Mountain Dew Frostbite: What Makes This Flavor So Special? [Taste Guide]
Mountain Dew Frostbite captivated soda enthusiasts with its exclusive availability and unique flavor profile during its five-year run. As a Walmart franchise exclusive from March 2020 to May 2025, this special Mountain Dew variant offered what the company described as “a burst of icy refreshment and cool melon” flavor.
When it comes to the mountain dew frostbite flavor, many fans were intrigued by its distinct taste characteristics. What does Mountain Dew Frostbite taste like exactly? Throughout this article, we’ll explore the mountain dew frostbite taste in detail, from its refreshing melon notes to its overall flavor profile. Additionally, we’ll dive into its origin story, packaging options, and ultimately why this popular variant was discontinued and replaced by Dragon Fruit as Walmart’s exclusive Mountain Dew offering.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll also cover the Zero Sugar version that emerged in January 2021, alongside other important aspects that made this beverage a noteworthy addition to the Mountain Dew lineup.
What is Mountain Dew Frostbite?
Frost Bite stands as a distinctive chapter in Mountain Dew’s flavor portfolio. First introduced as a trademark filing by PepsiCo on October 22nd, 2019 under the name “MTN DEW FROST BITE,” this beverage would soon create buzz among soda enthusiasts.
Origin and exclusive release at Walmart
The journey of Mountain Dew Frostbite began behind the scenes, initially leaking on the Dew Drinker Discord in late 2019. However, the community kept this information relatively contained to protect both the product launch and the source of the leak.
The real public revelation came on January 15th, 2020, when a PepsiCo employee shared an advertisement featuring a 16.9-ounce bottle on Reddit’s r/MountainDew forum. This marked the beginning of widespread anticipation for what would become Walmart’s first-ever exclusive Mountain Dew flavor.
On March 23rd, 2020, Mountain Dew Frostbite officially hit Walmart shelves nationwide. The beverage launched with impressive variety, available in 20-ounce bottles, 12-packs, 6-packs of 12-ounce cans, and various other single and multipack sizes. Furthermore, the product line later expanded to include 24-can packs to meet growing demand.
Color and visual appeal
Visually, Mountain Dew Frostbite immediately commands attention with its striking cobalt blue color. This eye-catching hue was deliberately chosen to evoke feelings of refreshment and coolness even before the first sip.
Beyond the liquid itself, the packaging features a bold shark design that enhances its appeal. This “stunning graphic shark design” became a signature element of the Frostbite identity, creating an immediate visual connection to its icy, refreshing concept.
Tagline and branding elements
Mountain Dew positioned Frostbite with a straightforward tagline: “Naturally and Artificially Flavored DEW“. This simple declaration allowed the product’s unique characteristics to speak for themselves.
Throughout its marketing, PepsiCo consistently described Mountain Dew Frostbite as offering “a burst of icy refreshment and cool melon flavor”. This flavor description became central to the product’s identity and marketing message.
Interestingly, the branding strategy extended beyond mere flavor description, with promotional materials suggesting Frostbite was “made especially for those who dare to dive straight into the deep end of adventure”. This positioning connected the beverage to Mountain Dew’s traditional association with excitement and bold experiences.
Originally planned as a permanent offering at Walmart, Mountain Dew Frostbite remained available for just over five years before its discontinuation in May 2025.
What does Mountain Dew Frostbite taste like?
Taking your first sip of Mountain Dew Frostbite delivers an immediate sensory experience unlike other Dew varieties. This distinctive cobalt blue beverage offers a complex flavor journey that has captivated fans and puzzled casual drinkers alike.
Flavor profile: icy melon and citrus
Mountain Dew Frostbite was officially described as “a burst of icy refreshment and cool melon”. This refreshing beverage combines a well-balanced mixture of sweetness that hits immediately without being overpowering. The primary flavor notes reveal a unique melon character, specifically identified as honeydew melon, that forms the backbone of its taste profile.
Beneath the prominent melon notes lies a vibrant citrus foundation that connects Frostbite to its Mountain Dew lineage. This zesty citrus element provides a refreshing kick that complements the melon sweetness. Many drinkers also detect subtle berry undertones that add complexity to each sip.
