think!
Brownie Crunch
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy‑bar‑adjacent brownie flavor with a dense chew and real crunch, packing 20g of protein and 0g sugar thanks to sugar alcohols rather than cane sugar.
When to choose think! Brownie Crunch
Best for dessert‑leaning post‑workout fuel or an afternoon chocolate fix with staying power—especially if you’re gluten‑free and fine with soy and dairy.
What's in the think! bar?
Meet think!
Protein Bar – Brownie Crunch: a chocolatey bar built on alkalized cocoa and a touch of chocolate for that brownie vibe, with its sweetness coming from sugar alcohols rather than cane sugar.
The 20g of protein land near the top of the category and come from a blend of soy protein isolate plus two dairy isolates (whey isolate and calcium caseinate). Carbs skew higher for a zero‑sugar bar because much of that total is maltitol syrup and vegetable glycerin—refined sweeteners that reduce sugar spikes but can bother sensitive stomachs.
Fat is a moderate 8g, coming from almond butter alongside palm kernel and sunflower oils. In short: big protein, engineered low‑sugar sweetness, and classic brownie flavor from cocoa.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 24 g
- Sugar
- 0 g
- Calories
- 230
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20g of protein come from a blend that starts with soy protein isolate, joined by whey protein isolate and calcium caseinate. This mix pairs plant and dairy proteins for a complete amino‑acid profile, with fast‑digesting whey and slower‑digesting casein to help with satiety and muscle repair. It’s a strong protein showing for a bar, though not suitable if you avoid soy or milk.
Fat
89MIDFat here comes from almond butter (mostly heart‑friendly monounsaturated fat) plus refined sunflower oil and palm kernel oil. Sunflower oil brings unsaturated fats, while palm kernel oil is high in saturated fat—useful for texture but less ideal for LDL cholesterol than olive‑ or nut‑based fats. At 8g total, it’s a moderate amount with a mix of ‘better’ and more saturated sources.
Carbs
2420MIDMost of the 24g of carbs are from maltitol syrup—a sugar alcohol made from starch—and vegetable glycerin, which keep the bar sweet and soft with a smaller blood‑sugar bump than table sugar. A little tapioca starch (from cassava) adds body, but it’s a quickly digested starch. Expect a steadier ride than a sugary candy bar, though these are refined carbs rather than whole‑food sources.
Sugar
04LOWSugar is listed at 0g because sweetness comes from sugar alcohols (primarily maltitol syrup) and a bit of vegetable glycerin, not cane sugar or syrups. Cocoa and chocolate deliver the brownie flavor without adding meaningful sugar. Remember, sugar alcohols still add some calories and can nudge blood sugar modestly, and some people notice GI upset if they overdo them.
Calories
230210MIDAt 230 calories, the load is split among protein (20g), fat (8g), and carb ingredients that are heavy on sugar alcohols. Protein and fat make it more filling than a low‑calorie snack, while maltitol and glycerin contribute calories too—even if less per gram than sugar. It’s a mid‑to‑higher‑calorie choice designed to be a satisfying, single‑bar snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron lands at 20% Daily Value, largely from soy protein isolate and cocoa. Calcium reaches about 10% Daily Value thanks to calcium caseinate (a milk‑derived protein) and minerals that come along with the dairy proteins. There aren’t added vitamins here—just what rides in with the protein and cocoa.
Additives
This formula leans on modern food tech: maltitol syrup and vegetable glycerin provide bulked sweetness and moisture, lecithin (from sunflower and/or soy) helps fats and water play nicely, and ‘alkalized’ cocoa is cocoa processed for smoother flavor. It’s a fairly processed bar—typical for zero‑sugar, high‑protein options—trading short‑list simplicity for texture, shelf life, and sweetness without sugar.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk casein
Corn or wheat starch
Cacao beans treated with alkali
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Ground roasted almonds
Oil palm fruit
Sunflower seeds
Soybeans
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I am eating think protein bars. Decent amount of protein (20g). Dont repulse me like so many out there”
“the Think high protein brownie crunch bar is honestly good if you want a different flavor, I found the one on the top to be pretty decent but defo think the brownie one is better”
“Chocolate brownie one was AMAZING!”
Main Praise
Taste is the headline here. Even protein‑bar skeptics concede that Brownie Crunch leans convincingly chocolatey, with a fudgy chew and some texture to break it up.
Editors at SELF named Think! ’s high‑protein line a runner‑up overall for flavor and satiety, and BarBend praised the candy‑like nostalgia without skimping on the 20g protein.
Plenty of real‑world eaters echo that: a Redditor called the chocolate brownie flavor “amazing,” and Amazon reviewers routinely highlight the rich taste and the fact that it keeps them full. The macros are straightforward—20g protein at about 230 calories—making it an easy, grab‑and‑go option when you want something that eats like a treat but feels like food.
Main Criticism
The most consistent knock is digestive: the sweetness comes mostly from maltitol, a sugar alcohol that some people handle fine and others decidedly do not. Multiple reviewers mention bloating or gas when they eat a full bar—or especially when they go back for seconds—so tolerance varies.
A smaller group flags taste quirks: an occasional off aftertaste or a drier chew depending on batch or palate. It’s also not a minimalist ingredient list, and at 230 calories it’s not trying to be a super‑light bar.
Finally, allergens are unavoidable: there’s soy, milk, and almonds on the label, which rules it out for many.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth sit between the love letters and the gripes?
For taste and texture, there’s broad agreement that this is one of the more convincing chocolate bars in the high‑protein, zero‑sugar lane—hence the steady 4‑ish‑star crowd and nods from outlets like SELF and BarBend.
But Men’s Health is right to flag the heavy reliance on sugar alcohols across the line, and Brownie Crunch is no exception; if you’re sensitive, one bar can feel like too much.
Then again, plenty of folks report zero issues—one Redditor even noted they’ve never had a problem—reminding us that GI responses are personal. Calories are a Rorschach test: dieters chasing 150‑calorie snacks may balk, while people after a satisfying bridge‑the‑gap meal appreciate the 230‑calorie commitment.
And if your north star is a short, whole‑food ingredient list, this engineered sweetness won’t charm you; it’s designed for a candy‑bar experience with fewer sugar swings, not for pantry purity.
What's the bottom line?
Think! Brownie Crunch is a crowd‑pleasing chocolate fix that actually delivers on protein: 20g in a bar that tastes closer to dessert than duty. It’s satisfying, reliably gluten‑free, and easy to keep in a bag for post‑workout or late‑afternoon rescue missions.
Trade‑offs are clear. Sweetness comes from maltitol and glycerin, not dates or honey, and that can mean digestive quirks for some. It also contains soy, milk, and almonds.
If you tolerate sugar alcohols and want a dessert‑leaning bar with real staying power, this is an easy yes. If you prefer simpler ingredients, avoid soy or dairy, or have a sensitive gut, look to a fruit‑sweetened or whole‑food bar—and maybe keep this one as an occasional chocolate ringer.