Monster Maxx Rad Red

Introduction

Monster Maxx is one of those drinks that I feel like has been around forever, but for some reason I’ve never tried. I swear they’re not as widely available as the other Monsters. I’m excited to see what “rad red” entails - cherry, apple, maybe just a “red” taste?

Appearance

Cool can, honestly. Looks like a red galaxy in the background behind a silver Monster logo. Only a 12oz can which puts it in competition with Red Bull. Pours out bright red with low to medium carbonation.

Taste

Flavor is black cherry, and I like that it’s not too sweet. To compare it to other black cherry energy drinks like Quake Black Cherry and Mountain Dew Kickstart Black Cherry, I would say that Rad Red is different in that it doesn’t taste as much like a soda since it’s not as sweet. I’m sure it’s still just artificial flavoring. But it is a more dialed back, simple, cherry flavor.

Kick

I think the kick is probably the best aspect of this drink. It’s true, 180mg per can is nothing to write home about. But compared to the most popular 12oz energy drink, Red Bull, 180mg packs a punch compared to 102mg.

Conclusion

Sometimes I’m looking for an energy drink to sit down with and sip on; when I’m looking for a buzz and have too much time on my hands. But sometimes I want to down a quick hitting, delicious energy drink, and that’s where Monster Maxx comes in. Rad Red brings a simple black cherry flavor that goes down smooth and easy.

Appearance

The Maxx Rad Red comes in a sharp looking package, although it's a mostly familiar one. The black background and lid, in combination with the explosive graphic are quite similar to Monster's Rehab Tea drinks. The two unique qualities of the Maxx line of drinks are the skinnier 12 fl. oz. form factor and angled Monster logo. Both qualities are not found in the most common Monster drinks, making this drink a refreshingly diverse offering.

Taste

If energy drinks get one thing right, it's that they always tastes like the artificial flavors you associate with the given color. Rad Red, as you'd expect, tastes like a tastes like a sweet candy flavor with hints of cherry. The flavor is slightly tart, but not distractingly so. It's a delicious flavor that balances sweet and tart very well.

Kick

Monster Maxx Rad Red has 200mg of caffeine, slightly more than 2 cups of coffee. Notably, the drink has 200mg in only 12 fl. oz., which is a higher caffeine-to-volume ratio than most Monster drinks. This makes the drink perfect for road trips where bathroom stops are not an option, but energy is a must.

Overall

The Monster Maxx Rad Red is a delicious beverage in an efficient package. This drink is more versatile due to it's smaller form factor yet higher caffeine content. I find that 200mg is the sweet spot for caffeine content on the higher end of the spectrum. It seems more casual than drinking a normal sized can of Monster, and the flavor matches. The sweet flavor reminds me of candy and is more reminiscent of a drink made by Bang Energy. In this instance, that is a good thing, as one of Bang's best qualities is having bold flavors. All in all, this is another delicious drink from Monster, albeit with radical packaging and flavor.