Jason of Screaming Energy ran across my site while searching for other review sites. (He found my Serious Snacking entry.) He dropped me a note to say hello and invited me to peruse his energy drink review site, www.screamingenergy.com. Here's what they say about the site when you first visit: "Angie and Jason (collectively "we") analyze energy products they procure in their travels. We know as well as anyone that making a $2 commitment to a new beverage can be daunting. Having consumed scores of different sodas, tonics, teas, and gels; experienced their affects, and enjoyed or loathed their tastes, we feel our assistance can make your purchasing experience a pleasant one. We hope you find our energy drink reviews helpful, and return frequently to see the new products we add."
I, of course, had more questions and asked Jason if he would like to be my second interview for E&N Interviews. I'm not a big energy drink fan, but I'm always curious about people who care deeply enough about something to start these comprehensive review sites.
Why energy drinks? Have you both always been big fans?
I started drinking "energizing" sodas many years ago. I got into coffee by the pot when my friend worked at Barney's Coffee and Tea Company. As my caffeine appetite grew, I tried other beverages, mostly Jolt and Josta. As I started working as a software developer in 2000, I began drinking 2 to 3 180s (I don't believe they make this any more)/day. I switched to Soba Adrenaline Rush for almost a year until I discovered the 16oz. value, of Monster. Moving right into now, where I think Rip-it is poised to be my next continuous drink of choice.
When we decided to make the site, we had each probably drank over 100 different drinks each, and it had almost become a sport already to find new ones. At one point, we hit a batch of about 15 different sodas in a row that were all very bad (starting with Nature's Nitro 2 Go). We felt almost swindled out of nearly $30, and wanted to make the public aware of some of the good and the bad.
Why Jason and Angie? Who are you both? How did you come to do this Web site together?
Angie and I have been dating for years, and will likely get married soon. We are sometimes about as opposite as night and day. Like the famous movie review duo Siskel and Ebert, we'd hoped that offering two points of view would help the consumer.
If you could only drink one energy drink for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Only one drink, price aside, Full Throttle. Only one drink with a budget in mind, Rip-it Energy Citrus Sugar Free. Angie would rather have Diet Rockstar than food.
Which can - or packaging - for an energy drink do you like best?
The panther energy drink logo looks eerily like our logo, and that's neat. As for best, I have to break it down. The most humorous is definitely the "Big Dawg" can, it's certainly for mature audiences. If we're giving away design awards, ...Lost would certainly be a top contender, likely followed by Jugular, and unfortunately Nature's Nitro 2 Go (horrible drink, great "going-out-of-business" style can).
What's one thing about energy drinks you don't think the layperson would know, but they should?
If you are health conscious, I feel a really good energy soda should be more of a dietary supplement. Drinks like Monster Lo-Carb, and Chaser 5-hour Energy are not only caffeinated, but also have a solid lineup of B and other vitamins, and aren't anchored by 100+ calories or 25+ carbs to deliver energy. If you aren't concerned about your drink replacing your centrum silver, and are strictly looking for a caffeine fix, there are a number of low price products, like Rip-it, Red Celeste, and other that are frequently on sale, to fill that void. Don't get caught up on name and waste a lot of money. If you find yourself stuck in an energy drink rut, certainly research and adventure past the Red Bulls and Monsters of the world.
Next up: Marenna Lindberg, who created the orgasmic diet, has agreed to an e-mail interview. After that, I have no further line-ups. If you have an urge to be interviewed, whether you have a blog or a site or, hell, you've just never been interviewed before and would like to cross it off some imaginary list in your head, e-mail me at [email protected]. (I promise the answer will be yes.)
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