Stone Tangerine Express Hazy IPA 6Pk

Stone Tangerine Express Hazy IPA 6Pk is a 6.7% ABV hazy IPA from Stone Brewing, sold in a six-pack of 12 oz cans, brewed with whole tangerine and pineapple puree. It earned a 92/100 score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine in a blind BJCP judging panel, and holds an 88/100 on BeerAdvocate across more than 1,000 ratings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.7%  |  IBUs: 57–75  |  Origin: Escondido, California  |  Style: Hazy IPA  |  Brewery: Stone Brewing

Production & Heritage

Stone Brewing, founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California and now headquartered in Escondido, built its reputation on aggressively hopped West Coast ales. Tangerine Express takes a different path: the brewing team adds whole tangerine purée—not just juice or extract—along with pineapple purée directly into the beer. Using the whole fruit captures the zest, pith, and juice, lending a pithy, crisp bitterness that purely juiced fruit cannot replicate. The hop bill is expansive, featuring Citra, Centennial, Sterling, Azacca, Mosaic, Magnum, Simcoe, and Cascade—a blend that layers citrus and tropical aromatics over the fruit base.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh tangerine peel and ripe pineapple lead immediately, followed by citrus blossom and resinous tropical hop character from the Citra and Mosaic additions. A light pithy note rounds out the nose.

Taste: The entry is lightly sweet with juicy tangerine and grapefruit flavors, quickly giving way to a pronounced hop bitterness at mid-palate. Pineapple and citrus zest weave through the center, and the 57–75 IBU range registers clearly without being abrasive. The overall impression is bitter and juicy in equal measure.

Finish: Long, dry, and decisively bitter, with lingering tangerine pith and a faint tropical echo. The dryness keeps the fruit sweetness honest and encourages the next sip.

How to Drink Tangerine Express

Pour cold into a tulip glass or IPA glass to concentrate the aromatic fruit and hop volatiles; drinking temperature around 42–48°F is ideal. Straight from the can works well for casual settings, though a glass dramatically opens the nose.

• IPA Shandy: Mix half-and-half with lemonade for a sessionable warm-weather drink—the tangerine puree intensifies the citrus.
• Michelada riff: Combine with lime juice, hot sauce, and a salted rim—the hop bitterness and fruit acidity stand up to the spice.
• Beer Margarita: Blend with tequila, lime, and ice for a frozen hybrid where the pineapple and tangerine do the heavy lifting on fruit flavor.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and taco nights where bright citrus cuts through grilled meats
• Introducing hop-forward beer to friends who prefer fruit-driven flavors
• Stocking a mixed craft beer fridge with a reliably rated hazy IPA
• Game-day gatherings where drinkability and flavor both matter

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tangerine Express taste like? It delivers juicy tangerine and grapefruit up front, followed by assertive hop bitterness and a long, dry finish. The whole-fruit purée gives it a pithy citrus depth that separates it from extract-flavored IPAs.

How does Tangerine Express compare to Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing? Tangerine Express is more explicitly fruit-forward thanks to its whole tangerine and pineapple purée additions, while Hazy Little Thing relies almost entirely on hop-derived haze and tropical character. Tangerine Express also runs slightly higher in bitterness, typically 57–75 IBUs versus Hazy Little Thing's softer profile around 35 IBUs.

Is Tangerine Express good for beginners? Its real-fruit sweetness and citrus aromatics make it approachable, though the firm bitterness on the finish may surprise drinkers new to IPAs. It works well as a bridge between wheat beers and full-tilt West Coast IPAs.

Where is Tangerine Express made? It is brewed by Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, one of the largest independently owned craft breweries in the United States. Stone was founded in 1996 and distributes nationally.

What foods pair well with Tangerine Express? Fish tacos with mango salsa mirror its citrus and tropical notes. Grilled chicken with a citrus glaze echoes the tangerine. Thai green curry benefits from the hop bitterness cutting through coconut richness. Sharp cheddar provides a savory foil to the fruit character. Ceviche pairs naturally with the beer's bright acidity and pineapple undertone.

What sizes does Tangerine Express come in? It is widely available in a 6-pack of 12 oz cans, and some markets carry single 19.2 oz stovepipe cans as well as draft.

Is Tangerine Express worth the price? It positions in the mid-range craft IPA tier, comparable to other nationally distributed hazy IPAs from established breweries. The whole-fruit production method, complex eight-hop bill, and consistent critical scores—92/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing, 88/100 on BeerAdvocate—deliver strong value relative to the category.

Why Tangerine Express?

The use of whole tangerine purée rather than juice or extract is the defining production choice here, yielding a pithy bitterness and layered citrus depth that flavoring shortcuts cannot match. An eight-variety hop bill adds genuine complexity beyond the fruit additions, keeping this firmly in IPA territory rather than flavored-beer novelty. A 92/100 blind-tasting score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine's BJCP judges confirms the beer competes at a high level within the hazy IPA category. For drinkers who want real fruit character backed by serious hop structure, Tangerine Express remains one of the more credible options on the shelf.