Old School Labs VINTAGE BRAWN Protein Muscle-Building Protein Powder 2.23lb (1014g)

LONG AND EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW: Over the last couple of years Old School Labs has quickly grown into a well known and successful supplement company, and with very good reason. They consistently produce high quality products that taste excellent, have top shelf ingredients, are fairly priced, and they do all this with some of the best customer service I've ever experienced. Ingredients - One thing I want to point out about this protein is that it is NOT WHEY ISOLATE. Whey Isolate is everywhere, do you know why? It's cheap and it mixes easily. As the label points out, whey is a byproduct of the cheese-making process. Now there's nothing wrong with whey concentrate/isolate, I use some myself but it's important to note this is not what OSL is going for here. Whey isolate has two big knocks against it; it's rapidly digested and highly insulinogenic, and it often contains less optimal levels of various amino acids made worse by some companies unscrupulously adding in cheap fillers, a process known as nitrogen spiking. Think of protein like Legos. We might refer to them all as Legos but there's lots of different types and some are rarer than others. Some are better at building certain things than others. Similarly, we collectively refer to all amino acids as proteins, but some are basically filler (non-essential) and some are very effective but rare (essential). Cheapskate brands might say their product has 30g of protein per serving but they're hiding the fact that most of the amino acids are common and non-essential aminos like glutamic acid and glycine. Now, let's look at what OSL has created here; there's egg white protein, which has an excellent amino acid profile that's high in leucine (I'll let you google how important leucine is for muscle growth on your own time) as well as sulfur compounds excellent for the human metabolism, and is absorbed extremely efficiently to boot. There's Milk Protein Isolate, which contains casein and whey in milks natural 80/20 ratio. Casein is a slow digesting protein perfect for combating catabolism; whey is quickly digested and spikes insulin, making it perfect post workout. And finally beef protein isolate, which again has an excellent amino acid profile similar to eating a steak but unlike whey has been shown to prolong protein synthesis over a longer time span (up to 3 hours). Further studies have suggested that with regards to muscle growth the most effective method is to prolong protein synthesis over a long period of time as opposed to concentrating protein intake over a fewer number of meals. So to sum up, what you have here is a protein that covers all your bases; it has fast and slow digesting proteins that are absorbed well and contain quality amino acids to promote muscle growth. I'll throw in too that I appreciate the use of stevia as a sweetener. When it comes to things I consume on a regular basis I try to avoid artificial sweeteners, flavors and food dyes and OSL is a company that provides those type of products. Taste/Texture - With any protein supplement, taste is critical. If you don't enjoy drinking the product you're not going to use it regularly and benefit. I wrote the ingredient section first because I wouldn't want someone who's only every drank whey isolate to not know that about this product going in. Again, whey is everywhere because it's a cheap byproduct and happens to mix very easily. I've had just about every type of protein powder from micellar casein, to hemp, to beef isolate and egg and whey isolate tends to be the easiest to mix. That being said, for sticking to their guns and making an innovative product that will likely be more efficacious for consumers OSL has also done a great job in the taste and texture department. OSL mentions that salt is an ingredient here because it helps bring out the chocolate flavor and I think that was a smart move. Egg white protein and beef protein typically have a slight saltiness to them and playing off that rather than try to hide it is the way to go. If you enjoy sea salt caramel you'll understand what I'm talking about here. To be real specific I'm actually reminded of the sea salt chocolate flavored RX bars if anybody has had those. Texture and consistency wise this shake is a winner; it's thick and luscious without that slimy feel that some shakes thickened with xanthan gum can get (Brawn used guar gum). I've prepared this product in both a blender and a shaker bottle and I do recommend the blender for the best possible mouth-feel. Customer Service - I've always received excellent customer service from OSL. I've received many personal emails in response to questions, they constantly run great deals and specials, and their loyalty program saves me a ton of money. It's hard to get this kind of service from people you interact with face to face and here OSL is just killing it from across the country. So to sum up, OSL has created an innovative product with high quality ingredients and avoided taking the easy route of flooding the market with another whey isolate. They've managed to make said product tasty with an excellent consistency, and they're priced it to be competitive with the standard junk on the market (not to mention they give automatic rebates when you enroll in the loyalty program) And you can rest assured that you'll always get the absolute best in customer service. I plan on being an OSL customer for a long time to come, and I hope you'll consider becoming one too.

