A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale - Lagunitas Brewing Company

JayQue

Virginia

4.41/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Really outstanding beer, more so because it is classified in a style that usually includes some pretty wimpy beers. This one would hold its own as an IPA or APA as well. Nice amber color. Head and lacing are a bit light. Good floral hoppy smell, prepares you for the great, pronounced taste.

Strong floral and citrus hop flavor with some balancing bready maltiness. Strong flavors, very pleasant...could drink this until the alcohol caught up with me. Mouthfeel is crisp and rich, just right for a hoppy beer.

This is a great beer, I'm surprised I never sought it out before...I will now!!!! This is a new favorite.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 00:14:52 | More by JayQue

GossageBrewery

Missouri

4.63/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured this American Pale Wheat Ale from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. This ale poured a clear pale color, produced a thick white head, left an OUTSTANDING amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma consisted of fresh baked bread and mega amounts of floral hops. Medium bodied this wheat ale had a foundation of soft malted wheat, that gives way to a citric hops. By far the best American Pale Wheat Ale I have sampled. Nothing ordinary about this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 23:30:59 | More by GossageBrewery

ronflyersfan99

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

really good beer went well with my kobe burger! I suggest drinking it with a frosted mug,and be careful drinking it .it sneaks up on you.i love it i love it ilove it! nice bottle bartender suggested it!also women like it its a good little conversatin piece!

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 21:50:07 | More by ronflyersfan99

hopfen

California

4.75/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Couldnt beleive I saw sixers of this down the street at the Marina Market/liquor when stopping in for some milk last night. $8.99 later I was on my way home with my first offereing from this brewery [I know, Im a late bloomer :) ]

A- Poured into a long stem tulip and noticed the golden sunset amber colors had a slight haze to them assuming due to the wheat malt used. (I didnt know this was a wheat ale when I bought it until going on Lagunitas site before I popped the bottle).

S- OMGosh, incredible! Such a rich deep citrus walloping scent my nose was doing somersaults. Slightly spicy with pine and some floral elements but what hits you is the citrus orchard. Mouthwatering smell, the best Ive smelt yet. I could just whiff it all day without taking a sip, its that good to the nose.

T- Following the footsteps of the aroma, the taste is magnificent. Simply complex with a rich fruity citrus explosion followed by an unexpected hop bomb. What a great balanced combo! The taste lingers on just long enough to make your mouth say one thing, MORE!

M- Wheat beers usually have a thick mouthfeel to them but this one breaks the rules, crisp and clean with the perfect amount of carbonation.

O- What a great tasting, smelling and overall drinking experience. The flavors hide the high ABV very nicely. Very sessionable, three bottles later I was feeling as good as it gets. This is a great brew but is more of an IPA than a wheat ale. Remarkable first impressions from this brewery. I sure do love living in Southern California and seeing sixers of this within walking distance of my house. Does it get any better? Not by much Im thinking, not by much. I would rate this a WC offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 16:45:05 | More by hopfen

blakelive784

Colorado

3.49/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz brown glass bottle served in a pint glass, reviewed live:

A - Pours a translucent pale orange/golden color with fizzy carbonation and a frothy two finger head. The retention's great, and there's tight, sticky lacing. A little generic.

S - Bright, fresh grapefruit dominates. Faint lemon zest and grassy hops. Restrained pine. I don't notice any wheat, but the pale malts lend a noticeable sweetness. Seemingly well balanced. Mild to moderate in strength.

T - Pungent cascade and centennial hopping. Spicy grapefruit zest and light perfumy floral notes open, countered by sweet caramel and pale malts. A bit grassy and alcoholic on the finish. The alcohol's definitely noticeable, but it's unobtrusive. Very well balanced. Tasty stuff.

M - Well carbonated. A little heavier then I'd like. Medium bodied.

