̶1̶3̶ 15 Days of Monster Ultra
Updated in December 2024 to discuss two new flavors introduced in 2024. The two new flavors are added to the end of this story, along with might happen in 2025.
Welcome to my review of the Monster Energy line of 15 Ultra energy drinks. The Ultra drinks are all low (10) calorie and contain zero sugar. I especially like these drinks because I don’t need all that sugar and calories and I really like the taste of nearly all of them. I think that these drinks are underappreciated and are a viable alternative to daily cups of coffee to get one’s day started. I want to share this enthusiasm with you.
There are a few videos out there of people reviewing Monster drinks, often trying to take on all the flavors at once and trying to rank them. This results in some pretty silly videos that might be entertaining and get some views. But ingesting all that Monster at once might be giving these reviewers a bit too much of a buzz and certainly impacts their palette as the video progresses. Trying to rank these drinks this way seems futile and certainly can’t provide enough detail.
So I will tackle each drink one day at a time. I’ll discuss each flavor in detail, describing the appearance, flavor, the can, and how much I like it. I won’t end up with a complete ordered ranking, but I’ll certainly point out which flavors I like the most and why I think so. I’ll also mention any that I dislike and some that are “meh” and provide some sort of rough ranking.
I have tried all the flavors before this stint so I sort of have an idea of what’s coming and how they compare to each other. I’m not experiencing any of these for the first time.
These are the flavors at the end of 2024 according to the Monster website (United States).
Day 1 — Ultra Black
This is a tricky one because I have never been able to find this flavor in a brick-and-mortar store. I’ve only been able to get it via Amazon in a case of 24 or 15. That’s been my experience and it might be different in other parts of the United States or in other countries. Although this odd lack of availability shouldn’t affect an objective review of the flavor, it does have an impact since it just takes a different sort of effort to get it. That is, if it were to be one of my top flavors, I’d have to downgrade it a tick since I just can’t find it in a gas station or someplace like that if I have an immediate urge for one. But I do need to say that I can still get a case via Amazon Prime on the same day, which isn’t bad. But I really don’t know why Monster markets this flavor this way.
The can reads:
Just about 300 miles north of Chicago nestled on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan is the “Cherry Capital of the World” Traverse City, MI. Long warm summer days and cool nights cause the cherries to ripen right around the 4th of July, but you gotta get ‘em while you can ’cause all too soon, they’re gone.
Luckily, we’ve found a way to capture that perfectly ripe flavor and bring it to you all year round! Monster Energy Ultra Black; refreshingly light with no sugar and packed with our Monster energy blend.
Let’s pour one out:
I’ll be showing the daily drink like this each day. I use this large thick glass because it keeps the contents cold for quite a long time. And I make the custom ice “cube” from an used single-serving yogurt container. This cube melts slowly and keeps the drink cold without diluting it too much.
You can see the famous Monster effervescence by the inviting bubbles. The color is also very deep and robust, probably the richest-looking of all the flavors. The can says there is natural and artificial cherry flavor which may provide some of the deepness, but the artificial coloring probably accounts for most of it.
There is a definite and strong cherry flavor with a robustness that matches the color. I really like it. There is a bit of an aftertaste, but it is a strong cherry aftertaste that is more pleasing than objectionable.
The older cans of Monster Ultra Black had silver tops with black pull tabs. The newer ones I just received from Amazon have black tops and red pull tabs.
If I had to suggest another product that is closest to this one, I’d say Mountain Dew Black Cherry Kickstart. The Kickstart is a little redder in color, more syrupy, and has 80 calories per can. I used to love this Kickstart when it was available at soda fountains in various convenient stores. I would get the largest cup, fill it with ice, and then top it off with this Kickstart. But anyway, if you like the Black Cherry Kickstart, you’ll probably like this Monster.
So why not Red Bull?
Red Bull does have zero-sugar low-calorie products, but I tried them and honestly don’t like the taste. I know that there is a huge Red Bull following and that Red Bull is the #1 energy drink. And I respect that. But most of their drinks simply taste like medicine to me.
