Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale
Lagunitas Brewing Company

Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red AleLucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale
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From:
Lagunitas Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Imperial Red Ale
Ranked #8
ABV:
8.8%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,046
Avg:
4.1 | pDev: 9.51%
Reviews:
1,009
Ratings:
2,837
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 14, 2023
Added:
Feb 24, 2007
Wants:
  219
Gots:
  469
Our 13th Anniversary Beer in was a Staff Favorite, So We Make it Each Year. BIG on the Amarillo Hops and Rich Dark Malts for a Round and Huge, Smoky Flavor.
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Ratings by AltBock:
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Reviewed by AltBock from Ohio

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
22 oz. bomber bottle with the best Lagunitas label I've seen yet. They put some effort into this label. It starts off with a little rectangle with the word "exayeayeaye" in it. I think I might know what they're trying to say there. Below that in medium sized red letters is "Lagunitas." After that is the main picture of a big gold horse shoe that has a beautiful tanned black haired woman in it. This woman looks very similar to the famous pin up girl from the 1950s, Bettie Page. She's giving a very sultry look while holding a pint glass full of a brown colored beer. I sure hope the beer itself isn't going to look like that. Toward the bottom and behind the horse shoe and the Bettie Page look a like is what appears to be a mountain range with a big red explosion behind it. At the bottom of the horse shoe is the number 13 in red, the word "Lucky" in front of the number, and "Anniversary Release" all in red cursive letters. To the left and right of the words "Anniversary Release" is where they state the O.G. of 1.085, 76.92 IBU, and it's Alcohol 8.3% ABV. On the outer black rims of the label is where they keep the Government warning and a nice hefty paragraph telling you about the beer. No date anywhere on the label or bottle. Upon further inspection, I found out that on the right side of the horse shoe is the name of the artist of John Wishman who drew this wonderful label. Just a great label!

Appearance: Served in a Brooklyn Brewery/Winking Lizard Imperial Pint glass. Lucky 13 looked nothing like the beer the Bettie Page look a like was holding on the label. In real life, the beer is actually a dark amber with cranberry red highlights. It had a quarter of an inch of this white meets tan colored head of foam that that quickly dissipated into some white/tan colored bubbles along the edge of the beer and a small trace of white/tan colored bubbly lace around the glass. Lagunitas came close to what they said this beer was, a Mondo Large Red Ale.

Smell: When I popped the cap, I could really smell the pine that was in this. When it settled into the glass it had a mild aroma of just a slice of fresh grapefruit, a recently picked pine tree pine cone, a few citrus hops, and some toasted malts and sweet caramel toward the bottom of the beer. The malts and caramel only came out when the glass was about half full. Other times it was just the grapefruit, pine cone, and the citrus hops. Basically, each aroma flavor took their turn on when to come out.

Taste: This beer isn't going to give you any BS! It started right off the bat with a strong grapefruit/pine hop bomb. They couldn't wait to detonate the hop bomb in your mouth. They wanted to do it right away for some reason. After the explosion, the taste then went into some toasted biscuit malts, a touch of caramel, a pine cone, a few citrus fruits, and then finished with a slight drop of alcohol. I sort of liked the hop bomb in the beginning instead of it being at the end of the taste. Like I said before, it didn't want to give you any BS by leading you into the hop bomb, it just blew up right there in the beginning.

Mouthfeel: I would have to say that it's more medium bodied than full bodied, low carbonation, and with a not too strong aftertaste of that grapefruit/pine hop bomb that was in the taste. The hops were on the stubborn side by not leaving your mouth on it's on accord. I think it masks it's 8.3% ABV. I couldn't taste or feel much of the alcohol. I'm sure if you drank 2 of these in a sitting, you would be having an unlucky day.

Drinkability: I've had a few Lagunitas brews before, but I believe this is my favorite one so far. I didn't have a problem drinking a whole bomber bottle by myself and neither will you. Would I drink another one in the future? I sure would! If the label doesn't entices you to buy a bottle, then maybe it's hop content will. Well done Lagunitas on the beer and for choosing to put that sweet ass label on it.
Apr 14, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by seakayak from Massachusetts

Nov 14, 2023
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Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
a classic from these guys, and its one of those beers that in isolation is quite awesome, but when taken in the context of a lot of other lagunitas beers, its really samey. to me this doesnt really go way away from things like undercover, imperial red, censored, and even brown sugar, dare i say it. its another reddish, toasted, not too sweet, slightly over hopped, lagunitas house yeast fermented, stronger amber, to me vastly better on its own than when considered with these others. brick red, a pretty deep shade, just off from fully clear but still well refined looking under its two inches of frothing khaki head, web lacing as it drinks and visible bubbles. the nose and taste of this show some kilned and toasted grain character, uniquely not that caramelized for a red beer like this, especially a strong one, and it seems way less sweet than i remember the blonde edition being, although its been years. there is a slightly floral, slightly citrusy hop complexion here too, bold as always from lagunitas, and just a little yeast thing, now familiar, some alcohol pushing through, smells even stronger than it really is at temperature, robust but balanced more or less, again some of the grain character that a lot of the others have, tons of crystal malt flying around this place. the flavor is similar, the hops arent super interesting, northwestern and high alpha and allowed to be relatively bitter in this, this will maybe appeal more to ipa people than red ale people, although its not crazy aggressive or anything. i like the yeast aspect, and as often as i lament it in their beers, i should also celebrate it, because this would be a little disjointed and generic without it. a bran muffin baked aspect, subtle almond, toffee too. sturdy enough for winter in terms of alcohol, but light enough in body for spring too, yet the flavors kind of hit like autumn, a three season strong ale then. good, even very good, but not incredible.
Jan 18, 2023
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Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.16/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Scrappy notes from 2013. Large bottle into a pint glass.
76.9 IBU. This beer is sweet then bitter with caramel notes. There are more malt flavors than the IBU leads on and it has an oily resinous finish. It is excellent!
Nov 21, 2021
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Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota

