Bawls
 | |
| Type | Energy drink |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Bawls |
| Country of origin | USA |
| Introduced | 1997 |
| Variants | SnoBawls, Bawls Guaranexx, Bawls mints |
| Related products | Red Bull, Full Throttle, Ramune, Monster, Vault |
| Website | www |
Bawls is an energy drink containing a relatively large amount of caffeine (approximately 80 mg. per 12 oz. and 67 mg. per 10 oz. bottle). It is made from the juice of the Guarana berry, native to the Amazon rainforest of South America. It is popular at LAN parties, technical support offices, and among paintballers. Bawls Guaranexx is the sugar-free variant. SnoBawls is normal Bawls in Slurpee form. In addition to the three beverages, Bawls mints are also available.
Taste
Bawls has a fruity taste, with a hint of something like vanilla, similar to the taste of the now discontinued soda Sprite Remix or the Japanese soda Ramune, but also comparable to the taste of a Lik-m-Aid Fun Dip stick. Others find the taste akin to a mix between Mountain Dew and Sprite. A 12oz bottle of Bawls contains 80mg of caffeine, which occurs naturally in guarana and is 2.5 times stronger than the caffeine found in coffee, tea, or regular soft drinks [1]. This makes Bawls the third most highly caffeinated soft drink in the market.
Packaging
Regular Bawls is packaged in a dark blue glass bottle, while Bawls Guaranexx comes in a clear bottle. Both containers are covered in approximately 127 bumps to increase the traction of the container in an individual's hands. The bumps also add to the distinctive look of the Bawls bottle. Bawls is sold in individual bottles at convenience stores, grocery stores, LAN gatherings, traditional arcades, and dance halls. It is also available in 12 and 24-pack cases when purchased from convenience stores, computer stores, grocery stores, or purchased online. Aside from being available in glass bottles, it can also be packaged for shipping overseas to the military. The "Military Gift Pack" consists of 12 aluminum cans rather than glass bottles in order to save money on shipping and reduce the risk of spoilage.
Availability
Although Bawls may be hard to find in certain locations due to the lack of sufficient market exposure, it can always be bought online and can usually be found in the US at stores such as 7-eleven, Albertsons, Holiday, Woodmans,Publix and CompUSA. In Ontario, most Mac's Convenience Stores, 7-elevens and CompuSmarts carry a limited supply of Bawls and other high-energy drinks. Recently, Bawls Guarana and Guaranexx have been picked up by Target Corporation to be sold nationwide at all Super Targets, thus making it easier to acquire. It is very easy to find in Costa Rica, though it is mainly consumed by the youth who attend dance parties. Some computer stores also sell Bawls along with other high-energy drinks due to the high consumption of caffeine-drinks among their clientele whom vary from gamers to IT professionals to anyone in between. SnoBawls, the Slurpee derivative, is only known to be available in Dallas, Texas and Phoenix, Oregon at local 7-Elevens. It is most likely an ongoing trial period to assess its potential for national release.
Culture
Popular among online gamers and programmers, this beverage is commonly seen at LAN Party events, where players will bring Bawls cases like one would take beer to sporting events. Bawls has gained a nickname by some people of "Geek Beer" for this reason. Bawls Guarana sponsors gaming centers, LAN parties, and more recently, paintball. The company regularly provides Bawls-labeled hats, bags, stickers, and free drinks to pre-selected, sponsored LAN Parties to be awarded as prizes for winning tournaments and/or raffles [2].
As of March 1, 2005, Bawls has been named the official drink of the Nation Proffesional Paintball League (NPPL). Bawls is now sold at all of the events in all of its forms. It also appears on one of the inflatable bunkers on the main professional playing field, and there is a entire field made up of Bawls Bunkers in the lower divisions.
Cultural habits surrounding Bawls includes the collection and saving of Bawls bottles. This habit is often unrelated to the fact that the bottles are recyclable glass and eligible for some USA state deposit and refund laws.
Bawls had a relatively large presence in the game Run Like Hell (Video Game), including vending machines placed throughout the game. It also appeared as an item in the PC strategy roleplaying game Fallout Tactics.
Jeremy, the protagonist from the Pure Pwnage webisode series is seen drinking Bawls along with the character Anatasia.