Seeing as I now live in the state where Pot has just become legal, I thought it would be an appropriate time to spark up the Hypnotic Chronic energy drink. As of a few hours ago, Colorado has become one of the coolest places in the United States. While Pot use has already been decriminalized in small amounts in Denver, the whole state is now the first to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use.
"To put this into historical context, there is no historical context," said Tom Angell, spokesperson for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. "It's the first time any state has ever voted to legalize marijuana - and for the first time in a very long time, I am feeling downright Patriotic and State Proud.Unfortunately, I also work for a giant monolithic corporation that would fire me on the spot if I my random UA came back with a hint of the newly legal herb, so for now I am celebrating with The Hypnotic Chronic Energy drink (THC energy - geddit?) which could not have arrived on my doorstep at a more auspicious occasion!
Packaging:8
Hypnotic Chronic is really quite impressive. The fonts are awesome. The design is awesome - all around this can is beautiful and really gets the point across. If I did not know better - I would assume there was actual THC in the drink - which would make this Completely Legal in Colorado (sorry to rub it in)! That being said - it lists all the important features, like pointing out the important parts of the drink clearly (no sugar - cures cottonmouth - zero grams) as well as a timeline of important marijuana facts and even lists the caffeine content!
There are only two bummers about this delightful can. Firstly, it is pretty small. It is hard o really enjoy a small 8 ounce energy drink anymore - needing at least two to really get my mojo working. This design is cool enough that I wish it came in a bigger size. The only other point is the can is wrapped in a sleeve rather than have the design printed on it - which gives it a "private label" or knock off feel to it, like a drink you can find at a Hot Topic or FYE. While I have reviewed other Marijuana themed energy drinks, such as Chillo Hemp energy, Dank Energy and C-Swiss hemp tea, this is the one I brought 3 cans of to work with me to celebrate, and one of the labels got a rip in the plastic - which peeled all the way off with a tug. Plastic wrapping a can just does not have the same impact as a well printed one, even though a shrink wrap is so much cheaper to produce. Still, it is a killer design!
Taste: 6
Like any good energy drink, I got this super cold before trying it. When I first sparked it up, it smelled like a Red Bull cone - although not a particularly bad one. I was hoping this would come out a nice dank green, but no such luck. It poured out a light brown, the color of most standard energy drinks.
Unfortunately, it tasted like a Red Bull clone too - although I have certainly had worse clones. It seems that The Hypnotic Chronic is a novelty drink more than anything, tasting like your run-of-the- mill basic ED flavor that so many do. This is disappointing, as they could have had so much more fun with it. While there was some hemp seed oil in here. it was not really enough to change the flavor profile very much. The Hypnotic Chronic should have had an herbal edge to it, or tasted a bit more like that now legal regulated drug that we Coloradans like so much. While it is not bad by any means, the flavor is definitely not going to be the big selling point.
Buzz: 6
While there is no actual THC in the can, there is Hemp Seed Oil, which in large in amounts has a ton of health benefits. I am not sure how much is in here, but it is the last ingredient in the can and has no flavor of hemp, so I doubt there is enough to really do a whole lot of good for you unless you consume a lot of it. Other than that, there is the normal energy drink stuff, like 75mg of caffeine, taurine, B vitamins, inositol and glucurolactone. It would have been cooler if they packed this full of other herbs or did something to really separate itself from the rest of the energy drinks out in the market. I really like that there are not many calories in here, although it would have been better if there was less preservatives.
The buzz is also just what you would expect from a small energy drink clone. One of these cans is equivalent to a shot of espresso, and I needed two before my body stopped craving the caffeine junkie inside me.
With a decent taste and buzz and such a fantastic design, it does not matter if this is just a novelty drink - bringing a couple to work as a celebration or having it around at a celebration ganja party is a surefire win. I know I will be enjoying having these around as a souvenir of this historic day.
