All in USA
The enjoyment peaks early on in the sip with the initial rush of cocoa and moderate sweetness-- but it quickly abates in favor of an intrusive stevia wave-- not quite sharp enough to call it a 'twang'-- but it wrests control of the flavor throughout the 2nd and 3rd trimester-- leaving you with an unsatisfying and slightly drying aftertaste.
Unremarkable but gets the job done-- it shades on the bland side of the ledger but at least has portability on its side being a shelf-stable product. There's a slight cooked-milk flavor that isn't particularly distracting-- and ultimately it drinks with facility and ends with a mild astringency. Middle of the road.
Very well-balanced flavor, in that it leads with chocolate, and the salty/sweet ratio is spot on and plays its supporting role perfectly. It drinks quickly-- I finished the entire cup before even recording any of the review-- which is always a good sign. It comes off as effortlessly delicious-- which seems congruent with its simple roots-- a very desirable quality that can't be faked.
More coffee than chocolate-- but that's certainly no complaint. As one who likes sweet coffee, this is enjoyable stuff with an honest caffeine kick before you can polish off the pint. There's a slight astringency in the afterglow that is noticeable but doesn't hamper the overall plus experience.
Well-imagined cookies & cream flavor with no shortage of sweetness to get its point across. The creamy non-homogenized base furthers the 'cream' part of C&C-- lending to an authenticity that many of its peers lack.
Tasty initial maltiness that is carried through to the end by its gorgeous creamline body-- this is uniquely delicious and indulgent despite an under-reliance on chocolatiness.
Thinner texture and a nicely more 'lithe' drinking experience compared with the traditional Fairlife chocolate milk. The monk fruit sweetener has been dialed back to a more manageable level and really only hampers the aftertaste- and even that, only slightly.
Very muted flavor-- has an almost diluted quality to it, and while it's largely unoffensive-- it's far from moving the needle in any positive direction. Initially smooth, it finishes with a chalky, drying lilt and predictably flat aftertaste. I'll concede that the packaging looks cool-- but if it's what's on the inside that counts, this doesn't belong among polite society.
Disturbingly thick, decidedly undersweet-- you almost have to chew it to get it down, which is a lot more work than the payoff is worth. I do appreciate the confidence to go low on the sugar, while not supplimenting with another kabuki sweetener. It's unique, and has a hefty protein kick, but the thickness-to-creaminess ratio is dissatisfyingly high, and I'm left with a dry mouth, full gut, and shattered dreams. Ok that's a bit dramatic.
By definition, this run-of-the-mill nation-wide, mass-produced, low-fat chocolate milk should be a 5.0-- but somehow it feels criminal to call this average. Maybe my tastes and expectations have evolved slightly, maybe it's taken a turn for the worse. That said, it's super-innocuous, lightly sweet, and carries a slightly earthier than usual cocoa flavor that requires some effort to tease out.
Being a lover of innovation and fake banana flavor-- you'd think the confluence of these would be a match made in the heaven that is my lizard brain. It scores definite points for effort and novelty, but ultimately, it drinks like a liquid banana Runt-- not the worst thing by any stretch-- but the chocolate component is too overshadowed to register on the palate. Aesthetics-wise, it resembles something straight from a healthy bile-duct, but don't let that keep you from giving it a try if the above sounds remotely your speed.
A welcome more-mature CnC flavor here that is not hampered by an over-reliance on sweetness to get its point across. Accuracy over caricature is a appreciated in this application, and the flavor ages nicely from initial contact to lasting repose.
Brightly cocoa-focused with a subtle homage to its grassy roots-- this is a powerful manifestation of what makes chocolate milk a pleasure to consume. The strong cocoa flavor is the star of the show, and the other aspects all play their supporting roles well-- particularly the sweetness, which remains thoughtfully in the background throughout.
Loads of flavor supported by a competent whole milk base-- this is a dangerously easy (and remarkably efficient) way to take in 510 calories! The cocoa flavor is not lost in the peanut buttery goodness-- both are equally represented and not cartoonishly portrayed. Good stuff.
Few chocolate milks strike a perfect note on all accords-- it's luxuriously buttery and creamy, with a strongly confident wildness that reminds you where it came from. It's strongly chocolaty and slightly more salty than sweet, which compliments the cream flavor and quells any would-be sugary aftertaste. Quite simply, this is what all young chocolate milks should aspire to be when they grow up.
Straightforward cocoa flavor and salty/sweet balance-- a pleasant drinking experience with a dusting of grit on the back end. There's not much of an aftertaste (be it good or bad)-- so ultimately, it's decent while it lasts, but won't occupy precious brain-harddrive space with its memory.
Pleasant sweetness up front, followed by an average-to-mild cocoa flavor and minimal back-end baggage. It finishes clean, but I'm left unsatisfied by the incongruence between the prominent Hershey's co-branding and the lackluster chocolate presence in the look and more importantly, the flavor.
Strong enough cocoa presence to challenge (not quite 'mitigate') the metallic / fortified flavor, and thankfully the stevia is dialed to an appropriate level-- avoiding the telltale 'twang' that typically accompanies it. Texture-wise, it's an odd combination of thin yet deeply chalky-- it won't feel terribly unfamiliar, but it remains several standard deviations away from desirable.
Beefy and full of cocoa flavor- this is a lot to take in at once, but I'm more than happy to oblige. The sweet/salty balance is appropriately tuned and does well to support the strong medium cocoa flavor that is the main feature and treated with the reverence it deserves.
Silky upfront experience with a back-end malt and an almost coffee-like bent to the flavor. There's a modicum of grit left in the mouth post-swallow, followed by a clean, pleasant aftertaste that warrants another pour. This half gallon won't last long.
