70

Enjoyable · A solid grab.

Ranked #156 of 267 drinks · #25 of 35 Monster

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160 mgCaffeine
16 ozCan size
10mg per oz · Strong
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The Sharks’ verdict

Average of 3 Shark reviews. Each category is scored 0–10; Overall is its own call, not an average.

Look7.7/10
Taste7.1/10
Kick5.9/10
Overall7/10
JaredReviewed Nov 27, 2020
6.5/10
“Monster Original is like your first girl/boyfriend. You thought you loved them, but when you end up experiencing what else is out there, you realize they actually weren’t that cool.”
Look9
Taste6.5
Kick6
Overall6.5

Jared’s full review

Introduction

It’s about time that I reviewed the original Monster Energy, but there’s a reason I’ve waited so long – I rarely reach for it anymore. Monster Original is like your first girl/boyfriend. You thought you loved them, but when you end up experiencing what else is out there, you realize they actually weren’t that cool. And just like Monster Original, they’ll always hold a special place in your heart. I do think that there’s something to be said about being one of the first energy drinks (at least in current culture, I’m sure there were cavemen crushing up plants and putting it in water too), and being the standard that other drinks are compared to. All you have to do is look around the energy drink at your local convenience store to see how many drinks try to copycat the Monster Original taste and appearance. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the OG, so I’m excited to come back, try, and compare with all of the new drinks coming out.

Appearance

Giving Monster Original a strong 9 for appearance because it’s an iconic can. Great logo with the classic green and black color scheme. If you want a laugh Google “Monster Energy Satan” for a great take on Monster.

Pours out yellow-ish green with medium to high carbonation.

Taste

I’ve been sitting here for 5 minutes trying to think of how to describe the taste, which is probably pointless because who hasn’t tried it?

I’ve concluded that it’s even harder to place than Dr. Pepper, which at least has vaguely cherry undertones. I guess the best way to describe it is sweet citrus, but that really doesn’t do it justice. Please hit me up if you have a better description.

Gonna give it a 6.5, which somewhat hurts to put down. I just feel like energy drinks have come so far since the original, with tons of unique flavors and takes on the concept. I’m sure there are people who still swear by the taste, but I can safely say that I’ve outgrown it.

Kick

Not sure if the energy blend has changed over the years, but it currently has glucose, taurine, panax ginseng extract, L-carnitine, caffeine, glucuronolactone, inositol, guarana extract, and maltodextrin. 160 mg of caffeine, which I do believe has stayed stable.

Solid kick, but obviously not a ton of caffeine when you look at the new 260 and 300mg blends.

Conclusion

I’m probably not shedding any new light on this drink that’s been around forever, so if you’re still reading – I love you. If you haven’t had it before, try it. It’s the OG for a reason.

CamReviewed Nov 30, 2020
7/10
“Monster Original is a classic that everyone needs to try. It may not be the best, but its reputation and unique flavor make it essential on every energy drink fanatic’s list of must-have beverages.”
Look6.6
Taste7
Kick4
Overall7
Read Cam’s full review

Introduction

Drinking the original Monster is nostalgic to me. When I first started drinking energy drinks in high school, I was not the connoisseur I am today. I would simply guy the OG Monster and think I was super cool. I then started buying them in bulk at Costco until I got tired of them and expanded my horizons. Original Monster has a very unique flavor with no common comparisons in my opinion. With 160mg/can (10mg/floz), it has a very average amount of caffeine. I believe everyone needs to try the Original Monster once. From there, you can see if it’s right for you.

Upside

The upside is its unique taste. Monster does just about every edition correctly in my opinion, and that includes having great tasting beverages. This may not be the best flavor you ever try, but you will not find it anywhere else. The carbonation is standard for Monster Energy Drinks, and always provides a nice mouth feel. It is always easy to focus on the task at hand while drinking the original Monster.

Downside

The Original Monster is sugary and will make you crash more than most energy drinks. It also does not provide a great kick due to the combination of mediocre caffeine content and mild carbonation. I use this solely for gaming and watching movies. Any other activity elicits a different beverage more suited for the task.

Upshot

Monster Original is redrinkable, but not flexible. You probably will not get tired of drinking it repeatedly within reason, but I would not go out of my way to have one before a sporting event or anything of the sort. It causes you to crash more than other energy drinks, and other Monster beverages taste sweeter and superior overall in my opinion. That being said, everyone has to try this at least once before considering themselves an energy drink fanatic.

MattReviewed Nov 30, 2020
7.6/10
“Monster Energy may not be a world beater in its original form but it stands the test of time and that’s worthy of respect”
Look7.4
Taste7.7
Kick7.6
Overall7.6
Read Matt’s full review

Appearance

The original Monster has a classic appearance right? Mostly. The front of the can has the black background with the iconic green logo. If you rotate it to the side however, you’ll see an ad for the latest Halo game and newest Xbox. Monster isn’t afraid to bring in some advertising dollars. The advertising isn’t intrusive and I doubt Monster’s customers will mind too much. That being said, I’m going to hold it against the company a bit, as the original should look original.

Taste

Monster Energy is the quintessential Monster flavor. Sweet, syrupy flavor without feeling sticky, unlike drinks that have high fructose corn syrup. There are hints of sour apple within the sweetness. Perhaps that’s where the green theme comes from, although I am not sure. It’s delicious, although surpassed by some of Monster’s own variants. That is entirely okay, as the original flavor sets the standard, which is still a fairly high bar.

Kick

Monster Energy has 160mg of caffeine. That equates to roughly 2 cups of coffee, although perhaps on the lower end. I personally find it to be the sweet spot in terms of caffeine content. Luckily many Monster variants have followed suit and are contain a similar amount.

Overall

The original Monster, although no spring chicken, it still holds true. The flavor is bold and delicious, without having some of the faults found in cheaper drinks. The prominent logo and unique fonts still look great, despite the cash grabbing ads on the side of the label. The biggest fault of the drink is its nutrition, or lack thereof. Some of the nutrition facts are eye popping. Although concerning, it is common for the original drinks to be less healthy, especially when considering its original release date (2002). Monster Energy may not be a world beater in its original form but it stands the test of time and that’s worthy of respect.

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Monster Energy Drink: quick answers

How much caffeine is in Monster Energy Drink?

Monster Energy Drink has 160 mg of caffeine in a 16 fl oz can (10 mg per fluid ounce). That's about as much as 1.5 cups of brewed coffee (8 oz each, about 95 mg per cup), 40% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for healthy adults. It ranks #146 for caffeine among the 267 drinks we've rated.

Is Monster Energy Drink good?

The Sharks give Monster Energy Drink a Shark Score of 70 (Enjoyable: “A solid grab.”), ranking it #156 of 267. The short version: “Monster Energy may not be a world beater in its original form but it stands the test of time and that’s worthy of respect”

What is the best Monster Energy flavor?

Of the 35 Monster Energy drinks we've rated, the best is Monster Ultra Gold (91). Monster Energy Drink ranks #25. The lowest-rated is Monster Mule (24). See every Monster Energy flavor ranked.

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