mr.cooper69
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**An In-Depth Look at Every iForce Protean Flavor**
First off, I would like to thank pretty much the entire iForce team, but most specifically VaughnTrue, GHO5T, and baldwanus, for allowing me to sample Protean flavors. They provided several of each sample which was advantageous because it allowed me to try to the Protean in a variety of scenarios.
Before delving into the individual flavors, I will note the factors besides flavor that were constant across the board.
Profile: The profile is awesome as far as I'm concerned. The protein blend lists Whey Protein Concentrate as the first ingredient, and judging from the texture, it is evident that whey is the majority of the blend. This is a great thing. Whey protein concentrate is, in my opinion, the best supplemental protein source we have at our disposal as long as it is processed correctly and of high-grade. WPC comes with a host of overall health benefits and I'm delighted that Protean turned to WPC first; as we all know, protein digestion/absorption rates play a minimal to non-existent role in body composition, so excessive amounts of casein and other sources really aren't necessary to make me happy
. As far as the carb content, it is at just the right level; fats are perfect too, especially considering that almost the entirety of the blend is from medium chain triglycerides, which can serve as a more direct fuel source and can be a valuable addition to an athlete's diet.
9.5/10
Smell: Worth commenting on in this instance, because the smell is simply fantastic. Smell actually plays a vital role in the enjoyment of food and adds significantly to the sensory experience of "tasting" something. Now I won't go commenting on each individual flavors' smell, but they were all very strong, to the point that my empty envelope which contained the samples still smelled great days after using the samples.
9.5/10
Mixability: This was a big one. I used my protean in a variety of different ways. As a shake, the mixability was incredible. Very rapid with no clumps. In proatmeal, it took a little longer to mix into the oatmeal, but my biggest pet peeve in proatmeal is protein that clumps: protean did not, but rather spread evenly into the oatmeal.
9/10
Now, on to the flavors...
Vanilla Cupcake Batter
Here's what it's supposed to taste like:
Here's what it actually tasted like:
I'm a big fan of authentic vanilla flavoring, but besides a select-few proteins on the market, I have had a VERY tough time finding a truly great vanilla. Unfortunately, the search continued after trying the Vanilla Cupcake Batter. Don't get me wrong; I enjoyed this flavor quite a bit actually. It just didn't have a true vanilla feel to it. If I were to describe it, it tasted a lot like a mildly butterscotch-esque, vanilla cream. It hit just the right level of sweetness, and it essentially reminded me of a creamier version of the old Gaspari Myofusion Hydro Vanilla. As a shake, this protein was definitely enjoyable and the "batter" was quite evident. As part of proatmeal, it was too mild for my taste and the creaminess got lost in the volume of the oatmeal. Adding cinnamon to either the shake or the proatmeal improved the flavor quite significantly, which leads me to believe that this is an excellent flavor to buy if you are the kind of person that mixes their shakes with yogurt, PB, bananas, etc. If you are drinking the shakes plain or using proatmeal, look onward to the upcoming reviews.
In a shake: 8.5/10
In proatmeal: 8/10
In comparison to other vanilla flavors:
XF Ultra Peptide French Vanilla > Trutein Vanilla > iForce Protean Vanilla Cupcake Batter > Every Other Vanilla Protein
Here's what it actually tasted like:
iForce NAILED this flavor in my opinion. It is unlike any chocolate I have ever had before, and it really does live up to the truffle name. The image above describes it almost perfectly; one of those powdered, rich chocolate truffles. Rather than having a distinctly milk chocolate taste or a distinctly dark chocolate taste, iForce managed to create a flavor somewhere in between. It doesn't sacrifice sweetness for richness, or vice versa, and it was simply fantastic. As a shake, it was great, one of the best chocolate protein shakes I've ever had. In proatmeal, it was even better, making the oatmeal a lot more indulgent, and with added peanut butter, it pretty much tasted like a cheat meal. But here's the kicker: I took a huge mug, added milk, warmed it up in the microwave, added chocoloate protein, warmed it even more, and drank. It tasted EXACTLY like hot cocoa, with a strong emphasis on the word "exactly." As in, I gave it to my housemate because he was wondering why I was emptying a baggie into a mug, and I told him I had brought some hot cocoa mix from a hotel I was staying at, just to see where this would go. Sure enough, he tried it and was blown away by WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE BEST HOT COCOA MIX HE'S EVER HAD. The fact that this is actually a protein product blows my mind.
