A Little Sumpin' Wild - Lagunitas Brewing Company

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From: Binny's, Champaign, IL
Date: "23660005" stamped on neck of bottle
Glass: Tulip

Pours a 1.5cm tall head of slightly off-white foam, composed of fine, small bubbles. Retention is average, and over its decline, the head leaves substantial lacing along the sides of the glass in assorted thick lines and shapes. Head falls to a thin cap atop the body. Body is a light orange color, transparent, with light bringing out very nice, bright, orange and yellow hues. Carbonation streams from the bottom of the class, visibly and aggressively.

Aroma is lightly citrus-influenced hops, but mostly funky, not in the sour sense, but in the Brettanomyces-induced wild yeast and bacteria meeting wet grain sense. A bit of banana ester and mixed tropical fruit esters rounds the scents out. Complex, enjoyable, excellent.

Tasting opens with mild Brettanomyces funk on the front of the palate, with some malt sweetness. Mid-palate continues the Brettanomyces-influenced wet, molding grain along with pineapple and a strong background of grapefruit and orange rind-like hop additions. This would be a very good Belgian Strong Ale if not for the substantial hop usage. Back of palate has continued, but increased hop bitterness along with a splash of ethanol that's more intense than I'd like, and some very modest pale malt sweetness. Lingering aftertaste of grapefruit rind, generic hop bitterness, ethanol, and light Brettanomyces molding, composting hay and grain.

Beer is medium bodied, with carbonation that is medium to high. This results in a mouthfeel that is prickly at first, eventually fading to a pleasantly tingling feeling across the palate that melds well with the attendant bitterness and ethanol burn. Ethanol present in nostrils and mild burning on back of throat, perhaps a bit too high, even for an 8.8% beer. Aftertaste is expectedly dry, from the substantial hopping and ethanol presence. There is also some substantial stickiness around the corners of the lips.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 09:09:54 | More by falloutsnow

Weli

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-light amber with slight copper notes and a fine white head

S-Intense west coast hops, citrus pine slight fruity/funkiness from the Belgian yeast

T-Intense American hop flavor, orange, citrus. slight malt sweetness, and intense bitterness.

M-Adequate carbonation appropriate to style

O-Really nice IPA. The Belgian yeast adds a subtle funkiness and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 00:54:31 | More by Weli

tectactoe

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On tap at the Oak Cafe. Poured a golden-straw color, highly opaque and hazy with just about no light getting through anywhere but the very edges. Big, fluffy, white head that lasts quite a while, a nice characteristic of many Belgian styles; moderate lacing along the sides. Slightly floral and hoppy on the nose - a decent balance of bitter greens and sweet citrus. This smells like it's gonna be good.

The initial taste hits first with a sharp carbonation bite followed immediately by hops that stretch to the back of the palate; floral-like with a mild pine character, hops are certainly abundant here. Then comes the sweetness - super huge profile of fruits here, the heaviest being pineapple and grapefruit, with a mention going out to mango and pear. Phenolic warmth from the alcohol ties the citrus sweetness and hop bitterness together very well. The aftertaste comes around as the hops cut back through the sweetness to give a highly bitter and yeast-filled finish. Low malt flavors overall, but enough to balance out the hops, though they also have some help from the citrus and yeast. Medium-thick body with a bunch of carbonation.

This is a great beer, and a great American-made Belgian-style IPA. The hops are balanced very nicely with citrus, yeast, and a bit of malt while remaining highly bitter and pungent - truly a hard combination to pull off, especially this well.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2012 12:59:17 | More by tectactoe

Dave1999

Virginia

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy amber colour with a nice bright white foamy head.

The smell is citrus hops, powerful and fresh.

The taste is very bitter, the citrus flavours really pack a punch.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation.

This is a pretty tasty beer, very bitter though. I'd say the regular little sumpin sumpin is a fair bit better.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 22:01:25 | More by Dave1999

BeerDawgs

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 22oz bomber picked up at Total Wine in Sandy Springs

A - A golden bronze, with fair amount of clarity. 1 finger of head, and some sticky lace left on the glass

S - Belgian yeast, candy sugar, and alcohol. Pineapple, spicy. Smells great!

T - Lots of fruits. Pineapple, orange, pears, and coriander. Sweet obviously. High ABV is well hidden. Smooth, and well balanced!

M - Light bodied, medium carbonation.

O - Another extremely tasty, well balanced brew from Lagunitas. Well done!

