Around Los Angeles (USA) Energy Drink Trip 2016

Just Scouting in Downtown Without Buying Anything

I arrived at LAX in the evening and checked into my hotel around 9 PM. Soon after, I headed out and started walking all around downtown. While taking care of various errands, I also checked out some nearby stores to see what was available. As expected, most new releases were there, including Red Bull Orange and several flavors of Kickstart.

After scouting various locations, I found that JAVA MONSTER Salted Caramel hadn’t fully spread to every store yet. Some places in downtown had it, but none offered a good deal, so I decided to pass. In the end, I didn’t buy anything in downtown.

Energy Drink Hunting During Nearly 18 Hours of Travel

This time, I explored many non-tourist areas. People often assume that rare finds are more likely in less-visited places, but this trip went far beyond that level—I ended up in areas with barely any people or even stores at all. Think mountains, factories, hospitals—places people hardly go to. (^_^;)

On the way to Kagel Canyon, I finally had a chance to stop and visit my first store—and it was a jackpot. They had a massive stock of Rehab Protein. I’d never seen so many in one place before. The can on the left had even burst and solidified.

This store also had the new JAVA Salted Caramel. On top of that, I found both the new and old versions of Ultra Black, with the updated black top and red tab. I also picked up a 250ml can of Red Bull Total Zero Orange Edition.

I could have gone all out here, but since there were no set prices and everything was marked up, I limited my purchase to four cans. But of course, as an energy drink maniac, I didn’t give up that easily. I won’t go into details, but let’s just say I managed to get a good deal in the end. (●´ω｀●)

Nearby, I also bought a few plain Rehab cans from a supermarket. Though the design was old, they were produced in 2014, so even by Japanese expiration standards, they were still totally fine to drink. Since my Las Vegas trip, I’ve been buying three to four cans at a time and using them as my morning drink after taking supplements. That feeling of it soaking into my body is just unbeatable!

Scoring Ultra Black at a Stop in Simi Valley

Time was tight, and many areas had either no stores at all or no time for me to stop. However, when I passed through Simi Valley, I had a feeling about one particular store—and I was right. I confidently walked in and found Ultra Black.

This was the version that suddenly appeared in late 2015—an old design but with a new black top and red tab. I had a strong feeling it would be there, so it was a great find! (*´艸｀*)

I didn’t take a photo, but I ended up buying out the entire stock.

Later, I visited another store that I already knew had some unusual finds. There, I managed to pick up the Monster Energy Mini Wrap Rehab, which I couldn’t get during my last Las Vegas trip. There were other interesting items, but I decided to pass on them.

It turns out that was the right decision—an unexpected situation on the East Coast later proved that I was incredibly lucky on this Los Angeles trip. v(´∀｀*v)

Having the right info beforehand is crucial. It’s like how in Japan, you’d know that certain flavors are exclusive to FamilyMart or Circle K. With that kind of knowledge, you can avoid wasting time on stores where you know they won’t have what you’re looking for. Since I had limited time, maximizing efficiency and making sure I secured what I wanted was essential. And, of course, there’s nothing like the thrill of making a completely unexpected discovery.

Exploring the LA Area

In Burbank, I found something I had been hoping for—Rockstar Cucumber Lime Hydration. I thought it was long gone, but surprisingly, some stores still had plenty in stock. As I kept visiting different stores, I noticed that some areas had a concentrated supply of older drinks. This wasn’t just for Cucumber Lime—now I knew where to go for older energy drinks in general. That was a major win! v(´∀｀*v)

When I moved on to the Downey area, I found a store carrying Monster Original and Lo-Carb in 250ml cans—stocked in huge quantities. After inspecting them, I realized they could still be circulating in limited distribution. Out of the 20 stores I visited, this was the only one that had them. If you’re interested, keep your eyes open—you might just find them somewhere! (ｕ_ｕ*)

Lastly, there was the Phantom Black Tab… In Las Vegas, I had seen a few stores carrying it, so I figured similar chains in LA would have them too. But every store here only had the Orange Tab.

So, I went to one specific store that I had a feeling about—and sure enough, they had all Black Tabs! My guess was spot on.

This realization came thanks to a store photo I had taken in Las Vegas. At the time, I wasn’t planning to buy anything, so I completely overlooked the Black Tabs. Σ(´∀｀；)

I missed out on a few things due to the packed schedule, but I was still able to easily pick up my main targets, like Cucumber Lime and Phantom Black Tab. I had been hoping for something even rarer, but since I could only visit a limited number of stores, I didn’t come across anything truly extreme.

But that’s just how hunting works. Even if you visit 100 stores, sometimes you find nothing. Other times, you hit the jackpot with just a few stops. That’s what makes it so exciting! ((o(´∀｀)o))

Securing an Ultra-Rare Can

Before starting this trip, I had already arranged to buy a rare can. When I arrived at my hotel, it was waiting for me in perfect condition. Since there was a high chance of it getting damaged in shipping, I figured I might as well pick it up in LA myself—that was actually the main reason for this trip!

And wow, it’s a beauty. This means I can enjoy plenty of US Rockstars now.

The exact details are unknown, but this limited-edition can is rumored to have been produced in only 100 or 500 sets. Based on what I know, I’d say it’s more likely around 500. Out of all the collectors I know, only a few have completed a full-year set.

When I uploaded a photo, fellow collectors immediately recognized it, so I’m really glad it arrived in flawless condition.

Just getting my hands on this makes the whole trip worth it. (●´ω｀●)

I’m not sure where my next energy drink adventure will take me, but I’ll be heading back to the US again soon. Next time, I should have a more relaxed schedule, so I’m looking forward to taking my time and hunting for drinks more thoroughly. ((o(´∀｀)o))