Monster Ultra Gold

Introduction

I've been waiting for this drink to come to my area for what feels like forever! Ultra Gold along with Ultra Watermelon and Khaotic comprise the newest entrants to the one of the most robust energy drink lineups in the game. As a big fan of the Monster "Ultra" formula, it's not really a question of whether or not I'll like this drink. I will like it. The question will be how well Monster pulls off the pineapple flavor, a flavor that I think is underutilized at the moment.

Appearance

Monster absolutely killed it with this can. Great starting point with the gold background, but with the added texture around the logo and abstract artistic design around the rest of the can, it all comes out to an elite appearance.

Taste

On the can description, Monster compares the taste to "nectar of ambrosia", "fruit of the gods", and "biting into perfectly ripened golden pineapple". Impressively, these are all good descriptions. The above average carbonation is perfect, and the pineapple flavor hits immediately on the first sip. It captures the intended fruit flavor better than any energy drink I can remember, despite having zero sugar and no fruit juice.

Kick

150mg of caffeine and zero sugar. I'll vouch for the Monster Ultra line in general for having a nice, moderate amount of caffeine and avoiding any negative side effects (in my experience).

Conclusion

Keep the Monster Ultra line coming, please! To me, this is an elite addition to the Monster lineup and energy drink world in general. I'll definitely be coming back for more before too long.

Appearance

A "gold" flavor that doesn't look cheesy. This can is a work of art. The metallic gold color is striking, without feeling ostentatious. Black decorative lines surround the label and remind me of a combination of art deco and modern design. Jay Gatsby would really love this design. The grippy texture that I've raved about in the past makes an appearance here, which is a welcome sight.

Taste

There aren't a lot of pineapple flavored drinks that I've seen. There are hints of the typical formula found in Monster's Ultra drink line, though the pineapple flavor is strong enough to distance itself from the usual. The pineapple flavor is quality, it avoids tasting too artificial or syrupy. The flavor itself is reminiscent of a real pineapple, despite the drink containing no real fruit juice.

Kick

Monster Ultra Gold has 150mg of caffeine. The drink is approximately equivalent to one and a half cups of coffee.

Overall

Monster's Ultra line of drinks has always been a strong set of products. The introduction of Ultra Gold is taking the product line to further heights. I haven't crunched the numbers yet but after a couple sips I knew this drink would sit closer to the top of the rankings within it's product line. It has uncommon flavor that is perfect for the beach or other tropical location. Could it be more of a natural flavor? Sure, but it toes the line between artificial and natural taste quite well. In addition, the drink comes in a striking can that is functionally and aesthetically satisfying.