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 02:56:40 | More by BeerDawgs

kismet

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from a 22 oz bottle...great craggy, 3 finger head that hangs around throughout the glass, smells like same hop profile as most lagunitas beers...orange, pineapple, slight alcohol scent tickles the nose...great aroma.
taste follows the nose...fruity hops with a slight alcohol sweetness and a tad of barnyard funk thrown in. this is my first belgian style hybrid, and while i am not sure of the yeast used, it definitely imparts a unique twang to the taste profile.
very creamy mouthfeel...very easy drinking and all around enjoyable.
..

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 02:50:16 | More by kismet

CowsandBeer

Kansas

4.03/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Purchased at the Whole Foods in Omaha. Poured into a tulip.

A: Pour reveals a head of about two fingers with an SRM of about 10. Head recedes to a one finger, poofy white cap and leaves a gorgeous lacing on the side of the glass.

S: Lemons, oranges, peaches and even a little bit of strawberry with slight malt. Can I get this as an air freshener?

T: Hop bitterness. Lemon rind, pineapple, peaches, mango and ripe pear followed by biscuity malts with a slightly pepperyness and more tangy bitter hops that want to be your friend. Faint alcohol taste remains with an ever so slight funkyness. Like hop fruit juice.

M: Medium, creamy mouthful that drinks like a slightly pulpy orange juice. Dry finish.

O: My first Lagunitas beer and what an introduction! Don’t hesitate to pick it up if you see it. Sets the bar for Belgian Style IPA's.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 03:35:19 | More by CowsandBeer

brewskifan55

Mississippi

3.88/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter

A: Clear amber with a slight tan head that dissipates pretty fast. Decent lacing.

S: Grapefruit, hops. Light smell of malts and yeast. Citrusy.

T: A nice blend of malts and hops with a slight yeasty finish. Smooth, fruity. The alcohol slinks in for a subtle buzz.

M: Light to medium. Good carbonation.

O: Really enjoyed this one. I'm not a hop head, but the blending made this a delicious quaff.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 17:55:27 | More by brewskifan55

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.85/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into a snifter. Almost white head, high retention on a slightly hazy, golden body. Suddsy lacing, receding to reveal oily clear, sticky resinous lacing. Double barreled lacing? Cool. Aroma is a beautiful fruity, citrusy grapefruit with some malty sweetness, candi sugar and belgian yeasty goodness. Taste is wonderfully hopped, piney and grapefruit, mild sweetness with a fruity, yeasty. Ever so slight alcohol presence, amazing for 8.8%. Tongue coating mouthfeel. I guess this beer is the result of mixing two of the worlds best things, pacific northwest hops and belgian yeast.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 04:26:45 | More by KickbacksSteve

kdawg978

4.63/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is now one of my favorite beers This was the first time I have tried it. It is a limited release and I suggest giving it a go!

A - Clear yellow/gold with good head and lacing with a good bit of carbonation.

S - Citrus, mostly orange, with hints of vanilla and pine.

T - A nice hoppy and citrus front with a nutmeg and vanilla finish, great taste with subtle alcohol in the end. If I didn't know it was 8.8 I would have never guessed!

M - creamy feel. Feel thicker than it is.

O - One of the better IPA of any category that I have had. I will buy up the remaining bombers at my local store. I feel it is a hands down must try for any IPA connisseuor!

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 22:13:00 | More by kdawg978

beergoot

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bright yellow body topped off with a chunky white head. Powerful aroma reeling with muskmelon, bubblegum, and lemon. Zing and zest abound with every mouthful. Malt-like with a tangy bitterness. Medium-bodied; chewy.

Based on the name, I was initially expecting something like a Flemish wild ale, but this is most definitely a distinctive, complex, and extremely well-balanced IPA. A wild and outstanding beer; one that every IPA casual fan and connoisseur should experience at least once...

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 02:43:00 | More by beergoot

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a very good example of a belgian pale ale. A very easy drinker with subtle flavors.

I like the smell of the sour coming off the top, and the flavor of the sour is consistent in each drink.

The spice (coriander) is there, but it doesn't take over this beer.

I recommend picking up this beer. I'm going to get a six-pack the next time I go out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2012 00:40:56 | More by ummswimmin

NiceTaps

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pred into a room temp pint glass from a 22oz bottle.

A- Clear golden sunshine in color, A fluffy white 2+ finger head that lasts and leaves lots of sticky lacing rings.

S- Some light fruits, apple and pear, along with some yeast and spice. Then there's the hop pine and a slight hint of citrus as it warms. Wow.

T-This is a hop flavored BIPA. For me, that's quite good. Sure, the yeast and fruits are there in the end, but citrus hops are the line leaders.

