Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale - Lagunitas Brewing Company

CaptainPancakes

California

4/5  rDev -1%

01-08-2013 20:00:23 | More by CaptainPancakes

bnes09

Illinois

4.51/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful red color that turns a transparent orange-amber when head to light. A few visible bubbles cascading along the glass. One finger head on the pour. Descent retention for the strength and a few lace spots.

Complex aroma. Tropical and citrus fruits, pine needles, rye bread, malty. Buttered toast with cherry spread. Excellent balance in the nose.

Rich, hoppy, complex and dynamic palate. Floral, herbal, pine-like hop bitterness right up front. Balanced with spicy rye and smooth wheat malt. Chewy biscuit character. Toasty. Just enough malt character to balance but not enough to make the beer sweet or syrupy. Hop bitterness lingers through the finish.

Bordering on full bodied with an oily texture that turns dry middle to end. Lively carbonation especially for the strength.

Now this is good! A highly complex and yet perfectly balanced American barley wine. I wish I had another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 06:33:12 | More by bnes09

xacidx

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-19-2013 03:21:55 | More by xacidx

stanowsf

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-19-2013 02:37:24 | More by stanowsf

Boone757

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-19-2013 00:33:07 | More by Boone757

alanv

California

4/5  rDev -1%

05-18-2013 21:41:57 | More by alanv

tourdot

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-18-2013 18:49:20 | More by tourdot

jono0101

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-18-2013 16:25:54 | More by jono0101

Jakob

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-18-2013 16:18:30 | More by Jakob

rainfairy

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-18-2013 13:49:29 | More by rainfairy

fitz284

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -1%

05-18-2013 13:39:16 | More by fitz284

lordofstarside

Nevada

3.79/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Brewed 4/3, 12oz to a snifter

Pours a dark bronze with a half finger of foam. Moderate carbonation stemming from the middle of the glass, good lacing, alright retnetion

Smells of spicy hops, vanilla, smoked oak, molasses, brown sugar, alcohol, and some toasted malt. There's some complexity but doesn't come together the best, the smokey wood comes through a little strong

Taste is more or less with the nose, spicy hops and toasted malts, dark sugar, a kick of alcohol, some figs, and a touch of citrus. Again, this could come together a lot better

Feel is crisp with a medium plus feel. Nice kick and a dry finish, alcohol has a nice warming feel without distracting too much from the beer

Overall this stuff is drinkable, but I don't think I'll pick up another sixer anytime soon

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 07:24:11 | More by lordofstarside

Sorcerer

United Kingdom (England)

4.68/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Alrighty then, perhaps an ambusch, yet none the less, a wee bit o' judgement here lads, and gals...

Yay, I have have tasted this afore, and I expect no disappointment:

Undercover in appearance is true.

But the smell is way above average.

What do you expect, it's printed in the side and it s not cheap!

The name says it all really.

Smells like moonlit bliss on a desert isle with a fair maiden and fermented coconut juice.

Taste is mild fantasy. Mildew, piney resin, willow bark, dirty cott'n socks, stalled lawnmover with leaking petrol, pretty girls on a hot day.

Mouthfeel is full of high calorie, diabetic nightmares.

In the end, a six pack is enough to get one person there, but not irreversibly too far.

Lagunitas...

It's a big beer. I can only drink five or six today; more accurately: tonight.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 06:21:01 | More by Sorcerer

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

So this thing was available in 6-packs. Alrighty... I'll bit.

Enjoying bedside (On my table next to me after a long, yet reasonably pleasant day of Spring cleaning). Served in a DC Brau tulip.

A: About as amber as a beer can get with only the slightest semblance of a white head... nice frothy one, I guess.

S: Hop profile in spades, along with a Jolly Rancher-esque disposition overall. Melted cherry, to my mind.

T: Much like Stone's "Double Bastard," only quite a bit cheaper and a bit better. Hop and malt duet for sure, along with lots of IPA-esque greatness.

M: Carbonation was fine, no lacing left on the glass, and the sugar content was fine.

O: I felt like I was drinking Stone Double Bastard the whole time, but this one is a bit different, and infinitely cheaper.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 04:43:33 | More by Chaney

stortore

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-18-2013 04:21:40 | More by stortore

drewone

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-18-2013 02:25:46 | More by drewone

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Slightly more than two fingers worth of active billowing khaki colored pillow like fluffy frothy goodness... Excellent retention... You're left with a mostly full layer of frothy lacing and a thick collar... The color is a distinctive deep rich dark bronze copper with a bit of a ruby red hue to it... Limited carbonation that randomly rises at a sluggish to moderate pace... Gobs of lacing cling to the snifter...

S - Fresh grapefruit at the forefront... Lots of orange zest... Sweet citrus... While the hoppiness is the star of the aroma, the malty base isn't too far behind... A terrific mix of inviting caramel and toffee... A bit of sweet desert breads... Some light brown sugar lingers beneath the surface... Wonderful depth and complexity...

T - The hops are again at the forefront... They're a bit less citrusy and a bit more earthy than expected... A slight yet pleasant herbal presence... Some biscuit and bready malts... A very mellow caramel and brown sugar component as well...

M - On the fuller side of medium bodied... Limited but biting carbonation... Sleek and a bit chewy... Even and consistent...

D - A terrific American Strong Ale... More hops than malt, but still quite tasty... Another rock solid offering from Lagunitas... Packs a bit of a punch with its 9.7%... Layers of depth and complexity in every facet... Highly recommend and a definite bargain at its fairly low price...

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:04:10 | More by philbe311

crobinso

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-18-2013 01:01:53 | More by crobinso

capnamerica

Arkansas

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-18-2013 00:35:59 | More by capnamerica

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-17-2013 17:44:55 | More by kjyost

BigStein88

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-17-2013 02:35:33 | More by BigStein88

-ronin-

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-17-2013 02:06:37 | More by -ronin-

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%

05-17-2013 00:53:55 | More by Sparky44

MarkQ617

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Big strong beer! Had out of the bottle into a pint glad. Lots of booze. Decent color with a soft, flat head. Good looking American Ale, copper color. Big aroma of hops and sugary fruit. You can, as other have noted, taste the alcohol. The mouthfeel has a good deal of carbonation and a bit of spice.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 23:00:01 | More by MarkQ617

Slay40

Michigan

4/5  rDev -1%

05-16-2013 22:35:16 | More by Slay40