Mountain Dew: DEWmocracy 2: Distortion

I think that since writing my review of another of the three new DEWmocracy flavors (White Out) I have discovered I live in what must be the most lamest, furthest-flung corner of the DEWverse.

When I picked up the White Out a couple weeks ago, it was the only one of the three new flavors to be found anywhere near me. I even contemplated visiting my local 7-11 -- which is not the best, safest location to go into, but they do tend to have a pretty current and diverse selection of items. Luckily for me, at that point the good folks at Mountain Dew stepped up and offered to send me samples of Distortion and Typhoon to keep my physical safety intact. (And also to let me get my sugar rush/caffeine high on.) They also let me know that there is indeed a diet version of Code Red out there! It's not available near me, but just knowing that it exists makes the world seem a bit warmier and fuzzier. So, a shout out of thanks to the Obi-Wan Kenobi-like folks at Mountain Dew!

Anyway...there is a soda review somewhere in here.

Distortion is billed on the bottle as a "lime blasted DEW." To echo what has already been said in reviews before this one -- isn't regular Mountain Dew already lime flavored? Sort of, at least? Regardless, this one is not about to let you forget that it's lime flavored. From the bright ectoplasm green color to the strong lime scent, it's more than clear where the flavor is aimed to go.



So how does it taste?

Well, honestly, it tastes like regular Mountain Dew -- but with the lime kicked up several Emeril-worthy notches. It's almost like key lime pie soda. (And yes, I am well aware that there is a very good key lime soda out there.) I give Mountain Dew big points for avoiding that floor cleaner-like taste that strong lime flavoring can pick up.



Like the other Mountain Dews, it's lightly carbonated and very sweet -- although, points again to the mysterious dewmeisters, as the powerful lime flavoring covers the HFCS taste pretty well. I definitely liked this flavor more than the White Out. So far, this is the one I am casting my vote for.

When you're ready to vote, be sure to visit the official DEWmocracy site. (Warning: Flash Player 10+ required.) Until then, you can read both Marvo's Distortion review here, and BevReviews' review here.



PURCHASED FROM:
Sample from company

CALORIES:
290 calories per 20 ounce bottle.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
Kosher.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
mountaindew.com

Mountain Dew White Out: DEWmocracy 2010

Mountain Dew, if nothing else, really likes to pump out the special edition flavors. And they are also really big on fan feed back.

The first DEWmocracy was in 2008, and had three flavor choices that fans voted on. Those flavors were: Voltage, Revolution, and Super Nova. The winner was Voltage, and it was added to the Mountain Dew line (and is still available today).

In 2009 there was another version of DEWmocracy that was run slightly differently. Rather than merely picking which soda fans liked best, fans actually got to help design the sodas. For a lot more in-depth info on that, be sure to read Bev Review's post on DEWmocracy 2 -- they actually took part in the testing.

Edited 4/29/10:
My thanks to the good folks at both Bev Review and Mountain Dew PR for chiming into to correct some confusion on my part. I mistakenly thought that this campaign was DEWmocracy 3, when in fact it's still DEWmocracy 2. There are apparently several stages in the world of DEWmocracy, and this is stage 5 of DEWmocracy 2. I think I need Bill Maher to do a show explaining this to me.
At any rate, thanks for clearing that up, and I am sorry to anyone who I might have confused referring to this as DEWmocracy 3 (DOH!)

The three flavors are Distortion, Typhoon and White Out. Because my local Shell station is ghetto, they only had White Out. So we are going to review that one while I hunt down the other two. I realize my local 7-11 probably has it, but actually getting into that store pretty much involves being jumped into a gang. And I'm sorry, guys, but I am just not that dedicated...though I do look good in red...hmmm...



Anyway, White Out is described as being a "Smooth Citrus Dew." Isn't regular Dew citrus? The soda is indeed a cloudy shade of white, and it smells vaguely like regular Mountain Dew.

