Brown Shugga' - Lagunitas Brewing Company

TheDinger

South Carolina

4.04/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Growler fill at GBX. Poured into snifter and it's a nice copper/amber pour with a huge 3+ finger pillow head. Smell is unique and a bit unexpected. Getting the hop bomb of citrus and pine mixed with some sweet malts. Not getting much shugga, but it smell quite good. Taste is just as interesting. Part barleywine, part IPA, part SA. Not sure, but it's sweeter that I thought it would be. The hops are actually a great finish and don't overpower it. A quite complex brew that was tough to sit down. Lots of carbonation, perhaps too much as this was quite dry and a bit metalic. Overall- A pretty good effort and a nice blend of sweet malts and american hops. Weird to explain and put into a category, but a must try and one I will hit out of the bottle to see what may be different. Enjoy-

Serving type: growler

02-24-2013 23:04:39 | More by TheDinger

dogfishandi

New York

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

filled a growler of this at clinton road consumers and split with a friend. a little above fridge temp poured into a standard pint glass.

pours out a clear deep amber color with a big fluffy, retentive off white head. lots of sticky lace on the glass.

it smells like a DIPA with a very nice balance. first you get piney and a little bit of citrus hops balanced by a sweet candied caramel, sugary malt.

again, definatly like a big DIPA. resinous pine and citrus hops are met nicely by a sticky candied caramel, brown sugary malt.

heavy mouthfeel, but not nearly as thick and heavy as i might have expected. some lingering bitternes is there.

alcohol was just an after thought, i could not taste it at all which made this pretty drinkable.

Serving type: growler

02-06-2011 18:41:49 | More by dogfishandi

TheFightfan1

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Got my growler filled up at the Hulmeville inn.

Poured into a snifter. Poured a very cloudy amber color with a thick tightly bubbled off white heading. Amazing leggage that sticks around the edges 'till the last drop.

Smell is hoppy at first. Followed by a crisp sweet caramel sweetness.

Taste is bit bitter at first wave. Second wave is mostly of the heavily caramel and roasted malt taste that just sticks to the palate. Very rich and sweet. There are hints of brown sugar that does compliment the sweetness.

Mouth is medium to full bodied. Chewy feel in the mouth. An all around hop cleanse on the palate.

Drink is good. ABV is very well hidden. The heavily sweetness with the bright background of hops just make this an amazing drink. Drink up folks.

Serving type: growler

12-16-2009 00:07:17 | More by TheFightfan1

jrjohnso

New York

4.08/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

"Good sipping beer on an 85 degree sunny day"

12 oz bottle purchased at Whole Foods Orlando. No freshness date, but at 9.5% ABV, I'm not too concerned

Minimal head while poured into a wine glass. You can tell this is thick as the last couple drops from the bottle sat on top of the beer as little spheres dancing around.

Smell of sweet sugar and raisins.

Big taste of carmelized sugar that stays on the tongue for a while until giving some piney hops a tiny window to shine through.

Overall, this beer is a solid example of a big American strong ale/barleywine. One every once in a while when I need a break from IPA's in fine for me.

Serving type: growler

04-03-2009 20:08:03 | More by jrjohnso

beertunes

Washington

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a straight pint glass. Minimal head leaves light but sticky lacing. A very pretty reddish-brown. Sweet aroma with nice hop touches. Flavor matches aroma closely. Smoothly sweet at the front with a balancing hop tang at the finish. Faint alcohol taste, but not in a bothersome way. Body is just a little lighter than full. Very drinkable, but this beer will sneak up on you. Because it's smooth, sweet and easy to drink you might not notice it preparing to pop you. Very enjoyable, becoming a yearly favorite.

Serving type: growler

01-09-2009 23:35:42 | More by beertunes

HeyItsChili

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured from a growler into a pint glass. Pours semiopaque amber with a yellow/tan colored thin head that sticks around for a while.

S - Bitter hops tickle the nose, sweet sugary roasted malts mingle behind, there's a raw alcohol scent too.

T - There is a strong and up front alcohol taste that I don't mind as much as some reviewers. Bitter hops and some, but not quite enough sweetness take a little edge off.

M - Crisp, almost biting, medium carbonation, medium/thin body.

D - Powerful and tasty, but hoppier than the name would, I think, suggest.

Serving type: growler

01-03-2009 02:29:41 | More by HeyItsChili

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

When i poured this beer into a glass, it has a dark amber color body with a 2' tan head to it. The smell has a sweet raisin aroma to it. The taste is hop and malt up front, very boozy, but as it warms up, i can taste a little brown sugar sweetness. The mouth feel is real good and overall this is a good sipping beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 01:15:43 | More by chefhatt

downeyj4

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

It has an good copper color, but seemed to have some haziness about it. There is a large amount of hops, but has an aftertaste of brown sugar. It is a good mix, but not a beer you would want to drink a whole six pack of. This was my first Lagunitas, so I am sure that I will have more.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 05:03:22 | More by downeyj4

WestCoastLibations

California

4.56/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Celebrating my two year anniversary at the high school I currently teach at in Korea, I wanted a way to bring it all back home so to speak, enjoying this California beer, even though I have been across the Pacific for some time now. I have had this little gem sitting in my 'fridge for a while, and thought it the perfect opportunity to open it up, and enjoy its bountiful offerings.

