Flavors Tried: Classic Chocolate & Dark Chocolate
Price: $35 for 12 shakes ($2.91 each)
Nutrition: 100 Calories, 1g Fat, 4g Carbs (1g Sugar), 20g Protein
I recently came across Slate protein shakes at Kroger, a brand I hadn’t heard of before. Apparently, they’re the official partner of the UFC, so MMA fans ar likely to be familiar with them.
What caught my attention was the “ultra-filtered milk” on the label – the same ingredient that makes Fairlife shakes stand out in the protein shake market.
For those unfamiliar, Fairlife shakes taste like milkshakes rather than protein shakes because they use ultra-filtered milk instead of adding protein supplements. In other words, they are simply adding back extra protein from the milk itself rather than adding a protein powder to the shakes.
Seeing Slate use the same approach, I was excited to give them a try. Slate offers both protein shakes and coffee options, but I focused on their two chocolate flavors for this review.
Nutritionally, these shakes are impressive:
- 100 Calories
- No added sugar
- 20 grams of protein
- Lactose-free
These stats are solid, especially considering the low calorie count. If the taste matches up to Fairlife, Slate could be a strong contender in the protein shake market.
Flavor Review: Classic Chocolate
The Classic Chocolate was quite dark and bitter, which wasn’t what I expected. I was hoping for a smooth chocolate milk flavor similar to Fairlife, but that’s not what I got here.
It doesn’t necessarily taste like a typical protein shake, but you wouldn’t mistake it for chocolate milk either.
There’s a noticeable lack of sweetness, and I detected a hint of stevia aftertaste. While not bad, it doesn’t have the smooth flavor profile of Fairlife, which is what I hoped for from an “ultra-filtered milk” product.
The taste reminds me more of hot chocolate mix mixed with water than creamy chocolate milk, so set your expectations accordingly.
Flavor Review: Dark Chocolate
The Dark Chocolate flavor is very similar to the Classic Chocolate, but with a more pronounced aftertaste. Surprisingly, it tastes almost like a watered-down version of the Classic Chocolate. This was disappointing, as you’d expect dark chocolate to have a stronger cocoa flavor.
If I were choosing between the two, I would take classic chocolate 10 times out of 10 over dark chocolate. If you’re expecting a rich dark chocolate flavor, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.
Slate Protein Shakes: Final Thoughts
Overall, I find the Classic Chocolate flavor to be decent, though not anywhere close to Fairlife. It’s enjoyable enough if you can find it on sale, but I wouldn’t be racing out to stock up.
Unlike Fairlife, which can easily be mistaken for regular chocolate milk in a blind taste test, Slate definitely stands apart from typical chocolate milk.
Considering each shake contains 100 calories and 20 grams of protein, it’s not a bad option. The flavor won’t blow you away, but it’s serviceable for a quick protein boost without excessive calories.
Slate does offer other flavors, like french vanilla, so maybe you’ll find better luck with different flavor options. As it currently stands, I could see a place for the classic chocolate shake, but don’t expect Fairlife-level deliciousness.
