Irn Bru is one of the oldest energy drinks brands that still maintains its popularity and continues to sell its drinks in large numbers in the UK.
Originated in 1901 as an alternative to beer for steelworkers, Irn Bru is a go-to drink for many Scottish individuals. Its parent company, AG Barr, is also in control of the production and retail of a range of other energy drink brands.
It costs 7 pounds and it can be bought in stores across the United Kingdom. Irn Bru Energy comes in two different variants, the Irn-Bru Regular and the Irn Bru Sugar-Free.
Trying Irn-Bru was a great experience, and overall, I would rate it an 8/10.
To know more about this drink’s qualities, continue reading my review!
Contents
Irn-Bru Soft Drink & Irn-Bru Energy
Irn Bru also produces soft drinks. While the taste of the energy drink and the soft drink are almost identical, the difference lies in the amount of caffeine present.
The soft drink version of Irn-Bru contains 30mg of caffeine in a 330mL can, this is mostly present as a flavour enhancer.
The Energy Drink variant has an expected, higher amount of caffeine of 105mg per 330mL can.
Ingredients in Irn-Bru Energy
The regular version of the Irn-Bru energy drink contains the following ingredients.
| Ingredient-Type | Ingredient |
| Water | Carbonated Water |
| Sweetener | Sugar |
| Amino Acid | Taurine |
| Acidity Regulator | Trisodium Citrate |
| Flavourings | Ammonium Ferric Citrate |
| Vitamins | Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 |
| Preservative | Sodium Benzoate |
| Colours | Sunset Yellow FCF, Ponceau 4R |
Nutritional Content of Irn-Bru
| Nutrient-Category | Amount (Per 330mL) |
| Energy | 153 Calories |
| Carbohydrates (of which sugar) | 36g (35g) |
| Salt | 0.25g |
| Caffeine | 120mg |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | 15.84 |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.386mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.475mcg |
| Protein | 0g |
Caffeine in Irn-Bru
A regular 330mL can of Irn-Bru Energy Drink comes with 105mg of caffeine packed in it.
This amount is pretty standard among other competitor energy drinks. However, experts recommend a healthy adult only have a maximum of 400mg of caffeine per day.
Sugar in Irn-Bru
Each 330mL drink of Irn-Bru has a high 35 grams of sugar present.
This amount is pretty high, the National Health Service (NHS) advises adults with no prior health conditions to have no more than 30 grams of sugar in a day.
If you’re someone suffering from diabetes or would prefer not to have a high amount of sugar, you can instead opt for the sugar-free variant of Irn-Bru.
Calorie Content of Irn-Bru
One thing Irn-bru doesn’t exceed is its calorie amount. Each can has 153 Calories present within.
If you are healthy and have a balanced diet and carry out light workouts every day, this amount should burn off pretty quick.
The daily limit of calorie intake is 2500 and 2000 for men and women respectively.
Are There Artificial Sweeteners in Irn-Bru?
Sugar-Free Irn Bru contains Acesulfame Pottasium and Aspartame as their primary source of sweeteners.
Ace-K is a widely used artificial sweetener most brands of energy drinks use as a substitute for sugar.
It is usually blended with other sweeteners, in this case, Aspartame, to mask the bitter aftertaste Ace-K leaves.
Is Irn-Bru Healthy?
The calorie and sugar content present are certainly not healthy if you are not taking measures to counter their effects.
Eating healthy and carrying out light workouts are a necessity to ensure you won’t face any adverse effects of a sugar overload.
Ponceau 4R, the colouring used in Irn Bru is a controversial ingredient. It is known to increase hyperactivity in children.
Is Irn-Bru a Pre-Workut Energy Drink?
The high caffeine amount, taurine, and the several B-Vitamins added in Irn-Bru make it a suitable Pre-Workout Energy drink.
Vitamin B3, B6, and B12 are a combination of vitamins that allow your body to turn fat into energy, ridding you of fatigue and tiredness.
Taurine also has a similar effect. By helping the flow of glucose to the muscles, it causes a stimulating effect on the human body.
These characteristics make Irn-Bru eligible to be taken before a workout. One or a maximum of two cans every other day will carry out the intended purpose of boosting your energy without side effects.
Is Irn-Bru Bad For You?
If taken in excess, Irn Bru can cause you to face a caffeine overdose, and this can result in several side effects, some of these include:
- Dizzyness
- Diarhea
- Increased thirst
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Fever
Similarly, a high amount of sugar in your body can cause you harm as well, having large amounts of sugar can cause the walls of your arteries to be inflamed, and in turn, cause many heart diseases.
Irn-Bru Energy Drink Flavours
Irn Bru only comes in its original signature flavour. The soft drink version and the energy drink variant have almost identical flavours.
Irn-Bru energy is easily distinguishable as it has a slightly ‘stronger’ touch to its taste.
The drink is orange-coloured and very carbonated. Its taste is unique, nothing like any other energy drink I have had.
You can tell it is sugary and it leaves that taste on your tongue for a while, but I prefer this to the bitter aftertaste left by Red Bull.
Irn Bru Energy Drink Alternatives
If Irn-Bru doesn’t fit your needs and you would prefer to try other similar energy drinks, here are some good ones:
Other notable mentions:
Conclusion
Irn Bru is well worthy of its popularity. The drink has a taste which I think distinguishes it from other brands really well. It’s a flavour that will surely get consumers hooked!
To me, it tasted like a blend between what you would expect an orange drink to taste like and a creamy drink, which is an incredible mixture. It’s certainly very refreshing and the caffeine content is just right too.
I would rate it an 8/10, two points extracted because I found it a little too fizzy, but this may not be an issue for most people.
All in all, Irn Bru is worth a try!