In a shake: 9.5/10
In proatmeal: 9.75/10
In warm milk: 10/10
In comparison to other chocolate flavors:
XF Ultra Peptide Triple Chocolate> iForce Protean>Vasolate Chocolate > Trutein Chocolate > Myofusion Chocolate > All other chocolates
Here's what it actually tasted like:
Let me start this one by saying that strawberry protein powders almost always suck. It's just a fact. A 5lb tub of ON Delicious Strawberry scarred me to the point that I never wanted to try another strawberry protein again. However, after taking a 2 year break, I finally caved and had one...and then other...and here we are. Strawberry Creamsicle is a pretty interesting flavor. I enjoyed consuming it, but I do have suggestions for improvement as well. There are two kinds of strawberry proteins out there: those that go straight strawberry, and seek only to produce a fruit flavor, and those that add the cream aspect and make it more of a gourmet flavor. On the one extreme, there is Ultra Peptide Strawberry, which is creamy as hell, while on the other extreme, there is ON/Syntrax, with pure fruit flavoring. iForce's strawberry falls pretty much directly in between both extremes. There is a noteworthy fruity/sweet flavor to it, but there is also a hint of cream. It doesn't taste like authentic strawberries, but rather like a strawberry milkshake that you get from a local store....like the milkshake, except less creamy. In a shake, it tasted exactly like that....a strawberry milkshake without the added creaminess (picture a fat-free strawberry milkshake). In proatmeal, I did not really enjoy it. Certain flavors just don't mix well with oatmeal, and fruity flavors are one of them. My one suggestion is simple: add more to the "creamsicle" part of the flavor, and leave the strawberry exactly as it is.
In a shake: 8/10
In proatmeal: 6.5/10
In comparison to other strawberry flavors:
XF Ultra Peptide Strawberry> iForce Protean>Vasolate Strawberry > Myofusion Strawberry > All other strawberries > Dirt > ON Delicious Strawberry
Here's what it actually tasted like:
For those unaware, this picture comparison should convey to you that the protein tasted exactly as advertised. What does that mean? Oh nothing...just that this is in the top 3 proteins I've ever had (I've had more protein than I care to count). This stuff was UNBELIEVABLE. I could not believe that a protein powder could taste like powdered red velvet cake. There's really nothing to describe if you know what a red velvet cake tastes like: I could taste the "baked portion," I could taste the icing, and most powerful of all, I could taste the actual red part of the cake. With a shake, I savored it as I didn't want the experience to end, and when it was over, I was so blown away that I felt compelled to contact Vaughn immediately. But as part of proatmeal....my lord. I wrote above that certain flavors just go well with oatmeal...this is DEFINITELY one of them. Adding red velvet cake powder to oatmeal basically created, well, a healthy red velvet cake. It was VERY rich, very creamy, and the flavor was very "strong" in a positive sense. Just the right level of sweetness, and enough to make me an instant customer when this protein becomes available for purchase.
In a shake: 10/10
In proatmeal: 10/10
I can't compare this to other flavors because it is the first of its kind.
Here's what it actually tasted like:
This is innovation at its finest. People have done chocolate mint before, but never has a vanilla mint been released. This flavor, like red velvet cake, was just on a completely different level. There are proteins that you cough down, there are those that are palatable, there are those that you enjoy drinking, there are those that you savor till the last drop, and then there are proteins, like red velvet cake and vanilla mint swirl, that have you convinced that you'll never need to cheat on your diet again because this protein can outdo some of its cheat meal counterparts. This flavor was out of this world. I initially had it as a shake, and it was, simply put, the single best protein shake I have had in my life. Yes, it outdid the XF Ultra Peptide 2.0s and Vasolates of the world. From the moment it hits your lips, you can feel the cool mintiness, a lot stronger of a mint than what you find in most chocolate mint flavors. And then comes the vanilla, which for some reason, tasted MUCH better than the vanilla cupcake better. This actually had an authentic vanilla bean-esque feel to it, and coupled with the creamy mintiness, it created a recipe for pure bliss. As part of proatmeal, it tasted mild initially, but with just a little bit of added sweetener, it became a rich and indulgent meal for the ages. Like Red Velvet Cake, I will be buying this protein as soon as it is made available.
