Landshark Lager is Jimmy Buffett’s beach-bar beer, launched in 2006 as Margaritaville’s first official brew and named after his song “Fins,” about “sharks that can swim on the land.” It’s built to be an easy, uncomplicated island lager, not a beer aimed at style purists. Here’s what’s actually in the can, how it tastes, and where it fits.
At a Glance
| Brewed by | Anheuser-Busch, under license from Margaritaville Brewing Co. |
| Style | American Adjunct Lager (island-style) |
| ABV | 4.6% |
| IBU | 15 |
| Launched | 2006 |
| Origin | Margaritaville Brewing Co., Florida |
Margaritaville’s First Official Brew
Landshark Lager launched in 2006 as the first beer to carry the Margaritaville Brewing Co. name, built around Jimmy Buffett’s beach-and-cocktail brand. The name itself comes from Buffett’s song “Fins,” about sharks that swim on land, which is also why the fin logo shows up across the packaging.
Despite the “Margaritaville Brewing Co.” label, the beer itself is actually brewed by Anheuser-Busch, the same setup used by a number of celebrity-branded and licensed beer lines.
The recipe is a straightforward American adjunct lager: a blend of hops and two-row caramel malts, brewed for a light, refreshing pour rather than a complex one. At 4.6% ABV and 15 IBUs, it’s built to be sessionable, closer in profile to Corona or Sol than to a hop-forward craft lager.
“A light-bodied beer… it’s easy to envision sucking down a six-pack of these on the beach or around the pool on a hot summer’s day. For that kind of occasion it is a great beer.”, The Beer Babe, reviewer notes
Tasting Notes
Reviewer consensus is consistent: this is a crisp, bubbly, easy-drinking lager with a hint of malty sweetness and a light, mostly clean finish, with a small amount of residual sourness some tasters pick up at the very end.
It’s not trying to impress hop or malt enthusiasts, and reviewers are upfront about that. One beer-review site summed it up as “not a horrible beer, just a lame one” for anyone looking for complexity, while still calling it a solid, uncomplicated choice for a hot day at the beach or by the pool.
- Easy, crisp, sessionable lager, genuinely well-suited to a beach or pool day
- Wide distribution thanks to Anheuser-Busch brewing and packaging it
- Low 4.6% ABV makes it easy to have more than one over a long afternoon
- Not currently available through Saucey in most areas
- Low BeerAdvocate community score (63, “Poor”) if you’re comparing against craft benchmarks rather than judging it for what it’s built to be
- Not much to offer if you’re after real hop or malt complexity
Beers to Try If You Like It
Landshark isn’t currently on Saucey, so if you’re after that same beach-lager territory, here are Mexican-style lagers with a nearly identical light, crisp profile that you can get delivered:
Is Landshark the Same as Corona or Sol?
Not the same beer, but genuinely comparable. All three are light American or Mexican-style adjunct lagers built for warm-weather, low-commitment drinking, and reviewers routinely compare Landshark directly to Corona and Sol rather than to craft-brewed lagers. If you already like either of those, Landshark will feel familiar.
FAQs
Who actually brews Landshark Lager?
Anheuser-Busch brews it under license from Margaritaville Brewing Co., despite the branding.
What is the ABV of Landshark Lager?
4.6% ABV with 15 IBUs.
Why is it called Landshark?
It’s named after Jimmy Buffett’s song “Fins,” about sharks that can swim on land, which is also the source of the fin logo on the packaging.
Is Landshark Lager similar to Corona?
Yes, it’s routinely compared to Corona and Sol as a light, easy-drinking beach lager rather than to craft beer benchmarks.
