Tiki Sunset Sour
Coronado Brewing Company

This one is amazing, I got to tell you.
I love sours but this one actually does more than that. The beer itself is very much like a sour, its smell, its looks and the crisp carbonated, tart mouthfeel, it IS a proper sour. Not overly sour though, but perhaps it is thanks to the other ingredients that come to play: the pineapple, the coconut and the macadamia nuts. The first to contribute to the flavor and make it very interesting, should I say “woody” maybe (if there’s such a taste)? Refined and smooth at the same time but luckily lactose doesn’t dominate the beer. Macadamia nuts come as an aftertaste though, surprise you in the end with a nutty, slightly sweet sensation. Very interesting, a pleasure to drink this to the last drop.
I had lots of sours and although I loved each and every one of them, I never had a sour this unique. It was something completely new but at the same time still very much of a sour.
A very well thought out beer - and very well realized.

 

Type: 16-oz. can
Glass: Karl Strauss 26th anniversary .25L tulip
From: Trader Joe’s in La Mesa, Calif.
Price: $3.00
Purchased: Oct. 27, 2019
Consumed: Oct. 27, 2019
Reviewed as: American Fruited Sour
Misc.: Canned on Sept. 19, 2019 at 8:54 a.m. PT

Had seen this in stores previously, but this was the first time I really looked at it. Grabbed one can with a bunch of other stuff. Website description for it read, “Our 2019 ART SERIES has evolved to feature photography submitted by our Instagram fans. The third winner our contest is Cody Poynor, a California-based landscape + aerial + astro photographer. Cody’s epic photo of a silhouetted surfer against a pink sunset is the inspiration for “Tiki Sunset”. Tiki Sunset is a kettle sour inspired by a classic tiki cocktail called Chi-Chi. A close cousin to the Piña Colada, the Chi-Chi features pineapple, toasted coconut, and macadamia nuts. We packed all of that goodness into Tiki Sunset, along with a touch of lactose, for a refreshingly easy-drinking taste of the islands.”

Poured a golden clear color with 3-to-4 fingers of frothy-to-rocky white head. Could see plenty of fast-moving bubble streams coming up along the sides of the glass. World-class spiderweb foamy lacing. Excellent retention. (Sight - 4.50)

Smelled juicy pineapple, coconut, vanilla, peach, mango, guava and honey roasted nuts. Much of the same from the can with pineapple and coconut dominating. (Smell - 3.75)

Tasted better than the nose with more flavor. Got pineapple, buttery toasted coconut, vanilla, red apple, pear, peach, guava and honey roasted nuts. (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Juicy finish. (Feel - 4.25)

Was surprised at how much I liked this. Not sure I’d want a four-pack of this, but this was excellent. (Overall - 4.25)

4.15 | 93 | A-

16 ounce can poured into a snifter glass. Pour is clear and a pale copper hue with a light cap of white foam.

Nose is a mashup of faint notes of coconut, pineapple juice and some sour influences. Mostly it is a distraction, we'll see how it warms.

Taste is mo betta right away. Slightly acidic and with a hint of coconut and pineapple and offering a perky effervescence on the feel. Finish is full for the style and offers a flash of acidic sourness on the finish. Pineapple on the nose just doesn't blend well with other notes.