In a shake: 10/10
In proatmeal (with sweetener): 10/10
I can't compare this to other flavors because it is the first of its kind.
So there you have it. If I were to rank the Protean flavors...
As shakes:
1. Vanilla Mint Swirl
2. Red Velvet Cake
3. Chocolate Truffle
4. Vanilla Cupcake Batter
5. Strawberry Creamsicle
In proatmeal:
1. Red Velvet Cake
2. Vanilla Mint Swirl
3. Chocolate Truffle
4. Vanilla Cupcake Batter
5. Strawberry Creamsicle
Now, prior to this review, here are my ALL-TIME protein flavor rankings (aggregate from shake + proatmeal consumption):
1. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Cinnamon Roll
2. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Lemon Creme Pie
3. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Banana Cream
4. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Triple Chocolate
5. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Strawberry
6. Thermolife Vasolate Chocolate
7. TNS Trutein Banana Cream
8. TNS Trutein Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
9. Gaspari Myofusion Probiotic Cinnamon Roll
10. TNS Trutein Cinnabun
AFTER having tried all the protean flavors:
1. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Cinnamon Roll
2 and 3. iForce Protean Red Velvet Cake and Vanilla Mint Swirl (I can't decide right now)
4. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Lemon Creme Pie
5. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Banana Cream
6. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Triple Chocolate
7. iForce Protean Chocolate Truffle
8. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Strawberry
9. Thermolife Vasolate Chocolate
10. TNS Trutein Banana Cream
So there you have it. The upcoming flavors of Protean are the best protein flavors I've ever had with the exception of 1 protein. The fact that Protean could displace flavors with more fat (and hence, rich/creaminess) per serving is very impressive, and I seriously hope iForce continues this trend of delivering on unique, delicious flavors. Thanks again to the iForce team for hooking it up and I hope the rest of you purchase a tub of Protean and get to enjoy the bliss that I have had the privilege of experiencing.
First off, I would like to thank pretty much the entire iForce team, but most specifically VaughnTrue, GHO5T, and baldwanus, for allowing me to sample Protean flavors. They provided several of each sample which was advantageous because it allowed me to try to the Protean in a variety of scenarios.
Before delving into the individual flavors, I will note the factors besides flavor that were constant across the board.
Profile: The profile is awesome as far as I'm concerned. The protein blend lists Whey Protein Concentrate as the first ingredient, and judging from the texture, it is evident that whey is the majority of the blend. This is a great thing. Whey protein concentrate is, in my opinion, the best supplemental protein source we have at our disposal as long as it is processed correctly and of high-grade. WPC comes with a host of overall health benefits and I'm delighted that Protean turned to WPC first; as we all know, protein digestion/absorption rates play a minimal to non-existent role in body composition, so excessive amounts of casein and other sources really aren't necessary to make me happy
. As far as the carb content, it is at just the right level; fats are perfect too, especially considering that almost the entirety of the blend is from medium chain triglycerides, which can serve as a more direct fuel source and can be a valuable addition to an athlete's diet.9.5/10
Smell: Worth commenting on in this instance, because the smell is simply fantastic. Smell actually plays a vital role in the enjoyment of food and adds significantly to the sensory experience of "tasting" something. Now I won't go commenting on each individual flavors' smell, but they were all very strong, to the point that my empty envelope which contained the samples still smelled great days after using the samples.
9.5/10
Mixability: This was a big one. I used my protean in a variety of different ways. As a shake, the mixability was incredible. Very rapid with no clumps. In proatmeal, it took a little longer to mix into the oatmeal, but my biggest pet peeve in proatmeal is protein that clumps: protean did not, but rather spread evenly into the oatmeal.
9/10
Now, on to the flavors...
