At 12 years old, Dennis had his first taste of a Monster Energy. He enjoyed the drink so much, he placed the empty can on a shelf in his room after he downed it. For a year, he repeated this process, trying new flavors one after the other and displaying them until he ran out of shelving.
But Dennis’ love for Monster couldn’t be bound by physical space. He decided to immortalize his collection online, posting his every can of Monster on a dedicated Instagram account called @EnergyCans_NL.
Four years later, he now boasts 11,600 followers. Now 19 and living in the Netherlands, he’s Instagram’s second-biggest Monster-can collector.
Yes, there exists a small community of influencers who collect and post rare Monster cans and flavors. It’s like the sneakerhead community, only for energy drinks. Most post their trophies under #EnergyDrinkCollection, but you can find Monster-specific collectors like Dennis at #MonsterCollection. (Watch out for actual monsters on this tag.)
“When I first started, there were only a few flavors [of Monster] available in the Netherlands for sale in local supermarkets, so I started looking on the internet for even more tastes and different looks,” Dennis tells MEL. Unfortunately for him, many of those flavors are only available in America. However, he soon discovered a website that imports different flavors, and he’s been importing, tasting and posting his way to the top ever since.
What It Takes to Be a Real Monster Collector
Any old Kyle can post a picture of his Monster Energy can, but the #MonsterCollectors are an elite tier. A measly green Monster Original propped upon a dusty shelf in a room lit by Christmas lights isn’t going to net you any followers.
Dennis uses a Nikon D3400, and carefully matches the atmosphere and mood to the can and flavor.
While Dennis says he no longer reviews the flavors (though he’ll tell you his thoughts over DM if you ask), some Monster collectors put just as much emphasis on the unique Monster palate as the picture itself.
Take Domenic, a Monster collector in Germany. His collection might not be as sizable as others’, but what he’s lacking in quantity he makes up for in quality. For example, here’s how he describes the Monster Energy GRONK edition:
“I try to review all the drinks so my subscribers get a better sense of what it tastes like!” he tells MEL.
On Instagram, however, the Monster Collectors focus on capturing the certain je ne sais quoi that surrounds each individual can. But capturing the essence of the cans isn’t purely for love of Monster.
“Of course, tastes play a big role,” Dennis explains, “but people will buy a can more quickly if the design is very beautiful, especially the rare cans. Designs that aren’t seen very often are more expensive [because] they become collector’s items.”
Monster Energy Collection 2022 – 267 cans
FAQ
How many different types of Monster cans are there?
What is the pink can of Monster?
How big was the BFC Monster?
What’s your rarest og can?
My rarest one is probably the smaller og Monster can from Japan (rare bc I live in the Netherlands). Friend of mine went there and I asked him if he could grab one for me. It’s between 300 and 400ml. I like it a lot. Great to hear that! 🙂
Is Monster a rare drink?
This version of Monster is less rare than some others on this list. You can even still find it in some local stores. Still, it’s rare enough to be sought after. The drink has many appealing features, including a well-balanced flavor, relatively low sugar content, and the fact that it is still rather than sparkling.
Are there rare Monster Energy Drinks?
Monster also has the habit of regularly discontinuing products, changing formulas, and creating new ones. So, it’s hardly surprising that there are plenty of rare Monster energy drinks. This is something people get surprisingly passionate about, to the extent of collecting them, showcasing them on Instagram, and even selling them on eBay.
What types of monsters have rares?
Since Rares were first discovered on October 10th, 2014, several Monster classes have been given Rares, including Natural, Fire, Ethereal, Seasonal, Magical, Mythical, and Supernatural Monsters. Legendary Monsters, Dipsters, and Celestials are the only other types of Monsters to have no Rare versions.