Judge's Review: 85 Rating - Vacanza Coconut Creme Pie by Wild Leap Brew Co.

Vacanza Coconut Cream Pie by Wild Leap Brew Co. is a fruited Gose and is being evaluated as a Fruit Beer (category 29 in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The fruit in Fruit Beers should complement the base style without overwhelming it. Gose beers are highly carbonated, slightly tart wheat beers that typically have a light coriander flavor and lightly salty finish. Vacanza Coconut Cream Pie is fermented with coconut and pineapple.

Vacanza pours dark golden with orange hues, is slightly hazy and sports a medium, finely-beaded white head. The aroma is moderate coconut with lighter pineapple and citrus (coriander?) notes along with a light wheatiness. The flavor is more prominently coconut and pineapple over a light wheat background. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with a moderate carbonation level. The beer finishes with prominent coconut and pineapple and a lasting creamy finish.

The coconut and pineapple flavors are well done; the level of the fruits are not too light or too strong. However, the Gose base style lacks the assertive carbonation and gentle sourness of the historical style. Regardless, this is a solid fruit beer over a wheat beer base and should be enjoyed by those that like coconuts. The finish is as smooth and creamy as any beer that I have ever tried.