Vanilla Cupcake Batter
Here's what it actually tasted like:
I'm a big fan of authentic vanilla flavoring, but besides a select-few proteins on the market, I have had a VERY tough time finding a truly great vanilla. Unfortunately, the search continued after trying the Vanilla Cupcake Batter. Don't get me wrong; I enjoyed this flavor quite a bit actually. It just didn't have a true vanilla feel to it. If I were to describe it, it tasted a lot like a mildly butterscotch-esque, vanilla cream. It hit just the right level of sweetness, and it essentially reminded me of a creamier version of the old Gaspari Myofusion Hydro Vanilla. As a shake, this protein was definitely enjoyable and the "batter" was quite evident. As part of proatmeal, it was too mild for my taste and the creaminess got lost in the volume of the oatmeal. Adding cinnamon to either the shake or the proatmeal improved the flavor quite significantly, which leads me to believe that this is an excellent flavor to buy if you are the kind of person that mixes their shakes with yogurt, PB, bananas, etc. If you are drinking the shakes plain or using proatmeal, look onward to the upcoming reviews.
In a shake: 8.5/10
In proatmeal: 8/10
In comparison to other vanilla flavors:
XF Ultra Peptide French Vanilla > Trutein Vanilla > iForce Protean Vanilla Cupcake Batter > Every Other Vanilla Protein
Chocolate Truffle
Here's what it's supposed to taste like:
Here's what it actually tasted like:
iForce NAILED this flavor in my opinion. It is unlike any chocolate I have ever had before, and it really does live up to the truffle name. The image above describes it almost perfectly; one of those powdered, rich chocolate truffles. Rather than having a distinctly milk chocolate taste or a distinctly dark chocolate taste, iForce managed to create a flavor somewhere in between. It doesn't sacrifice sweetness for richness, or vice versa, and it was simply fantastic. As a shake, it was great, one of the best chocolate protein shakes I've ever had. In proatmeal, it was even better, making the oatmeal a lot more indulgent, and with added peanut butter, it pretty much tasted like a cheat meal. But here's the kicker: I took a huge mug, added milk, warmed it up in the microwave, added chocoloate protein, warmed it even more, and drank. It tasted EXACTLY like hot cocoa, with a strong emphasis on the word "exactly." As in, I gave it to my housemate because he was wondering why I was emptying a baggie into a mug, and I told him I had brought some hot cocoa mix from a hotel I was staying at, just to see where this would go. Sure enough, he tried it and was blown away by WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE BEST HOT COCOA MIX HE'S EVER HAD. The fact that this is actually a protein product blows my mind.
In a shake: 9.5/10
In proatmeal: 9.75/10
In warm milk: 10/10
In comparison to other chocolate flavors:
XF Ultra Peptide Triple Chocolate> iForce Protean>Vasolate Chocolate > Trutein Chocolate > Myofusion Chocolate > All other chocolates
Strawberry Creamsicle
Here's what it's supposed to taste like:
Here's what it actually tasted like:
Let me start this one by saying that strawberry protein powders almost always suck. It's just a fact. A 5lb tub of ON Delicious Strawberry scarred me to the point that I never wanted to try another strawberry protein again. However, after taking a 2 year break, I finally caved and had one...and then other...and here we are. Strawberry Creamsicle is a pretty interesting flavor. I enjoyed consuming it, but I do have suggestions for improvement as well. There are two kinds of strawberry proteins out there: those that go straight strawberry, and seek only to produce a fruit flavor, and those that add the cream aspect and make it more of a gourmet flavor. On the one extreme, there is Ultra Peptide Strawberry, which is creamy as hell, while on the other extreme, there is ON/Syntrax, with pure fruit flavoring. iForce's strawberry falls pretty much directly in between both extremes. There is a noteworthy fruity/sweet flavor to it, but there is also a hint of cream. It doesn't taste like authentic strawberries, but rather like a strawberry milkshake that you get from a local store....like the milkshake, except less creamy. In a shake, it tasted exactly like that....a strawberry milkshake without the added creaminess (picture a fat-free strawberry milkshake). In proatmeal, I did not really enjoy it. Certain flavors just don't mix well with oatmeal, and fruity flavors are one of them. My one suggestion is simple: add more to the "creamsicle" part of the flavor, and leave the strawberry exactly as it is.
