Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale - Lagunitas Brewing Company

roundthewaygirls

Virginia

3.19/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

poured into a tumbler

A: copper in color. half a finger of off-white foamy head. pretty clear.

S: citrusy hops. tropical fruit. bright. smells like pure ethanol when swirled around.

T: tastes like it smells. bite from the citrus hops up front. mango. tasty and refreshing, but one dimensional.

M: light bodied. clean. crisp. mild carbonation.

O: decent but forgettable. wouldn't seek it out. i've got a bone to pick with lagunitas. it seems as if they are cranking out limited releases to use up ingredients or something. this beer reminds me of a lighter wilco tango foxtrot. the recipes don't vary enough. i usually love lagunitas, but i'm not crazy about this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 03:43:26 | More by roundthewaygirls

hardy008

Minnesota

3.51/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Dark amber, with an almost one finger white head, with decent retention and lacing. The aroma has grapefruit, pineapple, and pine.

The taste is resinous and bitter up front, with some sweet malt on the back side for a little balance. There is grapefruit, citrus zest, pine, onions, and some malt. There is no pineapple, which I could smell in the aroma, and I don't think the malt provides as much balance as it should. This is somewhat more bitter than I would like.

Medium bodied with average carbonation. There is a bit of a sticky mouthfeel, and there is a long bitter finish. The alcohol is not well disguised, which is disappointing. Not as good as other Lagunitas beers, but still pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 01:56:04 | More by hardy008

Alextricity

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at One-Eyed Betty's in Ferndale, Michigan.

I haven't had many strong ales in my life, but I've decided that they tend to be more malt-forward than hop-forward ... a lot of hops in this one, but the beer is never overly sweet or malty. This beer has a nice copper color with a good little head on it -- the smell and taste are similar in that they offer a lot of malty flavors. The taste has a very slight alcohol burn on the finish, but it doesn't come out much in the taste. Aftertaste has a somewhat copper-malt flavor... odd description, but I can't think of a better way to do it. Solid feel with medium carbonation, making for an easy-to-drink beer, regardless of the high ABV.

Lagunitas hasn't let me down, and this one keeps the streak going. Not their best beer, but a hell of a lot better than a lot of breweries' best.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2013 04:05:24 | More by Alextricity

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a very nice deep amber with tons of ruby highlights and about 2 fingers of an off-white head.

The aroma is filled with hops right off the bat; citrus, pine and grapefruit followed by some caramel and toffee malt notes and a hint of bready malt too.

Just like in the aroma the hops pack a punch right away. A decent amount of pine, some grapefruit and citrus/orange notes as well and then that leads into the sweeter malt notes of caramel and toffee. It finishes decently bitter and with some bready malt.

The body is lighter side of full and the mouthfeel is very creamy. The alcohol is dangerously hidden, with only a hint of warming as it goes down.

This is not a mindblowing beer, but it's a great example of the American Strong Ale category. Very easy to drink and has a lot of nice flavors too while being cheap for a 9.6% beer. Definitely check it out.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 01:38:18 | More by JohnnyMc

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.46/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

not to be a buzzkill, because I think lagunitas has been trending in the right direction lately, but this beer is a step backwards in my opinion. it looks like a standard copper ale, but with a jovial white head an inch or so high, with excellent retention and some spotty lacing. it smells like camp according to my girlfriend, not summer camp from your youth, but like our hunting lodge on lake champlain that was built in the 30s and smells like aged wood and relaxation. I wouldn't be that kind. to me it smells like booze, cantaloupe, and hop oil. there is plenty of caramel malt and a gentle sweetness to the flavor, the hops are generically sweet, and yes, again, its the lagunitas generic yeast (if you've read my reviews of lagunitas, you know how much I harp on their blanket use of a single strain). to me, this is a generic strong ale, arrogantly named, and lacking the complexity and balance of their better offerings. fuller bodied, but not super dense, and carbonated on the relaxed side. im really glad I didn't get more than a single. although I don't hate it, im sort of fed up with this type of beer from this brewery, its obvious they have the skill to take it further, this was a letdown.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 02:34:53 | More by StonedTrippin

