The Monster Ultra Range Explained: Every Flavour Compared
Dela
Monster Ultra is the sugar-free half of the Monster range: the same 500 ml can and roughly the same caffeine as Monster Original, but lighter in flavour and with no sugar. Start with plain Ultra if you want the citrus original, Ultra Black if you prefer something darker and sweeter, and Ultra Peachy Keen if you are coming off a sugary energy drink.
Monster Ultra, Original, Zero and Juiced side by side
All Monster cans in our range are 500 ml, carbonated, and contain 32 mg of caffeine per 100 ml, which works out at roughly 160 mg per can. The difference between the lines is sugar and flavour direction, not strength.
| Line | Container | Caffeine | Sugar | Flavour direction | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monster Original | 500 ml can | ~160 mg per can | Contains sugar | Classic, heavy, sweet | The reference Monster taste |
| Monster Zero Original | 500 ml can | ~160 mg per can | Sugar-free | Original, without the sugar | Loyal Original drinkers cutting sugar |
| Monster Ultra (white can) | 500 ml can | ~160 mg per can | Sugar-free | Light, dry, citrus | The default Ultra |
| Ultra Black | 500 ml can | ~160 mg per can | Sugar-free | Dark berry and cherry | Those who find plain Ultra thin |
| Ultra Peachy Keen, Strawberry Ultra, Watermelon Ultra | 500 ml can | ~160 mg per can | Sugar-free | Soft, fruit-forward | Switching from a sugary drink |
| Ultra Fiesta, Ultra Pink | 500 ml can | ~160 mg per can | Sugar-free | Tropical and lighter fruit | Variety in a mixed tray |
| Juiced range (Mango Loco, Monarch, Pipeline Punch and others) | 500 ml can | ~160 mg per can | Contains sugar | Juice blend, thicker | People who want juice, not soda |
| Zero Full Throttle | 500 ml can | ~160 mg per can | Sugar-free | Separate, heavier profile | An alternative to Zero Original |
What is the difference between Monster Ultra and Monster Original?
Sugar and body. Monster Original contains sugar and tastes thick and syrupy; Monster Ultra is sugar-free and tastes noticeably lighter and drier, closer to a flavoured sparkling water with an energy-drink finish. The caffeine is the same, so the switch costs you nothing in that respect. The Ultra cans also drop the dark, slightly medicinal note of the classic Monster flavour, which is the main reason people who dislike Original get on with Ultra. Neither line is certified as vegan, so if that is a requirement, check the energy drink range for alternatives rather than assuming.
Is Monster Ultra the same as Monster Zero?
No. Both are sugar-free, but they are built to do different jobs. Monster Zero Original is a sugar-free version of the classic Monster flavour, aimed at people who already like Original and want the same taste without the sugar. Ultra is a different flavour family altogether: lighter, citrus-led, with its own set of fruit variants. Zero Full Throttle sits apart again, closer in character to the heavier end of the range. If you like Original, go to Zero Original. If you have never liked Original, go to Ultra.
How is the Juiced range different from Ultra?
The Juiced cans contain sugar and are built around juice blends, which makes them the opposite of Ultra in almost every respect. Mango Loco Juiced, Monarch Juiced, Aussie Lemonade Juiced, Juiced Apple, Rio Punch Juiced, Juiced Khaotic, Pipeline Punch and Viking Berry Juice are thicker, sweeter and more tropical than anything in the Ultra line. They suit people who would otherwise drink a soft drink rather than an energy drink. They are not a step towards cutting sugar, so if that is the goal, Ultra or Zero is the right half of the range. Our piece on the zero-sugar trend covers how the split between those halves has developed.
Every Monster Ultra flavour we stock, compared
Seven Ultra cans are in the range, and they divide into a dry citrus core and a softer fruit group.
- Ultra — the original white can and the driest of the group. Light citrus, low sweetness, clean finish. This is the Ultra that tastes least like a traditional energy drink and the one we restock most often.
- Ultra Black — the darkest Ultra, with a cherry and dark-berry character. Sweeter in perception than plain Ultra despite having no sugar, and the best choice for someone who finds the white can thin or watery.
- Ultra Peachy Keen — soft stone fruit, rounded, with the lowest acidity in the line. Easy to drink quickly, which makes it the most forgiving Ultra for a first-timer.
- Strawberry Ultra — straightforward sweet strawberry with a slightly candied finish. It splits opinion more than the others: people either reorder it or never touch it again.