Poured from a 12-ounce bottle into an appropriate cup, it came out smooth, a darkened-Amber color flowing seamlessly from vessel to vessel. Settling nicely with minimal foam, apart from its appearance, the first thing that jumped out at me from the wide rim of the glass, was the aroma; a strong scent which transported my mind immediately back to California, regardless of my actual physical location. I could almost taste this beer through its smell; that strong, and that alluring.

Upon tasting though, my realities were again questioned, as this 9.9% ale packs a punch even as it sat in my mouth, visiting it seemed, all 5,000 taste buds before making its rounds to the neurons within my brain. This beer I was enjoying, was at a time, part of a larger six-pack, but while drinking just this one for my celebration, it was beyond me how long it would take to finish all six. Woulda been silly!

Overall, as the statistics prove, this is an absolutely incredible beer, taking no prisoners, while at the same time, allowing for...ne...encouraging transcendence beyond space and time. My space is here in Korea, my time is for the past two years, but while I sipped on this Brown Shugga', I was back along the West Coast, in mind, body, and soul...

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 00:05:08 | More by WestCoastLibations

Odysseyalien

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The odd thing here is that when I originally tasted this beer, December 2012, I didn't like it. I didn't see what all the fuss was about. Maybe cause I was expecting more of a "brown sugar" taste to the beer.

I cellared the remaining four bottles I had and on a whim, decided to open one about two weeks back. To my surprise, I found the taste phenomenal this time. The quintessential American barley wine, it tastes to me like Anchor Steam's Old Foghorn "should" taste. Really delicious and I really doubt the four months of cellaring made that much of a difference.

Sorry now that I didn't buy more and will certainly get more when it arrives again late this year.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 20:08:55 | More by Odysseyalien

hoschkam

Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

a: redish in color with nice lacing that lasts til it's gone
s: Sweet and raisiny, but you can smell the ABV
t: sweet, strong and a bit boozy. it gets better with every sip
m: extremly smooth, with only a minor sting
overall: this is an awesome beer that seems to be a bit different every year, but I look so forward to it's availability. Happy to see it back in 2012.
Peace out!

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 07:26:34 | More by hoschkam

mpedara429

Massachusetts

4.09/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: A slightly hazy and dark amber color. Two plus fingers of off white head. Sticky lacing all over the glass.

S: Sweet smell of toffee malt, raisins, and plums.

T: Nutty and earthy flavors backed by the sweetness described in the smell. Nice hop bite.

M: Medium body that is a bit creamy with medium carbonation.

O: A cool beer. It is labeled as a strong ale, but it kicks a bit like an IPA with it's fair share of hop bite and earthy flavor. I'm really digging the complexity of this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 04:28:21 | More by mpedara429

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.59/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A: poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, light red brown amber colored with a huge light tan head that lingers leaving excellent lacing, clear

S: amazing aroma of citrus hops, orange, grapefruit, lemon, caramelized sugar

T: grapefruit, lemon zest, pine, toffee, strawberry, brown sugar,

M: higher carbonation, alcohol amazingly well hidden, slightly viscous

O: The most amazing part of this beer is that the alcohol is so well hidden under a depth of hop and malt flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 02:07:02 | More by M_C_Hampton

russwbeck

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First every Brown Shugga. Didn't get exposed to Lagunitas until last year and loved Lagunitas Sucks. Now it's time to find out why they sucked.

A: Golden brown pour with an active culture of rising bubbles. The head builds up a substantial amount, lasts a decently long time, and is white in color. The head completely coats the insides of my Lagunitas mason jar, much like an IPA. 4.5

S: The aroma is very sweet, with a grassy, earthy hoppiness providing some balance. Booze, caramel malt, and hops all come together in a distinctly Lagunitas way. I can tell by the aroma that this is going to be as good as everything I've had some this brewery. 4

T: The sweetness and hoppiness collide in just a wonderful way on the taste. Things start of with caramel and citrus, giving way quickly to bitter hops and some booze. The finish is very dry and hoppy, making the mouth water a ridiculous amount. You crave the sweetness at the beginning so much that you forget this monster is nearly 10% ABV...until you stand up! 4.5

MF: Medium body with a great amount of carbonation. The booze is noticeable, but not in a bad way. It's very drinkable for the style. 4.5

