Lost Coast Tangerine 6Pk Cans

Lost Coast Tangerine 6Pk Cans is a tangerine-infused wheat ale from Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, California, packaged as a six-pack of cans at 5.5% ABV. Built on the brewery's proprietary Harvest Wheat base and finished with natural tangerine flavors, this ale earned a Gold Medal at the 2010 California State Fair.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.5%  |  Origin: Eureka, California  |  Style: Fruit Wheat Ale  |  Brewery: Lost Coast Brewery  |  IBUs: 15

Production & Heritage

Lost Coast Brewery was founded in 1990 in Eureka, California, by Barbara Groom and Wendy Pound, making it one of the earlier female-founded craft breweries in the United States. The Tangerine Wheat begins with a grain bill of wheat and crystal malts, lending a soft, bready backbone before the addition of natural tangerine flavoring. Perle hops provide a gentle, restrained bitterness at just 15 IBUs, allowing the citrus character to remain front and center without competing hop influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright tangerine peel leads immediately, followed by sweet orange blossom and a faint wheaty, biscuit-like undertone. The citrus is prominent but not synthetic, reading more like fresh-peeled fruit than candy.

Taste: Sweet tangerine enters on the front palate with noticeable intensity, then transitions into a slightly tangy mid-palate that prevents the sweetness from becoming cloying. The wheat malt base provides a smooth, rounded body, while the crystal malt contributes a touch of honeyed depth beneath the citrus.

Finish: Crisp and clean, with the tangerine flavor tapering off quickly and leaving a dry, refreshing close. There is minimal hop bitterness on the tail, making the finish light and easy.

How to Drink Lost Coast Tangerine

Serve cold, ideally between 40–45°F, straight from the can or poured into a wheat beer glass to release the citrus aromatics. A garnish of fresh orange or tangerine wedge on the rim amplifies the fruit character.

• Beer-a-Rita: The natural tangerine sweetness works as a ready-made citrus base blended with ice, lime juice, and a salted rim.
• Shandy: Mix half-and-half with lemonade for a summery shandy where the tangerine adds complexity beyond a standard lager base.
• Michelada: The bright citrus and low bitterness complement tomato juice, hot sauce, and lime for a fruit-forward riff on the classic.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues and warm-weather gatherings where easy-drinking refreshment is the priority
• Introducing non-craft-beer drinkers to flavored wheat ales without overwhelming bitterness
• Beach coolers and picnic packs where canned format and portability matter
• Pairing alongside brunch dishes that call for a lighter, fruit-accented beer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lost Coast Tangerine taste like? It delivers a pronounced sweet tangerine flavor balanced by a slight tanginess, with a soft wheat malt body and a crisp, clean finish that avoids excessive sweetness.

How does Lost Coast Tangerine compare to Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy? Lost Coast Tangerine is a standalone wheat ale infused with tangerine, while Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy blends a traditional weiss beer with lemonade flavoring, resulting in a more distinctly lemon-forward, sweeter profile. Both sit at approachable ABV levels and target warm-weather drinking occasions.

Is Lost Coast Tangerine good for beginners? Yes — the low IBU count of 15 means virtually no hop bitterness, and the prominent fruit flavor makes it approachable for drinkers who find traditional craft ales too bitter or complex.

Where is Lost Coast Tangerine made? It is brewed at Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, California, a coastal city in Humboldt County on California's rugged North Coast.

What foods pair well with Lost Coast Tangerine? Grilled shrimp tacos benefit from the citrus echo; a spinach and mandarin salad mirrors the tangerine notes; Thai chicken satay with peanut sauce contrasts nicely against the ale's sweetness; lighter cheeses like fresh mozzarella or burrata complement the wheat body; and lemon bars or citrus tarts create a harmonious dessert pairing.

What sizes does Lost Coast Tangerine come in? This product is a six-pack of 12 oz cans; Lost Coast also distributes the Tangerine Wheat in individual cans, bottles, and draft format depending on market availability.

Is Lost Coast Tangerine worth the price? It positions as an accessible, everyday craft beer — competitively priced within the fruit wheat ale segment and delivering flavor that consistently earns strong consumer ratings.

Why Lost Coast Tangerine?

The Gold Medal at the California State Fair validated what the beer's popularity already suggested: the combination of Lost Coast's Harvest Wheat base with natural tangerine flavoring strikes a balance that many fruit-flavored beers miss. At 15 IBUs, bitterness is essentially a non-factor, placing the focus squarely on the interplay between wheat malt softness and bright citrus. Lost Coast Brewery's three-decade track record on California's North Coast lends credibility to a beer that could easily be dismissed as gimmicky but instead delivers genuine drinkability. For a fruit wheat ale in convenient can format, few options match its combination of flavor clarity, clean finish, and consistent quality.