Drekker Wayward Cargo 4Pk

Drekker Wayward Cargo 4Pk is a 5.9% ABV tiki smoothie sour ale sold in a four-pack of cans from Drekker Brewing Company. Brewed in collaboration with Woven Water Brewing, this release takes its cue from the Cargo Cult cocktail, loading the base with pineapple and banana before conditioning on cacao nibs and coffee beans — an unusual combination that has earned a 3.5 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 1,200 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.9%  |  Origin: Fargo, North Dakota  |  Style: Tiki Smoothie Sour  |  Brewery: Drekker Brewing Company (collab with Woven Water Brewing)

Production & Heritage

Drekker Brewing Company operates out of Fargo, North Dakota, and has become one of the most recognized names in the American smoothie sour movement. Wayward Cargo is a collaboration with Woven Water Brewing, described by the brewers themselves as "a weirdo take on a Cargo Cult cocktail." The liquid is built on a fruited sour base heavy with pineapple and banana, then conditioned on cacao nibs and coffee beans — layering roasted, earthy depth beneath the tropical fruit. The result sits at the intersection of dessert beer and tiki culture, a style Drekker has made central to its identity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Banana and pineapple dominate the nose immediately, delivering a ripe, tropical sweetness. Underneath, chocolate from the cacao nibs adds a subtle roasted quality that rounds out the initial impression.

Taste: The entry is thick and fruit-forward, with pineapple leading into creamy banana on the mid-palate. Coffee picks up noticeably as the beer develops, bringing a roasted bitterness that checks the sweetness and gives the sip unexpected complexity. Cacao nibs weave through the back half, bridging the tropical and earthy tones.

Finish: Medium in length with a lingering interplay of coffee bitterness and residual banana sweetness. The mouthfeel is characteristically thick and smoothie-like, leaving a coating sensation that invites another sip.

How to Drink Wayward Cargo

Pour cold into a tulip glass or drink straight from the can — the thick texture and complex fruit-and-coffee profile are best experienced at a cool but not ice-cold temperature, around 40–45°F. Wayward Cargo is a standalone sipper rather than a cocktail ingredient; the layered flavors are designed to deliver a complete drinking experience on their own. That said, adventurous drinkers have used smoothie sours as beer-tail bases: try it blended with a scoop of coconut ice cream for a float, mixed into a beer-mosa with fresh pineapple juice, or used as a topper in a dark rum punch to add fruited acidity.

Best For

• Sharing at a backyard tiki-themed gathering
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to the smoothie sour style
• Pairing with dessert courses at a beer dinner
• Trading or gifting among collectors of limited-run sour ales

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Wayward Cargo taste like? Wayward Cargo delivers a thick, smoothie-like body loaded with tropical pineapple and banana up front, followed by roasted coffee and bittersweet cacao on the back end. The overall impression is a tiki-inspired dessert sour with more depth than a typical fruited ale.

How does Wayward Cargo compare to other Drekker smoothie sours? While many Drekker releases focus on pure fruit combinations, Wayward Cargo stands apart by conditioning on cacao nibs and coffee beans, adding earthy and roasted dimensions that most of the brewery's fruit-only sours do not have. The collaboration with Woven Water Brewing also brings a different creative perspective to the recipe.

Is Wayward Cargo good for beginners? Its fruit-forward sweetness and low 5.9% ABV make it approachable, though the thick texture and unconventional coffee-cacao additions may surprise drinkers unfamiliar with the smoothie sour style. It works well as a gateway into more experimental sour ales.

Where is Wayward Cargo made? Wayward Cargo is brewed by Drekker Brewing Company in Fargo, North Dakota, in collaboration with Woven Water Brewing. Drekker has become one of the most prominent smoothie sour producers in the United States.

What foods pair well with Wayward Cargo? Chocolate lava cake complements the cacao and coffee notes directly. Grilled pineapple or coconut shrimp echo the tropical fruit base. A cheese plate featuring aged gouda bridges the sweetness and roasted flavors. Banana bread or banana foster desserts play naturally off the dominant banana character.

What sizes does Wayward Cargo come in? Wayward Cargo is sold as a four-pack of cans, consistent with Drekker's standard release format for their smoothie sour lineup.

Is Wayward Cargo worth the price? Wayward Cargo positions in the premium craft sour tier, where collaboration releases and specialty conditioning ingredients like cacao nibs and coffee beans justify a higher price point than standard sours. For fans of the smoothie sour category, the unusual tiki-cocktail concept and layered flavor profile represent solid value within the style.

Why Wayward Cargo?

What separates Wayward Cargo from the crowded field of fruited sours is its commitment to a specific idea — reimagining a Cargo Cult cocktail as a beer. The combination of pineapple, banana, cacao nibs, and coffee beans is not a random fruit dump; it is a deliberate flavor architecture that balances tropical sweetness against roasted depth. The collaboration with Woven Water Brewing adds another brewery's expertise to Drekker's already established smoothie sour process. For drinkers who want more than one-note fruit sweetness from their sour ales, Wayward Cargo delivers genuine complexity in a style that does not always prioritize it.