MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED

Posted on April 10, 2020 | Last updated February 8, 2025

The 2019 addition to the MONSTER ENERGY MAXX series, the zero-sugar MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED.

To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations—there’s no way artificial sweeteners could replicate the quality of the MAXX series.

However, RAD RED completely exceeded my expectations…

This is a masterpiece that overturns the image of zero-sugar drinks and expands the possibilities of the MAXX ZERO series.

MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED

Manufacturer	MONSTER ENERGY
Country of Origin	USA
Price	2.29 USD
Flavor	Strawberry
Total rating	★★★★★

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 7,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

Flavor of MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED

MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED
The liquid is a bright, transparent red. I expected a more intense red, but it's surprisingly normal. Unlike the Super Dry from the NITROUS series, there wasn’t much foam.

From the first sip, it delivers a sweet and tart strawberry & cherry mix candy flavor. The richness carries through from the initial taste to the aftertaste, with a strong aroma lingering in the nose. It’s hard to believe this is a zero-sugar drink.

The signature smooth texture of the MAXX series creates a mouthfeel reminiscent of real fruit juice, making it nearly impossible to tell that this is sugar-free. The depth and intensity of the flavor are truly impressive.

Along with the strawberry-like taste and aroma, there’s a creamy, pleasant aftertaste that lingers. This texture and depth go far beyond what other zero-sugar drinks offer. Having tried countless zero-sugar energy drinks, I can confidently say that MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED is in a league of its own. I doubt many zero-sugar drinks could compete with it.

Not just among Monster Energy drinks, and not just among energy drinks in general—anyone who has tried a wide range of beverages will recognize the insane quality of MAXX’s zero-sugar lineup.

Energy Ingredients of MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED

MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED
Contains 200mg of caffeine, along with taurine, ginseng, guarana, and carnitine. This is 20mg more caffeine than the original three MAXX flavors.

MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED
As usual, the official website lists a different caffeine content than what's on the can—just another classic Monster Energy moment.

Design of MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED

MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED
Since this is a zero-sugar addition to the MAXX series, the Monster Energy logo is finished in mirror silver. The original version had a black logo, following the NITROUS series tradition, so this silver look is something new.

MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED
"ZERO SUGAR" is prominently displayed on the front, along with a zero-sugar emblem. At first, this heavy emphasis on being sugar-free had me worried—it seemed like just another artificial sweetener-laden drink made to dodge sugar taxes. But it turned out to be something entirely different.

With the launch of MAXX ZERO SUGAR, the previously existing Solaris and Eclipse flavors disappeared from the official website. It seemed like the MAXX series might be coming to an end, at least for non-zero-sugar products.

MONSTER ENERGY MAXX ZERO SUGAR RAD RED
But after tasting this, it’s clear that Monster was confident enough in the quality to replace existing flavors with a zero-sugar alternative. That’s actually kind of scary. This makes me wonder if the next MAXX release will also be sugar-free. The sheer quality of RAD RED suggests that might be the direction Monster is heading.