D - You'd be hard pressed to find many beers in the style that are comparable (I can think of one). Incredibly easy drinking and well priced. A bit simple, but incredibly refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 23:24:07 | More by blakelive784

MShirokov

Illinois

2.94/5  rDev -30.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

I was really looking forward to trying this beer, since people say it's a lot like Gumballhead, and some say it's better. It smells amazing, but as far as taste goes, I wouldn't have it again: the bitterness of the hops is overbearing and there doesn't seem much else to the flavor. There is no subtle complexity that Gumballhead has. This beer tastes like an IPA, and I'm not an IPA fan. Wish it had less bitterness and more of a complex wheat flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 18:14:05 | More by MShirokov

ubenumber2

Arkansas

4.06/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured out of bottle into pint glass , very light colored , lots of carb , great head with nice lacing

Smell is very hoppy , leaning towards earthy and grassy to me and very nice to smell

Nice refreshing drink on this beer , goes down smooth just enough carbonation to give it a little bite

The taste is more than what I expect from a wheat beer , the hops really come forward and die off towards the end leaving a complex flavor of barley and wheat

Overall I'm not a fan of wheat beer , this has been my favorite so far. I could really get behind a 6 pack of this while mowing the lawn on a hot summer day , I will test this theory in a couple months

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 01:49:28 | More by ubenumber2

ehammond1

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2013)

Liquor Stop
San Marcos, CA

A truly beautiful beer. Perfectly clear orange and light amber and copper, with a whipped-cream, very tight and small-bubbled near-white head that lasts and lasts. Leaves messy, irregular spiderwebs of lace down the glass. Gorgeous. Perfect.

A blast of citrus in the aroma (orange and pineapple), along with a touch of bread and sweetness, and clean caramel. Complete.

Moderate bitterness, lots of citrus, and a bit of bread make this an incredibly easy-drinking, delicious wheat ale...though given it blind, I'd say it's a damn fine IPA.

Medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation. Slightly sticky, but very drinkable.

Fantastic. This is the type of daily drinker I love. I would love a keg of this on at home. For the style, this is an amazing beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 03:11:03 | More by ehammond1

BBQSteve

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Pours amber orange with a few dancing bubbles in the light. Head is white and thin.

Smell is superb with that hits you in the face Lagunitas aroma.

Taste is crisp and citrusy sour piney but not over the top.

Heavy taste on the back of the palate is welcomed. Disappears quickly and leaves you wanting to repeat..

Crisp and bright on the palate.

Overall a personal favorite and new to me this week.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 01:46:11 | More by BBQSteve

Jacobob10

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a hazy, amber-orange with a long lasting head. Some sparse lacing on the glass. Heavy hop aroma with lots of grass and lemon and light bready malts in the background. Medium bodied and very refreshing despite its thick texture and bitter finish. This is a damn good beer and I would be happy drinking it anytime of year. I also found the blurb on the bottom of the box very entertaining... well worth the read.

"You ever notice how everything has to be today's version of yesterday's whatever. Well, whatever. Sometimes we wonder what the world would be like if everything was perceived for what it is, and not what it reminds you of. The sun would rise everyday as if for the first time, you'd work as if newly born, you'd see your lover next to you anew, the air would smell like flowers, work would be like the first day back in school, a beer would make your eyes roll back in your head in ecstasy - well, maybe not - but you get the idea. Cheers!"

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 01:00:18 | More by Jacobob10

bambam2517

Arizona

4.53/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a 12oz. bottle to a pint glass, served at 40F.

I'm relatively new to Lagunitas, this is the third brew I've sampled from them. It made me feel like their growing reputation is deserved. Their IPA is alright and I thought the Brown Shugga Sub was a bit overrated, but this one is really great.

A - Dark golden body and it blows up into a billowy soft white head that lasted most of the way through my pint.

S - Really fresh Cascade hops. Best representative of them I can think of.

T - Esters of peach and apricot are emulated by the hop profile, slightly sweet up front and backed up by some nice bitter hop level at the end.

M - Tastes fresh and light, the finish has a bit of bitter as it should I think and the clean finish leaves you wanting more.

O - I think I'm going to have a new go to beer this season when the weather gets hot. We happy...

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 05:15:37 | More by bambam2517

BigJon

Florida

4.98/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

I can't say enough about this beer. This is my go to brew. When poured it has a beautiful golden appearance. It smells very hoppy with a fruitiness tone, I get the cascade hops instantly. Every bottle I have tried has the same crisp, full , fresh taste! Like I said , If I am having trouble deciding, I always grab a 6 of this.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 21:44:11 | More by BigJon

wogreen

Arkansas

4.39/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A - clear golden color

S - very potent hoppy aroma with an almost odd sweet smell to it

T - hoppiness is the dominant characteristic. i can barely taste the wheat flavor, however its a good blend that allows for a sweet wheaty finish

M - feels full bodied yet not as full as many pales.

