Here’s the thing about Sweetwater Tropical Lover Berliner Weisse with Mango, Passion Fruit, and Guava: It’s not a Berliner Weisse. At least not in my book. Interestingly enough, I drank this right after a can of Coastal Empire Coco Pina Gose, which is not a gose. At this rate, I may get run out of Canton on a rail by the fans of Georgia craft beer, but hey. Follow the link to see why I don’t see that beer as a gose.

As to the Sweetwater Tropical Lover, sure it’s a sour beer, but that alone does not make it a Berliner Weisse. Classic examples of the style are not fruited (though some add fruit syrup to them). They are puckeringly sour, easy to drink, and low in alcohol, so you can drink a little more in the hot weather.

Sweetwater says:

Dig your toes into the sand and take your taste buds on a trip with this easy drinking Berliner Weisse.

Tropical Lover delivers aromas of mango, passion fruit, and guava up front, which transition into a lightly sweet and refreshingly tart finish.

Ingredients from the website:

Malt Bill: 2 Row, Wheat

Hops: Centennial

Sweetwater Tropical Lover has an alcohol content of 4.5% by volume with 7 IBUs. That’s why I don’t see it as a Berliner Weisse; it’s 1.5% to 2% higher than it should be. And tall that tropical fruit drowns out the Berliner Weisse character. It runs $9.99 a six-pack at Total Wine. My can is stamped on the bottom with a best by date of 08/15/18.

Sweetwater Tropical Lover Berliner Weisse with Mango, Passion Fruit, and Guava pours to a bright yellow orange color with a thick head that fades as quickly as it forms. A steady stream of bubbles rises from the bottom of the glass to the head, and the aroma is very sour with a hint of passion fruit. Taking a sip, the beer has a very light wheatiness layered with lightly pronounced fruit: the guava, the passion fruit and mango all take turns making a very subtle appearance. The beer finishes sour, but not puckeringly so as a good Berliner Weisse should.

Sweetwater Tropical Lover can’t decide what it wants to be. Too subtle to be a fruit beer, not sour enough and too high in alcohol for a Berliner Weisse. ­­­Would I drink it again? Taco Mac has it on tap, and I might try it there. Otherwise, probably not.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 

 

 

 



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