Goodbye, Grimace. The purple shake leaves McDonald's soon. Here's what you need to know

If you somehow still have yet to try the McDonald's Grimace shake, your window may be closing. The purple shake that has taken the internet by storm has been available in celebration of Ronald McDonald's purple blob bestie, Grimace.

The Gemini king’s birthday was June 12, and to celebrate McDonald’s launched a meal combo along with some Grimace merch, a browser game and a charity campaign for the Ronald McDonald House. 

“It’s a birthday meal to celebrate the lovable purple guy Grimace,” McDonald’s said on its website.

It was always known that the Grimace meal and purple shake were limited-time-only menu items. However, on Thursday, Grimace announced on the McDonald's Twitter account that his birthday celebration was coming to a close.

Grimace wrote, “u made me feel so specialll ty say goodbye grimace nowww."

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Here’s what you need to know about the Grimace shake before it's gone. 

When does the Grimace shake end? What about the meal?

McDonald's replied to a Twitter user who asked whether the shake would continue being available on the menu. McDonald's will continue to serve the Grimace meal, more notably the Grimace shake, as supplies last.

What flavor is the Grimace shake?

Plenty have speculated about the exact flavor of the Grimace shake. One social media user, @maulmanster, replied to McDonald's tweet announcing the Grimace shake, "Please tell me the shake isn’t grape flavored please please please," to which McDonald's gave a not so clear answer.

The nutrition facts on the McDonald's website also do not make it clear exactly what flavor the Grimace shake is.

In a TikTok that has gained more than 6.6 million views, McDonald's employee Jason Garcia (@jasongarcii) showed the purple ice cream poured into a cup and getting topped off with whip cream.

Hundreds of other users joked and speculated about the flavor of the shake in the comment section. One asked the question we are all wondering: "What does a grimace taste like?"

Those who have tried the Grimace shake have described it to have a berry taste. In an article from TODAY.com, McDonald's said the shake consists of vanilla and berry flavors, “inspired by Grimace’s iconic color and sweetness.”

How much does the Grimace meal cost?

Those interested in trying the purple milkshake have two different combo options: the Big Mac meal or a 10-piece McNuggets meal. The price fluctuates on each combo meal sometimes almost a whole dollar. Still, you are paying more for the Grimace meal than the original combo of those regular menu items that typically run you around $10.

What does the Grimace meal consist of?

The special menu item can cost anywhere between $9 and $21 at participating locations across the country. This has caused customers to voice their disappointment of the high price on social media.

How much does a Grimace meal cost in metro Phoenix?

The cost of the Grimace meal can vary from location to location, so we decided to survey prices across the Valley. If you are looking to taste the purple milkshake anytime soon, you should expect to pay between $12-$14 for the Grimace meal in metro Phoenix.

You can find a list of locations on the McDonald's website.

Who is Grimace?

The purple blob's origin at McDonald's dates back to 1971 when he first appeared in a commercial for the golden arches. At this point, he was known as "Evil Grimace" and would steal milkshakes from McDonaldland.

Grimace was a staple in the McDonaldland band of characters that were featured until 2003.

In terms of what exactly he is, well, he has been described as a number of things.

"Our timeless bestie has become a fan-favorite known for his signature fuzzy purple look, friendly and playful personality, love for shakes, and of course — ambiguous nature," McDonald's said in a press release. "What exactly is Grimace? Perhaps we’ll never know."

When is Grimace's birthday?

Grimace's birthday is June 12.  

What can you buy instead of Grimace's Birthday Meal?

If you aren't able to get a purple milkshake before your local Mickey D's stops serving it, you have other options. Metro Phoenix is full of restaurants that you should try, like the historic Mary Coyle Ol' Fashion Ice Cream, open since the 1950s where you can get a classic milkshake for about $6.

Or maybe you were wanting something purple? Well, Casa Filipina has you covered with a halo-halo that you can get with ube ice cream for $9.

Have a question you need answered? Reach the reporter at rromeroruiz@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @raphaeldelag.