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Sparks is getting even better with this new offering from Mckenzie River - who was bought out by Miller, who now releases it under the moniker of Steel Brewing.. Got it? I guess the whole Plank Road Brewery thing they tried in the 80s worked and enough people could get confused and actually think this was not made by one of the world’s largest brewers, with brewing interests and distribution agreements in over 60 countries across six continents. Nope, this is just lonely old Steel Brewing company, which was a real honest to goodness brewery in Texas until swallowed up by MillerSAB as well.
Besides the added 1% alcohol, the flavor and color have been updated, trying to appeal to a broader market more savvy to energy drinks than in the beginning when sparks was born. Overall I would definitely pick this up before an orange can. At least, while it is still available.
Buzz:6
The Sparks site lists this drink at 87 mgs of caffeine, a little more than a red bull in a 24oz can. I was able to function clearly after this can and the original one after - with not much buzz , or drunk from both cans. They did pack in the usual EDM , with ginseng and taurine, but still is quite syrupy and laden with over 350 calories. If they are allowed to still have these drinks on the market, I would push for miller to do a diet one f these, finding a different way to sweeten the malt beverage. The yellow food coloring is still present, so the fun of Sparks Mouth still resides
Taste:7
This is much much better than the original flavor. This does not taste as overloaded with corn syrup, with a nice pleasing aftertaste and a deeper more full bodied flavor. It tastes less fake and tangy, and is all around a much tastier choice than the orange top. The promated Vegetable oil flavor is also toned down - so it does not feel as gritty and oily.
Packaging:8
A fantastic can, all around. The marketing, with the plus and minus symbols, the duracell-ish color, the bright orange lettering, are all a great sign of a well planned energy drink. I wish I did not have to go onto their silly site just to find out what the ingredients age, but at least they list them, unlike Tilt or Rize. I found it amusing that this can does not have the word Alcohol on it anywhere. The closest it gets is listing 7%alc/vol. The original listed the word at least four separate times on the can. I guess they only got in trouble over the original can, and they could leave this one unscathed. Either way, it is a lovely job for design, but I wish it had some more pertienient information on it.
drink addict
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