Bawls

Bawls Guarana is a soft drink containing a relatively large amount of caffeine (approximately 107 mg per 16 oz can and 66.7 mg per 10 oz bottle). It contains caffeine and natural guarana flavor among other ingredients.

Bawls Guarana is produced by a company of the same name. The company currently makes five products:


 * Bawls Guarana: the original drink
 * Bawls Guaranexx: a sugar-free version of the original drink
 * SnoBawls: a frozen version of the original drink
 * Bawls Buzz: a barely caffeinated candy
 * Bawls Guarana Cherry: a cherry flavored version of the original drink

In addition, Bawls Guarana and Guaranexx come in cans.

Ingredients
As per manufacturer's labeling for Bawls Guarana, as shown on the back of their bottles: Ingredients: Carbonated water, corn syrup, citric acid, natural guarana flavor, sodium benzoate (as a preservative), caffeine, artificial flavors and caramel color. Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 1 bottle; Calories 120; Total fat 0g; Sodium 35mg; Total carbohydrate 32g; sugars 32g; Protein 0g

And Bawls Guarana Cherry, as per manufacturer's labeling: Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, sodium benzoate, artificial flavor, caffeine and natural guarana extract. Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 8 fl oz.; Servings per can: 2; Calories 90; Total fat 0g; Sodium 30mg; Total carbohydrate 25g; sugars 25g; Protein 0g

Taste and Caffeine Content
Bawls' taste is based on cream soda though others find the taste akin to a mix between Mountain Dew and Sprite. Consumers of the popular Scottish soft drink Irn-Bru also find similarities between the two. A 10oz bottle of Bawls contains 64mg of caffeine and a 16oz, contains 100mg of caffeine. The manufacturer claims that their caffeine is 2.5 times stronger than other caffeine, which is probably based on the higher concentration of caffeine in the guaraná berry, and/or the high concentration of caffeine in their beverage, not on any greater "potency" attributed to their drink. It could also be that given the uniform nature of caffeine molecules, that they are simply referring to the concentration of caffeine in their drink, which has been shown in comparison tables to indicate that it is 2.5 times greater in Bawls than in Coca-Cola.

Bawls buzz
Bawls buzz (formerly known as Bawls Mints) consist of the same content as the regular Bawls drinks, only in mint form. They are small blue tablets, and are carbonated, giving an effect similar to that of Pop Rocks (though much milder). Each mint contains about 1 milligram of caffeine via Guarana & pure caffeine (per manufacturer's information). These mints can be put into a bottle of Bawls to rapidly release the carbonation of the drink and mint to produce a large head of foam which often overflows. This is called a 'Fizzing Blue Bawls".

In addition to being quietly renamed from Bawls Mints to Bawls Buzz at some point in 2007, the formula was also changed.

SnoBAWLS
SnoBAWLS is a frozen version of the caffeinated drink. It offers the same taste and caffeine as the original. SnoBAWLS contains 120mg of caffeine per serving. Currently, SnoBAWLS is only available for consumption in select cities.

Cherry Bawls
On May 1st, 2007, Bawls released Cherry Bawls, which is similar to the original, but with some cherry flavor. Currently it only comes in cans. The can is red with white circles that change to blue when the drink is cold. It is scheduled to be released in bottles in Summer of '07.

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. In early fall, 2006, the bottle design underwent a small change that increased the size of the words Bawls and guarana. An alternate bottle sold at paintball fields has multi-colored "paintball splatters" and is commonly referred to as "PaintBawls". Bawls is sold in individual bottles at convenience stores, grocery stores, LAN gatherings, traditional arcades, rock gyms, 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 U.S. military APO's/FPO's. 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. Cans of Bawls are designed to imitate the bottles by having 59 white circles with a fake beveled appearance.

Availability
Due to the lack of sufficient market exposure, Bawls may be difficult to find in certain locations. Aside from online purchase, it can usually be found in the US at convenience stores, such as 7-Eleven, or at numerous cyber cafes and specialty beverage shops. Some computer stores such as Cyber Warehouse(with locations in Lancaster, Harrisburg, and York, Pennsylvania), CompUSA, and Micro Center also sell Bawls along with other caffeinated drinks due to the high consumption of such drinks among their clientele, who vary from gamers to IT professionals. Recently, Bawls Guarana and Guaranexx have been picked up by Target Corporation to be sold nationwide at all SuperTargets and Target Greatlands, thus making it easier to acquire. In Ontario, Alberta and some parts of British Columbia, most Mac's Convenience Stores carry a supply of Bawls. It is very easy to find in Costa Rica, though it is mainly consumed by the youth who attend dance parties.

SnoBawls, the Slurpee derivative, is currently available only in certain markets. Its distribution is most widespread in St Louis, Missouri; Kansas City, Missouri; Detroit, Michigan; and Chicago, Illinois, where all local 7-Eleven convenience stores carry the drink, but it can also be found in select convenience and specialty stores around the country. It is most likely an ongoing trial period to assess its potential for national release.

History
BAWLS Guarana started as the brainchild of Hobart "Hoby" Buppert III, who was looking for an alternative to coffee. The result was a soft drink made with guarana, a berry native to the Amazonian jungle that has more than twice the amount of caffeine found in coffee.

Using the untapped potential of guarana in the United States as a source for caffeine in soft drinks, BAWLS Guarana took off with surprising strength in Miami, Florida. People instantly fell in love with the refreshing, crisp taste of BAWLS, while being able to enjoy the rush of caffeine the drink provides.

Bawls is manufactured in Miami, where Buppert lives with his wife Christina Staalstrom Buppert.

http://www.bawls.com/company.html

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 the nickname 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.. Many Bawls drinkers also save their bottles, amassing them in collections as a status symbol.

As of March 1, 2005, Bawls has been named the official drink of the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL). Bawls products, including Bawls Guaranexx and Cherry Bawls, are now sold at all NPPL events and competitions. The Bawls logo appears on one of the inflatable bunkers on the main professional playing field, and, in the lower divisions, on a field made entirely of Bawls bunkers.

Bawls was also featured in the Greg Hastings Tournament Paintball video games for the Xbox, which included several Bawls-themed fields: Bawls was an official sponsor. Bawls also had a relatively large presence during gameplay Run Like Hell, including vending machines placed throughout the game. It also appeared in various forms in the Console Hack N' Slash Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, replacing the venerable Nuka Cola.