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This is the third growler review that I have to do this go around. I have enjoyed my growler experience so far, and it makes me hopeful for future growler enjoyment. That said, while I had these fears waiting for me to review, Tailgate informed me that I had the opportunity to try out other beers that they have brewed in small batches that were in cans that I could have also picked up. The problem of having too much good beer to try out is a good problem to have.
The beer pours a lot darker and thicker than it's stablemates. The deep orange beer gets brown enough that you might be mistaken and think of this as a brown ale. There isn't a whole lot of head, but I don't judge a growler based on the amount of head that it has. The name implies that it is tropical, and the aroma is heavily tropical. There is a musty, yeasty smell to the malt, but the tropical fruits are bringing a brightness to the whole experience. I really suspect this is going to be good.
First sip is pretty good, but it's also pretty odd. It has a tanginess that verges on sour as if the yeast has gone off or something. The tropical fruits are there, but the fruits are all bruised and potentially past their sell-by date. I already wish I was enjoying this more than I am, and this is possibly the least enjoyable of the Tailgate beers that I've had, ever. Nevertheless, let's see if a swig can pull a winner out of this.
Indistinct tropical essence comes in the tip-in with the malt holding bitterness at bay and the yeast seemingly doing very little. The middle does little to impress with the bruised fruits and tangy yeast fighting each other for supremacy while the taste buds are going to be the victims in either case. The crossfire ceases for the finish, but it's too late to do anything about the mustiness of the yeast that hangs on to fruit peels for the trail off.
Bottom Line: They can do better.
1.25/5