UCLABrewN84

California

3.51/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy copper with a foamy khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus zest, herbal hops, and alcohol aromas. Taste is much the same with some herbal, dank hop flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but this one is super herbal and dank which makes sense with the story as to why this beer was created.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:04:47 | More by UCLABrewN84

tastymug

Ohio

4.31/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a beautiful, clear, deep amber with a nice foamy head, lots of lacing and good glass retention.

Smell: Hops, caramel, very faint floral notes.

Taste: Very pleasant and balanced hoppy bitterness. Definite caramel malty tones to this as well. I found it to be quite delicious.

Mouthfeel: Well-balanced carbonation, crispness and smooth, medium body.

Overall: This is a very drinkable beer. In fact I’m mildly drooling just writing this review and have already hoarded a couple six-packs in my basement. The amount of booze in this beer is sneaky - you can’t even tell that it it’s a high ABV until you’ve had enough sips that the telltale boozy warmth sets in. The flavor is well-balance between hops, bitterness and sweetness and my best guess is this will drink well on a warm or cold day; it strikes me as versatile. I’d also recommend this brew to any craft beer newbies out there because it’s full-flavored with a lot of balance - it’s a great example of a well-done brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 02:17:40 | More by tastymug

gillagorilla

Maryland

3.34/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

12 oz. bottle into a Flying Dog goblet (0819942231)

A: A deep, slightly hazy/cloudy bronze that is bordering on reddish, with ok lacing that only had a one inch head that diminished rapidly.

S: It is a very citrusy hop smell that smells like a great IPA. There is a bunch of sweetness in there as well. The smell is amazing on this one.

T: The hops try to assert themselves but are quickly overwhelmed by the strong malt profile that powers through it all. I can't really place the flavor but it feels all malty. Not a good aftertaste for me, all malt.

M: Quite smooth with a slight bit of carbonation.

O: I know a lot of people like this, but I am not a fan. I got it for the limited release nature and because I have enjoyed their other stuff. I won't be finishing it, but will be making beer bread with it instead, where the malts will give it a nice sweetness. There will now be more for others to have.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 02:38:08 | More by gillagorilla

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.7/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A- pours a clear dark amber color with a small white creamy head that reduces to a thin layer skimming the top, no lace

S- pine and citrus hop with some flowery sweet aromas, a bit of alcohol, otherwise pretty contained

T- sweet malt up front, pronounced pine and citrus hop flavors with some tart grapefruit notes, transitions into floral hop notes, finishes slightly tart with big boozy notes.

M- medium body, high carbonation with a foamy mouthfeel, hot and boozy finish, definitely shows the 10%

O- very hop forward and boozy, but nice floral hop notes, definitely a slow sipper

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 01:30:54 | More by Treyliff

Jwale73

Rhode Island

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

12oz. bottle served in a standard pint. Pours a translucent copper with a foamy, two inch cream-colored cap the reveals delicate, textured bands of lacing as the head slowly dissipates. Nose expresses citrus rind and tangerine esters. Taste consistent with nose; however, there's also a candied sugar presence intermixed with a pleasant herbal/earthy hoppiness. Mouthfeel is medium-light in body with a pleasant, even carbonation and a slightly oily texture. Overall, a tasty brew with a fair amount of complexity and a well-hidden abv. The more I have from Lagunitas, the more I ask myself why I haven't tried more of their offerings sooner.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 01:10:44 | More by Jwale73

rdilauro

Connecticut

4.01/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The name really intrigued me. I've been a big fan of the various Lagunitas beers that have put out over the years.
This one poured between a golden amber and semi-black beer. The first thing that hit me was the nose. It showed a lot of malt almost to the point where I was thinking barley wine style.

