Maximuscle
Chocolate Brownie
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare combo: 20g of protein at only 136 calories with near-zero sugar, yet it still tastes like a proper chocolate bar. The blend of milk and whey isolate with soy (plus a little collagen for chew) helps it feel indulgent while staying remarkably light.
When to choose Maximuscle Chocolate Brownie
Reach for it as a post‑workout top‑up or a late‑afternoon protein fix when you want chocolate without the high sugar. Skip it if you avoid sugar alcohols, need vegetarian/vegan options, or prefer minimally processed sweeteners.
What's in the Maximuscle bar?
Maximuscle’s Chocolate Brownie bar is built like a lean, protein‑first snack: 20g of protein in a compact 136 calories, with almost no sugar.
That protein comes from a blend of milk proteins (including fast‑digesting whey isolate), soy protein isolate, and collagen peptides—so you get high‑quality, complete amino acids from dairy and soy, with collagen helping texture and chew.
Carbs stay low by trading table sugar for sugar alcohols and humectants, then using just a touch of refined starch. The small fat tally comes mainly from cocoa butter and a little sunflower oil.
And the brownie vibe? It’s cocoa mass, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and a hint of vanilla doing the heavy lifting.
If you want a light bar that tastes like chocolate and focuses on protein over sugar, this is clearly designed for you.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Carbohydrates
- 9 g
- Sugar
- 0 g
- Calories
- 136
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20g protein punch is driven by milk proteins (including whey protein isolate) and soy protein isolate, with collagen peptides added for texture. Whey isolate and milk proteins are highly digestible and rich in leucine, while soy isolate is a complete plant protein; collagen is not complete but helps keep the bar soft. Net effect: most of these grams meaningfully support muscle repair, with dairy and soy doing the heavy lifting.
Fat
49LOWFat here is modest and comes chiefly from cocoa butter, a saturated‑leaning fat rich in stearic and oleic acids, plus a little sunflower oil that adds unsaturated fats. With just 3.5g total, it’s a light touch that carries chocolate flavor without turning the bar into a fat bomb. Expect a chocolatey melt, not a greasy one.
Carbs
920LOWThe carbs are mostly engineered rather than from whole grains: maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and glycerin provide sweetness and softness, with a little tapioca starch and some lactose from milk powder. This mix generally blunts sharp blood‑sugar spikes compared with regular sugar, though tapioca digests quickly and the overall effect depends on your own response. If you’re sensitive to polyols, be aware that maltitol can cause GI rumbling at higher intakes.
Sugar
04LOWMeasured sugar is just 0.2g because sweetness comes from sugar alcohols (maltitol) and a tiny dose of an artificial sweetener (sucralose), not table sugar. That approach keeps sugars low and helps steady blood sugar for many people, but it is more processed and can bother sensitive stomachs if you have several servings. The chocolate notes themselves come from cocoa, not added sugar.
Calories
136210LOWAt 136 calories, this is a notably light bar for the category, and most of those calories come from its 20g of protein. A small share comes from fat and from reduced‑calorie sweeteners (sugar alcohols provide fewer calories per gram than sugar). It’s designed as a high‑protein, low‑energy option rather than a meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
The label lists 33% of daily vitamin B6 per bar. That level typically indicates a small added amount (often listed as pyridoxine), though it isn’t called out separately here; milk and soy contribute only modest B6 naturally. Either way, B6 supports normal energy metabolism—fitting for a workout‑friendly bar.
Additives
This formula leans on functional additives to hit its targets: glycerin keeps it moist, maltitol and a pinch of sucralose deliver sweetness with minimal sugar, and soy lecithin helps the chocolatey bits stay smooth. These are highly refined ingredients chosen for texture, shelf life, and sugar control. If you prefer minimally processed sweeteners, this bar’s engineering will be a trade‑off for you.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk
Cow's milk whey
Defatted soybean flakes
Bovine, porcine, fish, chicken tissues
Fats and oils
Corn or wheat
Sugar cane and sugar beet
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Cocoa beans
Sunflower seeds
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I recently discovered maximuscle high protein bars and I love them!! Only £1 a pop at sainsburys but I think they were on sale hehe”
“I like the Maxi Nutrition creamy core protein bars. My fav is the peanut caramel; 181 cals, 15g protein, and gives me that sugar hit without being loads of sugar.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture are the headliners. Multiple reviewers—from Cyclist to Gymtalk—say it eats like a legit chocolate bar: soft, chewy, and properly cocoa-y, not chalky.
The macros back up the flavor: 20g of protein in 136 calories is exceptional for a bar that still feels like a treat. That makes it a quick, convenient recovery snack when a shake isn’t in the cards.
There’s also a small bump of vitamin B6 on the label, which aligns with its workout-friendly angle. Even on Reddit, where protein bars get scrutinized, comments like autecouture’s “I love them!!
” and animalwitch’s note about getting a sweet hit without loads of sugar underscore that the formula scratches a chocolate itch without relying on table sugar.
Main Criticism
Price is the recurring grumble across independent reviews; powders will almost always be cheaper per gram of protein. Sweetness can skew high for some palates, which isn’t shocking given the heavy lift from low- or no-calorie sweeteners.
The bar relies on maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and a small amount of sucralose for sweetness—handy for keeping sugars low, but a potential trigger for GI rumbling if you’re sensitive to polyols.
Collagen means it’s not vegetarian or vegan, and the formula is more engineered than whole‑food‑based options. A few Redditors also note that calories can vary across flavors, so the 136‑calorie figure shouldn’t be assumed for the entire range.
The Middle Ground
Here’s where the truth settles: this bar works brilliantly for folks who want a light, chocolatey protein hit without the blood-sugar rollercoaster. Cyclist likened it to having a chocolate bar with a recovery excuse, and Gymtalk basically wrote an ode to the texture.
That checks out with the macros. But animalwitch’s praise for a “sugar hit without loads of sugar” is the flip side of the coin—maltitol and sucralose deliver that sweetness.
If you’re polyol‑sensitive, your stomach might file a complaint.
And while autecouture’s enthusiasm is contagious, another Redditor shrugged that Maxi Nutrition was just “okay,” which is fair: if your taste skews less sweet or you want simpler ingredients, this won’t be your north star.
Add in the cost premium and it’s clear the bar isn’t trying to be the cheapest or the cleanest—its pitch is taste-forward, low‑sugar, high‑protein convenience in a surprisingly lean package.
What's the bottom line?
Maximuscle’s Chocolate Brownie Promax bar threads a tricky needle: 20g of protein at only 136 calories, a genuinely chocolatey chew, and next to no sugar. For post‑workout or an afternoon bridge to dinner, it’s an easy win—especially if you’ve sworn off gritty shakes. The trade‑offs are real.
Sweetness runs on the punchy side, the ingredients are more techy than pantry‑simple, and maltitol won’t agree with everyone. It’s not vegetarian or vegan due to collagen, and it’s pricier than scooping powder at home.
If you’re cool with those caveats, this is a satisfying, low‑calorie protein fix that tastes like dessert and behaves like a gym buddy. If not, pair your protein elsewhere and keep this one for treat‑mode days.