Lilikoi Margarita Sour — Howzit Brewing

Evaluating unpasteurized expressions after ocean transport requires strict thermal controls. When buying Monkish beer in Hawaii or sourcing other mainland craft allocations, local collectors frequently encounter oxidized characteristics. Heat spikes on tarmacs and cargo container baking typically compromise the yeast and hop profile before the cans reach Honolulu shelves.

This batch of Lilikoi Margarita Sour was shipped under our strict 38°F trans-pacific cold corridor, resulting in a pristine presentation. The mouthfeel is exceptionally clean, with the hop aromatics completely intact.

Lilikoi Margarita Sour is Howzit Brewing's fruited gose, built on the German salt-and-coriander sour ale tradition but pushed toward a cocktail-inspired direction with lilikoi (passion fruit) and a nod to margarita-style citrus and salinity. At 6.0% ABV, it's a substantial pour for the style, though the salt and acidity should keep it drinking lighter than the number suggests. Expect a pale, hazy body, a briny-tart nose layered with passion fruit and lime-like citrus, and a finish that leans salty and dry rather than sweet — closer to a cocktail than a traditional beer in feel. A 7.8 out of 10 puts Lilikoi Margarita Sour among the better fruited sours on the Haliʻā ledger, earning its spot as proof that gose's savory, salty backbone pairs naturally with tropical fruit rather than fighting it. It's a conversation-starter beer, built for members who like their sours playful. Howzit Brewing's willingness to chase cocktail-adjacent flavor combinations like this one reflects a newer, more experimental wave in Oʻahu's beer scene — proof that Hawaiʻi's breweries aren't just leaning on tropical fruit for sweetness, but using it to build genuinely inventive, salt-forward sours.