Founders Mas Agave 4Pk

Founders Mas Agave 4Pk is a tequila barrel-aged imperial gose brewed with agave, lime, and sea salt at 10% ABV. Scoring a 92 on BeerAdvocate from nearly 500 ratings, this Michigan-brewed ale has earned a reputation for tasting remarkably close to a freshly made margarita — a distinction that sets it apart from virtually every other gose on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 10%  |  Origin: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA  |  Style: Imperial Gose  |  Brewery: Founders Brewing Company  |  IBU: 20

Production & Heritage

Founders Brewing Company, established in 1997 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has built a national following on the strength of bold, boundary-pushing ales. Mas Agave begins as an imperial gose — a high-gravity riff on the traditional German sour wheat style — brewed with real agave nectar, lime, and sea salt. The liquid then spends a full eight months aging in tequila barrels, a lengthy maturation that coaxes deep agave and oak character into the base beer while reinforcing its cocktail-like identity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh-squeezed lime dominates the nose immediately, bright and juicy even from a distance. Underneath, subtle tequila-like warmth and a hint of agave sweetness emerge with time in the glass.

Taste: The first sip is intensely lime-forward, almost indistinguishable from a citrus cocktail. As it develops on the palate, pungent agave from the tequila barrel aging pushes through alongside a more acidic, blunt lemon character. Coriander and a generous wave of sea salt keep the sweetness in check, balancing each sip with a savory, tangy backbone.

Finish: Salt lingers prominently, drying the palate and inviting the next sip. Residual lime zest and faint oak tannins from the tequila barrels provide a clean, medium-length close.

How to Drink Mas Agave

Pour cold into a wide-mouthed glass to let the lime aromatics open up fully; a salt-rimmed tumbler reinforces the margarita effect. Serving it over ice on a hot day is entirely appropriate given the cocktail-like profile.

• Michelada base: Swap out a standard lager for Mas Agave — the existing salt and lime cut the need for extra seasoning while the barrel character adds depth.
• Beer-a-rita float: Pour over a scoop of lime sorbet for a tequila barrel-aged dessert drink with built-in acidity to prevent cloying sweetness.
• Shandy twist: Blend half Mas Agave with fresh grapefruit juice and a splash of soda water for a low-effort, high-impact summer cooler.

Best For

• Margarita lovers looking for a beer-format alternative with genuine tequila barrel character
• Summer cookouts and poolside gatherings where 10% ABV delivers more punch per can
• Gifting to craft beer enthusiasts who chase barrel-aged and sour styles
• Tasting sessions comparing cocktail-inspired beers and barrel-aged goses

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mas Agave taste like? Mas Agave tastes strikingly like a margarita — bright lime citrus, agave sweetness, and prominent sea salt dominate, with underlying tequila barrel warmth and a touch of coriander spice rounding out the profile.

How does Mas Agave compare to a traditional gose? A classic German gose is a low-ABV session beer with restrained salt and coriander, while Mas Agave is an imperial-strength version at 10% ABV with aggressive lime, agave, and eight months of tequila barrel aging — making it far bolder, sweeter, and more cocktail-like than the traditional style.

Is Mas Agave good for sipping neat? Absolutely — many drinkers report that if served blind, they would mistake it for a fresh margarita on the rocks, making it an excellent standalone sipper rather than a beer that needs food or mixing to shine.

Where is Mas Agave made? Mas Agave is brewed by Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a brewery founded in 1997 that distributes across much of the United States.

What foods pair well with Mas Agave? Fish tacos benefit from the beer's lime and salt echoing a classic squeeze of citrus. Ceviche mirrors the bright acidity and complements the agave sweetness. Grilled shrimp with a chili-lime rub finds balance against the salt and barrel tannins. Elote (Mexican street corn) matches the salty, tangy character note for note. A wedge of key lime pie turns the pairing into a citrus-forward dessert course.

What sizes does Mas Agave come in? This product is sold as a 4-pack; individual can availability may vary by market.

Is Mas Agave worth the price? Mas Agave positions as a premium craft release — eight months of tequila barrel aging, imperial strength, and a BeerAdvocate score of 92 place it well above everyday goses in both complexity and value for barrel-aged beer fans.

Why Mas Agave?

Eight months in tequila barrels is an unusually long maturation for a gose, and that patience is the primary reason Mas Agave tastes less like a flavored beer and more like a legitimate cocktail in a can. The 92 BeerAdvocate score across hundreds of reviews confirms broad critical approval, not just hype. At 10% ABV, it carries serious weight without sacrificing the drinkability that lime and salt naturally provide. For anyone who wants the experience of a well-made margarita in a format that requires nothing more than cracking open a can, Founders has built one of the most convincing crossover beers in the barrel-aged category.