Dragon Joose signals hope for a troubled alcoholic-energy-drink free-future

After nothing but disappointment in the news about the death of alcoholic malt liquor as a category, I found the display of Dragon Joose to be a caffeinated godsend. Like the Pontiac Fiero, they finally got it right as the model is pulled from the public. This stuff is good - really really good. Put down that 40, leave that vodka/Red Bull alone and grab a couple of these instead. This stuff even smells good! while you are not going to confuse this with actual beer, it certainly beats the living crap out of any 1.99 beer bomber special ( Could this be the end of Mad Dog, Steel Reserve and Evil Eye?).  United Brands, the maker of this fine alcopop is still in business - and can hopefully escape the wrath of the evil monkeys at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.  These guys know how to make a alcopop.  Full of caffeine, superstrong and packed full of Badass - I hope they stick around for a long long time.

Taste:8
This is about as good as it gets, folks. You can taste the malt in here - a bit like old bread - but its better than the straight alcohol of Zima or Purple Passion. But unlike all the other malk liquors out there, this is actually TASTY - easy as anything to get through the bigger 24oz can. This reminded me a whole lot of Everclear's big Purple Passion drink - the one that comes in the big 2 liter bottle - only less intimidating. You can still defintely taste the malt liquor in here - so you can't just slam the whole can in one go like it was grape soda. Why any good-fer-nuthin hoodlum would even thinking of rollin with any other malt liquor is beyond me.  It pours out a light purple, is not too carbonated, and is very easy on the palate.

Buzz/Nutrition:8
9.9% alcohol means this will match stregnth with any Mickeys or Colt 45. Add to that mix taurine, gineng and of course caffeine and you got one mean fiery blue demon. The effects of the caffeine are not so powerful that you will be feeling more awake, as the effects of any sleepiness or tiredness are completely gone. Within no time, you will be feeling the effects while not slowin your roll.  There is not enough of a buzz to get you perked like an energy drink, but it is enough to counteract the usual droopiness you can get from a heavy beer buzz.  This way you can keep doing what you want to without getting as sloppy (although you will still be very very drink if you can down a couple of them)

To put this elegantly, While the good Bard states that drink provokes, and unprovokes; it might provoke the desire, but takes away the performance, this drink tends to increase the performance by unrestrained emotions while providing mental and physical acuity.
In other words, when the Joose is Loose and the evening flies, and goin right all night til past sunrise.

Packaging:9
Of all the Joose packages, this is definitely the coolest. Not to mention, the bully watchdog group that shut down Tilt and sparks will have a hard time telling anyone that this is a kid friendly energy drink. This looks a whole lot more like something you find wrapped in a paper bag than anything any energy drinker would bother with. First, the size is that of big beers, not the little 16oz many energy drinks come in.  Cool purple dragons engulf this can - but unfortunately leave out all the nutritional info. Maybe there is a regulation prohibiting it - but Iit still would be nice to see. I love the size, and I love the art - for a caffeinated malt liquor it just does not get any more awesome.

Website:http://www.drinkjoose.com - 5
Boy, I was expecting something more than this going to the site. First, you get bombarded by bad rock, and lots of distressed type. Follow that by a woman wearing a fur hat and has only hair covering her breasts. Why? Dunno. It is the only place you will see her though. And then you have this wide array of links, like Joose, which has the cans grow from the bottom of the screen, or Events which has a silly promotional event 6 months ago. There is a super-small bit of info on the products screen and a very dull shopping cart. I think they should give a certain web developer I know a couple cases to develop for them a site they can be proud of. ;)

Beerpal review