As my runs get longer, I am constantly looking for something to push my training to the next level. But the overuse of sugar and foreign ingredients in many energy bars on the market tends to deter me from purchasing them. That’s why I was thrilled to receive some bars from Bearded Brothers to review for ActionHub.

This Austin-based company is obsessed with providing sustainable energy for endurance athletes via all-natural ingredients. Best of all, the bars are organic, raw, vegan, gluten and soy free, making them an easy choice for anyone on a special diet. Though the use of whole, natural ingredients does raise the calorie count, I found the trade-off to be well worth it.

When I first received the bars, I immediately fell in love with the packaging. Not only does the company stick to wholesome ingredients, they also think about nature in their presentation, wrapping each bar in 100-percent compostable packaging. I was impressed by the whole presentation—from materials and ingredients used to the unique logo and short description—each element echoed the brand’s commitment to simplicity.

Colossal Coconut Mango

I started my taste testing with this bar because I’m on a coconut kick. I was not disappointed, as the first bite delivered the nutty, grainy taste of one of my favorite fruits. Of all the bars I tried, this one had the mildest flavor, with the nutty grains dominating the texture and taste, and hints of the mango lingering after a few bites.

This bar was also the driest, though it should be noted that none of Bearded Brother’s offerings had me reaching for a glass of water. Instead, I enjoyed how each intensified in taste and complexity the longer you chewed.

Bodacious Blueberry Vanilla

The bodacious blueberry bar is advertised as the favorite, and after a few bites I could see why. I love blueberries, so I enjoyed the fact that this flavor really stayed true to the fruit, immediately hitting your taste buds with a strong but pleasant taste of blueberry. The vanilla is a bit overpowered by its bolder counterpart, and instead makes itself known in the aftertaste. But the result is a clean, rich taste without creating sweetness overkill. For those needing the extra boost, this bar in particular boasts added protein from vanilla and brown rice.

Radical Raspberry Lemon

They don’t call this bar radical for no reason. The newest bar to the Bearded Brother’s line, it’s the most fragrant and flavorful of the bunch. As soon as I opened it, the strong smell of lemon and berries overwhelmed me. Not surprisingly, ingredients like lemon extract, raspberries, and figs make the texture of this bar a bit different than the others. It’s more moist and seedier, but not off-putting. The first bite is a flavor explosion, with the robust taste of berries and the almost shocking pop of lemon creating a fresh finish.

Fabulous Ginger Peach

Similar to the Radical Raspberry Lemon, Fabulous Ginger Peach is not for the faint of heart. Fragrant and light, as one might expect, the ginger in this bar packs a powerful punch. A ginger root lover myself, I enjoyed the kick of the flavor that was toned down by the sweetness of the peaches. The combination had a distinct Asian cuisine taste to it.

Mighty Maca Chocolate

I found the taste of the Mighty Maca Chocolate bar the most surprising among the Bearded Brother’s flavors. Unlike that classic “candy bar” chocolate taste that other energy bars use to entice us cocoa fiends, the Maca bar was something entirely different. Staying true to the classic cocoa taste, this bar is bold and rich, but not sweet.

The result was something drier, with subtle notes of cinnamon rounding out a robust taste that reminded me of coffee, biting and soft at the same time. At first, I missed my sugary-chocolate, but as I continued to chew, I found this form of the classic treat to be much more refined and satisfying. Of all the bars, this one kept me full the longest, though it’s similar in calorie count to the rest of the line.

It should be noted that all of these bars were great energy boosters. At first glance, the size of the bars seems a bit small, but the rich taste and hearty ingredients had me satisfied about half way though eating one. As might be expected, since these bars are void of fillers, this fullness lasts. I ran a good nine miles one morning without a thought after eating half, and finished the rest when I got home to replenish the energy I had just spent. I was surprised that I almost immediately recovered from my run and was ready to tackle the next task at hand.

*Be sure to check back with ActionHub to learn more about Bearded Brothers in a company overview (link will be added here upon publishing).

Image courtesy of Bearded Brothers