Milly Gaines
Mountain Dew is a popular soft drink brand that has been around since the 1940s. Over the years, the brand has introduced various flavours, including Diet Mountain Dew in 1988. One of the most unique flavours in the Mountain Dew lineup is Pitch Black, a dark-coloured, grape-flavoured drink. Pitch Black has had a tumultuous history, with several discontinuations and re-releases since its initial launch. The latest re-release of Pitch Black occurred in 2024, but with a catch - it is only available as a fountain drink at select gas stations and convenience stores. While Pitch Black has a dedicated fan base, it has also faced challenges and controversies, including a short-lived sweepstakes promotion and disputes over its formula.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Grape |
| Availability | Speedway and 7-Eleven locations, fountain drinks only |
| Nutritional Information | Zero sugar |
| Packaging | Not available in bottles or cans |
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What You'll Learn
Mountain Dew Pitch Black's availability
Mountain Dew Pitch Black, a fan-favourite, grape-flavoured drink, has had a turbulent history of availability since its initial release.
In 2011, Mountain Dew announced Pitch Black's return to shelves in May, stating that this could be the first of many re-releases of old favourites. The brand promoted the return with giveaways and contests, and Pitch Black was sold in stores for a limited time. In 2016, Pitch Black was again re-released, this time as a permanent flavour, after winning a national fan vote against Baja Blast. However, it was discontinued in most regions in 2019, along with several other underperforming flavours.
Since 2016, Pitch Black has been available as a franchise exclusive flavour at select gas stations. In 2020, a listing for Pitch Black Zero Sugar was discovered on the official PepsiCo Beverage Facts website, indicating exclusive availability at Speedway gas stations in the US, but it never came to fruition.
In 2023, Pitch Black was again promoted by Mountain Dew in a WWE wrestling match. In 2024, Pitch Black made a return, but with a catch: it would only be sold as a fountain drink at Speedway and 7-Eleven locations, with no bottles or cans available.
Mountain Dew Pitch Black has been discontinued and re-released multiple times, with varying availability in different regions and at select retailers. While it is currently available at select Speedway and 7-Eleven fountain machines, its future availability remains uncertain.
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Pitch Black's popularity
Pitch Black, a grape-flavoured Mountain Dew variant, has enjoyed a lot of popularity over the years. In 2011, Mountain Dew announced Pitch Black's return to shelves in May, stating that this could be the start of many re-releases of old favourites. The company promoted the return of Pitch Black heavily with giveaways and contests.
In 2016, Pitch Black was again re-released officially to stores after winning a national voting session against Baja Blast by a small margin. Its popularity in 2017 was stable, with $38 million in sales. In 2023, Pitch Black was re-released once more, promoted by a WWE wrestling match.
Despite Pitch Black's popularity, it has been discontinued several times. In 2019, it was discontinued in most regions, along with several other Mountain Dew flavours. In early 2021, Pitch Black 12-packs and 20-ounce bottles were discontinued, and since then, it has only been available as a franchise exclusive flavour at select gas stations. However, in 2024, Pitch Black made a return and is now sold at fountain machines in Speedway and 7-Eleven locations.
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Pitch Black's discontinuation
Pitch Black, a grape-flavored Mountain Dew variant, has had a tumultuous history, with several releases and discontinuations. The drink was first introduced in 2011 and then re-released in 2016 after winning a fan vote. However, in early 2020, Pitch Black was discontinued once again, along with several other underperforming flavors.
In 2021, the 12-pack and 20-ounce bottles of Pitch Black were discontinued, and the drink became available only as a franchise exclusive flavor at select gas stations. This discontinuation sparked disappointment among fans, who had eagerly awaited the return of Pitch Black with each re-release.
In 2024, Pitch Black made a return, but with a catch. This time, it was only available as a fountain drink at Speedway and 7-Eleven locations, rather than in bottles or cans. While fans were excited about its return, the limited availability meant that only those with access to these specific locations could enjoy the drink.
