The Hairy Eyeball
Lagunitas Brewing Company

The Hairy EyeballThe Hairy Eyeball
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From:
Lagunitas Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
Ranked #120
ABV:
9.1%
Score:
86
Ranked #18,329
Avg:
3.84 | pDev: 11.2%
Reviews:
986
Ratings:
2,792
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 25, 2023
Added:
Jan 12, 2002
Wants:
  85
Gots:
  506
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by blackcompg:
Photo of blackcompg
Reviewed by blackcompg from Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Appearance - Poured a quick 3 fingers of light mocha colored foam, body is a transparent and brilliant deep copper amber, nice gently carb rises consistently in the body, lacing is unbelievable, leaving thick rings after each quaff.

Smell - Dark fruits of fig and plum, candied cherry, peach marmalade, rich dark toffee, and freshly baked fruit/rum cake.

Taste - Starts with rich dark fruits of cooked rope plums and figs coated in brown sugar, candied cherries soaked in alcohol join with a flavor very much like amaretto. There is a rich slightly roasted malt and warm dark toffee backbone supporting all of this. Then near the end of the quaff the sweetness falls off just enough to allow some faint herbal hop notes and caramel coated citrus piths to develop, along with some candy coated peach pit.

Mouthfeel - There is a nice weight here, and this winter ale is on the heavier side of medium and almost mouth coating, but is kept in check with some light carb and the perfect amount of warming alcohol. The carb is creamy smooth and struggles to leave a few edges along the sides of the tongue. Perfect for a strong winter ale on a winter night.

Overall - This is what I think of for a winter ale - the flavors are perfect, bold, complex and balanced. Such an excellent and potent example of the style. I highly recommend that you get a few bottles of this and share with family and friends during the holidays. Perfection. Two thumbs way up, thank you Lagunitas.
Dec 15, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of tekstr1der
Reviewed by tekstr1der from New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I was on quite a kick of this strong ale style at the time, and always a fan of Lags brews. This was no exception. I believe it's the best I've had to date, though the hopping level combined with the malt character is not really what I'm after these days.
Mar 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Dutchcraftbeergeek from Netherlands

Feb 17, 2022
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Medium dark brown color, has a thin soapy head, light carbonation, light lacing. Aroma is dark, sweet caramelized malts, vinous hops, and a complex floral fruity note. The taste is similar but with some char and a hop twang, dark fruits, brown sugar, dark toffee. Sweetness lingers. Taste is strong and there is a trace of alcohol when warm. The feel is medium-heavy and is sticky with a medium-long finish that lingers. Overall I really like this beer and wish the brewery would distribute it heavily again esp in winter and spring.
Oct 11, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
650 ml bottle, bought in the brewery store, consumed in Sacramento. Reddish brown colour. Nutty and moderately roasty malts in aroma and flavour, followed by piney American hops, seems somewhat unbalanced. The alcohol is not very well hidden. Not my favourite from Lagunitas this one.
Apr 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4.09 by Sellen from Connecticut

Jun 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.22 by Cfitty from New York

May 24, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 16, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by thesherrybomber from California

Apr 10, 2020
 
Rated: 3.77 by peachy-tay from California

Apr 08, 2020
 
Rated: 4.43 by chiefz1 from New York

Mar 28, 2020
Photo of Mister_Faucher
Reviewed by Mister_Faucher from Washington

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22oz bottled poured in to a nonic glass.

Look- Clear dark mahogany/cola color, nice light khaki head that recedes fairly quickly to a thin cap, a light amount of lacing. Light carbonation streaming as it sits.

Smell- Caramel/toffee type malt, brown sugar, dates and raisins, cocoa, light coffee and nuttiness, light spice notes.

Taste- Follows the nose well, fairly sweet with a bit of a light cherry cola type finish.

Feel- Medium/light bodied, smooth with a lightly bitter finish, nicely balanced. Moderate carbonation on the tongue.

O- Good but not one of Lag's better offerings. Pretty inexpensive but I doubt I'll be going back to this one.
Mar 18, 2020
 
Rated: 3.83 by BeerMe8 from Florida

Feb 13, 2020
Photo of Ohknows
Rated by Ohknows from Nevada

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This beer is awesome.
Feb 08, 2020
 
Rated: 3.96 by craigbelly from Iowa

Feb 06, 2020
Photo of maxpower
Reviewed by maxpower from Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Fresh 22 oz bottle pours clear dark brown color. Creamy off white head with some large bubbles that quickly dissipates. Not much lacing. Aromas of raisins and coca, Perfect meld of sugar and dark fruit flavor. At $3.99 a 22 oz. bottle is amazing!
Feb 03, 2020
Photo of Livyatan1996
Reviewed by Livyatan1996 from Missouri

4.07/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
does the fact that it was only a few bucks play into this rating? hopefully not. poured into a tulip a deep slightly amber, mostly brown color with a big foamy off white head. some bits of lacing left behind, stream of bubbles constantly flying from down below. nose is a whole lot of roasted, nearly burnt malts and sugars. caramel/toffee is the star here, with some dried fruit, char and a touch of booze also seeping out of the glass. flavor wise it's a lot smoother than i was expecting, with brown sugar and biscuit/toast mixing with caramel/toffee. there's a good chunk of sweetness but i'm not against that with something like this. various dried darker fruits, the slightest hint of bitterness and an ever increasing warmth fill in the profile. does remind me of a belgian/german malt bomb without the hop/yeast balance. smooth drinking overall, not particularly full bodied and plenty fizzy. i'll probably grab a few more while they're around, good stuff.
Jan 17, 2020
 
Rated: 3.39 by CraigDeMoss from Kansas

Jan 16, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by dt_gbpackersfan from Missouri

Jan 15, 2020
Photo of sjrider
Reviewed by sjrider from California

3.97/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle - clear very dark amber / brown with quickly dissipating off white head leaving bubbly lacing. Nose is mild dark earthy malt with a hint of sweetness. Taste follows more or less. Finishes a bit thin.
Jan 01, 2020
The Hairy Eyeball from Lagunitas Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 2792 ratings