REVIEW: Mtn Dew Uproar

Mtn Dew Uproar Bottle

Mtn Dew Uproar is a Food Lion exclusive flavor. What the food is a Food Lion, you ask? Well, my friend, let me give you an answer to a question I’m pretty sure you’re going to regret asking or didn’t ask at all.

Food Lion got its name from the way it devoured smaller grocery chains in its territory to protect its lioness and cubs. Its habitat is in 10 states in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern US. Unfortunately, because it was focused on protecting its domain, its cubs wandered north, ended up separated from the rest of the pride, and became Cub Foods.

Told you you’d regret it.

Mtn Dew Uproar Lion

Uproar is a Dew charged with berry kiwi flavor. Its name and graphics on the bottle are appropriate for a Food Lion exclusive. I look forward to other exclusive flavors for regional grocery chains, like Mtn Dew Soar for Giant Eagle and Mtn Dew Sizzle for Piggly Wiggly.

Much like my attempts at grocery store chain humor, Mtn Dew Uproar is great. But I feel as if I’ve been saying that about most of the recent Dew releases. And I also feel as if I’ve had this Dew flavor before or something very close to it.

Before even trying the soda, I wondered what’s the deal with the vague “berry” flavor description. Is it a combination of berries? Is it a particular berry? After smelling and tasting it, I realized it was strawberry, which made me wonder why Mtn Dew didn’t just describe it as a Dew charged with strawberry kiwi flavor.

As for the kiwi flavor, it’s there, but it’s faint. If someone drank this without looking at the label, they would say it strawberry and something something flavored. There’s also a tartness that’s less like a roar and more like a kitten’s meow. Oh, also, full disclosure: Kiwis aren’t one of my favorite fruits, but not because of their slightly tart and slightly sweet flavor. I have an issue with them because a cross-section of one looks like what would happen if The Hulk and a sarlacc had a baby. I can’t get that image out of my head.

Mtn Dew Uproar is tasty enough that I’m a bit sad it’s only available at a regional grocery chain that lost its cubs with locations in just 10 states.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 20 fl oz bottle
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bottle) 270 calories, 0 grams of fat, 90 milligrams of sodium, 73 grams of carbohydrates, 72 grams of sugar (including 72 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 91 grams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Thrashed Apple

Mtn Dew Thrashed Apple Bottle

What is Mtn Dew Thrashed Apple?

It’s a Dew charged with natural and artificial crisp apple flavor. Like Mtn Dew Maui Burst and Spark, it’s a store exclusive flavor. To get it, you have to visit a Kroger or Kroger-owned store, like Dillon’s, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Rupert’s, Harris Teeter, King Soopers, Ralphs, Jay C Food Store, and Smith’s. (Note: One of the stores listed is fake. Have fun guessing which one!)

How is it?

Mtn Dew Thrashed Apple Glass

The beverage’s pale Hulk color that’s a few shades lighter than regular Dew and the anthropomorphic apples with better hair than mine definitely hints that this will have a Granny Smith apple flavor. Oh, there are also another 100 or so hints in the form of two rows of tiny green apples that circle its label.

Mtn Dew Thrashed Apple Tiny Apples

Its pleasant tart apple flavor with a hint of citrus is DEWlicious. The sour fruity flavor is so dominant that if I gave you an unlabeled bottle of this, you probably wouldn’t think it’s a Mountain Dew variety. Think of its flavor as like a slightly less sour green apple Jolly Rancher. Or, let me put it in a way that’s reflective of the Dew’s name. It’s not heavy like Thrash Metal. Instead, it’s tame like Hair Metal.

Anything else you need to know?

Because I just happen to have a box of Apple Pie Toast Crunch, I decided to combine it and this soda. The Dew’s tart apple overwhelms the sweet apple in the cereal. It’s a little odd, but not as much as combining cereal and soda.

Mtn Dew Thrashed Apple Green Label

Also, it wouldn’t be a green apple Dew review if I didn’t mention the previous green apple Dews — Mtn Dew Green Label and Electric Apple. The former was a Dew “with crafted green apple kiwi.” But it mostly tasted like green apple. The latter was “Mtn Dew charged with Electric Apple.” I didn’t have it because it was a more exclusive flavor than Thrashed Apple. It was available at an Italian chain I’ve never heard of.

