All in USA
Densely flavorful creamline body that, much like fine wines and chocolate milk reviewers, gets better with age. A few days after opening the half gallon, I sense a grassier note which adds much desired 'dimensionality' to the cream. The cocoa flavor strikes the medium-to-malty part of my gustatory cortex and is warmly chaperoned by the cream flavor for a pleasant entrance and graceful exit-- of course leaving you wanting more.
Strongly chocolaty and sweet- it drinks thickly but packs a satisfying punch of flavor making the girth seem worth it. In a world of subpar private label chocolate milks, this stuff stands out and dares you not to be satisfied (if not won over) by its competence.
Its relatively light complexion accurately suggests a lighter cocoa presence-- creating a flavor void that is filled with a powerful (not quite 'searing') sweetness that eventually gives way to a chocolate note on the way out. It's still an enjoyable way to spend a couple minutes and a few hundred calories, but I'm left longing for a stronger cocoa flavor and more equitable sweet/salty balance.
Strong and quick pop of upfront sweetness that settles down with a cocoa dusting in the latter third of each sip. A strong saltiness both distracts from the chocolate flavor and likely obfuscates any would-be twang from the non-sugar sweeteners. In short, it's unique, and has a punchy flavor-- just not in the exact locations and proportions that you'd get in a top-tier chocolate milk.
Appropriate salty/sweet balance for a more adult, sourish, mature(ish) cocoa flavor-- which seems to be standard across many private label 2% organic chocolate milks. Sure, there's a cooked milk flavor from the ultra-pasteurization, sure that kills the 'soul' of the chocolate milk-- but the rest of it is decent enough to satisfy in a pinch, or even feature as the 'indulgent' portion of an unremarkable bagged lunch.
Gracefully thin and smooth for a creamline chocolate milk-- I appreciate the alacrity with which it moves and the facility with I can down a pint. Flavor-wise, it registers a sweetness upfront, followed by a lightly malty cocoa presence that takes you the rest of the way. It drinks quickly, and is enjoyable while it lasts.
Refreshingly restrained for a C&C flavored milk-- it's quite under-sweet for the genre and provides more of a (chocolaty) cookie hit than a (sugary) cream one-- and I must say, that's a character that I admire, both for the uniqueness and for the flavor ratio itself.
Accurate and well-balanced mocha flavor delivered through a gorgeously creamy base-- I could get used to waking up to this every morning. And having it in the afternoon. Pretty much whenever I guess. If you enjoy the confluence of coffee & cocoa- definitely add this to your bucket list.
Delicious onslaught of chocolaty, peanut-buttery, creamy goodness that does the combination justice. It takes advantage of its slightly less viscous (than its peers) texture to deliver brilliant, punchy flavor early and often to whatever surface it graces. Absolutely loving this right now, it will wake up your tastebuds without feeling heavy-handed-- it will bring a mid-sip smile to your mouth and gleam to your soul.
Warm creaminess with a salty and slightly grassy nip upfront, which sets the tone nicely for the cocoa flavor that tapers off gracefully into the aftertaste. It feels solidly built upon a delicious Jersey creamline foundation and rewards you with an indulgent treat worthy of slow, pensive sips and that coveted top-shelf refrigerator real estate.
Smooth, lightly chocolaty, unoffensive, rather tolerable. It's saltier than sweet, and otherwise down the middle. Will not cause rapid heartbeat, excitement, depression, lust, anxiety, or any other sensation aside from a burning calm that, if unchecked, can lead to a sunken, empty regret for having played it safe.
The rare, non-homogenous 2% body is by far its strongest attribute, and, well-- perhaps its only distinguishable attribute. While I appreciate the thin, creamier-than-it-should-be milky base, it could shoulder a ton more flavor than it is tasked with. Minnesota is known for relatively bland palates, and aside from a light stationery flavor (think licking a greeting card-- kinda satisfying, I know)-- it's difficult to locate much of a cocoa flavor at all. I want it to be there. I want to like this more than I do. I want to like myself more than I do. I identify with this chocolate milk: only modestly above average on its best day.
Sourish cocoa paired with a strong cooked milk flavor-- admittedly not something that sounds immediately enticing. Texture-wise, it's a tad chalky but otherwise unoffensive-- and as a whole, the enjoyment peaks at the mild satisfaction of a few strong pulls off of the straw.
Thick, sludgy, and paralyzingly sweet-- it looks better than it tastes and exudes a bit of 'heat' on the palate that feels weird. Good chocolate milk rarely comes in aluminum cans-- and it never comes in a can that looks like this.
Very smooth and drinkable reduced fat chocolate milk with a sweet cocoa flavor that is not quite 'fruity' but a bit hard to put my finger on. It's mildly distracting, and I'm still attempting to reconcile the gap between what I like in a cocoa flavor, and what we've got here.
Surprisingly flavorful and chocolaty for a shelf-stable, protein-fortified chocolate milk. Sure, there's some chalkiness from the protein concentrate, and sure, there's a slight but noticeable cooked milk flavor from the high-temp pasteurizing, but drinking this is decidedly more pleasure than pain, and compares very favorably to its typical 'recovery beverage' peer group. I get that a 5.0 isn't an impressive score, but for the genre, trust me- it is.
Upfront blast of sweetness followed by a cooked milk flavor that carries through to the aftertaste. The high degree of sweetness overpowers the rest of the experience and ultimately feels a bit hollow. On the positive side, its reduced fat base feels substantial and is certainly preferable to a lowfat or nonfat alternative.
Very heavy-handed on the sugary side of the ledger-- affording very little else to come through in the sip. The cookies & cream flavor is somewhat muted and drinks more like a 'candified' chocolate milk-- by that, I mean that it tastes more like chocolate candy than actual chocolate. Texture-wise, there are clumps of goo that float to the top and detract from a smooth drinking experience. I don't like it.
Deliciously balanced representation of the mocha flavor with a chocolate presence on the front end and warm, lasting coffee simmer on the back end. The creamline base does its job extremely well in a supporting role, and a pint goes surprisingly quickly though my intent was to savor it as I would my morning cup of joe. I'll do it with the next pint, I promise.
Lots to love here-- medium cocoa flavor over a solidly-built, densely creamy base and a sweet/salty balance nicely tipped in favor of the latter. But for me, the star of the show is the buttery, grassy sustain in the latter third of the sip and into the aftertaste-- a perfect homage to its origins, and an extra dimension of flavor that is rarely attained in our world of mass-produced chocolate milk.