Day 2 — Ultra Blue
Ultra Blue is up next:
I’m not really sure what sort of taste this one is after. The description on the can doesn’t really help:
Aspen, Chamonix, Park City, Whistler, Mammoth… the list goes on. The competition and training circuit has taken the team on some epic snow trips.
In honor of these mountain towns comes Ultra Blue. Best served ice cold from the frosty can, Ultra Blue is a little less sweet and lighter-tasting with zero sugar and a full load of our Monster energy blend.
From first chair to last call…
They did nail the color since it does resemble bluish ice and “looks” cold. It also helps that I keep my cans in a really cold refrigerator and float a big chunk of ice in my glass.
The ingredient listing also doesn’t mention any attempt at a specific flavor. Perhaps we are meant to rely on the visual and aromatic qualities to prompt our sense of taste in a particular direction. This doesn’t work for me as the color is suggestive of one of the bluish-colored mouthwashes or throat lozenge and I can’t get much from smelling it. Maybe my nose is a bit off after COVID-19. If you drink this from a can without looking at it, you’ve got little to prompt you other than the taste.
The only way I can describe the taste is to imagine a piece of Juicy Fruit gum after its’s been chewed to the point just before you want to discard it. It is a little weak and nondescript.
But once I get past the initial mental hurdle of the mouthwash, I can drink this just fine. I’m thinking that this one ends up near the bottom of any sort of ranking of mine. I’d probably pick another one from my top 5 if given the choice.
It might be nice to add some sort of specific flavor. Blue raspberry is popular and is seen in things like slushes and might be good here.
I also have a suspicion about this one along with Ultra Red and Ultra Zero that I will share later.
Day 3 — Ultra Fiesta Mango
The mango taste is there and even has some notes of the raw fruit if you savor it carefully. But the flavor is a bit on the light side and may be difficult for some to identify.
The color is OK and is reminiscent of the dried mango slices I really like. I think that making it darker or adding some more red would be off-putting.
The can reads:
Sleep later, because tonight we’re going to fiesta like there’s no manaña!
Ultra Fiesta celebrates the nights that turn into mornings and the friends that we now call familia.
Zero sugar Ultra Fiesta blends juicy mango flavor into the Ultra we love finished-off with a full load of our Monster Energy blend. ¡De nada!
I like this on hot summer days on the occasions when I’m at a gas station and want something different than my top 5. I have not seen this flavor recently in bulk cases but it is easily found in single cans at stores. I don’t get it that often, so it falls in the middle for me someplace.
Day 4 — Ultra Gold
Ultra Gold was recently renamed to Ultra Golden Pineapple. I reviewed the former since I had bought that can before the rename.
Ultra Gold has a similar color to the Ultra Mango Fiesta, but has more of a tint rather than the more opaque appearance of the mango variety. This suggests a slightly more crisper sensation and I think that is the case. Being a clearer drink, it does have a cleaner and lighter taste although I do have trouble identifying it as pineapple.
The can reads:
According to the ancient Greek legend the nectar of ambrosia gave immortality to all who drank it. Unfortunately this fruit of the gods is just a myth, but we were inspired to create Ultra Gold as close as we can get for mere mortals.
With zero sugar, easy-drinking Ultra Gold has the heavenly fresh flavor of biting into perfectly ripened golden pineapple.
While we can’t promise immorality our Monster Energy blend will help you stay focused and alert and ready for whatever life throws at you. Go for the Gold!
I have to admit that I wasn’t looking forward to reviewing this flavor because I had tried it a couple of times in the past and didn’t care for it. It tasted too much like Red Bull to me and not enough like a pineapple. I was even puzzled by its popularity because I had seen a lot of positive reviews online. Monster also markets it pretty aggressively and includes it in some of its variety pack cases. This all seemed strange for what I thought was a dud.
But this time around, it tastes OK but I would like to see a stronger pineapple flavor. And because of that, this one sits near the bottom of my list.
