Purple Thunder is a Franchise Exclusive Mountain Dew flavor available since April 2022 only at U.S. Circle K/Holiday gas stations and also the Kroger Family of stores since February 2024, where it replaced the previous Kroger-exclusive, Thrashed Apple.
Description[]
Purple Thunder is a Berry Plum (Blackberry Plum)[1] flavor of Mountain Dew. As its name implies, it is purple in color.
Tagline[]
Its 2025 redesign tagline is "Berry Plum Naturally and Artificially Flavored."
Its previous tagline was "DEW with a Blast of Berry Plum. Natural and Artificial Flavor." while its 2024 Zero Sugar version's tagline was "with a Blast of Berry Plum. Natural and Artificial Flavor."
Its tagline in Canada is simplified to "BLACKBERRY PLUM" in English or "MÛRE ET PRUNE" in French. Despite having a different tagline, the taste is the same as its American counterpart.
History[]
On November 18th, 2021, PepsiCo filed a trademark for Purple Thunder titled "MTN DEW PURPLE THUNDER."[2]
In December 2021, The Kashruth Council of Canada gave a Kosher certification for "Mtn Dew Purple Thunder Blackberry Plum"[3], revealing the flavor to be Blackberry Plum.
On January 18th, 2022, low-quality 20-ounce bottle renders of Purple Thunder were found in the PepsiCo Contact files. Later that same day, high-res renders of the same bottle design were found on Smartlabel[4], confirming the flavor profile to be Berry Plum.
After this discovery, it was theorized that Purple Thunder could be a Circle K exclusive flavor due to the bottle design having subtle references to Circle K and Mountain Dew, although this was unjustified at the time. To support this theory, Kroger's Thrashed Apple and Casey's Overdrive used subtle references to the design packaging, though this theory would later be proven true.
On March 9th, 2022, in a then-deleted r/MountainDew Reddit post[5], a deleted user confirmed that Purple Thunder would be a Circle K exclusive flavor and also revealed May 2nd[6] as its release date.
In April 2022[7], before its intended May 2nd release, several people have been finding Purple Thunder available on their Polar Pop soda fountain format. Although it generally wasn't available for various reasons for most locations, in the meantime, 20-ounce bottles later had produced[8] in Mid-April, showing that it would be rolling out for its release.
Purple Thunder was officially released in Circle K/Holiday[9] gas stations in the United States on May 2nd, 2022, sold in 20-ounce bottles, their Polar Pop soda fountain format, and additionally their limited time Froster Freeze format for the Summer of 2023 and 2024.[10]
Summer 2023 Thunder-versary Tour[]
To celebrate its first anniversary, Circle K announced a limited time Froster Freeze[11] (spotted in January 2023[12] as coming soon) variant, with the addition of a cleverly named tour called the "Thunderversary Tour." It happened over the Summer of 2023, which toured 33 cities[13], gave out Purple Thunder-themed gear, and had some Purple Thunder themed activities.
February 2024 Kroger Expansion[]
On September 29th, 2023[14], it was leaked by Team Supernova[15] that Purple Thunder is planning to expand to Kroger and Kroger-owned stores in March 2024 while retaining its exclusivity with Circle K only in 20-ounce bottles.
On January 9th, 2024[16], Team Supernova clarified that the Kroger expansion and release of 12-packs at Circle K and Kroger would be taking place in February rather than March. He also revealed a target release of February 5th[17] with Circle K getting 12-packs.[18]
Purple Thunder was released in the Kroger Family of stores on February 5th, 2024, which replaced the previous Kroger exclusive Thrashed Apple.
Variants[]
Purple Thunder Zero Sugar[]
On October 13th, 2023[19], the Zero Sugar variant for Purple Thunder was first leaked by Team Supernova stating that Purple Thunder Zero Sugar is "Coming in May." However, it was then unknown whether or not Purple Thunder Zero Sugar was either releasing for a limited time or as a permanent variant.
It was later confirmed on January 10th[20] that its a limited-time release in 20-ounce bottles and 12-pack cans.
On March 10th, 2024[21], Team Supernova posted an update about Purple Thunder Zero Sugar stating that it would be having a target release date of April 22nd, 2024, instead of May, for a limited time only (a 16-week long run).
International release[]
Canada[]
In December 2021, The Kashruth Council of Canada gave a Kosher certification for "Mtn Dew Purple Thunder Blackberry Plum," revealing that the flavor was planned to be released in Canada.
2022 Limited-Time Summer Circle K/Couche Tard release[]
On June 5th, 2022[22], it was discovered that Purple Thunder was stated to be released alongside White Out as a Circle K exclusive. Just like Baja Flash and Baja Punch's release the year prior, they were released in 16 ounce "king" cans, in both singles and 12 packs. White Out and Purple Thunder were officially released on June 21st[23], and discontinued on September 12th.
2023 Limited-Time Summer Circle K/Couche Tard release[]
On April 19th, 2023[24], Purple Thunder 20-ounce bottles were found at a Couche Tard. The official @DewCanada[25] Instagram account revealed that Purple Thunder was back as a Circle K/Couche Tard exclusive for a limited time. Instead for the tall cans for this release, it was released in the 20-ounce bottles, Polar Pop fountain, and Froster Freeze formats[26] from May 2nd, 2023, to August 21st, 2023[27].
