Participants in the tour were given samples of eight prospective flavors and asked to complete a tiered bracket on computers based on the flavors they liked best. Their votes will be added to the national score and eventually lead to a decision about the two flavors put in stores.

Visitors to the tent also were given the opportunity to play cornhole, have their faces painted and participate in other tailgate activities.

Michelle Clark, manager of FanDEWmonium’s Midwest tour, said the bracket setup and tailgate setting of FanDEWmonium was designed to reach out to Mountain Dew’s typical demographic and also to sports fans in general.

“Mountain Dew as a brand is really about living the lifestyle, and that’s why we’re out here trying to have fun,” Clark said.

Clark said the current favorite among fans is Diet Mountain Dew Voltage, a raspberry and citrus-flavored drink with a shot of ginseng. She said Diet Mountain Dew Supernova, flavored with strawberry, melon and ginseng, is a close second.

After drinking samples of each flavor, general management freshman Kazam Sheikh said the Diet Mountain Dew Crave was his favorite. He said Mountain Dew’s decision to involve fans of the drink in choosing the product eventually sold in stores was a good one.

“It’s amazing,” Sheikh said. “(Mountain Dew) has all these different flavors and every flavor is good, but they give us a choice on which one is going to be the next one to make it big — the next flavor in the lineup to buy in your local grocery store.”

Other tailgaters who came across the FanDEWmonium tent had similar reactions. Charlotte, Mich., resident Casey Reynolds said it was a smart way for Mountain Dew to put its name out there and he appreciated the free drinks. He said he enjoyed Diet Mountain Dew Supernova the most of all the flavors he tried.

“It just tasted the best, and it sent a good sensation through my tongue,” Reynolds said.

Clark said involving people who actually will drink the new Diet Mountain Dew flavors was a big part of Mountain Dew’s decision in holding the FanDEWmonium tour.
“If (students) like a flavor and they vote for it and it wins, it will actually come out in stores,” Clark said.

“It’s not like we’re just doing this for the fun of it. We really want to know what people think.”

Mountain Dew fans who might have missed the FanDEWmonium tailgate tent on Saturday still can complete a bracket to vote for their favorite flavors online at dietdewchallenege.com.