3.12/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
bomber bottle of this'n - review from notes:

This is a big beautiful red ale with a nice cap of foam. Smells kinda medicinal, and tastes very bitter and medicinal as well. A touch of danks and tropical fruit, but not enough to balance the booze malt and off-putting medicinal flavor
Jul 31, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by NickMunford from Wyoming

Jul 18, 2021
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Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.12/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
$5 for a bomber of an imperial red ale? How could I say no to that? I can only imagine thatcthis will be aggressively hoppy given the fact that it’s Lagunitas, whereas I prefer my reds with a bit more of a malt presence. Regardless, I’m happy to give this one a shot even if the hops are aggressive

Pours a hazy copper/orange with a finger of light tan head that fades to a thin cap and leaves decent lacing

Based on the nose alone, this is most certainly a heavy hitter, bringing tons of earthy spice. I’m picking up on aromas of earthy hops, pithy pink grapefruit, white pepper, toasted rye, and caramel

This is definitely hopped extensively, but the balance it finds in taste is quite good. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting smoky malt, burnt toffee, brown bread, resinous pine, and tangerine. The swallow brings notes of pithy grapefruit, toasted malt, pepper, light wheat, and a long finish of earthy hops

A medium full body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in beer that is simultaneously smooth and sharp. Finishes mostly dry with a huge earthy bitterness

This is some good stuff right here, definitely worth the cheap price for how much you get
May 21, 2021
Photo of bushbeer75
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan

3.99/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
poured from a 12oz can - not dated

Laguntias Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale poured into my tulip glass a clear amber hue. Atop sat a 1-finger off-white head. Light lacing was left behind. The nose was of citrus and dominated by grapefruit with light caramel malt detected in the background. The taste of caramel and roasted malt hits the mouth first then citrus hop flavor follows. The finish is hoppy/bitter. Mouth feel is crisp with a high-medium body and medium carbonation.

Lucky 13 Mondo is a flavorful Red Ale.
Feb 01, 2021
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

3.99/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Copper appearance with a small, off white head and modest lacing. Aroma bounces from sweet malt to spruce. Taste is more piney hops that play well off the caramel malt backbone. Medium bodied, nicely carbonated mouthfeel; long lasting finish.
Dec 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by 88caprice from Virginia

Sep 19, 2020
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Reviewed by OK_Denise from Oklahoma

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Wowser...this is a really good Red Ale! It pours a dark amber and the initial taste is a bit stout but it smooths out as you drink it. I would have nooooo problem buying this again. Tasty!!
Aug 30, 2020
Photo of Chickenhawk9932
Reviewed by Chickenhawk9932 from Pennsylvania

4.07/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a deep reddish amber with an cream colored head that leaves lace for days.

Smells of resinous pine, whole grain bread malt and floral hops.

Resinous pine with a sweet whole grain bread malt and a floral earthy dry hop finish.
Aug 20, 2020
 
Rated: 4.25 by Velivolus1 from Vermont

Aug 02, 2020
 
Rated: 3.88 by funku2 from Colorado

Jul 26, 2020
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

4.06/5  rDev -1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: It pours copper with an off white head. Head retention is very good.

Smell: It has aromas of pine with caramel and low tropical fruits. There is some alcohol that is noticeable in the nose.

Flavor: It has strong caramel flavors with pine and some cherry. It also has a wood like quality with low tropical fruits.

Feel: It has a medium full body with smooth alcohol warming.

Overall, the balance is malt forward, but not as much in the aroma.
Jul 24, 2020
Photo of thesherrybomber
Reviewed by thesherrybomber from California

3.46/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
After "aging" in a closet for six months, poured into a chalice glass after letting it sit for 15-20 minutes.

It has two fingers off-white head, clear ruby body, On the nose, caramel, citrus, cocoa? honey, earthiness

Taste is slightly bitter, lots of fruit, some resinous qualities. Medium bodied

Alcohol is more apparent on the back end. Slight tobacco on the finish

Its definitely more enjoyable than when fresh
Jul 18, 2020
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Rated by chrisfy from Delaware

5/5  rDev +22%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Amazing with a sweet finish.
Jul 17, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Zekenyce from New Jersey

Jun 21, 2020
 
Rated: 4.06 by Sellen from Connecticut

Jun 13, 2020
 
Rated: 5 by Euphoria69 from Missouri

Jun 13, 2020
Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 2837 ratings