Tasting it, I was actually hoping I would agree with Marvo's take. In his review (read it here) he said it reminded him of Virgin Smirnoff Ice. Maybe I shouldn't admit this out loud, but I happen to really like Smirnoff Ice. (I know, I know, my head is semi-hung in shame.) Dammit, Marvo, you owe me a bottle of bitch beer!

I didn't get the sense of Smirnoff Ice at all. Instead, it reminded me of regular Dew mixed with potentially noxious amounts of lemon flavored jelly beans, with the sugar level -- well, the HFCS level -- turned up to 11.



Personally, this flavor is just way too sweet. There is also a funky fake lemon aftertaste. The carbonation level is perfect -- nice and bubbly but not too strong. And of course it's a Dew, so you know that there is more than enough of that sweet, sweet, caffeine to go around.

I won't be getting this flavor again, but I am going to look for the other two.

When you're ready to vote -- or if you just want more info -- check out the official DEWmocracy site here. (Warning: Flash Player 10+ required.)




PURCHASED FROM:
Local Shell gasoline station

PRICE:
$1.49

CALORIES:
280 calories per bottle.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
dewmocracy.com

Mountain Dew: World of Warcraft Game Fuel Duel Flavors

I should come clean and admit I am not a gamer. Well, not unless you want to count when the first version of The Sims came out and I spent HOURS in front of that thing. I don't play WoW, but I am a WoW widow of sorts.

My best friend and a mutual friend of ours started playing a few months ago, and now every time I call him to do something he is in the middle of a quest with Friend #3 and I have to pry him away from his monitor (typically it involves bribes, often involving money or women). I am, however, a big Mountain Dew fan. Code Red is my Dew of choice, but I always like to try any of the new flavors. (Well, let's be fair...I am always excited to try new soda.)

The two new flavors are Horde Red (a cherry citrus flavor) and Alliance Blue (a wild fruit punch flavor). As in the actual game, you are supposed to chose a side. In fact, Mountain Dew is running a sweepstakes where by registering and choosing a side, you can win a prize every 15 minutes! Check out the official site here for all the rules, instructions and other things I don't have the attention span for.

Now let's talk about taste.

I started with Horde Red because...well, because it sounds a lot like Code Red.



The bright orange color gives an immediate clue that the flavor is going to be stronger on the citrus side than the cherry. And that is indeed the case. The citrus flavor is strongly orange based. The cherry notes are there, but they are WAAAY in the background.



It tasted oddly familiar--and with good reason. Yes, fans of the first Mountain Dew Game Fuel can rejoice: according to Bevnet, Horde Red is a renamed reissue of the original Game Fuel. The best way I could think of to describe it is that it's like drinking liquid orange Runts chased with a shot of tart cherry. It's sweet...really sweet. But it is oddly addicting. I didn't think I was going to be able to finish the can, but I did.



Alliance Blue is like a cross between average fruit punch and blue raspberry. It also has the advantage of being the perfect shade of Romulan Ale blue (did I just commit some big nerd faux pas by crossing series?). And we all know that I think there's not enough blue food. I wanted to like this flavor more, because I liked the color more. And the flavor is okay, but it has an unfortunate aftertaste that is sort of like stale fruit punch meets old Fruity Pebbles meets household cleaner. Even so, I got through the can with ease. I may not buy this flavor to drink again, but I bet it is strong enough to make a really good ice pop! With blue in mind I really wish Dew would make a caffeine-loaded coconut/pineapple flavor. How good would that be?

My chosen side would be the Horde Red. I really liked the first Game Fuel, so getting to hang out and hype up with an old favorite was a nice treat.

I am going to use having the extra cans of the Alliance Blue as an excuse to go buy some cute silicon ice pop molds and try making Popsicles with it. In fact, I think I'll do it right now. After drinking two cans of Dew, I am now sufficiently wired to put on my running shoes and dash to WalMart (and back home again) in sixteen seconds flat. Hell, it's only a couple of miles away...

Be sure to check out Bevnet's review HERE.

The Ratings:

Horde Red:


Alliance Blue:



PURCHASED FROM:
Sample From Company