> SOUTHERN INDIANA — Energy drinks. Some say they’ll give you wings and others claim they can turn you into a rockstar, but they all have something in common — bold marketing campaigns and lots of caffeine.

Are the wild names and fruity flavors all hype, or do they really work? A handful of our brave staffers recently subjected themselves to the energy drink challenge. A mission dedicated to finding the truth behind the bottle.

Each staffer monitored their energy levels before and after sampling various beverages including regular energy drinks, spiked waters, 2-ounce energy shots and the old standbys such as coffee and Mountain Dew.*

The newsroom was buzzing with energy. Staffers were alert, typing at a quick pace and talking fast. Some were jittery and some were completely unaffected. The office was productive until the caffeine vs. sugar battle finally came crashing down. My co-workers were sluggish and groggy. One stated he wished he never took the first sip. Another said he needed a nap.

If you’re wondering how the ‘amped’ up drinks stacked up to one another, see the results below.

— Page designer Roni Montgomery



* Staffers sampled one energy drink per day over a two-week period. They picked the drink of their choice, and no two employees sampled the same beverage.



RED BULL

$1.67 per 8.4 oz. can; 110 calories; 80 mg caffeine

Tested by Daniel Suddeath

TASTES LIKE — A little bitter

BEFORE (2 p.m.) — Just had lunch. Feeling a little groggy.

3 p.m. — Words are coming to my head faster than I can say them. My legs are shaking.

4 p.m. — I’m still moving my legs a bit, but it’s starting to diminish — not really working anymore.

4:20 p.m. — I wish I hadn’t drank it. I’ve crashed quickly. Red Bull has stolen my will to live.



VENOM DEATH ADDER ENERGY + FRUIT PUNCH

$2.69 per 16.9 oz. can; 120 calories per serving (2 in can); 80 mg caffeine per serving

Tested by Michael Reschke

TASTES LIKE — All Sport. Low carbonation. Sweet.

BEFORE (6:15 p.m.) — A little hungry. I could sleep if I wasn’t at work, but not overly drowsy.

6:45 p.m. — I don’t know how to describe how I feel, but I definitely feel something.

7:53 p.m. — I feel like all the effects have worn off ... even a little sleepy.



AMP ENERGY OVERDRIVE

$1.50 per 16 oz. can; 110 calories per serving (2 in can); 80 mg caffeine per serving

Tested by Kevin McGloshen

TASTES LIKE —  A Mountain Dew with cherry syrup.

BEFORE (1:18 p.m.) — A little groggy. Head is a bit foggy due to a rough night’s sleep.

2:23 p.m. — Feeling pretty “amped.” Heart is going pitter-patter, but my head hasn’t cleared.

4:02 p.m. — Still feeling a little jumpy, but focused energy.

12:30 a.m. — Can’t go to sleep.



FULL THROTTLE BLUE AGAVE

$2.49 per 16 oz. can; 110 calories per serving (2 in can); 100 mg caffeine per serving

Tested by Steve Kozarovich

TASTES LIKE — Not very good. Close to 7-Up mixed with random other flavors

BEFORE (12:30 p.m..) — Not very sharp, lethargic and strained.

1:30 p.m. — Moving well and getting things done.

2:30 p.m. — Still feeling good and sharp, productive

6 p.m. — No crash yet. Pretty awake with little to no side effects.



RED BULL ENERGY SHOT

$2.54 per 2 oz. can; 25 calories; 80 mg caffeine

Tested by Kevin McGloshen

TASTES LIKE — Uncarbonated Red Bull. Bad medicine.

BEFORE (3:50 p.m.) — Fairly alert. Hungry. I had breakfast, but skipped lunch. Had about 2 to 3 cups of coffee this morning.

4:58 p.m. — Still feel good and alert. Maybe a bit jittery, but not uncomfortable.

10 p.m. — Never had a crash from the drink. I was very happy with the results and would drink it again.



ROCKSTAR ENERGY SHOT    

$2.99 per 2.5 oz. can; 10 calories; 200 mg caffeine

Tested by Amanda Creamer

TASTES LIKE — A tangy, sour, tropical fruit flavor with a diet aftertaste

BEFORE (12 p.m.) — Sleepy, blah, sluggish.

12:30 p.m. — More alert, energetic, perky and hard-working.

2:30 p.m. — Coming down a little bit, but not crashing!

4 p.m. — Tired, want to take a nap. I would recommend this if you need to be alert for a couple of hours.



