Mtn Dew Rise Pomegranate Blue Burst

Introduction

My eyes lit up when I saw this can in my local grocery store. It's Pomegranate Blue Burst, part of the new Mtn Dew energy drink line, Rise. With 180 mg of caffeine, Rise is Mtn Dew's highest caffeine content drink, following up Game Fuel and Kickstart which are both still on shelves.

I'm not going to lie to you, my expectations were high already when I saw the flavor lineup and can design. Then, I learned LeBron James is leading the advertising campaign. With the bar raised yet again, let's see what Mtn Dew and parent company Pepsi have in store.

Appearance

I love the unique, grey can. Add in the red bar at the top, clean lines, and badass lion design, and it comes out to a top tier energy drink can.

Taste

I want to temper expectations here, while still hyping up the taste. It's honestly really similar to all of Mtn Dew's current drinks - Mtn Dew, Game Fuel, and especially Kickstart. It has the soda mouth feel, with a really refreshing fruity taste that reminds me of Kickstart.

As far as the specific flavors go, the "blue burst" comes in strong. I can't say I can pick out the pomegranate which is slightly disappointing. My best description overall is berry, with a hint of tropical.

Kick

180 mg of caffeine is a great amount, in my opinion, filling the gap between standard 160 mg drinks and the high caffeine content beverages at 200-300+ mg. There's zero bitterness despite the level of caffeine.

The can advertises "Immune Support", with 5% juice, zinc, and A & C vitamins to support the claim.

Conclusion

This is an excellent energy drink, but it's not going to blow anyone's mind. If you've had Mtn Dew, Kickstart, or Game Fuel, you've essentially tasted this drink. With that said, I'm excited to try the other flavors, like Strawberry Melon Spark and Berry Blitz. Maybe there's something revolutionary going on with those.

Introduction

This honestly just tastes like “blue” Mountain Dew to me. Some people absolutely love Mountain Dew, but I personally think it is just ‘meh.’ I was excited to try this because I generally enjoy pomegranate flavored energy drinks, but I was somewhat disappointed. It is a perfectly passable option; I was just expecting more.

Upside

If you love Mountain Dew, then this combines the best of two worlds: original Mountain Dew flavor plus one of the best energy drink flavors (generally speaking in my opinion). It also has a caffeine content that is slightly more than your typical Monsters and Red Bulls with 180mg per can (11.25ml/floz), which is enough to wake you up without making you jittery. I think that the majority of soda drinkers will enjoy this more than I have.

Downside

You will most likely not enjoy this if you do not find Mountain Dew appealing. The mouthfeel also leaves something to be desired. If you have had Mountain Dew in your lifetime, you already kind of know what you are going to get with Rise Pomegranate Blue Burst. Picture “blue” flavored Mountain Dew. There is nothing else added to increase its appeal, and I find Mountain Dew simply inferior to most energy drink brands. If you like it, you like it; if you don’t, you don’t.

Upshot

I can see why people would enjoy this, but I simply did not like it that much. I am not the biggest Mountain Dew fan, and this tastes like a “blue” Mountain Dew. I know people who love these, so give it a try if you would like. With a subpar mouthfeel, moderate amount of caffeine, and an underwhelming taste, I will not be having this again.