MTN DEW RISE ENERGY POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST

Posted on July 14, 2023 | Last updated January 31, 2025

MTN DEW POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST
The Pomegranate flavor from the RISE ENERGY series, a new energy drink brand launched by PepsiCo in 2021. Despite being a pomegranate flavor, it’s blue—how will it taste!?

MTN DEW RISE ENERGY POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST

Manufacturer	PEPSICO
Country of Origin	USA
Price	1.99 USD
Flavor	Pomegranate
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 MTN DEW POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST

Upon opening, a sweet and tangy cherry candy-like aroma spreads. When poured into a glass, it reveals a mysterious blue color, characteristic of an energy drink. Supposedly, this is meant to represent pomegranate... Let's take a sip and find out.
Flavor of MTN DEW POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST
As I take a sip, I get a fruity candy flavor with a moderate tartness. Calling it "pomegranate" might be a bit of a stretch. There’s no real fruitiness, and the aftertaste has a subtle artificial, chemical-like note.

This artificial taste, combined with the unnatural blue color and the name "BLUE BURST," gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect. This drink isn’t trying to replicate a straightforward, fruity pomegranate flavor.

That said, if you buy this expecting an authentic pomegranate taste, you might feel a little let down...

Flavor of MTN DEW POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST
The aftertaste carries a faint chemical note but isn’t heavy, making it easy to drink. With virtually no sugar, it's quite refreshing. Adding ice and drinking it in one go enhances the crisp, refreshing sensation—highly recommended.

Energy Ingredients of MTN DEW POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST

Energy Ingredients of MTN DEW POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST
Contains 180mg of caffeine—slightly more than the typical 473ml energy drink. It also includes zinc, though not in significant amounts.

It has 5% juice, including white grape juice, a common ingredient across other flavors in this series.

Design of MTN DEW POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST

Design of MTN DEW POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST
The matte silver can features a well-balanced design with the blue RISE logo and lion emblem.

Design of MTN DEW POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST
The stacked ingredient icons on the back give it a cool, structured look. The RISE logo integrates seamlessly, making the overall design feel cohesive—one of the standout features of the RISE ENERGY series.

Design of MTN DEW POMEGRANATE BLUE BURST
It also features a blue tab, a small but classic touch that many newer energy drink brands tend to overlook.

"RISE ENERGY" was launched in 2021 but was soon forced to rebrand as "MTN DEW ENERGY" due to a trademark lawsuit. Given that this happened during the COVID era, I thought it would be nearly impossible to find these cans anymore. However, during my late 2022 trip to the U.S., after scouring nearly 100 stores, I managed to collect the entire lineup.

The fact that "RISE ENERGY" was still available so long after its discontinuation suggests it wasn’t selling well. Even now, MTN DEW ENERGY continues to release limited-edition flavors, but I rarely see them in stores, making me think the brand is struggling.

PepsiCo’s energy drink brands seem to struggle in general—just like AMP ENERGY and KICKSTART. RISE ENERGY appears to have faced the same challenges in retail.