Then at the first sip.. There was a nice balance between the hop bitterness and the malt fullness. I enjoyed this, because so many time when I see this combination in a brew, one of the two outweighs the other and that leaves me hanging a bit.

The finish was so very smooth, smoother than many other ABV beers.

My second and third sips made me a bigger fan. I really did enjoy the complete balance this beer has.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 23:25:12 | More by rdilauro

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

The beer pours a rusty brown-red with a small eggshell white head that fades quickly into a scrim with some big soapy bubbles floating around in it. In body, the beer appears clean of particles with a slight chill haze and a darkness from the thicker malts in the beer. It leaves a lacing network of thin, slippery, and wet dots and strands along the sides of the glass. On the nose, the beer smells like a big old pine tree was shoved into a bowl of pithy grapefruits. A smooth caramel malt with touches of toffee and biscuit sits beneath the huge hops, but really this beer is all about the big old piney bouquet that nearly drips from the nose and does have a touch of dankness to it, as well as some muted tropical fruit smells that blend with the sweet malts. On the tongue, the beer tastes hugely bitter from the hops with a good creamy sweet malt underneath, a light touch of acid, and a big, sweet, shivering punch from the alcohol in this beer. In flavor, the beer begins as sweet grapefruit juice with touches of pineapple and orange, working into resinous pine with big bitter shivers that wriggle over the tongue. The flavor displays sweet toffee and caramel in light splashes throughout the taste as the bitter flavors move in waves across the tongue, but the bitters are the stars of the flavor. Alcohol also adds a slightly cloying sweetness to the tongue, though it is balanced out by the huge bitters of the beer. The finish runs hot with alcohol and piney hops, which is not the most pleasant thing, and does cut back on what had been a very pleasing explosion of flavors. The aftertaste is bitter and slightly medicinal with very faint touches of sweet biscuit and pithy grapefruit on the tongue. In the mouth, the beer feels just slightly on the heavier side of medium with a creamy and weak carbonation that only provides a slight scrub against the big sweet alcoholic flavors of the beer. The mouth is left with a lovely bitter burn and some acid-neutralizing saliva on the sides of the tongue. Overall, this is a nice hoppy American strong ale. Its alcohol is a little out of check, but that is to be expected in the beer style. This beer displays beautiful amounts of hoppiness alongside nice mellowing malts, and that is quite nice. This beer is much more of a sipper than a chugger, but is lovely for the cool nights of early spring. I do wish there was a little more carbonation and a little less alcohol in the taste, but overall this is a good beer. Try it.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 19:44:14 | More by Maxwell

BucannonXC5

California

3.81/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Stone Ruination IPA glass
From: K&B Wine Cellar’s in Allied Gardens (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $11.99 for a 6-pack
Purchased: April 19, 2013
Consumed: April 19, 2013
Misc.: N/A

Poured a dark copper amber clear color with two fingers of khaki white head. Lighter than expected sporadic lacing on the sides. Average retention on the top all the way down.

Smelled a pleasant mix of floral hops, citrus hops (grapefruit) and bitter Belgian spices.

Tasted similar to the nose but with a long lingering bitter finish. Could definitely taste the alcohol. Also got floral hops, citrus hops (grapefruit) and some caramel malts.

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average-to-lively (above average) carbonation. Long, bitter finish.

Just another solid beer from Lagunitas. Wouldn’t expect anything less.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 08:28:34 | More by BucannonXC5

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-dark amber color with a light tan head and good lacing

S-malt, citrus, pine caramel

T-citrus, pine, bready malt, caramel, toffee, nice bitter finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, creamy and smooth mouthfeel

O-a nice strong ale with a good hop presence and overall interesting flavor profile

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 01:54:35 | More by MDDMD

HappyPappy2X

Oregon

3.03/5  rDev -25%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

A: 12oz pour into Belgian goblet;
Medium carbonation;
Burnt orange color;
1 cm. head dissipates in several minutes.