Perhaps most notable is the distinct cooling sensation that accompanies the flavor – a characteristic that perfectly aligns with the “Frostbite” name, creating a genuinely refreshing experience particularly welcome on hot days.
Comparison to Arctic Burst and other blue flavors
Interestingly, Frostbite shares remarkable similarities with Mountain Dew Arctic Burst, a previous limited edition offering. Many enthusiasts speculated that Frostbite was essentially a “recycled” version of Arctic Burst due to their comparable watermelon and honeydew flavor profiles. Both beverages featured a light blue/cyan color scheme, although Frostbite’s cobalt blue was notably more intense.
Some reviewers have drawn comparisons between Frostbite and Pepsi Blue, noting similarities in their refreshing finish, though opinions vary on whether these flavor elements complement each other effectively.
Texture and carbonation level
The physical drinking experience of Frostbite features bubbly effervescence that enhances the overall enjoyment. Its lively carbonation creates a distinctive fizzy sensation that amplifies the drink’s refreshing qualities. The effervescence is particularly effective at highlighting the melon and citrus notes while delivering that signature “bite” Mountain Dew is known for.
Temperature significantly impacts the Frostbite experience – when properly chilled, the cooling sensation intensifies, creating what many describe as an invigorating mouthfeel that aligns perfectly with the “icy” marketing concept.
The story behind Frostbite’s release and discontinuation
The evolution of Mountain Dew Frostbite from concept to discontinuation reflects PepsiCo’s strategic approach to exclusive flavor releases and market testing. This cobalt blue variant had quite the journey through its five-year lifespan.
Initial leaks and community buzz
The first whispers of Frostbite emerged in late 2019 when information leaked on the Dew Drinker Discord. Remarkably, most community members kept this information relatively contained out of respect for both the product launch and their information source. The official public revelation came on January 15th, 2020, when a PepsiCo employee shared an advertisement featuring a 16.9-ounce bottle on Reddit’s r/MountainDew subreddit. This unexpected leak generated immediate excitement among Mountain Dew enthusiasts.
Prior to this reveal, PepsiCo had filed for the “MTN DEW FROST BITE” trademark on October 22nd, 2019, signaling their intentions for this new product line. The filing process itself sparked curiosity among brand watchers and beverage industry observers.
Official launch in March 2020
Following months of anticipation, Mountain Dew Frostbite officially arrived on Walmart shelves nationwide on March 23rd, 2020. The timing coincided with the early pandemic period, yet despite these challenging circumstances, the product launched with impressive variety. Consumers could purchase Frostbite in 20-ounce bottles, 12-packs, and 6-packs of 12-ounce cans, among other size options.
The reception proved so positive that PepsiCo subsequently expanded the product line to include 24-can packs to meet growing demand. As Walmart’s first-ever exclusive Mountain Dew flavor, Frostbite represented a significant milestone in the retailer’s partnership with PepsiCo.
Why it was discontinued in May 2025
Despite its popularity, Mountain Dew Frostbite reached the end of its run in May 2025 after five years on the market. The decision to discontinue came as PepsiCo opted to replace it with Dragon Fruit as Walmart’s exclusive Mountain Dew offering. This strategic shift aligned with changing consumer preferences toward more exotic flavor profiles and PepsiCo’s continuous product innovation cycle.
Throughout its lifespan, Frostbite maintained its position as a refreshing melon-citrus option that successfully balanced the traditional Mountain Dew experience with unique flavor elements that differentiated it from the core product line.
Frostbite Zero Sugar and other variants
Building upon the success of the original beverage, PepsiCo expanded the Frostbite line with a sugar-free alternative that maintained the distinctive flavor profile but catered to a different consumer segment.
Launch of Zero Sugar version in 2021
After observing the positive reception of the original Mountain Dew Frostbite, PepsiCo developed a zero-sugar version. The first hints of this upcoming variant appeared in January 2021 when a SmartLabel listing for a 20-ounce bottle leaked online. A Pepsi employee on the Dew Drinker Discord subsequently confirmed plans for an April 2021 release. Nevertheless, the timeline accelerated, with Mountain Dew Frostbite Zero Sugar officially launching on March 22, 2021.