In a shake: 8/10
In proatmeal: 6.5/10
In comparison to other strawberry flavors:
XF Ultra Peptide Strawberry> iForce Protean>Vasolate Strawberry > Myofusion Strawberry > All other strawberries > Dirt > ON Delicious Strawberry
Red Velvet Cake
Here's what it's supposed to taste like:
Here's what it actually tasted like:
For those unaware, this picture comparison should convey to you that the protein tasted exactly as advertised. What does that mean? Oh nothing...just that this is in the top 3 proteins I've ever had (I've had more protein than I care to count). This stuff was UNBELIEVABLE. I could not believe that a protein powder could taste like powdered red velvet cake. There's really nothing to describe if you know what a red velvet cake tastes like: I could taste the "baked portion," I could taste the icing, and most powerful of all, I could taste the actual red part of the cake. With a shake, I savored it as I didn't want the experience to end, and when it was over, I was so blown away that I felt compelled to contact Vaughn immediately. But as part of proatmeal....my lord. I wrote above that certain flavors just go well with oatmeal...this is DEFINITELY one of them. Adding red velvet cake powder to oatmeal basically created, well, a healthy red velvet cake. It was VERY rich, very creamy, and the flavor was very "strong" in a positive sense. Just the right level of sweetness, and enough to make me an instant customer when this protein becomes available for purchase.
In a shake: 10/10
In proatmeal: 10/10
I can't compare this to other flavors because it is the first of its kind.
Vanilla Mint Swirl
Here's what it's supposed to taste like:
Here's what it actually tasted like:
This is innovation at its finest. People have done chocolate mint before, but never has a vanilla mint been released. This flavor, like red velvet cake, was just on a completely different level. There are proteins that you cough down, there are those that are palatable, there are those that you enjoy drinking, there are those that you savor till the last drop, and then there are proteins, like red velvet cake and vanilla mint swirl, that have you convinced that you'll never need to cheat on your diet again because this protein can outdo some of its cheat meal counterparts. This flavor was out of this world. I initially had it as a shake, and it was, simply put, the single best protein shake I have had in my life. Yes, it outdid the XF Ultra Peptide 2.0s and Vasolates of the world. From the moment it hits your lips, you can feel the cool mintiness, a lot stronger of a mint than what you find in most chocolate mint flavors. And then comes the vanilla, which for some reason, tasted MUCH better than the vanilla cupcake better. This actually had an authentic vanilla bean-esque feel to it, and coupled with the creamy mintiness, it created a recipe for pure bliss. As part of proatmeal, it tasted mild initially, but with just a little bit of added sweetener, it became a rich and indulgent meal for the ages. Like Red Velvet Cake, I will be buying this protein as soon as it is made available.
In a shake: 10/10
In proatmeal (with sweetener): 10/10
I can't compare this to other flavors because it is the first of its kind.
So there you have it. If I were to rank the Protean flavors...
As shakes:
1. Vanilla Mint Swirl
2. Red Velvet Cake
3. Chocolate Truffle
4. Vanilla Cupcake Batter
5. Strawberry Creamsicle
In proatmeal:
1. Red Velvet Cake
2. Vanilla Mint Swirl
3. Chocolate Truffle
4. Vanilla Cupcake Batter
5. Strawberry Creamsicle
Now, prior to this review, here are my ALL-TIME protein flavor rankings (aggregate from shake + proatmeal consumption):
1. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Cinnamon Roll
2. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Lemon Creme Pie
3. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Banana Cream
4. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Triple Chocolate
5. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Strawberry
6. Thermolife Vasolate Chocolate
7. TNS Trutein Banana Cream
8. TNS Trutein Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
9. Gaspari Myofusion Probiotic Cinnamon Roll
10. TNS Trutein Cinnabun
AFTER having tried all the protean flavors:
1. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Cinnamon Roll
2 and 3. iForce Protean Red Velvet Cake and Vanilla Mint Swirl (I can't decide right now)
4. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Lemon Creme Pie
5. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Banana Cream
6. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Triple Chocolate
7. iForce Protean Chocolate Truffle
8. XF Ultra Peptide 2.0 Strawberry
9. Thermolife Vasolate Chocolate
10. TNS Trutein Banana Cream
So there you have it. The upcoming flavors of Protean are the best protein flavors I've ever had with the exception of 1 protein. The fact that Protean could displace flavors with more fat (and hence, rich/creaminess) per serving is very impressive, and I seriously hope iForce continues this trend of delivering on unique, delicious flavors. Thanks again to the iForce team for hooking it up and I hope the rest of you purchase a tub of Protean and get to enjoy the bliss that I have had the privilege of experiencing
.