Cost
Since I’ve been drinking these 16-ounce cans about 1–3 times a week, cost is a factor. If you buy them one can at a time from a convenient store or gas station, expect to pay over $3 a can. Sometimes a store like 7–11 will have deals where you can get 2 or 3 cans for a price that results in a little over $2 a can. Larger grocery stores can offer the single cans for around $2.50 and less than $2 a can if bought in a case of 6 or 12. The best deals are at the warehouse stores where a case of 24 is often near $36, or $1.50 a can.
All the case or bulk purchases are limiting in the sense of all cans being the same flavor or some predetermined assortment that may or may not be appealing. I’ve been lucky at Sam’s in that they offered a 24-case assortment of my top 3 flavors. Amazon is now selling 15-packs in the $25-$30 range, which can be significantly less than $2 a can. They seem to have most of the 13 flavors available. More on the cases later.
Day 5 — Ultra Paradise
We jump all the way from “G” to “P” alphabetically with this one. This one tastes to me like a green apple Jolly Rancher, despite the tropical implications of its name. Overall it has a nice taste and smell, probably putting it in the top half for me.
The can reads:
Where is paradise? A chalet on the slopes, a streamside ranch or a penthouse in the city. How about a private island with a white sand beach, turquoise water and a gentle tropical breeze.
Monster Ultra Paradise, pure, crisp, invigorating island flavors.
Kick back and enjoy. Paradise is wherever you can find it.
Nothing specific here about flavors and there are no clues in the ingredients list, just the usual “natural and artificial flavors”.
I believe that this flavor has been bundled into one of the case assortments replacing Ultra Zero in the Sunrise/Violet/Zero combination. I see it often in grocery and convenient stores, so it must be doing pretty well.
Day 6 — Ultra Peachy Keen
Immediately after opening this can I am met with an unmistakable peach fragrance. It is pretty strong and urges one to take a sip. While it doesn’t seem possible, the taste takes me all the way to imagining biting into the outside of a peach, fuzz and all. Ginseng is pretty high up on the ingredients list and might be providing that bit of a tang of peach emulation.
I’m not a huge fan of the “Peachy Keen” name, but I can get past it. The can reads:
The summer of love was about hope, peace and connecting to something bigger than yourself. A time of careless fun, limitless possibilities and believing anyone but the man.
So don’t take our word for it, check it out for yourself cause it’s all good when you’re sippin’ Ultra Peachy Keen.
Zero sugar, juicy flavor and the Monster Energy blend from our secret stash. Everyone from boomers to zoomers is down with that.
This one probably ends up in my top third. While I give it points for presenting a strong and unique flavor that separates it from the others, it is almost a bit too strong.
Assortment Cases
I’ve mentioned before that it is most economical to buy Monster in 24-can cases. At the time of this writing (early 2024), Sam’s Club sells these cases for a bit over $36 in my area, or about $1.50 a can. The selection of flavors in these assortments does matter of course. They won’t make sense to buy unless you really like the combinations.
The above assortment would have to be my favorite today, even after the substitution in an earlier version of Ultra Zero with Ultra Paradise. I preferred Zero in this collection. But Sunrise and Violet still make it the case of choice for me.
This one looks like a package featuring the stronger fruity flavors. I like this one too.
Looks like a “patriotic” mix. Maybe catering to the summer picnic crowd? But see my thoughts on Ultra Red for more about this one.
This is probably the most popular Ultra flavor and so deserves its own case. I find myself buying single cans of Zero from time to time because I don’t want to get overstocked with Zero by buying this case.
Monster mixes up these assortments from time to time. Some of the other combinations I’ve seen in the past include (Fiesta Mango, Rosa, Zero), (Sunrise, Violet, Zero) and (Gold, Peachy Keen, Watermelon).
Day 7 — Ultra Red
Halfway through!