- Watermelon Ultra — the most refreshing can in the line and the best of the Ultras served very cold. Light, a little tart, and the one that works best on a hot day or straight after training.
- Ultra Fiesta — the tropical, mango-leaning can. Fuller than plain Ultra without the weight of the Juiced range.
- Ultra Pink — the name does not state a fruit, and the profile is the lightest and sweetest of the pink and red group. Worth reading the can before you commit to a tray.
Which Monster Ultra should you start with?
Plain Ultra, unless you already know you prefer sweeter drinks. The white can is the reference point for the whole line, and once you know how it tastes you can judge the others against it: Ultra Black if you want more depth, Ultra Peachy Keen or Strawberry Ultra if you want more sweetness, Watermelon Ultra if you want it lighter and sharper. If you are buying for other people rather than yourself, a mixed tray of Ultra, Ultra Black and Watermelon Ultra covers the three main preferences without wasting stock. The full Monster collection shows what is in stock at any time.
Switching from a sugary energy drink to Monster Ultra
Expect the drink to taste thinner for the first week. Sugar carries flavour and gives a drink body, so a sugar-free can of the same strength will seem weaker even though the caffeine is identical at roughly 160 mg per 500 ml can. Two things help. Start with one of the sweeter Ultras, such as Ultra Peachy Keen or Strawberry Ultra, rather than the dry white can, and drink them properly cold, since cold flattens the artificial-sweetener note that puts people off at first. If you are switching mainly to avoid the sugar crash rather than for the taste, a BCAA-based drink is the other route worth comparing: see NOCCO vs Monster Energy.
Best for…
- Pre-workout: Ultra or Watermelon Ultra. Sugar-free, 500 ml, and light enough to drink during a warm-up.
- A long drive: Ultra Black. The 500 ml can lasts, and the darker flavour holds up at room temperature.
- Office afternoons: Ultra Peachy Keen. Low acidity and no sugar, which suits repeat drinking.
- Coming off sugary energy drinks: Strawberry Ultra or Ultra Peachy Keen first, then plain Ultra once the palate adjusts.
- A gym fridge for resale: Ultra, Ultra Black and Watermelon Ultra as the fixed lines, with one Juiced can for the customers who want sugar. The bestsellers give a sense of what moves.
Frequently asked questions
How much caffeine is in Monster Ultra?
Monster contains 32 mg of caffeine per 100 ml, which is roughly 160 mg in a 500 ml can. That figure is the same across Monster Ultra, Monster Original, Zero and the Juiced range, so switching to Ultra changes the sugar content rather than the caffeine. Per can, Ultra is stronger than a 250 ml Red Bull, which contains 80 mg.
Is Monster Ultra sugar-free?
Yes. The entire Ultra line is sugar-free, as is the Zero range, including Zero Original and Zero Full Throttle. Monster Original and the Juiced range, such as Mango Loco Juiced and Pipeline Punch, contain sugar. If you are buying for a sugar-free fridge, stick to cans labelled Ultra or Zero and check the label on anything else.
Which Monster Ultra flavour is the best?
Our pick is plain Ultra, the white can, for its dry citrus profile and clean finish, with Ultra Black as the choice for anyone who wants more depth and sweetness. Watermelon Ultra is the most refreshing served cold, and Ultra Peachy Keen is the easiest first can for someone used to sugary energy drinks.
Is Monster vegan?
Monster is not certified as vegan, and that applies to the Ultra line as well as to Original and the Juiced range. If a certified vegan energy drink is what you need, other brands in our range are explicitly labelled as vegan, including the Swedish BCAA-based drinks. Always check the current can, since formulations and certifications can change.
Why does Monster carry a high caffeine warning?
Under EU Regulation 1169/2011, drinks containing more than 150 mg of caffeine per litre must state "High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women". At 32 mg per 100 ml, which is 320 mg per litre, Monster sits well above the threshold. The same warning appears on most energy drinks sold in the EU.
Can you mix Ultra and Juiced cans in one order?
Yes. Trays and pallets can be mixed across the Monster range, which is the practical way to work out what sells in a particular location before setting up a standing order. For shops and gyms, a split between two or three Ultra lines and one sugary Juiced can covers most of the demand we see.
Buying Monster from Nordic Refreshment
The Monster range, including the full Ultra line, is available by the can, by the tray and by the pallet, with delivery across Europe and B2B pricing on request. Mixed trays are available if you want to test several Ultra flavours before committing to a larger order.
Buying for a shop, gym or office?
Nordic Refreshment ships by the tray or the pallet across Europe. Tell us the mix and we will quote.
