Code Blue

Product Type:Functional: Recovery and Hangover; Container: 12 oz PET
BevNET Review: Based on its mostly blue color palette (including purplish blue liquid), Code Blue’s Blueberry Pomegranate appears to be the flagship flavor of the brand. While blueberry and pomegranate sounds like a marketable flavor, the product tastes more like a sticky-sweet mixed berry flavor with no notes of blueberry or pomegranate. That said, simply calling this “Original” might be a better move, especially since they haven’t added anything to the label (such as images of fruit) to help reinforce the fruit flavors. Otherwise, the blue liquid and blue heavy label make sense for a product called Code Blue. Functionally, this product is a recovery drink like all of the Code Blue flavors are, with added sea salt, B vitamins, D-Ribose, L-glutamine, ginkgo biloba, milk thistle, and prickly pear. While we can’t tell you how well this product works, it certainly seems to have the appropriate ingredients in its formulation. Overall, this product definitely seems like the core flavor of the brand (it definitely looks like the most complete product) and with some minor changes we think it could hold its own.

Product Type:Functional: Recovery and Hangover; Container: 12 oz PET
BevNET Review: With a sharp citrus flavor that finishes smooth, the Meyer Lemon flavor of Code Blue is another solid addition to the lineup. Like the other flavors, Meyer Lemon is sweetened with erythritol and stevia, which allows the product to be zero calorie and still remain all-natural. There’s only a mild amount of sweetener flavor, although there is definitely a bit of an aftertaste. While the flavors have changed quite a bit since Code Blue’s first rendition, the functionality has not. This product still contains a recovery focused blend of functional ingredients, including sea salt, B vitamins, D-Ribose, L-glutamine, ginkgo biloba, milk thistle, and prickly pear. The visual makeover for the product is a big one, with a 12 oz., fully wrapped PET bottle being the new format for the brand. Visually, it utilizes the gray and blue color palette of the original, but a colored band has been added around the neck to match the flavor. However, the flavor name is down at the bottom of the label, which doesn’t seem like the best place to put this information. While the product seems visually polished, we’re left wanting to see a bit more to help promote the flavor (it doesn’t really look visually appetizing). Overall, it’s a good tasting product, with a label that looks clean but is missing a few finishing touches.

Product Type:Functional: Recovery and Hangover; Container: 12 oz PET
BevNET Review: Code Blue’s Peach Mandarin is the best tasting flavor of the new lineup. We’re not saying that just because of personal preference, but because the fruit flavor used in this variety masks more of the sweetener flavor than the others. The peach and orange flavors are fruity and enjoyable, while managing to be relatively full bodied despite the use of erythritol and stevia to sweeten them. A touch of sea salt gives the product a similar mouthfeel to a sports drink. Functionally, the product uses the same functional cocktail as all of the Code Blue flavors, which includes B vitamins, D-Ribose, L-glutamine, ginkgo biloba, milk thistle, and prickly pear, as well as added vitamin C. The purpose of all of this being to help aid in “recovery.” For us, the product has a hydrating and soothing effect, which might be more about the flavor than the functional ingredients. Packaging has changed quite a bit from Code Blue’s old 12 oz. can, with the product now coming in a 12 oz. PET bottle. Otherwise, the label is pretty similar, with a gray and blue themed product that has accent colors for the flavor. From our perspective, there are two things that we’d point out about this product. First, is the placement of the flavor name, which is at the very bottom in small type and easy to miss. Second, the label lacks anything to whet the appetite, instead feeling like something that’s pharmaceutical in nature. Standing by itself, that might not be an issue, but in a crowded store shelf, we think that Code Blue should address this. Overall, the product tastes good and the function seems credible, but the packaging still needs some refinement.