Monday, July 21, 2025

The Beast Blender Delivers, Making Me a Kale Smoothie Lover

The Beast Blender Delivers, Making Me a Kale Smoothie Lover

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Beast Mighty 850 Plus: A Powerful and Versatile Blender for Home Use

If you're looking for a blender that can handle tough ingredients like frozen fruits, leafy greens, and even ice with ease, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus might be the perfect choice. Unlike many portable blenders that rely on batteries, this model is powered directly from the wall, giving it a more robust motor and superior blending performance. This makes it ideal for creating smoothies, green juices, and other nutrient-packed drinks without compromising on quality.

During testing, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus proved to be highly effective at breaking down challenging ingredients. It turned kale, oat milk, and blueberries into a smooth, drinkable beverage with no lingering bits of leaf or seeds. The blender also handled frozen blackcurrants exceptionally well, eliminating the gritty texture that often comes with such ingredients. While the power of the 850 Plus is impressive, it does come with a trade-off—noise. The blender operates at around 80 decibels during the initial blend, which is quite loud compared to other models. However, since a single cycle is usually enough to complete most tasks, the noise isn’t too much of an issue.

The design of the Beast Mighty 850 Plus is both functional and stylish. It comes in a range of colors, including white, black, muted blue, and sand, allowing users to choose a model that fits their kitchen decor. The blender includes three different-sized vessels, each with ridged sides. These are great for mixing smoothies, protein shakes, and even salad dressings. The smaller vessel is especially useful for making portioned sauces or dressings. Along with the vessels, users receive multiple lids, including a screw-on lid, a drinking lid with a carry cap and straw, and two straws. A cleaning brush is also included to help remove any stubborn residue from the ridges.

While the ridges on the vessels add a unique aesthetic, they can sometimes trap sticky ingredients like peanut butter. Fortunately, all the components except the base and straws are dishwasher-safe, making cleanup easier. For those who prefer hand washing, the long-handled brush provided by Beast is helpful in removing debris from the grooves.

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: Price and Availability

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is available for $149 in the US and £149.99 in the UK. It sits in the mid-range of Beast Health’s product lineup, offering more power and accessories than its more affordable counterpart, the Beast Mighty 650, which costs £119.99 and is only available in the UK. For those seeking a premium option, the Beast Mega 1200 Plus is priced at $199 or £199.99 and offers even greater performance.

Compared to other popular personal blenders like the Nutribullet Flip and Ninja Blast Max, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus is more expensive but delivers significantly better results. Its powerful motor, ability to handle tough ingredients, and additional accessories make it a strong contender for anyone serious about making high-quality smoothies and juices at home.

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: Design and Features

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus has a sleek, modern design with a large base that houses its powerful motor. The three blending vessels come in capacities of 415ml, 638ml, and 786ml, providing flexibility for different types of recipes. The larger vessels are ideal for smoothies and protein shakes, while the smaller one is great for salad dressings or sauces. The blender also includes a variety of lids and accessories, ensuring convenience and versatility.

Despite its attractive design, the ridged sides of the vessels can be a bit tricky when dealing with sticky ingredients. However, the dishwasher-safe components make cleaning manageable. The lack of a rechargeable battery means the 850 Plus can't be used on the go, but it offers more consistent power and performance than portable models.

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: Performance and Testing

In testing, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus consistently outperformed other personal blenders. It handled mixed frozen berries, including dense strawberries and gritty blackcurrants, with ease. A single minute-long blending cycle was sufficient to create a smooth, icy shake without any residual seeds or chunks. The blender also worked well with ice, turning a double shot of espresso with ice and milk into a perfectly blended iced coffee.

When tested with a standard banana, kale, and blueberry smoothie, the 850 Plus produced a drinkable result without any fibrous particles. This level of performance is rare among personal blenders, making it a standout choice for those who want a reliable and powerful machine.

Other Options to Consider

For those not sure if the Beast Mighty 850 Plus is the right fit, there are alternatives worth considering. The Nutribullet Flip is a compact, portable option that’s easy to carry and clean, though it may not handle tough ingredients as well. The Ninja Blast Max is another powerful choice, offering portability and strong blending capabilities.

Should You Buy the Beast Mighty 850 Plus?