5-HOUR ENERGY SHOT

$3.49 per 2 oz. can; 4 calories; 1870 mg of an energy blend which contains caffeine, but according to the can it contains caffeine comparable to a cup of the leading premium coffee.

Tested by Michael Reschke

TASTES LIKE — Similar to the consistency of G Series Gatorade Recover

BEFORE (6:18 p.m.) — If I closed my eyes I could fall asleep.

7:07 p.m. — I yawned.

8:29 p.m. — Still tired. No effect.



ROCKSTAR

$1.50 per 16 oz. can; 140 calories per serving (2 in can); 80 mg caffeine per serving

Tested by Daniel Suddeath

TASTES LIKE — A little bit like a Sweet Tart

BEFORE (2:05 p.m.) — The morning coffee has worn off and I don’t feel cool now. I want to feel like a rock star.

3 p.m. — The juices are starting to flow. The rock star is coming out. I may throw a chair through a window soon.

4 p.m. — Energy level is running high still. I feel motivated, not jittery.

7:40 p.m. — I’m not as hyper, but I haven’t crashed either. Rock on Rock Star!



XENERGY CRAN RAZZ

$2.39 per 16 oz. can; 0 calories per serving (2 in can); 1,340 mg of a proprietary blend which contains caffeine and other additives

Tested by Kevin McGloshen

TASTES LIKE — A fizzy mix of cranberry and raspberry.

BEFORE (2:50 p.m.) — I feel OK, but didn’t have my morning coffee today. I could use a lift.

5 p.m. — I feel very awake. My mind feels fairly sharp. Good mood.

6 p.m. — Still feel pretty awake, but definitely slowing down. Feel like having a cup of coffee.

11 p.m. — I’m tired.



NOS GRAPE

$2.49 per 16 oz. can; 110 calories per serving (2 in can); 130 mg caffeine per serving

Tested by Michael Reschke

TASTES LIKE — Grape soda

BEFORE (4:25 p.m.) — Hungry.

5:35 p.m. — Not particularly energized, but not yawning. If I wasn’t at work I could take a nap. In general, not much effect.

6:02 p.m. — My eyes are heavy and I just told a co-worker I feel sleepy.

7:30 p.m. — Tired.



MONSTER ENERGY

$1.99 per 16 oz. can; 100 calories per serving (2 in can); 2,500 mg of an energy blend containing caffeine

Tested by Michael Reschke

TASTES LIKE — Chewable children’s aspirin

BEFORE (7:59 p.m.) — My eyes are closing.

9:35 p.m. — OK. I’m not about to fall asleep anymore, although I just tasted Monster in my burp.

10:33 p.m. — I’m yawning.



SKINNY WATER HI-ENERGY ACAI-GRAPE-BLUEBERRY

$1.99 per 16 oz. bottle; 0 calories; no caffeine

Tested by Kevin McGloshen

TASTES LIKE — Grape Kool-Aid with a bad aftertaste

BEFORE (11:17 a.m.) — Tired, headache, want coffee.

12:15 p.m. — Feel more awake, but my stomach feels a bit sour.

2:02 p.m. — Tired, dragging and angry. But, it’s been a long, busy day, so I’m not blaming the colored water.

10 p.m. — It’s as if I never drank an energy drink.



SOBE LIFEWATER B-ENERGY

$1.02 per 20 oz. bottle; 0 calories; 25 mg caffeine per 8 oz.

Tested by Tara Hettinger

TASTES LIKE — Apricots and strawberries     

BEFORE: (2:10 p.m.) — A little tired.

3:20 p.m. — I was skeptical of this working, but here I am about one hour later feeling much more awake. Though, not sure if it would have the same effect if I was a regular caffeine/sugary drink person.

4 p.m. — OK, so the energy didn’t last. But hey, at least it worked for a little bit.



STARBUCKS DOUBLESHOT ESPRESSO

$2.79 per 6.4 oz. can; 140 calories; n/a

Tested by Michael Reschke

TASTES LIKE — Chalky coffee

BEFORE (4:18 p.m.) — I could take a nap

4:30 p.m. — I feel like a full throttle rock star with wings

6:03 p.m. — Tired. I could go to sleep.



MOUNTAIN DEW

$0.99 per 12 oz. can; 170 calories; 54 mg caffeine

Tested by Tara Hettinger

TASTES LIKE — Classic Mountain Dew!

BEFORE (2:16 p.m.) — Tired.

2:50 p.m. — I usually drink water, so I can definitely feel the sugar/caffeine high. I feel much more alert.

3:41 p.m. — OK. Not as energized. However, I don’t feel as tired as I did earlier.