Conclusion:

Mtn Dew Thrashed Apple is easily one of my top seven or so Dew flavors. If you love the flavor of sour apple and have a Kroger or Kroger-owned store near you, it’s definitely worth hunting for.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 20 fl oz bottle
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 270 calories, 0 grams of fat, 85 milligrams of sodium, 73 grams of carbohydrates, 72 grams of sugar, 72 grams of added sugar, 0 grams of protein, and 91 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Flamin’ Hot Mtn Dew

Flamin Hot Mtn Dew Can

Flamin’ Hot Mtn Dew is not very spicy, which I don’t know if I should be disappointed about or thankful for.

When it was first announced, I had images of a hellish dark red beverage with a flavor and heat similar to Flamin’ Hot Limon Doritos. I thought it would be more of a gag drink, like Jones Soda Company’s Thanksgiving dinner-flavored sodas, most Lester’s Fixins varieties, or any Zevia soda. But it’s not a jokey drink. It’s surprisingly a drinkable drink.

Flamin Hot Mtn Dew Warning

Despite what the can says, it’s nowhere near what would be considered Flamin’ Hot in terms of flavor or spiciness. So caution is not necessary. You won’t need milk or a regular Mountain Dew to douse the fire in your mouth caused by this Dew. There’s a slight heat, but most of it is in the form of a back of the throat burn. There’s also some tingling in my mouth long after the red carbonated liquid has gone down my esophagus, but overall I’d consider it a low-level spiciness.

Flamin Hot Mtn Dew Red

As for the non-Flamin’ Hot flavor, it’s a slightly toned down regular Mountain Dew with a little something else. At times, I taste citrus, but Mtn Dew Code Red comes to mind with other sips. With its fruity flavor and mild spiciness, Flamin’ Hot Mtn Dew is, um, okay tasting and better than I thought it would be, but not I’m yearning for more. So if you send me a Flamin’ Hot Mtn Dew tasting party invitation because you were able to buy a pack online, I’d politely decline.

Oh, about purchasing this, if you’re so inclined to do so. It was available on the Mtn Dew website in limited quantities in 6-packs which sold out within several hours. Mtn Dew may sell it again. It may not. But if you don’t want to wait around to find out, you can get cans via eBay, which is where I got this one. Although, expect to pay a premium for them. I paid $14 with free shipping for a can, which is more than the price of a 6-pack ($12) when one could purchase it from the Mtn Dew online store.

I wouldn’t drink Flamin’ Hot Mtn Dew again. But it’s unique and drinkable enough that it’s something any Dew fan should try once.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 16 fl oz bottle
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 220 calories, 0 grams of fat, 70 milligrams of sodium, 59 grams of carbohydrates, 58 grams of sugar, 58 grams of added sugar, 0 grams of protein, and 72 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW Limited Edition 2021 Mtn Dew VooDEW

Limited Edition 2021 Mtn Dew VooDEW Cam

“This is, as you may recognize, a review for a mystery flavor beverage. That means the author will most likely try to explain what flavor they experienced and it might influence you to taste that flavor. If you don’t want to be spoiled, turn back now. Consider this your spoiler alert warning. Otherwise, proceed with caution or you might just be the next person in The Impulsive Buy Zone.”

-Rod Sterling (probably)

Normally when I write reviews, I will do extensive history searches for the item(s), but I wanted to go in absolutely blind with this. Googling anything risked me being spoiled.

Limited Edition 2021 Mtn Dew VooDEW Grim

The first thing that caught my eye was the can’s design. Despite being a Halloween item, the cool blues and yellow accent felt oddly out of place. The art with the grim reaper looks very cool with lots of little easter eggs of the number 3 all over. Mtn Dew has nailed a really cool and cohesive brand design these past few years.

Opening it and taking a sniff, I was slapped with (what my brain perceived to be) fruit punch smell. Taking a sip, however, yielded a whole other experience. The initial sip was a sugar shock. I don’t drink a ton of sugary beverages, so when I do it takes my taste buds a few seconds to move past the first sugar rush. After a moment, I was able to start working through the flavor. It was so familiar and at the tip of my tongue.