Like Ultra Blue, this one doesn’t really seem to take a position on its flavor direction. It is just “red”. Maybe I can get a hint of a slight fruit punch flavor, but I don’t know if that’s just because I’m expecting it because of its color. Maybe it is sort of like Ultra Zero, but with the slight hint of grapefruit replaced with a fruity flavor? In any case, it is very light.
The can reads:
Who can forget the hot summer days and the hotter summer nights thick with the promise of unlimited possibilities. Working a mindless job to earn just enough for that last epic adventure before starting “real life”.
Following your heart to who knows where with who knows who, confident it will all work out.
In homage to the endless summers of youth comes Ultra Red: Light, crisp, and refreshing with zero sugar. Sweet, sweet summer time, summer time.
Maybe this is targeted to a younger crowd with the slight fruit flavor?
I’ve had the suspicion for a while now that this flavor, along with Ultra Blue and Ultra Zero were basically the same formula, with just different colorings. The three are marketed together in a 24-can case, perhaps as a nod to the USA, and this was an easy way to do that. And I had considered the tastes of the three to be pretty indistinguishable from each other. However, I think I detected some difference in the Ultra Red today. I suppose I may have to do a blind taste test involving only these three to be sure.
Anyway, I don’t think I’d be chasing after a Red or a Blue just for their difference in taste. Even if I’m wrong and there is a real formula difference, all three are still pretty close. And I think that Blue and Red are pretty hard to find outside of the “USA” assortment case.
I suppose that if I wanted to stock up on Zero, I’d get the Blue, Red and Zero case assortment, just to not have 24 cans of one thing and rely on the different colors for variety.
Day 8 — Ultra Rosa
Ultra Rosa has an extremely light taste which could also easily be mistaken for Ultra Zero if one doesn’t look at it.
The color is very light as well, as seen above. Perhaps the “Rosa” name influenced me, but I could detect some floral flavors somewhat akin to what I think rose hips might taste like.
The story on the can actually steers us away from concrete flavors and towards “nothingness”:
Roses are red, grapefruit is pink, Ultra Rosa is not what you think. Forget about pink lemonade, blush wine, guavas and strawberries. Ultra Rosa is a whole new experience.
Crafted with a light and easy drinking flavor that’s also crisp and complex with a floral finish. There is no better way to describe the taste than — it tastes like Ultra Rosa!
Zero sugar with a full load of our Monster Energy blend.
OK, I would tend to agree with that.
I think that this flavor might be good for those who like Ultra Zero a lot, but just want to mix it up a little bit. For me, it ends up near the middle of my list, in the bottom half. I’d pick something else if I wanted a more distinct flavor and otherwise go with Zero.
There are stronger flavors in the Ultra lineup, some of which are coming up soon in this list.
Day 9 — Ultra Strawberry Dreams
I think that this flavor appeared in my market sometime during the summer of 2023, so it is a new and probably the newest flavor. From what I can tell, it is already very popular since I see it now in a combo case and in any store that carries the Monster drinks. Monster also seems to be marketing it fairly aggressively.
The color is lighter than I would expect which surprised me a bit because I had been drinking this one mostly straight out of the can until now.
The can reads:
Some people swear that strawberries are aphrodisiacs. They say if you share a double strawberry then they’ll catch feelings for you.
All we know is the flavor of the heart-shaped fruit is perfect for our new zero sugar Ultra. Wonderfully sweet while slightly tart, this easy-drinking Ultra tastes like a dream.
Passionately crafted with the Monster energy blend, take one sip and you’ll be crazy for Ultra Strawberry Dreams.
People online have been comparing this to Ultra Rosa, but I think that it does have a distinct strawberry taste and works well in the summer. I really like it and would put it in my top third.
Health Concerns
There is a fair bit of concern and controversy over energy drinks and their health hazards and benefits. I think of drinking a single Monster Ultra in a day as being no worse than drinking one or two coffee or similar drinks. In fact, an Ultra might even be better than a heavily creamed and sugared coffee.
