★★★★★ 5
Probably the best
Flavor Name: Chocolate, Size: 14 Fl Oz (Pack of 12)
I'm not a super meat head muscle workout guy, but I went from being very active about my nutrition and macros and then had an accident which left me disabled so my needs changed. This fits different needs, but is still really really exceptional.
If you're a gym rat just looking for *only* plain old bulk protein to take after workouts, or you reeeeeeallly take a lot of it, honestly I'd get a big giant tub of bulk powder from like muscle milk or optimum nutrition. The price is just too good to ignore, & plus you can add another scoop or two to double or triple the protein. You can't really beat it, other than taste.
Speaking of taste, whether it's a pre-mix or powders, I've never, ever ever ever tasted a protein shake that tasted as good as this chocolate one. Dozens & dozens of brands over the decades, & the only one that comes close was the OG Muscle Milk recipe in the old tetra packs from like 15-20 years ago, before they were bought by Gatorade or whoever. This has NO right tasting as good as it does, with as little sugar, calories, & fat. PLUS having artificial sweeteners like stevia & sucralose. One reason I despise pre-made shakes, zero calorie & low sugar drinks is because I have a very strong detection of artificial sweeteners, but I can barely tell these are there. On top of that, 42 grams of protein in 14floz? I don't know what magic Fairlife did, but it's incredible.
One thing I will say though, is if you're taking a protein drink for pretty much anything other than supplemental protein replacement, this doesn't offer too much else. The "vitamins & minerals" aren't too impressive, and though a high protein drink can make you feel full or satiated, calories & fat are important too. As stereotyped it is, something like Ensure has a really good blend of calories, fat, sugar, and a lot of vitamins. There is a reason it's used all over hospitals & nursing homes. Plus the Ensure "Plus" & "Complete" have 16g & 30g protein each, respectively. They don't taste as good as the Fairlife does, but they're actually not too bad, since they use actual sugar. However, those really are meant for convalescing & true meal replacement, not bulking & training.
The only other downside is price really, at $40-45 for a 12 pack, these aren't cheap. However, when compared to a good alternative like optimum gold at about $25 for a 12 pack, you're getting almost double the protein in each drink from 24 to 42, and they're 14oz instead of 11oz, so you're getting 168oz compared to 132oz, which is like getting 3 more drinks worth. It's still a bit costly per bottle, as an Optimum Nutrition/Pure Protein/Premier Protein 11oz pre-made at $25 a 12pk will be a little over $2 each, & the Fairlife 12pk @ $45 is about $3.75 each. Still cheaper than if you went to pick one up at the gym or a gas station or something, a single would probably be $5-7, so there's value there in bulk. If it's worth it to you, that's up to your wallet.
Another plus is they are SNAP/EBT eligible, so that's a massive W.
If you take loads & loads & loads of protein every single day, and lugging a shaker with powder around isn't a problem, bulk powder is gonna be a LOT cheaper. However, if you only drink one every couple days, and don't want to deal with the blender/shaker hassle, and most importantly want the best tasting shake, this is it. This stuff is awesome, & I'll 1000% be trying the vanilla and strawberry as well. The chocolate is an easy 5 and worth trying.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2025
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