O: Lagunitas, you do suck for not making this last year! It's amazing! Although, I'm glad Lagunitas Sucks was the result. I'm torn there, but not on whether or not I like this beer. True winner, yet again. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 01:44:14 | More by russwbeck

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

3.45/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Poured from 12 oz bottle into Spiegelau IPA glass. Pours a clean amber with a solid off white head of about 1.5 fingers. Very sticky lacing

S- Huge aroma. A carmelized, sugary sweet smell. Candy apple. Fuity hops on the backside. Some pine. Delicious smelling beer

T- Very, very sweet. Taste does a solid job of following nose. Some of the flavor reminds me kind of a sherry taste. Also detect maple, syrupy molasis, vanilla, honey, cider, and brown sugar. Alcohol is present with the warmth. Pretty mellow though without a lot of bitterness, but some level of bitterness shows to battle the sweetness. Not real balanced though, IMO. A level of cloying.

M- Full body. Moderate carbonation and drinkability. As mentioned, alcohol is present. Dry finish

O- Quite different than anything i can remember. I am not a huge barley wine guy, but this was enjoyable. I wouldn't have 2 in a row or drink it often simply because the sweetness level of this beer was just too much for me to take. I don't have a ton of barleywine experience at this point, but this one seems to match the profile. Maybe even a cross between a barleywine and a DIPA. The flavor profile doesn't fit my palate all that well, but i respect the effort here by Lagunitas. Good job

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 03:58:04 | More by Bosoxfan20

Jeffwildcat

Arizona

4.13/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Copper appearance. Full body. Aftertaste lingers. Sweet. Sure do smell the brown sugar. Frothy till the end. Smell also has a hint of smoked chipolte. Great beer overall. Had the Holiday Sucks last year, which wasn't as sweet, but still good. A must have.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 04:39:58 | More by Jeffwildcat

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter at cellar temperature.

L – Deep amber color with a nice 3-finger frothy, bubbly, cream-colored head. Excellent retention with phenomenal sheets of lacing. Clear with lots of bubbles. I can’t imagine it looking much better than this.

S – This smells very much like a cross between an American barleywine and DIPA. There’s a ton of malty sweetness with caramel, molasses, and brown sugar notes, and no shortage of American hops with grapefruit and pine aromas mostly. Alcohol is certainly present here, and there may even be a hint of some dark fruits like figs and dates here, too. This smells like it is going to be a real treat.

T – The taste is slightly different than the aroma but not in a bad way – it’s just different. It’s sweet nearly all the way through with lots of brown sugar and some noticeable caramel and molasses. Some grapefruit, orange, and pine hop bitterness creeps in toward the finish and builds in intensity as the finish progresses. Alcohol is really nowhere to be found.

F – Medium-bodied with pretty good carbonation, a sticky, chewy, and creamy mouthfeel, and a bittersweet finish. Sweet caramel and brown sugar and bittersweet fruity hop flavors linger for a bit. There’s a hint of palate-and-throat warming from the alcohol, but not as much as I was expecting after the aroma.

O – This is a nice beer and one that’s pretty tough to categorize. It smells like a strong ale but tastes almost like an imperial amber ale. I guess I can see it tasting like a strong ale, too, though. Not that any of this matters – I just like categorizing things. Useless rambling aside, this is a tasty and extremely drinkable beer given the ABV and my initial expectations after the aroma. I would have never guessed this clocked in at a tick below 10%. Part of me wishes that it tasted more like the aroma since that was so phenomenal, but the taste that is here is pretty damn good, too.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 04:19:59 | More by BlackBelt5112203

bubseymour

Maryland

4.54/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A - Has a deep dark reddish clear color with very nicely formed 2 finger head in my Sam Adams pint glass.

S - Like the name states, very sugary and caramel scents prevail. Some malty and bready notes and a very minor hop presence. Hops are more noticeable in the scent as it warms. Quite pleasant none-the-less.

T - A very warming beer in the belly. Smooth and very well balanced with no noticeable alcohol presence despite the 9.9% rating. Definitely some malt and sugary caramel balance out a subtle but noticeable hop presence that has a linger of slight bitterness post drinking.

M - Warm and buttery.

Overall - An excellent crafted brew for the Strong Ale style. Highly recommend. Very satisfying beer after just 1 with its overall fullness, powerful and tasty flavors and alcohol level. Great bang for the buck as well.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 23:47:19 | More by bubseymour

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.79/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From: Piccadilly on Neil, Champaign, IL
Date: None on bottle, released in early winter 2012
Glass: Tulip

Lagunitas' Brown Shugga' is a strongly hoppy (US west coast style) ale with more caramel flavor than most DIPAs offer. While it could easily qualify as one, it instead lands in the "strong ale" catch-all, equally fine. The beer is quite drinkable, but I found it to be a somewhat generic version of the "highly hopped, high ethanol" west coast style beers I've had in the past. Thus, while tasty, I was never surprised or stricken with the particular character that defines this beer relative to others. Might I try it again when very fresh? Sure.