Coffee and tea drinks vary in terms of caffeine content. The FDA says an average cup of coffee has 80mg to 100mg. Monster Ultras run between 140mg and 155mg. (In case you were wondering, Sunrise is the one with 155.) OK, so it is a little easier to abuse caffeine with Monsters, but it isn’t that hard with coffee or other things. Like all things of this nature, we need to use them responsibly. I never have more than one Monster a day and I try to have it in the morning so as not to interfere with sleep. While I was doing the once-a-day thing while I was working a specific job, I’m now down to 2–3 a week since my working schedule has changed.
Some people say that Monster and other drinks like Mountain Dew can cause kidney stones. I’ve had kidney stones long before I knew about Monster and also during the time I was on the one-a-day schedule. So that’s not enough to prove Monster creates or prevents kidney stones. Good hydration is the key to prevent stones and while the 16 oz of mostly water coming from a Monster helps with attaining the daily hydration level, much more is needed from other sources throughout the day.
Day 10 — Ultra Sunrise
Good morning to Ultra Sunrise! This has been one of my longtime favorites, putting it in the top three for sure. It has a great orange taste which makes me feel good about it as a morning start-me-up.
If I had to pick another product that is close to this one, it would obviously be Orangina, that citrus orange soda that has pulp. The Monster ingredients include lemon pulp, so I’m sure that’s what they were after. I can’t detect or see any actual pulp, but somehow I know it’s there.
The can comments are:
Get up, get out, go for it!
Ultra Sunrise is dedicated to those who sacrifice sleep for passion: catching waves at dawn patrol, up on the bike when the morning dew gives the dirt more grip, or the first pass on that glassy lake kicking off an epic wake session.
Ultra Sunrise will get you started but is great anytime: light, crisp, and refreshing with a flavor all its own. Packed with a full load of our Monster energy blend to keep the fire burning all day long.
After all it’s always sunrise somewhere.
This flavor is very easy to find. Most gas stations have the single cans and grocery stores such as Safeway and Wal-Mart have 4-packs and 12-packs. And as mentioned earlier, it can be found in the 24-can assortment cases.
Can’t really miss with this one.
Day 11 — Ultra Violet
If you twisted my arm and absolutely forced me to declare a single Monster Ultra flavor as my favorite, it would be this one, and maybe just barely. I really like grape-flavored things and that’s probably why I am drawn to this. It has a good strong grape flavor and finish and is probably in my opinion one of the Monster flavors that actually tastes like something specific.
The color is dark and robust, but not as much as Ultra Black. If you look carefully at the bubbles while pouring, you might see some lighter blue colors separating in the fizz. Probably food coloring. It is a little off-putting, but easy to ignore. Other drinks do this.
The can says:
Welcome to the 70's.
A hazy purple funk all dressed up in a kaleidoscope of bell bottoms, bandanas, and tie-dye. A time when psychedelic, glam and heavy metal rock blasted from speakers at fairgrounds, stadiums and garages.
Can you dig it? Take a good long pull of Monster Ultra Violet. Crisp and refreshing, with a sweet and tart pixie dust flavor powered with our Monster Energy Blend.
Hop on this magic carpet for the ride.
I do like the play on words in the Ultra Violet name. I love the color. This one is as easy to find as Sunrise. It is in the current Paradise-Sunrise-Violet combo and is often seen in 4-packs in grocery stores.
Day 12 — Ultra Watermelon
Famously, this one is known to taste like a watermelon Jolly Rancher and I agree that there is no better explanation. The JR vibe hits your nose even before your lips can touch. So if you like that candy, this one is for you. It even has an aftertaste that makes you think you’ve got a Jolly Rancher in your mouth.
Hmm, the colors are pretty close!
The top of the can is green which is sort of a neat touch. The incantation is:
Under the firework lit night sky, you’ve got your crush by your side. With good music and better friends, it’s the best summer ever.
Ultra Watermelon is summertime in a can so you can enjoy it anytime.
Zero sugar, easy-drinking refreshing flavor with the explosive Monster energy blend to light-up those hot summer nights.