O - a clean pale with just a hint of sweetness that balances nicely.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 23:59:34 | More by wogreen

godlessape

Georgia

4.63/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured this into a snifter in order to best capture all the aromatic qualities.
The body is a clear golden amber, with a creamy white pillow of a head that soon sinks but never leaves.
A potent caramel freight train makes it's way up your nasal passages, lugging along a hefty amount of tangerines, orange creamsicles, apricots, black pepper, and rock candy, then slams into your frontal lobe in a fiery crash. This should make the news.
That same train enters the palate and explodes into a three ring circus of spicy, piney, sweet, and citrusy indulgence.
The mouthfeel is light and easy. This brew massages the throat all the way down and the high ABV of 7.50% leaves you with a rather happy ending.
Overall, I couldn't be anymore impressed.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 03:47:03 | More by godlessape

zeledonia

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Tasted 7 March 2013, reviewed from notes.

Pours clear golden orange. Nice column of bubbles rising up. One and a half fingers of pure white head, dense and foamy. Great retention, leaving truly lace-like lacing on the inside of the glass.

Smell is an interesting mix. Lightly sweet, melony fruit, with a burst of citrus on top of it. Good stuff.

Taste is similar to the smell - melon, sweet, and a punch of orange juice. There's a little pineapple zing in the finish, too. Oddly fruity, like a tropical punch. Liking it more as I make my way through the glass. Different, and mighty tasty.

Mouthfeel is pleasant. Light body, plenty of smooth carbonation. Nice.

A really interesting beer. Very fruity, in a varied way, like beer fruit punch. Unlike any other beer I've had, and quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 03:46:46 | More by zeledonia

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.41/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – The beer pours a golden amber color with a billowy two finger white head. The head has big carbonation bubbles entrapped within, with them slowly popping over time. The head fades very slowly over time to leave a great level of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell- The aroma is heaviest of a floral hop aroma with a good presence of pine and citrus hop smells. The floral aromas are of a mix of jasmine and an almost dandelion smell. The sweet tangerine, caramel, and the spicy notes of a peppercorn and thyme that are also in the nose complement well the floral and pine hop smells and make for a great smelling brew.

Taste – The taste begins with a biscuit and citrus hop taste. Quickly the taste sweetens with tangerine/orange flavors coming to the tongue. Along with these, comes some notes of caramel, which start out weaker, but exchanges in strength with the sweeter citrus over the rest of the taste. Floral and pine hop flavors, that were detected in the nose, start coming to the tongue. They get a bit stronger as the taste advances to the end, but never really grow too overpowering in taste. In the end with a light herbal and spicy flavor comes to the tongue, with the beer leaving a rather satisfying lightly hopped sweeter citrus and green taste to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the thinner to average side for a 7.5 % abv with a carbonation level that is above normal with tons of tiny prickly carbonation bubbles. Normally I like a bit of a thicker body in a hoppier beer, but in this case, the floral and pine hop and spice notes that are in the taste are very well complemented by both the thinner body and the higher carbonation.

Overall – Quite delicious. Not the standard hopped brew which is loaded with citrus hop, this one has a very nice hopped profile, blending nicely a sweeter body with a variety of hop flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 02:19:12 | More by Darkmagus82

mastodonj

Colorado

4.59/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Starts off with a full fluffy head over a clear pale amber. Just goes to show you, a great IPA can be very light in color.

Smell is outstanding. fresh floral hoppiness with a plus-size citrus.

The taste follows the exceptional aroma. Just enough malt to enhance the great fresh hops.
The slightly heightened alcohol content gives it a warmth.

Mouth feel is excellent, not overly carbonated or too flat.

Wonderful ale. Frankly, I don't get the "wheat" part of the description above.
It is almost like something between an AIPA and an imperial IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 03:48:54 | More by mastodonj

Mojo

Alabama

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle -> Dogfish Head glass

This beer pours up an amazing clear gold with a nice one finger head, good retention and decent lacing. The nose is very earthy and citrus forward. Taste follows the nose with a delicious hop finish. Mouthfeel is nice and full. Excellent beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 03:49:50 | More by Mojo

im4beer

Utah

4.19/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A= poured into a becker with a 1.5 finger head. Bubbly and fizzy with good lacing.