2024 Limited-Time Summer Circle K/Couche Tard release[]
In Late-April 2024, there were various sightings for the Purple Thunder Froster Freeze format in various Circle K/Couche Tard locations in many provinces, such as Ontario and Alberta. At the time, there wasn't any mentions of a Purple Thunder can or bottle release until a week after.
On May 7th, 2024, a member of the Dew Drinker Discord showed a photograph, showing that Purple Thunder is returning to Circle K/Couche Tard locations in the 16-ounce "king" cans, in both singles and 12 packs. Like the 2022 limited-time release with a companion flavor, White Out. This year has another companion flavor, new for Canada: Summer Freeze.
Both flavors were available for a limited time from May to September 16th, 2024[28].
Trivia[]
- When Canada received the permanent release of Baja Blast, it was the first country to receive it in 2019, and the U.S. received its permanent release in 2024 as the second country.
- Canada was also the first country to receive Purple Thunder in 12-pack (16-ounce/473 mL) cans in 2022, though for a limited time, and the U.S. received a permanent 12-pack (12-ounce/355 mL) can release as the second country.
- By coincidence, Purple Thunder, Berry Monsoon and Atomic Blue were all released on May 2nd and all three flavors are exclusive to a certain franchise.
- For Purple Thunder's first birthday, Circle K was celebrating by doing a "Thunder-versary" tour across the United States from May to July 2023.
- Other store franchises, such as Kroger, celebrated Thrashed Apple's first birthday by celebrating with $2 off of 12 packs.
- Purple Thunder is one of the flavors sold in other company-affiliated stores. For instance, Thrashed Apple was available at Kroger stores locations, which include other Kroger Family of stores. Infinite Swirl is available at 7-Eleven locations, which include Speedway and Stripes gas stations.
- There were various references to Circle K, its design. Here are the relations:
- Before the 2025 brand redesign, there were some references to Circle K on Purple Thunder's packaging, much like Overdrive and Thrashed Apple. There are some references to Circle K and Dew themselves. These references are "CK x D3W" (Circle K and Mountain Dew on a license plate on the motorcycle), the "Route 51" sign references "1951" (the year that Circle K was founded), and "D" (on the rim of the motorcycle stands for "Dew.")
- Like many Mountain Dew flavors have their own mascots, there are two biker mascots. The first biker is named "Plum Lucky," which represents the "Plum" flavor, while the second biker is named "Barry Biker," which represents the "Berry" flavor.
- During the release of the 12-packs of Purple Thunder throughout the Kroger Family of stores, PepsiCo removed the references to Circle K from its design. The bottle packaging design didn't change, but they added the "Refresh then Recycle" wording in its release in February 2024. In mid-2024, Purple Thunder's design was changed to the "Unlock gaming rewards" Xbox promotion, and that label retained the "CK x D3W" reference and the "Route 51" reference until that label returned to its normal design in early 2025.
- Similar to how Purple Thunder replaced Thrashed Apple as the new exclusive Kroger flavor in February 2024, Dragon Fruit replaced Frost Bite as the new exclusive Walmart flavor in June 2025. Both are retail store exclusives, and the only difference is Purple Thunder was already an exclusive flavor to Circle K and had an expansion, while Dragon Fruit is a new flavor.
References[]
- ↑ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240430669861/en/Circle-K-Invites-Customers-to-Americas-Thirst-Stop-with-New-79-cent-Polar-Pop-and-Froster-Exclusive-Gatorade-Flavor
- ↑ https://uspto.report/TM/97131534
- ↑ https://corporatekosher.org/public/certificate_report?single_product=3433564
- ↑ https://smartlabel.pepsico.info/012000213687-0001-en-US/index.html
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/talgnh/deleted_by_user/
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/talgnh/comment/i01pfkl/
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/tx77u2/purple_thunder_found_in_chicago/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/groups/MtnDewFanPage/permalink/3161664097397135/
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/u2yu4p/comment/i4r1kpx/
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/1cne4ah/its_back/
- ↑ https://csnews.com/circle-k-adds-exclusive-mtn-dew-flavor-its-froster-lineup
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=682288770353409
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230528092613/https://www.circlek.com/purple-thunder
- ↑ https://x.com/TeamSupernovaFB/status/1707782427404370163
- ↑ https://x.com/TeamSupernovaFB
- ↑ https://x.com/TeamSupernovaFB/status/1744864008065196194
- ↑ https://x.com/TeamSupernovaFB/status/1745275008027332669
- ↑ https://x.com/Jds82882/status/1748177397747171376
- ↑ https://x.com/TeamSupernovaFB/status/1712921858851426640
- ↑ https://x.com/ZenyaStardust/status/1745116580961296500
- ↑ https://x.com/TeamSupernovaFB/status/1766870181299577286
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/v5mfoj/upcoming_dew_release_in_canada_pepsi_is_listening/
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/v6vyjl/purple_thunder_dew_coming_june_21st/
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/12s7uqs/purple_thunder_is_back_in_limited_time_in_canada/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/dewcanada/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzKLmehrZx0
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/14fgih2/comment/jp16xv9/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/TheTeamSupernova/posts/pfbid0vQ1MFXjwh9Z8K4MsXR6SDmD1h3L4DeToYEa9bY1cgdLHU9XKk65RNsEQpJW8ocSAl