Energy drinks are an easy way to get a quick boost that helps you get through a tough day or a task ahead. And one of the most popular energy drinks is Monster. It’s great-tasting, offers 34 different flavors for any preference, and is packed with caffeine and other energy-boosting nutrients to give you all the energy you need to get things done.
But what if your Monster tastes bad? More specifically, if it tastes like metal? While it is rare, there have been some scenarios where people have reported that their Monster energy drink tastes like metal. Here are some reasons why.
Why Your Monster May Have A Metallic Taste?
The biggest possible reason why your Monster energy drink tastes of metal might be because it is a bad batch. Yup – basically, you might be drinking a can of Monster that was in a bad manufacturing batch that managed to make its way out of the plant and into the store shelves.
Another reason why your Monster tastes like metal is that you’re probably drinking a can of Monster that has gone way past its expiry date. While this isn’t your fault (it’s the store you bought it from that needs to check the expiry dates on their products), it’s always worth checking the expiry date that is printed on the bottom of the can so you know you’re buying a good can of ready-to-drink Monster.
Other Off-tastes People Have Experienced & Why
Apart from metal tastes, there are some other off-tastes that other people have experienced when drinking Monster energy drinks. Here are some of them, and the probable reasons why.
1. Monster tastes like soap sulfur
Energy drinks are made with caffeine, sweeteners, and carbonated water. Carbonated water is created by imbuing carbon dioxide with water – this is basically how fizzy drinks are made.
If your Monster energy drink starts to taste of soap and sulfur, it is because of hydrogen sulfide contamination in the fizzy water that is used to make the drink. Hydrogen sulfide has a very unpleasant odor, reminiscent of sulfur that you smell from boiled or rotten eggs.
Contamination of carbon dioxide during the manufacturing process or during storage will lead to hydrogen sulfide tainting the carbonated water, thus causing microbiological spoilage that eventually leads to your can of Monster tasting like soap sulfur.
2. Why does Monster Original taste so bad?
Monster Original is the drink that got the brand their first big hit – and their eventual success over the last 20 years they have been in business. It is the iconic black can with the green claw design, and it received rave reviews in the energy drink market for its taste and energy-boosting capabilities.
However, with so many other flavors to choose from, Monster Original has definitely gone down in ranking when it comes to flavor. When it was first released, it was supposed to have a slight apple fizz taste and a cross between mountain dew and sprite.
But now, it’s become a flavor that is simply too overbearing to enjoy. The saltiness can be jarring for some people, while it is very sweet at the same time, causing some confusion for the tastebuds because of how intense it is. This is probably why many people choose the other 30-odd flavors of Monster energy drink available over Monster Original today.
3. Why My Monster tastes like soap?
If your monster has a soap taste, there could be several reasons why. One of the most common reasons would be hydrogen sulfide contamination in the carbonated water that is used to create the fizz in your Monster energy drink. This contamination happens during storage or in manufacturing, causing spoilage in the drink itself that makes it taste soapy or sulfury.
Another reason, while it is a stretch in terms of possibility, is that the warehouse that stored the Monster energy cans before they went out to store shelves has treated the top of the cans with bleach. This is common practice that deters rats in the warehouse from getting into the energy drink cans and causing wastage or leaving toxic droppings on the cans.
If you can taste a very strong soap smell when drinking from your Monster energy can, it’s a good idea to contact your doctor or local ER to talk to them and seek their professional advice if you’ve drunk anything questionable that might affect your health.
What Does Expired Monster Taste Like?
Monster Energy drinks always have very strong tastes – because they are chock full of caffeine, sweeteners, and other energy-boosting compounds that are both artificial and non-artificial.
This makes it hard for somebody to know for sure if their can of Monster energy has expired. But here are some of the most blatant indications that the can of Monster energy drink that you’re drinking out of is out of date.
- It tastes flat
When your Monster energy drink starts to lose its sweetness, tang, and general flavor, this means that the drink itself is expired. A flat-tasting can of Monster Energy is a sure sign that it is starting to go off, and by that point is way more than a couple of days past its expiry date.
- There is no fizz in the drink
Monster Energy drinks are carbonated, which means it is a fizzy drink. Much like how a can of Coke or Sprite loses its fizz when stored for too long, Monster Energy drinks also start to lose their fizz and become flat and lifeless, due to air in the surrounding environment going into the can and causing it to lose its fizziness.
This only happens when the drinks are stored for too long past their expiry date.
What To Do If Your Energy Drink Has A Strange Taste?
When your energy drink starts to have a strange taste, put it down, and stop drinking! Don’t continue – if it makes you feel slightly physically sick, you should definitely listen to your body because it’s probably right.
Energy drinks generally have very strong tastes, but if you’re regularly drinking Monster energy drinks, you’ll be able to tell when a can tastes strange or has expired.
Best Energy Drink Storage Tips: Before And After Opening
The general rule of thumb is to always store your Monster energy drink cans in the fridge, or in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. Placing it in direct sunlight is a no-no, as it forces the liquid inside to go through a microbiological change due to the fluctuations in temperature, causing it to turn bad quicker.
After opening your Monster energy drink can, try to drink it all in one sitting. If that’s not possible, keep it in the fridge and cover it properly. This prevents air from going into the drink and making it taste flat the next time you drink it.
There are also resealable Monster Energy drink cans that you can find in some stores, these come at a premium price, but are worth the money as you can reseal it airtight so that it tastes just as good as when you opened it the next time you need a quick Monster energy boost during your day.