S: Floral hops, malt sweetness, more floral hops. "Clean."

T: Hops bitterness up front, subtle malt sweetness catches up, back of throat sweetness fades slightly before tannic bitterness takes it home.

M: Light, considering a 9.6%abv. Carbonation seems to mask some flavor.

O: Lagunitas excels at producing high ABV, good, yet unremarkable beers at decent prices. UISDA is no exception. Balanced? Check. Clean? Sure. Memorable? Doubt it. I have a hard time judging it to style, since "American Strong Ale" is so vague a descriptor. I need to do more research to help solidify what the epitome is of this style, but whatever the outcome, I doubt Lagunitas will make the finals.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 03:19:29 | More by HappyPappy2X

YieldToNothing

New York

4.14/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a tulip
pours a beautiful copper orange with a 1/4 inch head that quickly dissipates.
i can smell citrus and a little hint of caramel
taste is citrusy, slightly piny, a subtle note of that caramel with a bitter aftertaste. pretty well balanced in my opinion.
abv is WELL hidden.
overall, nothing mindblowing, but another very good offer from lagunitas.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 22:09:27 | More by YieldToNothing

Titans77

Maryland

4.04/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a pint glass. 2013 bottle.

A - Amber verging on a brown with a finger of light khaki head that vanished rather quickly.

S - toffee, caramel, and a bit of pine on the nose. More toffee than anything else. Reminds me of an english barleywine.

T - Big toffee and caramel malt base that pops just like a barleywine. Some hop bitterness on the back end in the form of earthy pine notes. Very good taste to this one.

M - Mild carbonation with a sweet finish. Again, very reminiscent of an english barleywine. A slight warming from the 9.6% abv which really feels good this time around.

O - A very good brew that showcases what Lagunitas does well. For $10 a six pack at 9.6% abv, this beer is already a steal. It seems to be more of an english barleywine to me even with the slight presence of hops. If aged, i could see this thing being a VERY good english barleywine. Ive gotten so used to high alcohol beers being masked by flavors that now that I can feel the warming again, I kinda miss that aspect. Very good brew. Pick it up if you can find it. I am going to age a couple and drink them in 6 months and 1 year to see what happens.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 18:13:19 | More by Titans77

dreedvol

North Carolina

4.16/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a nonic glass.
A- amber to copper with a lacy head that diminishes slowly
S- hop notes of pine and floral hints. Caramel .
T-not as much hop bitterness as expected but piney and earthy with a toasty caramel flavor
F- nice crisp carbonation that finishes without lingering.

Overall a good solid ale. Surprisingly the alcohol is not overwhelming considering the abv. Nice hoppy taste without being too strong. Nicely balanced. Definite repeat as soon as possible

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 02:43:38 | More by dreedvol

ksimons

New York

4.21/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A-a clear amber with three fingers worth of creamy head that slowly disappears

S-floral and pine hops with a caramel malt backbone

T-caramel malt backbone with bitter pine hops and fruity notes and alcohol warming

M-medium body, medium carbonation, a sweet/bitter syrupy aftertaste

Overall a really nice balance of malt and bitter hops, I really like this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 22:09:14 | More by ksimons

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Three pour bartender on this one. Lots of head and what was left on my glass lasted a very long time, leaving a blanket of lace. Deep, dirty copper color and very clear.

Predominant grapefruit rind aroma. A bit of candy sugar to the nose also.

Starts off malty with lots of Crystal and mild sweetness. You cannot anticipate the hop explosion that comes with the swallow. Both pepper and alcohol warmth show up in the aftertaste. Full bodied with low carbonation.

In short, this is an unexpectedly complex beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2013 18:23:52 | More by smcolw

kawilliams81

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Half Acre tulip.

A- pours a dark copper with a 2" tan head. Big ring of lacing along with spider webbing.

