The Good: Fizzy, Actually does invigorate
The Bad: Makes one gassy, Taste is nothing to write home about.
The Basics: A very average energy drink, Duff Energy Drink is an orange energy drink that only tastes vaguely orange-like, but does wake the consumer up!
Anyone who watched The Simpsons for most or all of its run knows what Duff is. Duff is the beer in the fictional world of the animated universe of The Simpsons and it is an occasional accessory in the toy line for The Simpsons. Now it is an energy drink by Boston America corporation, a novelty food company whose line has expanded to energy drinks.
Duff energy drink is not beer and it is likely to be the closest thing fans of The Simpsons get to the oft-mentioned beer, at least for a while. The Duff energy drink is what it is: it's a very average energy drink which is designed to get fans of The Simpsons to spend money on the merchandise. This mediocre drink is trading on the hope that there are enough fans of The Simpsons willing to try it and thanks to a promotion at a local mall, I was able to. I wasn't wowed by it, but I do have to admit that more than any other energy drink I have tried, Duff Energy drink is both energizing and palatable.
Basics
Duff Energy Drink is an energy drink in the tradition of Red Bull, a carbonated beverage designed to liven up one's nervous system through a combination of herbs, caffeine, taurine (seriously, you don't want to know) and sugar. Unlike a sports drink which is targeted to replace specific nutrients the body loses while working out, energy drinks are intended to provide quick energy and focus for the mind. The Duff Energy Drink comes in a 12 fl. oz. aluminum can. This is a typical drink can and it is opened with the usual metal tab which gives the consumer access to the beverage.
The 12 oz. Can is a single serving of Duff Energy drink and it is very easy to drink it down in a single sitting.
Ease Of Preparation
Duff Energy Drink is a liquid in the 12 oz. can which resembles the beer cans from The Simpsons. The font and color scheme is identical to what was seen on The Simpsons. Preparation is as easy as opening the metal can and drinking it. I recommend refrigerating the can first as this drink is pretty foul warm.
Taste
Duff Energy Drink tastes like what one would expect from mixing orange soda with Red Bull. The energy drink has no discernible aroma when the can is open, so it does not truly prepare the consumer for what it tastes like. The beverage is carbonated, so opening the can makes the drink fizz and one can almost see the bubbles coming out as little cartoon bubbles.
Duff Energy Drink is orange and the flavor is mildly citrus flavored with a strong, salty aftertaste. The idea of combining Red Bull with orange soda is a good way to describe the taste as the beverage is saltier than orange soda and not as initially tart. It is also not as dry and loathsome a primary taste as Red Bull. I cannot stand the dry, dirty taste that overwhelms my tongue when I drink Red Bull. Duff Energy Drink does not have that taste, which is nice.
However, in addition to a weak orange taste, Duff Energy Drink has a very strong aftertaste. This drink has a very dry and salty aftertaste that is anything but refreshing. This is not a thirst quenching beverage.
Nutrition
As an energy drink, Duff Energy Drink is made primarily of filtered carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and sugar. Before a litany of preservatives and colors, Duff Energy Drink is noted to contain 1000 mg of Taurine, 120 mg caffeine, 50 mg Inositol, 25 mg each of Guarana extract and panax ginseng extract. All of these ingredients create a sense of alertness in the consumer that is actual, not just a sales tactic. Proof positive is that last night, I got less than four hours of sleep. After going out and working in the humidity, heat and rain for hours, I came in and crashed. But when my wife wanted to get going again I decided it was the perfect time to try the Duff Energy Drink. I am alert and writing reviews now and I feel excited about it. Literally, a half hour ago, I was pretty much passed out!
Nutritionally, Duff Energy Drink is nothing one wants to try to live off of. In addition to interrupting your sleep cycle, Duff Energy Drink will probably promote cavity development with its 40 grams of sugar. As well, there is 190 mg (8% RDA) of sodium in each serving. There is also 50% - 1000% (yes, that's ten times your daily need!) of the RDA of four different B vitamins. Duff Energy Drink has no fat, at least.
Storage/Clean-up
Duff Energy Drink comes in an aluminum can and I have no idea what the shelf life is supposed to be. I just checked and the only number stamped on the can of Duff Energy Drink I just consumed made it look like it expired on January 12, 2010 (which is a good lesson to all: don't buy your food products at a comic book shop!). It tasted fine to me.
This drink is a clear orange color, but if it gets on light fabrics it will certainly stain them. Consult a care guide for your clothes, though I suspect light clothes would need bleach to get this out. Still, the drink wipes off surfaces easily with a cloth, assuming they are impermeable.
Overall
Duff Energy Drink is not going to make a whole bunch of converts to The Simpsons, but for fans of the show, this is a good beverage for keeping one awake while watching a marathon of your favorite shows. Ultimately, I gave this average beverage a “recommend” because it actually worked and it didn't taste bad while it woke me up!
For other beverages, please check out my review of Celestial Seasonings Peach Delight Zingers To Go or my index page!
5/10
© 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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