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is a top-tier blender that delivers exceptional performance and versatility. It's ideal for those who want to make high-quality smoothies, juices, and other beverages using tough ingredients. However, it’s not the best option for people who need a portable blender for on-the-go use. If budget is a concern, there are cheaper alternatives available, but they may not offer the same level of power and performance.

Overall, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus is a strong investment for anyone serious about their smoothie game. Its combination of power, design, and functionality makes it a standout in the world of personal blenders.

Sunday, July 20, 2025

14 Top Grape Soda Brands Ranked Worst to Best

14 Top Grape Soda Brands Ranked Worst to Best

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The Case for Grape Soda: A Comprehensive Ranking

Grape-flavored things often get a bad rap. From the purple Skittles to grape lollipops, they’re frequently overlooked in favor of more vibrant flavors. But it’s time to give grape soda its due. It deserves as much recognition as any other fruit flavor, especially when it comes to soda.

To highlight this, I embarked on a mission to rank every grape soda I could find. I visited local grocers and even checked out a shop with vintage soda bottles. My main focus was the flavor, though secondary factors like probiotic content also played a role in the final ranking.

14. Whirly Pop

Whirly Pop didn’t start off well. Its lollipop-themed label was visually appealing, but the soda inside left much to be desired. The flavor was vague and artificial, with an overwhelming sweetness that felt like drinking liquified candy. I couldn’t get past the melted-lollipop vibe and barely managed a single sip.

13. Spindrift

Spindrift’s grape soda surprised me with how much I disliked it. While it had four ingredients — carbonated water, concord grape juice, apple juice, and lemon juice — the citrus-forward flavor made it hard to identify as grape. The combination of citrus and grape wasn’t palatable, and I wouldn’t drink it again.

12. Nehi

Nehi is a vintage brand, and while it’s transparent about being artificially flavored, the taste didn’t live up to expectations. The grape notes were weak, and it felt like drinking thin grape syrup. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t my favorite either.

11. Culture Pop

Culture Pop’s probiotic soda was underwhelming. The inclusion of lemon juice and elderflower made it tart and unbalanced. While it had some health benefits, the flavor fell short compared to others on the list.

10. Zotz

Zotz’s grape soda had a potent grape flavor, but it leaned heavily on artificial notes, reminiscent of Jolly Ranchers. It wasn’t the worst, but it still didn’t win me over.

9. Fanta

Fanta’s grape soda was mediocre at best. It had a subtle, natural flavor but lacked the punch of other options. It was sweet, but not overly so, and it earned a solid ninth spot.

8. Frostie

Frostie stood out for its real grape flavor and balanced sweetness. It had a depth of flavor similar to vintage Coca-Cola, though the sugar content kept it from higher placement.

7. Olipop

Olipop’s herbal, tea-like flavor didn’t appeal to me. While it had health benefits, the botanicals and plant fiber detracted from the overall experience.

6. Ramuné

Ramuné impressed with its natural, juicy grape flavor. It was slightly less sweet than others, making it a refreshing choice.

5. Simple Truth Organic

Simple Truth Organic offered a subtle yet distinct grape flavor with added gut benefits. It was a pleasant, gentle soda that I’d enjoy at gatherings.

4. Cove

Cove’s probiotic soda was neutral but flavorful. It struck a good balance between sweetness and grape flavor without introducing other elements.

3. Zevia

Zevia’s zero-calorie grape soda was a standout. It had a natural, non-artificial flavor and was just sweet enough. Though it didn’t have gut benefits, its taste alone earned it a top-three spot.

2. Poppi

Poppi’s grape soda was a pleasant surprise. The addition of apple juice gave it a well-rounded body, and it avoided the citrus-heavy approach of some competitors.

1. Slice

Slice took the top spot with its pure, potent grape flavor and gut-friendly ingredients. It was natural, juicy, and free of artificial additives. It hit all the right notes and was an easy choice for the number one spot.

Methodology

I compiled the list by visiting multiple grocery stores and gathering a variety of grape sodas. Flavor was the primary factor, with considerations for sweetness, authenticity, and additional flavor notes. Vintage sodas generally ranked lower due to their high sugar content and less appealing taste profiles. The top contenders had a natural, fruity, and punchy grape flavor that I truly enjoyed.