S- caramel, toffee, citrus, dark fruits, light pine

T- sweet toffee, caramel, toasted malts, citrus, pine

M- medium body and carbonation. Very sneaky abv.

O- another solid beer from Lagunitas, but wouldn't expect anything less. Fairly sweet but has enough citrus and bitterness to balance it out.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 02:54:41 | More by kawilliams81

SerialHiker

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours an amber color with a touch of orange…fairly transparent, I see a few bubbles happening in the middle…a good amount of head formed with my mis-pour, but after things settle down, there seems to be a consistent, light khaki, pinky finger width layer that remains…looks good…(4/5)

Smell: Piney, citrus hops up front…it’s got a nice fresh and zestiness about it…more pine bite than citrus with earthy tones all about…I also get some peppery rye malt…there’s a bready, biscuity quality here as well…this is a well balanced brew with ample bite and piney bitterness…real nice! (4/5)

Taste: Very creamy…I get a nice mix of piney hops bite and rye/earthy malts…very earthy taste with a lively amount of piney hops bitterness…rich, creamy and very well balanced…there is hops bitterness galore, but the (presumably) rye peppery bite takes out a bit of the sting and guides it towards being flavorful…I do taste a bit of alcohol heat, which shouldn’t be surprising as it’s 9.6% ABV, though it doesn’t detract from the overall taste for me…fairly straight forward from beginning to end, this has a fantastic taste…(4.25/5)

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with light to medium carbonation…it fluffs up a bit bringing piney bitterness bite and a bit of that peppery ryeness…creamy and wet on the palate, it ends with earthy/piney bitterness and a ton of bite in the after taste…it lacks a little zing…(3.75/5)

Overall: This is a fantastic brew…unique and powerful, while bringing tons of hops flavor, bite and bitterness…I’ve been trying to drink more seasonally, picking up brews that look good when they hit the Chicago market, so as soon as I saw this, I scooped it up…Lagunitas wields a magic wand in my opinion when it comes to hoppy brews and this one doesn’t disappoint…it’s got a bit of a price tag, but it’s well worth the extra few dollars for a sixer…the bottle says, “Limited Release”, so I recommend picking some up if you see it for your next friendly get together or for chilling by the fire…which is where I’ll be in about 5 minutes…Cheers! (4.25/5)

Brewreport.blogspot.com

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 01:39:51 | More by SerialHiker

magictacosinus

California

3.69/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip glass from a 12oz bottle. Looking forward to this one, especially considering the back story.

Pours a dark reddish-amber color that looks pretty heavy and hazed overall with tons of carbonation and a 3-4 finger of head. It reveals itself as a dark amber color when cast into the light, so this isn't nearly as thickened as other beers of this style. The head settles down to about a half-finger of foam, but never gives up throughout. Thick, highly agglomerated bubbles give the impression of being suspended under the head as they rise up to the top. Lacing is fantastic overall. It definitely has its shortcomings, but is still a properly rough looking beer.

The aroma consists of a combination of dried hop pellet bitterness combined with massive bready, toasted characteristics. The dried hops are ridiculous here, almost resembling a freshly boiled wort soon after the hops have been added. Blood oranges, alcohol-soaked pine needles, earthiness, and dried zest permeate throughout, to the point of canceling out the rest of the ingredients. The alcohol is stupidly hidden here, although it does accentuate the hoppy characteristics of the beer. It's pretty intimidating to whiff on for too long, however - the malts add an undeniable extra bitterness that makes this pretty oppressive.

Luckily, the flavor - while undeniably strong - is far more mellow than the aroma in bringing out all of the ingredients in a more adequate way. At the front there's a brief bitterness confronted with huge caramel malts and syrupy sweetness that quickly becomes acidic and boozy. The finish is less bitter than expected, and with the extra alcohol, the whole thing tastes like candied orange peel, filled with big elements of pine as in the aroma. Currants, pepper, and toffee reveal themselves as this warms up. The hops get covered up by the malt syrupiness, and the alcohol progressively warms up the throat with each sip. Other than the boozy sensations, the aftertaste is not too bitter, at least to *my* taste buds - which actually makes this a degree closer to a barleywine than an American Strong Ale. While I enjoy the syrupy aspects of the beer, the beer feels a bit watery, despite being well balanced in terms of carbonation. This, in turn, does give this beer the sensation of being less heavy, but I'm not sure how any sane person would want to use this beer to "refresh" themselves!