I poured the rest into a cup with ice and sipped it while trying to distract myself. It was here that I noticed its cloudy white color. The lack of color made my brain even more confused as to what it was tasting. I figured if I wasn’t actively TRYING to figure it out, it would come to me. Then, as if I discovered a new element, I exclaimed, “BLUE RASPBERRY!”

After being more or less sure of this, I sought out some history on the previous versions of this mystery beverage. The first release in 2019 was revealed to be candy corn and 2020 was fruit candy explosion (Skittles). It was also then that I learned the packaging had given hints in previous years as to what the flavor was with its color scheme.

Limited Edition 2021 Mtn Dew VooDEW Glass

Once again, I had an epiphany: the flavor is blue raspberry taffy. Three reasons I believe this to be right: The pattern of the flavors seem to be candy, the can itself is supposed to give a hint (and it’s blue raspberry blue), and going with the theme of three’s the name Blue Raspberry Taffy is three words. Okay, the last reason might be a little odd but I’m sticking with the pattern of threes here.

My only real complaint is that initial overpowering sweetness, but that’s totally a me thing. Putting it over ice allowed me to really taste the flavor, not just the sugar. I’m so excited to see more people try and share what they taste because I just know that it’s probably going to be all over the board. However, we’ll find out on October 31st what the flavor is from Mtn Dew. I will save a can to (hopefully) cheers my being right.

Purchased Price: $4.98 (12-pack)
Size: 12 oz can
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 160 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 55 milligrams of sodium, 44 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 44 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Mtn Dew Cake-Smash

Mtn Dew Cake Smash Can

Mtn Dew Cake-Smash was supposed to come out last year for Mountain Dew’s 80th birthday. But, well, you know, let’s just say it was not a year for celebrating.

And, yes, it’s a bit odd that a beverage marketed to the younger crowd is ancient.

Anyhoo, the brand International Olympic Committee-d it and released it a year after it was supposed to. There was a limited amount to purchase via Mtn Dew’s online store, which predictably sold out within a few hours.

Mtn Dew was kind enough to send samples of the “Dew with a rush of artificial cake flavor,” and after tasting it, I have to say, if Cake-Smash came out last year, it would’ve been a bright spot of 2020. Instead, it’s a 2021 highlight. Actually, it’s a top highlight of my Mtn Dew drinking years.

If you ever get a chance to try it, you’ll probably say something that involves an expletive. Because, holy expletive, this tastes like lemon cake with frosting, and it is Y-U-M-M-I-E. I mean, it’s so good that it makes me forget how to spell.

Mtn Dew Cake Smash Glass

Although it doesn’t specifically say “birthday cake,” it was created to celebrate a birthday. So I assumed, like with birthday cake-flavored products, it would be either vanilla or chocolate cake. Of course, that was stupid because it’s a Dew, after all. Despite not being what’s considered “birthday cake” in the processed foods universe, I have to say Mtn Dew Cake-Smash captures cake flavor better than most “birthday cake” products.

I don’t know if this will ever make it into brick-and-mortar stores. But I’m going to suggest that it should, and not because I want to make a soda cake with it.

Even though I got samples, I think Cake-Smash is so wonDEWrful that I’m seriously considering spending more than one should on a six-pack on eBay. Or I could just copy and paste the following and direct it to Mtn Dew’s social media accounts every single day until Cake-Smash is in stores.

Hey @MountainDew! Don’t be a Dew Dew Head! Let me buy Cake-Smash in stores!

Childish? Yes. Will I get blocked by Mtn Dew on social media? Probably. Will I be put on a blacklist that prevents me from getting free Mtn Dew samples from now on? Probably. Is Mtn Dew Cake-Smash worth the effort? Oh, most definitely. It’s DEWlightful.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 16 fl oz can
Purchased at: Received from Mtn Dew
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 220 calories, 0 grams of fat, 75 milligrams of sodium, 59 grams of carbohydrates, 58 grams of sugar, 58 grams of added sugar, and 0 grams of protein.