This is a solid middle one for me and I’d tend to favor it more when in the mood for something sweeter, as it does have a sort of candy-sweet feel.
Day 13 — Ultra Zero (a.k.a. Zero Ultra)
We reviewed these alphabetically, but I really wish this one was first instead of last. I’m not sure, but I would guess that this was one of the first Ultras that Monster introduced. It is featured at all retail locations and according to the story on the can, was created in response to the Monster Girls asking for something lighter.
For me, it was my first Monster. I was working as a software engineering contractor and was spending a few days on the customer’s site. The customer was one of those big tech companies that you always hear about, with the free gourmet lunches, laundry service, and the break rooms stocked with all the coffee, drinks and snacks you could want. We’d meet in one of these break rooms where most of us dove into the coffees, partly to get through the morning blahs. I dislike coffee intensely and so had to just tough it out with respect to perking up. But one day I spotted Ultra Zero in the drink cooler. I was scared at first, but I figured this would be a good time to try it. And it was free, so why not? In short, I loved it. I prefer cold drinks over hot ones and carbonation is a plus. The Ultra gave me all that as well as a slight jolt to keep me alert for the rest of the day.
As for the taste, the name “Zero” applies to flavor as well as the sugar content. It doesn’t taste too much like anything, which means it would pair nicely with anything you are eating. If anything, there is a slight grapefruit taste resembling a weak Fresca.
It does sort of look like Fresca. The can reads:
Some people are impossible to please. As soon as they get what they thought they wanted they always want more. Our team riders and Monster Girls are no different…they’ve been dropping some hints lately.
They’ve been asking us for a new Monster drink. A little less sweet, lighter-tasting, zero sugar, but with a full load of our Monster energy blend.
Sure, white is the new black. We went all out: Monster Energy Zero Ultra.
Zero is readily available and is the only Ultra flavor I’ve seen by itself in 24-can cases at warehouse stores. On shelves, it usually sits next to the original Monster Energy drink (with sugar), positioned with the same prominence.
This is one of my top five, probably because I think of it as a fallback in case I’m not in the mood for a specific flavor and because it is sort of the “standard” Ultra. It is easy drinking and always a solid choice.
Day 14 (2024) — Ultra Fantasy Ruby Red
This one came out around the beginning of Summer 2024. The can is a little bit busier than the other cans, which I like. I also like the taste. There is a distinctive taste of whatever is in a real Red grapefruit that makes it taste Red.
The color is nice and is about what I’d expect. There’s also a distinct grapefruit aroma.
The can reads:
We’re always dreaming up new things at Monster and sometimes we totally break convention. Enter Ultra Fantasy Ruby Red.
It may be the best tasting Ultra yet! Not too sweet, not too tart, its got a fresh citrus taste that’ll blow your mind. While it’s light and super easy drinking, it’s serious on performance. Ultra Fantasy is packed with all the legendary Monster Energy blend you’ve come to expect.
We called on longtime friend, Pinky Taylor for design OG fans might remember seeing him doing live painting at Monster events as they rolled through town.
We’ve got his painted surfboards and canvases hanging all over HQ. Now you’ve got your own Pinky masterpiece too.
Being a grapefruit-flavored drink, it is probably going to come off tasting a little like Zero, which I think is also intended to taste like a grapefruit. But this one has a bit more of a tang or zing to it. I’m pretty happy picking up this one at a grocery store or gas station when I want a Zero with something extra.
Day 15 (2024)— Ultra Vice Guava
Like the Ruby Red release in 2024, this one has a can with more artwork on it as well. It seems to have been part of a promotion for a video (GTA 6), so there was a lot of promotion and advertising for this one. I hadn’t seen a Monster flavor pushed this hard before. At my local grocery stores, they had them in separate displays, often with a “buy 2 get one free” deal, which I did take advantage of a couple of times.