I believe this is the first ale I've had in this style from Lagunitas, and I'm glad it ends up being drinkable and flavorful, despite any shortcomings or exaggerated aspects it may have. The sweetness is actually pretty pleasant in midst of the ridiculous alcohol and hop profile this contains, and makes this a good enough candidate to revisit in the future. This should age pretty well, too. This thing will get you pretty wasted though, so drink respectfully!

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 03:46:26 | More by magictacosinus

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.96/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Crystal clear copper honey hue with visible effervescence slowly ascending towards a fluffy two finger off-white head. Exactly what I expect from the style and the clarity makes it very appealing.

Aroma: Sugary barley and an interesting blend of hop aromas that come together to form a sort of green tea or iced tea fragrance with a hint of lemon.

Taste: There is a lot going on here, some parts good and some not as good. It starts with a nice clean bitterness paired with amber malt flavor. The second half has the hop character developing giving the palate a lot of sweet herbal and some pine notes. The hops are slightly sticky making them the definite star of the show but their flavor can become monotonous because of how sweet they are. The malt is there to balance but doesn't really succeed because it does not have any strong flavor characteristics. The 9.7ish% ABV is completely hidden which makes this seem like a lighter brew. The bitterness reaches a high point in the finish which is smooth and slightly dry. Nice aftertaste of pine and some bitterness but lacking the afterburn of an imperial beer (which can be taken as a positive or negative depending on the drinker's preference).

Mouthfeel: As some others have mentioned, the body is a tad thin for the style. It is just below medium in body. Somewhat aggressive carbonation but not overdone. Easy drinking besides the somewhat cloying hop flavors.

Final Thoughts: I'm torn between a 4 and a 4.25 for the grade. In this type of situation I always opt for the lower number. Make no mistake, this is a good and enjoyable beer from one of my new favorite breweries, Lagunitus, that treads the style line between American Strong Ale and Double IPA. At $9.99 for a six-pack it is a fantastic deal that should not be passed up by any hop head. I was hoping to add three or four of these to my cellar but I expect they are best enjoyed fresh. Would I drink it again? Certainly.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 01:23:57 | More by JamesMN

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.11/5  rDev -23%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Appearance: Perfectly clear burnished copper. Head is white and creamy to start. Drops to a super thin cap and collar. Sheets and notches of lacing in abundance. Moderate carbonation on the pour.

Smell: Big malts. Cooked malts. Sugar in spades, running from light caramel up through a touch of toffee with some backing raw sugar sweetness. A solid punch of citrus with some floral elements. A bit of aspirin bitterness on the back. Very fruity and sweet. Some bready elements. Some pine. Big and sweet.

Taste: Sweet, but not cloying. Cooked malt sugars. Some caramel and a touch of toffee onthe finish. Hops push some straight bitterness with some pine needle, floral elements, and a good hit of orange. A backing fruitiness that pulls over the citrus element. Big and malty with a solid bitterness, but not particularly balanced. Alcohol on the finish, especially as it warms.

Mouthfeel: A bit oily and smooth. Body ends up a bit thin overall, coming in at a solid medium. Light to moderate carbonation. Wet and juicy.

Overall: It's like hiding in the pushes with a strobe light.

It's a Lagunitas beer. Decent, but not necessarily earth-shattering or stellar. Sweet and incredibly drinkable for the style. A bit thin and boozy in the long run, but it's worth checking out at least once.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 20:54:27 | More by Goblinmunkey7