Like a bat out of hell I’ll be gone gone gone
Lightning Rod Synergy Beef Stix
Yes you read that one right. Energy beef stix. Think Slim Jims jacked up with Caffeine, Ginseng, and more. I know it sounds strange but when it comes down to it I think these have real potential as an alternative energy product.
Packaging: Well it pretty much starts off like you would expect. It’s a beef stick in a plastic wrapper. The top and bottom are red and the middle is a black chain link pattern. At the top it is listed as “Original Flavor” and has the slogan. Below the slogan is a picture of the mascot which is a muscle bound Minotaur holding some lightning bolts. Further down it list key ingredients and also states “The genuine Synergy beef stick” in a red font. The back is completely clear with no printing so you can see the meat stick. I’m giving them a grade of C+ for packaging. I love the mascot but I think they should make it clearer this is an energy product and drop the synergy wording and just go with energy.
Slogan: “Meat Stix Gone Wild!” is right there on the package and it is a good one. It is product specific and fun. I will give them a grade of A-
Taste: So if you are familiar with meat product from your local convenience store you probably have a good idea what to expect. I found this meat stick to be a tender mildly sweet flavor. Some beef sticks are kind of tough and greasy but I found these Lightning rods were neither of those. They might have been a little sweet for my taste but that is a personal preference as I prefer spicy meat product over sweet ones. Really I found these to taste better than most meat sticks I have tried. Grade B- for taste
Kick/Ingredients: Ok so I ate one stick and it took about 15 to 20 minutes to hit me. It was not a hard hit but was a more gradual increase of energy. At its peak it was easily on par with your average 8 oz energy drink and the buzz lasted a solid 4 to 5 hours. This was a good buzz that got me through a late evening and got rid of my hunger as well. So what powers these Lightning Rods? For energy you get 60 mg of caffeine from Guarana and 90 mg of Ginseng. You get that with 100 calories, 4 grams of carbs, 3 grams of sugar, 6 grams of protein, and 6 grams of fat. This is a gluten free product as well. I give them a grade of C+ for kick/ingredients. It is better than your average drink and it is a smooth long lasting energy.
Web Presence: They really have a nice site at nrgstix.com. There is a ton and I mean a ton of product info on the Lightning rods ingredients. There are also pictures, a video youtube ad, a faq, nutritional info, sponsors, and a store. Really I enjoyed visiting the website and found it entertaining and informative. They also have a myspace page. Grade B+
Recap:
Well I think these energized meat sticks are pretty damn good. These can come in handy for those on a low carb diet or need gluten free products. Don’t like RB and Vodka? Have a Lightning Rod and a beer! Really though if you are hiking, on a long road trip, or don’t have time for lunch these are a great way to get your energy along with some protein. These are portable and fun and really are one of the more innovative and useful alternatives to energy drinks and shots that I have tried. Give them a try and let me know what you think. I hope they come out with a spicy flavor next!
