The first time I visited Golden Road Brewing, I distinctly remember drinking the Wolf Pup Session IPA. It’s since been discontinued, but that was made during a time when all people wanted to drink at craft breweries were IPAs, Hazy IPAs, Session IPAs, DIPAs, and so on.
How the times have changed.
Mango Cart is emblematic of where the craft alcohol industry is today. The times are changing, and there just isn’t as much demand for another Average Joe IPA. Bursting with all the flavor you’d never really expect to find in a beer, Mango Cart packs real juice flavor with a modest ABV (as long as you aren’t drinking Mango Cart Mas).
Here’s what I thought of Mango Cart.
Mango Cart: A Closer Look
Mango Cart is a wheat ale that leans heavily on fruit flavor. Unlike Blue Moon or a citrusy shandy, Mango Cart goes full-on California and uses real mangoes to round out the ale. It’s incredibly easy drinking at just 4.0% ABV, though you can barely taste that there’s any alcohol. Every sip tastes closer to mango juice than anything else, which is a testament to the freshness of their ingredients and just how little beer flavor there really is in this wheat ale.
If you’ve spent any time around the Los Angeles area, then you’ve probably seen Mango Cart pretty much everywhere, but it feels like Golden Road is starting to send their I-can’t-believe-it’s-not-juice drink further from SoCal. Don’t be surprised if you see Mango Cart more and more often, no matter where in the United States you are.
And if not Mango Cart, look out for Mas.
Mango Cart Mas: An Even Closer Look
At some point, someone looked at Mango Cart and said, “Double it.” I assume that’s exactly the thought process behind Mango Cart Mas.
Mango Cart Mas is billed as a fruited ale, completely shedding any wheat remnants found in its lighter kin. Mas comes in at 8.0% ABV, so yes, it is more alcoholic than the regular Mango Cart, and yes, you can taste the alcohol. It still has that strong mango juice flavor, but with the punch that you would expect from a canned alcoholic drink. I think this is why I like the Mas version so much more than the main Mango Cart. Fruited seltzers, canned cocktails, and wine coolers tend to be a little stronger than 4% ABV, and I think I’ve grown accustomed to enjoying a little more kick in my fruited beverage.
If you haven’t seen Mango Cart Mas, you might want to look for it at your nearest stadium; as far as I can tell, this is only available in 19.2oz cans, the same kind you’d find at Dodger Stadium.
Final Thoughts: Mango Cart and Mango Cart Mas
Mango Cart is such a safe option for almost any occasion, which is part of the reason I consider it one of my favorite beers for watching football. That said, I much prefer the higher ABV Mas version. I’m curious how the NA Mango Cart tastes, and I’ll have to make a point of buying it next time I see it, but I’m guessing it’s just high-quality mango juice with a slight wheat flavor. I think that sounds pretty good.
All in all, both options are solid and should be considered in the “average” to “above average” range. If you like mango juice, you’ll love Mango Cart. If you prefer beer flavor, something else might be a better pick.
Mango Cart Rating: 2.5/5
Mango Cart Mas Rating: 3/5
- Mango Cart Review: The Best Alcoholic Mango Juice - September 8, 2026
- Beer vs Seltzer: Which Is Healthier? - September 4, 2026
- Best Beer for Football: What to Drink While Watching the Game - August 22, 2026
