Stone Buenavida Hard Seltzer - Mandarin by Stone Brewing Co. is being judged as a fruited seltzer with mandarin against the 2022 Beer Connoisseur Seltzer Guidelines. It it served in a tall tapered pilsner glass at 43oF showing a brilliant transparent silver color.  The outgassing is quite champagne-like with rapid streams rising to the surface. 

The nose has a nice assertive but not super-strong and direct mandarin character that is very natural and pleasantly floral of medium intensity that is both fruity and dry. Other than outgassing carbonic, nothing else comes to the nose.

The flavor is bright and citrusy with acid and clean and very fresh crisp mandarin character with a hint of zest complementing the fleshy/orange-fruity flavor.  The finish is very dry and tight with a touch of acid and notable fizz.  Body is light, but the fruit lingers into the aftertaste along with a touch of alcohol and mouthfeel. It is is a nice and simple dry seltzer of typical strength with really well-expressioned mandarin notes indicative of high-quality fruit extract. The alcohol and faint graininess provides nice structure for the fruit and CO2, with body from ethanol distinguishing it well away from a basic soda. Dry and fruity and very "clean" overall. 

This seltzer is super tasty, with enough structure to work as both a hot day slaker or as an evening sipper. Fortuitously, it could also work as the foundation for a fine fruited cocktail where a bright citrus fruit and carbonated base are desired. ¡Muy sabroso!