Pours approximately a 1cm tall head of dirty white bubbles, small in size, with average retention of one to two minutes. The head, as it falls, leaves some thick washes of lace along the innards of the glass, a variety of solid walls of sticky foam to mixed spiderweb-like patterns. The head eventually wastes away to a fine cap of foam atop the body of the beer. The body itself is a strong copper-orange color, with light bringing out brighter orange-yellow hues. The beer is somewhat hazy (perhaps 30% opaque), but carbonation is still readily visible through it, quite actively rising from the center of the glass.

Aroma of fairly substantial caramel and its attendant sweetness, though I wouldn't describe it as reminding me of brown sugar. This is joined to some tropical fruit and mild citrus, from ale yeast or hops, who knows. There's also mild pepperiness and faint ethanol lingering in the background. In general, pleasing and appetizing, if not particularly unique.

In general, this tastes pleasant if you appreciate US west coast-style, well-hopped beers (and I do), with a substantial malt backbone, but it's also not particularly different from many others in the same hop intensity and ethanol content categories. Front of palate is of heavy caramel sweetness with hints of hop or yeast-derived fruit esters and minor bitterness. Mid-palate finds the hops slightly taking the main focus, with bitterness, grapefruit, woodsy/herbal, and mild tropical fruit all being as though filtered through a screen of caramel sweetness and flavor. Back of palate notices sweet, heavy caramel notes, ethanol, and herbal/woodsy/green hop flavors with strong bitterness. Aftertaste focuses on bitterness, mild caramel sweetness, and lingering ethanol.

Beer is medium-bodied, with carbonation of medium to medium-low intensity, leading to a beer that is slightly foamy on the palate, but never quite fizzy. Ethanol is felt primarily in the nostrils after each sip, slightly burning the back of the throat as well. Closes out semi-dry, with modest residual stickiness along the palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 02:55:23 | More by falloutsnow

beergoot

Colorado

3.71/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

On-tap at Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs...

Honey-colored body with a thick head. Malt aroma mixed with pine and citrus hops. Malt sweetness blended with caramel notes; good hop bitterness throughout. The mouthfeel was medium; dry yet a bit syrupy.

I found this to be a very good beer overall. There was a nice combination of the sweet and bitter throughout my tasting experience, producing nice layers of flavoring with every sip.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2013 17:02:18 | More by beergoot

Bernardkowalski

5/5  rDev +25%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Absolutely one of my favorite beers!! honestly can go good with anything, but you are better off enjoying this beer by itself. it has so much too offer, such great combination between the yeast and malt's making this an outstanding brew. you can put this on my list of top beers.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2013 23:20:21 | More by Bernardkowalski

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours copper with a finger width of white head.

Smell - Caramalts, piney hops, brown sugar, citrus.

Taste - Brown sugar takes the lead followed by caramalts and bitter hops. Touch of citrus. Finishes with a lingering, palatable bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with lots of nice prickly carbonation. A little stickiness.

Overall - An enjoyable American Strong by Lagunitas. The brown sugar flavour is innovative and provides a unique twist. Nice balance of hoppy bitterness, sweet brown sugar and malts.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 04:35:08 | More by leaddog

Moose90

Colorado

4.06/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A – Bright translucent amber with quite a bit of red as well. Forms a 1" solid head that leaves big sticky lacing.

S – Dark candied fruits, sweet malts, hops as well, and a little sweetness from the sugar.

T – Sweet malts, floral not too citrusy hops and good fruit notes. Hops come through on the finish and stick around.

M – Moderate carbonation is at a good level and helps to balance out the big sweet malt profile. This is a huge beer, but it is not overly cloying.

O – The malts in this one are nice, they bring balanced sweetness and are not sweaty and off-putting like some other beers. Absolutely unique brew here and the ABV ties the whole package together.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 22:08:30 | More by Moose90

Sulvar

1.6/5  rDev -60%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Honestly this is one of the worst beers I have ever had. I bought a six pack two months ago, and I can't bring myself to drink anymore of it. I've tried to give this away to friends when they come over and so far 3 people have drank about half of it and dumped the rest. The brown sugar taste is way too over the top into the disgusting range.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 14:06:03 | More by Sulvar

Jhastings79

4.86/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

What can I say? To me, this is just one of those beers that I fell in love with from the first drop that hit my tongue. Right off the bat you get the hoppy sensation that wakes your taste buds and lets them know that you mean business. And there is no denying the brown sugar that they so proudly named this beer after. But don't get too caught up in getting that third and forth opinon too quickly the ABV will sneak up on you very fast.

Look both ways before you cross the street with this treat.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 10:56:29 | More by Jhastings79