Despite its popularity, Pitch Black has faced challenges in terms of availability and discontinuation. The drink has a dedicated fan base that has actively campaigned for its return through social media hashtags and challenges. However, as of 2025, the drink's future remains uncertain, with no official word from Mountain Dew on whether it will be discontinued again or receive a wider release.
The discontinuation of Pitch Black has left a void for fans of the unique grape-flavored drink. While Mountain Dew has teased fans with occasional re-releases and limited-time offers, the drink has yet to regain its permanent spot on store shelves. The discontinuation of Pitch Black serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of the beverage industry, where even fan-favorite flavors can face an uncertain future.
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Pitch Black's re-release
Mountain Dew Pitch Black, a fan-favourite, has returned to stores. Pitch Black is a dark citrus punch-flavoured drink, though it is often described as having a grape flavour. It was discontinued in early 2020, but returned to shelves in 2024.
Pitch Black was first released in 2011, following a Facebook announcement by Mountain Dew. The drink was promoted with giveaways and contests, and it was stated that this may be the first of many re-releases of old favourites. In 2012, Mountain Dew stated that there would be no more flavours returning by 'Popular DEWmand'. However, Pitch Black was re-released again in 2016, after a national voting session in which fans could choose their favourite flavour. Pitch Black won the vote, and Baja Blast was discontinued.
In March 2019, Pitch Black was discontinued once more, along with several other underperforming flavours. Since then, Pitch Black has only been available as a franchise exclusive flavour at select gas stations. In 2020, a listing for Pitch Black Zero Sugar was discovered on the official PepsiCo Beverage Facts website, but the drink never came to fruition.
The 2024 re-release of Pitch Black has a catch: it is only available as a fountain drink at Speedway and 7-Eleven locations. There are no bottles or cans of the drink available to purchase. However, it has been indicated that this is not a limited-time release, and the drink will be available for a long time.
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Pitch Black's formula
Pitch Black is a grape-flavored Mountain Dew drink. It was the third flavour to win a vote in the United States to become a permanent flavour and then be discontinued. It was discontinued in early 2020, but not before amassing $38 million in sales in 2017.
Pitch Black was re-released in May 2011, with Mountain Dew stating that this may be the start of many re-releases of old favourites. The drink was heavily promoted with giveaways and contests. In 2016, Pitch Black was again re-released, this time competing against Baja Blast in a national voting session for fans to vote on their favourite flavour. Pitch Black won by a small margin and was re-released officially to stores on December 5 that year.
Pitch Black has received only one reformulation, which was the removal of BVO. Its formula has not changed since. In March 2020, a listing on the official PepsiCo Beverage Facts website was discovered for Pitch Black Zero Sugar, but it is unclear whether this variation was ever made available.
The term "pitch" refers to a viscoelastic polymer that can be derived from petroleum, coal tar, or plants. Petroleum-derived pitch is black in colour, hence the term "pitch black". The use of pitch for caulking the seams of wooden sailing vessels and waterproofing containers inspired the use of the term "pitch black" to describe things that are extremely dark in colour.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Pitch Black Mountain Dew is not the same as Diet Mountain Dew Pitch Dark. Pitch Black Mountain Dew is a grape-flavoured drink that was discontinued in early 2020. However, it was re-released in 2024 and is available at select gas stations and retailers.
Diet Mountain Dew Pitch Dark, also known as Pitch Black, is a dark citrus punch-flavoured drink. It is currently available for purchase at Speedway and 7-Eleven locations, but only as a fountain drink.
Mountain Dew Pitch Black was discontinued in early 2020. However, it was re-introduced in 2024 and is now available at select retailers.
Mountain Dew Pitch Black became a permanent flavour in 2016 after a national voting session. However, it was discontinued in early 2020. The current status of Pitch Black as a permanent flavour is unclear, as it has been re-released but is only available at select retailers.
