Kroger Stores get in the Energy game. Deton8 is a Big Dud

You know it was only a matter of time before the generic store brands started with their own line of energy drinks. Wal-mart already released their own with National Beverage Corp. Just this last month, the folks who bring you Big K soda, Kroger Cranberry Sauce and what is arguably the worst donuts in the entire world have now pushed their 36 manufacturing plant juggernaut into making the most rip-offiest ripoffs to ever pretend to be Red Bull. Seeing as this product was just released, it might take a couple months before it darkens your shelves - be sure to leave it there to rot.

According to Inter-American's dietitians, these drinks are supposed to be very comparable to Red Bull - except of course that Red Bull has yet to give away what is in their drinks, so that leaves everyone else guessing. And Deton8 comes kinda close, but its not Red Bull. It tastes different, the packaging is much much worse, but at least it costs the same as Red Bull! In a very surprising move, the local King Soopers was selling this drink for FULL PRICE. when have you ever heard of a store generic selling their stuff for as much as the brand name?? This drink should be avoided on principle. It is swill like this that ruins the good name of energy drinks. I also hate to see valuable shelf space devoted to such a loser, when great Brands like Jetset and Rumba are being pulled from the aisles.

Buzz/Nutrition:5
Bleh. almost a redbull - but not there. It has 152mg of caffeine per can ( Red Bull has 160) some B vitamin stuff, inositol and taurine. Thats it. nothing bad - but nothing good either. If this were a 50 cent can that would be one thing, but I feel positively ripped off spending over 2 bucks for this. Guess I will have to eat up more free kids cookies to make up for it.

Taste:5
Not bad - almost red bull but too much sucralose in the diet variety - and the regular version is very very close to Red Bull. If this were a quarter, I would stock up - but charging as much as a red bull for it tastes like greed.

Packaging:2
This is where they both truly fail. The original one fails even harder for using a nasty dayglo green. The name is stupid, there is a lack of motto, the design looks left over from an old shasta label only monochrome blue or green. They put their phone number to inter-american, so it is not completely pointless, but even a little originality would be nice.

website: 0
0 promotional materials anywhere. The customer service person at Inter-American never heard of it - having to rely on her catalog and the UPC label on the drink to find out what info on the brand she could tell me.
Topics: Energy Drinks