So let me start of by saying I used to play college lacrosse and was in amazing shape in college, but then life happened. I got married, had 2 kids, a full time job, and everything else that comes with getting older and being a parent. I finally got fed up with what I looked and felt like and wanted to get back to more what I was like in college. To say that was a large undertaking would be an understatement. I have used all kinds of brands and types of workout products over my younger years and the past few years trying to get back to what I wanted to look and feel like. Old School Labs has not only helped me with that transformation but has excelled at it. Vintage Brawn is not the first product from them I tried in fact I have used multiple others prior to brawn and have nothing but raving recommendations for all of them. Frist the company, they customer service is second to none. I have never dealt with a company this responsive and supportive. I had a real person actually reach out to me about the products, how I was enjoying them, and if I had any questions. Everytime I emailed back I got a response incredibly quickly. Once even on a weekend which surprised me. OSL (Old School Labs) makes me feel like they are going through this with me and are always there with encouragement and advice. The main reason I have continued to use their products is because they stand behind them and it shows. No smoke and mirrors here and that says a lot to me as a consumer and customer in today's day and age. Ryan and Steve are great and if you ever have the pleasure of dealing with them you'll be more than pleased with their service. Brawn - understand this is a real protein and if you're like me expecting some sweet tasting artificial filler garbage. This is not that. OSL doesn't want to use fillers or artificial flavors to make their products taste a certain way what they do is use natural flavors that taste like they should. In fact this has turned out to be my favorite tasting protein shake I've had. It's real chocolate and I know it's not going to filled with junk to just take up more room on a label and confuse me. It mixes well and is easily digestable. I have never had an issue with it after finishing a whole tub of it. What Brawn does and is become the benchmark for what other protein powders should want and need to become. The name of the company really speaks for the products they keep it Old School. High quality ingredients that work. Can you find a cheaper protein sure but I believe that you get what you pay for here. If you want the best you want Vintage Brawn and you want OSL products, Thank you OSL you have given me hope in getting back from my dadbod back to my lacrosse bod. I couldn't have done it without you and we still have some more to go. So Ryan and Steve you'll be hearing again from me soon Don't regret not trying this. It truly is a game changer and you'll be glad you tried it like I am. This is the protein powder others want to be and all try to imitate and fail.

Tastes quite good and doesn't have artificial sweeteners. Twice the price of competitiors for 1kg - that is not economical.

I have been waiting for this product for a long time and it was waiting for me when I arrived home yesterday... I must say I was surprised at the taste both first and after taste. Very good! Smells great and mixes well...a milk shake like experience not overly overpowering...stays together no separating...NO residue left in the bottom of the glass like so many other brands. Tried the suggested recipe this AM which is printed on the container. OSL, peanut butter, milk and some ice. That tasted great! Update: This product is available by subscription so I have it on standby to ship every 45 days...convenient and I never run out! Update-Use in the AM after a workout and in the PM before bed. Great recovery in the PM and rest well. In the AM great way to start the Day with a healthy shake feeling great in the morning..Try this with Almond Milk, Organic pnut butter from Costco and Organic Honey...great taste and Healthy! April 2018 - This is the third bottle completed out of five ordered. Took advantage of specials and discounts and stocked up. Never grown tired of this protein product! I have tried about every protein product out there and others are chalky and have an after taste. This product works time and time again. I have mix it up with just organic pnut butter or for really delicious and healthy I add banana, strawberries, black berries, blue berries whatever is in season...Never grow tired...Keep it Healthy and Old School! May 2018 Use this for Breakfast and before going to bed. This powder mixes well with water, almond milk and other liquids. I add fruit, flax oil, organic pnut butter, other supplements. Perfect flavor every time and body has improved and feeling great! 2019 This product mixes well compared to other products out there. Been using this since 2017. It works! Taste Great! and gives U the protein U need to start the day or after a great workout...very refreshing!

I'll try to do the multi-teared rating as there are some good point and some not good for this OSL offering. I'm a big fan of all of their product, have used/using Blast, Build, Burn, Boost with Blast and Build being my staples. Protein powders are hard to review. With no immediate effect and with the endless offerings and even more endless ages, body types, fitness level, and of course opinions you kind of just have to try them all until you find what you like. I'm mid 40's, 6'2" about 175. Work out 5-6 days a week. Both my knees are shot so do what I can with legs but all lighter weight. I use my protein twice a day, for a mid morning snack and post work out. I was excited to try Brawn as I know OSL uses the best ingredients in everything they make so this is where a 5 star comes in. To add, I can't really comment on effectiveness only using it for just shy of 2 weeks. Again harder to tell compared to other supplements that have a more instant effect like a PWO or even an amino, which are mostly based on how we feel during a work out or after. Again trusting the contents to give what the body needs for recovery. I can say it was not hard on my stomach and no ill affects on digestion. The other aspects that are reviewable are mix-ability and taste. Mix-ability - 2 stars: It mixes well considering it dissolves completely but I do not like how it seems to foam up and if taken immediately after shaking a small sip can seem like a mouthful. I have to let it sit for a bit and work at it over a couple of minutes. For taste in all honesty, it is just not good - 1 star: I know everyone has different taste buds so this has to be taken with a grain of salt, but to say it tastes amazing or great I think people are just sucking up - or getting paid to say it. As with other reviewers I've seen I'll agree it has a bitter taste and after taste and leaves my mouth filmy. I'm assuming is a product of all of the different proteins used I'm sure and just how it has to be. May work for some but definitely not for me. Unfortunately this is one OSL product I won't be buying again. 12/12/17 Update: I'm almost through the entire container and I will say the taste does take getting used to. I still won't say it taste "great" but it is bearable. I'll bump that up to a 3 star. The quality of ingredients used makes it compelling and because it's OSL overall maybe a just below 4 star? 3.8 but that could change too if I give it more time.