According to Nicole Portwood, Vice President of Marketing at Mountain Dew, the company was “thrilled to introduce MTN DEW FROST BITE Zero Sugar for fans who want a delicious zero sugar option”. This release strategy aligned with PepsiCo’s broader commitment to “consistently deliver flavor excitement and variety of choice to DEW Nation”.
Availability and packaging formats
The Zero Sugar variant maintained exclusive distribution through Walmart, appearing in more than 4,300 stores nationwide. Consumers could purchase the product in two formats: 20-ounce bottles and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans.
Alongside the Zero Sugar introduction, PepsiCo simultaneously expanded the original Mountain Dew Frostbite packaging options by adding 24-can packs. This expansion aimed to provide “the DEW signature charge at a greater value to meet the demands of DEW Nation and Walmart shoppers”.
Marketing materials emphasized that the Zero Sugar variant delivered “the same bold charge and flavor now with zero sugar”, maintaining the “refreshingly cool burst of melon flavor” and shark design that characterized the original Frostbite.
Why the variant was discontinued
Despite initial enthusiasm, Mountain Dew Frostbite Zero Sugar had a significantly shorter lifespan than its full-sugar counterpart. By mid-2023, many consumers reported difficulty finding the product, leading to speculation about its discontinuation. In October 2023, these suspicions were confirmed—the Zero Sugar variant had indeed been discontinued and “not produced for the past year”.
Interestingly, this disappearance occurred well before the scheduled May 2025 discontinuation of the original Frostbite flavor. The specific reasons behind the early discontinuation weren’t publicly detailed, but it followed a pattern seen with other limited-time Mountain Dew variants that typically have shorter market runs than their permanent counterparts.
Conclusion
Mountain Dew Frostbite certainly earned its place in the pantheon of memorable Dew flavors during its five-year run. This cobalt blue beverage stood out not only for its striking appearance but also for its distinctive flavor profile that balanced sweet melon notes with refreshing citrus undertones. Additionally, the cooling sensation that accompanied each sip perfectly embodied the “Frostbite” name, creating an experience that resonated with Dew enthusiasts.
Though Frostbite shared similarities with previous offerings like Arctic Burst, it carved its own identity through exclusive Walmart distribution and eye-catching shark imagery. The Zero Sugar variant, while shorter-lived, demonstrated PepsiCo’s commitment to providing options for health-conscious consumers without sacrificing the signature Frostbite taste.
We can appreciate how this flavor represented an important chapter in the Mountain Dew-Walmart partnership, marking the retailer’s first exclusive Dew variant. After all, five years on shelves indicates Frostbite successfully captured consumer interest despite launching during the challenging early pandemic period.
Frostbite ultimately gave way to Dragon Fruit in May 2025, following the natural evolution of PepsiCo’s flavor innovation strategy. Still, many fans undoubtedly miss that distinctive cobalt blue bottle and the refreshing melon-citrus combination it contained. The legacy of Frostbite reminds us how limited-time and exclusive flavors help keep the Mountain Dew brand fresh and exciting while giving consumers something special to look forward to with each new release.
FAQs
Q1. What was the unique flavor profile of Mountain Dew Frostbite? Mountain Dew Frostbite offered a refreshing blend of cool melon and citrus flavors, with a distinct icy sensation. The primary taste was honeydew melon, complemented by zesty citrus notes and subtle berry undertones.
Q2. How long was Mountain Dew Frostbite available? Mountain Dew Frostbite was available for approximately five years, from its launch in March 2020 until its discontinuation in May 2025.
Q3. Where could consumers purchase Mountain Dew Frostbite? Mountain Dew Frostbite was exclusively sold at Walmart stores nationwide. It was Walmart’s first-ever exclusive Mountain Dew flavor.
Q4. Was there a sugar-free version of Mountain Dew Frostbite? Yes, a Zero Sugar variant of Mountain Dew Frostbite was introduced in March 2021. However, it had a shorter lifespan and was discontinued by mid-2023.
Q5. What made Mountain Dew Frostbite visually distinctive? Mountain Dew Frostbite stood out with its striking cobalt blue color and bold shark design on the packaging, creating an immediate visual connection to its icy, refreshing concept.