It has a fruity taste and a somewhat stronger aftertaste. I think it has a bit of a strawberry taste and I think I smell strawberry as well. Of course the name has “guava” in it and so one would think it should taste like guava. But I don’t get much of that taste, but that might be because I don’t drink a lot of guava juice and I don’t remember much about its taste from any trips I made to Hawaii. And real guava simply isn’t that strong of a taste anyway. Still, many in the online crowd think there’s some guava taste there.
The color is pretty light and weak looking, but then that is sort of the case with real guava juice. The can reads:
Miami has it all, mind-blowing Latin energy, premier racing from NASCAR to F1, and world class beaches with the hottest clubs right on the sand.
Whether you’re an over-the-top partier or an undercover crime fighter in a pastel suit, T-shirt, and loafers — you gotta stay energized!
From South Beach to Calle Ocho, looking good and feeling good is what it’s all about. With zero sugar to weigh you down, the fresh taste of perfectly ripened guava, and our world-famous Monster Energy blend, Ultra Vice Guava has you covered.
So there’s definitely a Miami Vice and Grand Theft Auto thing going on here. I think that it is a really close taste to Strawberry Dreams. I’ve been picking some up at stores where there are deals to give this flavor a fair shake. So far, it isn’t different enough to change my top 4. I wonder how long this flavor will stick around since it may have been tied to that game promotion, which is a pretty short-lived event. The online crowd seems to like it a lot, so it may be around for a while.
Discontinued flavors and Looking Ahead to 2025
It is pretty hard to learn about the future of Monster products. Occasionally, some fairly reliable information comes out on Reddit, which I’ll try to pass on here.
There have been pictures of sales samples posted on Reddit for the new flavors, which I think makes the news pretty reliable. They are Blue Hawaiian and Viking Berry. Blue Hawaiian is supposed to have tropical flavors like pineapple, coconut, and run. And the Viking Berry, well, might have a berry flavor. The people that post these pictures of the sales samples rarely say much about the taste, so there is not much to go on.
I’m not looking forward to Blue Hawaiian since I don’t like coconut. I am looking forward to Viking Berry because I like berry flavors a lot.
It seems the Ultra Red and Ultra Rosa are to be discontinued in 2025.
The Red discontinuation is confusing to me for a number of reasons. The arrival of Blue Hawaiian sort of leaves us with more blue ones while removing two “reddish” flavors. I always thought of Ultra Blue and Ultra Red as a pair or “partners” with each other since they are basic primary colors and neither can suggests that they taste like anything specific. I also wonder about the fate of the Red, White, and Blue combo cases, which are still in stock at the warehouse stores. If Red goes away, those cases must go away as well. They must be selling well, so this seems strange. With the addition of Blue Hawaiian, it seems odd that Blue didn’t go as well, since there may now be some confusion between Blue and Blue Hawaiian. In other words, I would have gotten rid of both Blue and Red.
I won’t miss Ultra Rosa, since I didn’t think a lot of its flowery tastes. It is also pretty close to Red and the other reddish flavors like Strawberry Dreams and Vice Guava.
But it does seem strange to get rid of two flavors that are fairly close to each other. It may have been worth keeping one.
And of course, all hell broke loose on Reddit from people who really like these two flavors. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for these two flavors to “run out” in the stores.
Final Words
Well, there are my thoughts about Monster Ultra. While I don’t think that a perfectly ordered ranking is possible or makes sense, I can at least put them in tiers. This is pretty common among people posting their reactions to these drinks.
Each tier is sorted alphabetically — the ordering within each tier does not imply any preference.
Top Tier
These are the ones that I would pick over the others except when I intentionally want to do something different and/or reaffirm my preferences. These are also the ones I would stock up on by buying in bulk.
- Black
- Sunrise
- Violet
- Zero
Middle Tier
I like these, but not as much as the top tier.
- Fantasy Ruby Red
- Fiesta Mango
- Paradise
- Peachy Keen
- Strawberry Dreams
- Watermelon
Bottom Tier
These I would generally avoid and pick something else.
- Blue
- Gold (Golden Pineapple)
- Red
- Rosa
- Vice Guava
