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Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.
First reported by Globe Newswire, NERD Focus™ partnered with NASCAR driver Natalie Decker ahead of the Henry 180 Xfinity race on July 3rd. Rebranded as the "Original Think Drink", NERD Focus claims to be the leading focus beverage aimed at assisting in energy production and concentration.
If you're like me, new energy drinks catch your eye, especially ones with such an interesting name. I did a bit of research that I'll share with you below; including a brief history of the beverage, an overview of the sponsorship deal and revitalized brand strategy, and what people are saying about the taste, kick, and overall appeal.
NERD's History & Current State
NERD was born in 2006, when a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio decided to create a "Think Drink" with the help of his professors after seeing his classmates drinking energy drinks with potentially dangerous ingredients. After establishing the brand selling directly to students at his school, NERD built up a cult following, eventually expanding to other Texas universities and local retailers.
Fast forward to 2020 when Beverage USA Holding Inc. acquired the company and announced a rebrand, with a new logo that "aligns with the product disruption to the beverage industry and resonates with consumers looking to enhance focus, concentration, memory, and energy."
To the benefit of crazed energy drink consumers everywhere, this rebrand also includes a retail rollout to New Jersey, Las Vegas, and Nashville; as well as an making their drinks available on their website, Amazon, Walmart, and other online retailers.
NASCAR Sponsorship: Natalie Decker Racing
Although NASCAR wouldn't have been my first sponsorship guess based on the name of the drink, NERD Focus made waves on June 30 when they announced they would be sponsoring Eagle River, WI native Natalie Decker ahead of the Henry 180 Xfinity NASCAR race.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons license.
Also reported by Globe Newswire, Natalie said "As a professional driver, energy and focus are crucial in getting you across the finish line as quickly as possible. NERD™ approached me several months back about trying their brand, and I was instantly intrigued with the boost I felt and how refreshing the taste was. I’ve personally been enjoying the brand for several months and feel confident in having them be a part of my team through this sponsorship.”
Howard Davner, CEO of Beverage USA, said "We are so excited to see Natalie NERD-ed out for a big race out in front of her home state fans. There’s always something special about a homecoming and we’re thrilled to be along for the ride with her!”
What Are Customers Saying About NERD Focus?
With 128mg of caffeine per 12oz can in both the Original and Zero Calorie, NERD Focus advertises a unique blend of vitamins and "NOOTROPICS", as well as the following benefits:
1. Boost Stamina and Strength
2. Enhance Focus and Concentration
3. Ramp Up Motivation
4. Provide Alertness & Stimulation
5. Improve Mood
If you're like me, you're probably thinking that this sounds cool, but asking what the hell it tastes like. Increased focus, motivation, and performance doesn't mean much if you can't get it down. Plus, let's be honest - who doesn't drink energy drinks for the flavor at least some of the time?
Let's see what reviewers of the drink on Amazon are saying about it.
Kosine is all about NERD Focus:
"Nerd is my favorite energy drink, bar none. It's sweet, but not overly so, and it lacks that acidic bite that monster has, but that makes it better in my opinion. It definitely can keep you awake, but it doesn't leave you amped like some of the other drinks on the market. It's more of a calm alertness."
Wicasawakan likes the kick but can't place the taste:
"I didn't like the tropical/citrus flavor. It's something odd..not mango, not pineapple, maybe guava or lemon/dragon fruit? Really didn't go for it BUT...the kick of energy was nice to have when I needed it."
Christopher P. is ecstatic that NERD Focus is back:
"I was upset for a while cause I couldn't find nerd. I am so happy to be getting it again. It is the best tasting energy drink on the market. It actually makes you feel awake and like your mind is firing on all cylinders. My wife gets sick if she drinks energy drinks but she can drink nerd."
Conclusion
Looks like customers are generally happy with their purchase, with a 4.5/5 overall on Amazon based on 150+ reviews. I'm pretty excited to try it myself, since I think there's always a market for a great tasting, relatively healthy, performance-boosting energy drink. That's if all of the marketing and reviews turn out to be true, of course. It's the internet, no one lies on here.
Let us know if you've had NERD Focus, or are planning to purchase a 12-pack by hitting us up here or on any of our socials. And keep an eye out for a review from us once we're able to get our paws on it.