S= citrus and hop smell

T= piney hops with citrus tones

F= light mouth feel w/ mild carbonation

O= great beer, it would be hard to drink only one of these. It combines the smooth taste and drinkability of a hefeweisen with the citrusy hops of an IPA. Yummy!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 02:35:03 | More by im4beer

mattkoon

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

this is the 5th beer ive tried from lagunitas. some were pretty good and some were really good. this little sumpin ale is also a good one. the color is really nice very clear and golden colored. there is a ton of lacing. the smell is really hoppy. it tastes like a good solid ale....not as much citrus as an ipa...which is why i usually go for one of those, but this is a really solid beer none- the- less. ill keep going after beers from lagunitas, i havnt been let down yet.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 22:43:32 | More by mattkoon

hankthetank97

4.34/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

An excellent beer from Lagunitas, perhaps my favorite large brewery. Nice hop character thats balanced by roasted hops.

L: Great Amber color.

S: Hoppy smell with malty undertones

T: Light and sweet malt flavor to start with a piney hoppy finish

F: Light mouth feel for a relatively heavy beer. Nice light texture that invites a second or third glass..

O: Easy to drink. Easily a high-end daily drinker for a "beer snob". Wheat malt makes this a lighter version version of their flagship offering but Lagunitas never disappoints me.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 11:17:18 | More by hankthetank97

quaybr

Colorado

4.41/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Served in a snifter.

A crystal-clear golden-orange body with a foamy white head that leaves more than a modest trace of lacing. Really a pretty beer.

Citrusy hops rule the nose with the slightest whiff of wheat malt that draws out some complexities as the beer warms.

Tastes of grapefruit and orange. The malt doesn't really seem to have a chance of being noticed, but, similar to the aroma it begins to quietly present itself as the beer warms up.

Mouthfeel seems perfect throughout - enough body to deliver the mass amounts of hops without becoming too thick or syrupy.

It's been a few years since I last had this beers - it was one of the first craft brews I ever had, so I was relatively unaware of what I was trying - and I feel so pleasantly surprised at how fine it is. This is a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 04:07:49 | More by quaybr

rringler

California

4.36/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Extremely clear, golden, with one to one and a half fingers of white head. Very clear with no particulates in the beer. The head sticks around a bit and laces pretty well.

S: The sweet malty smell is forward, but you can tell there's some spicy/herbal hops in there.

T: No big surprises here; it starts with sweet malts, but finishes with some nice, citrusy hops. It does taste a little bit boozy, but it is 7.5% abv.

M: A bit lighter, but maybe that's because it tastes quite a bit like an IPA. Carbonation is great and leaves just enough oily taste on the tongue.

O: Love me some Lagunitas, and this one doesn't disappoint. They've basically brewed an IPA, just with a wheat malt. I'm excited to try this one in the summer.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 03:30:08 | More by rringler

wil19b85

Vermont

4.73/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A - Nice light brown coloring. Golden amber.

S - Citrus, and hoppy.

T - Initial taste, very hoppy and sweet. Doesn't have that hoppy over the top bite to it though. I can also taste a caramel undertone. There is a mild bitterness that lingers in the back of your mouth. Top notch.

M - Has a pretty light feeling to it. At 7.2% it's definitely no light beer but goes down easily. The hops and the carbonation give it a nice crisp feel.

Overall this is a fantastic beer. Lagunitas is making some killer stuff and they've yet to disappoint! I feel very lucky to be able to have access to many different types of beer they make from their Cappuccino Stout to Brown Shugga. They all come highly recommended. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 19:44:38 | More by wil19b85

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12 ox bottle was poured into a nonic glass.

Appearance: This beer poured a small head that reduced to a thin layer and is still there. It is a pale yellow color with great clarity and bubbles coming up through the glass. Nice layered lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.

Smell: Bready grains, sweet pale malts, and slight citrus aromas. Mostly tangerine and grapefruit in there.

Taste: Hops are more noticeable in the taste, especially the tangerine and citrus. Bitterness is also there too. A little bread and sweetness also.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, low to medium bodied, medium to high carbonation, a little chewy, and a little treat.

Overall: This beer seems to be more pale ale than wheat, but still a good brew though. Nice and hoppy for a APWA too.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 07:49:26 | More by Flounder57