M- Good body and carbonation, a great feel. Loads of hop tang up front with a yeast, Belgian ale finish, and that yeast lingers. There is nice balance no alcohol burn.

O- The best BIPA that I've had to date.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 20:01:15 | More by NiceTaps

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The great thing about Lagunitas is the fact they really strive for a balanced beer now matter what the style. This is hoppy and big as expected but the Belgian yeast strain adds some funk to the beer that blends with the IPA profile. I loved the long finish that was hoppy yet yeasty . Very unique from other Belgian IPAs and way too drinkable for the ABV.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 04:38:48 | More by canucklehead

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle was poured into a large Duvel snifter.

Appearance: This beer poured a hefty one finger head that has reduced to a thin layer. It is a pale orange color with great clarity and vision of carbonation coming up through the glass. Also, nice lacing on the glass as the beer was drank too.

Smell: This stuff smells delicious. Apples, pears, vanilla, spices, mangos, pineapples, yeast esters, pine, and some caramel malts too.

Taste: Major hop bomb. Bitterness is there and lingering. Alcohol is hidden well. Flavors mentioned above are blended well together. This stuff is nice.

Mouthfeel: smooth, lingering bitterness, medium carbonation, medium bodied, some stickiness, and very drinkable.

Overall: Nice and solid BIPA. Very little to complain about this beer other than the huge hop bomb that gives this beer a lot of bitterness. I like it, but fan see how some might not.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 23:38:32 | More by Flounder57

Gavage

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a hazy orange color with a big three inch head.

Smell: yeast, citrus, and ripe fruits come through to the nose.

Taste: caramel, strong yeast flavors, grapefruit, some pine tones, ripe fruits, some pepper, and a hearty bitterness. Alcohol tones are lightly noticeable.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp throughout. Somewhat dry at the finish. Long-lasting yeast flavored aftertaste.

Overall: a very tasty beer. Easy to drink and well balanced. A nice change up from the standard version of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 20:33:12 | More by Gavage

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

- fermented with westmalle yeast.

A: A glass consuming feverish pitch of rapid effervesce rises within a bengal tiger orange colored body. A crowning foamy cream colored head was rock steady on the hold providing a generous shellacking of lacing smoothering the vessel with much love.

S: Sweet sugar laced grapefruit arrives on the aroma with some speciality grains sweetness. Fresh wet pine hopping is wet and aromatic.

T: For flavor there is a toasty sweetness upfront, pine and grapefruit hopping with a spicy bite of tropical fruitiness (pineapple-orange). Nice dry touch of toasted grains, the hops have a spicy bite on the finish of flowery grapefruit.

M: sparkling, crisp from the carbonation, malty good substance.

O: Overall nice grains base, balanced hoppiness with a spicy bite of hops and zesty bite of carbonation that brings things to life. Solid recommend and repeat, very good overall.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 16:37:50 | More by beerthulhu

baseballrock

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Little Sumpin' Wild Ale pours with a marginal head out of the 22oz bottle. The color is of an off orange and is hazzy, a very typical looking IPA.

S - Right off the bat my nose is hit with a heavy dose of west coast hops. A mellow yeast aroma is present. Very interesting aromatic beer.

T - There is a lot going on in the brew. The taste is very green, piney hop flavors. Along with the sort of chewey resiness of the hops, and a solid malt base round out a medium bodied mouthfeel. There are numerous backing flavors from the yeast

Overall I am very pleased with this brew. I love IPA's and to me this takes a solid DIPA and adds another layer of enjoyment. This is my favorite from Lagunitas thus far.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 05:16:24 | More by baseballrock

KKB

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A – Really a gorgeous looking beer. Just a little darker than champagne with a nice fluffy white head, solid carbonation and gold around the edges with a light amber body.

S – Deeelicious smelling beer, lovely lovely lovely. It has a good amount of fresh hops in the nose with a complimenting citrus element coming through, also perhaps a slight bit of yeastiness and a slight air of spice to it. Definitely dominated by the hops though. Great smelling Belgian IPA...when it warms it up there is also a definite bubble gum aspect to it that transfers to a nice peppery taste on the palate.

T – Just so great, wild indeed. Great spice, some yeast, wonderful fruitiness with some grapefruit and just the perfect amount of bitterness coming through. What a great, great beer. I love this thing.

M – Mouthfeel is very well balanced, medium body, steady stream of carbonation that makes for a smooth effervescent drinking experience.

O – Definitely one of my preferred beers, and one I’ll come back to. A great Belgian IPA, nice and hoppy with added complexity from the spices/pepper/fruit. Vundaba.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 02:17:39 | More by KKB

WankelEngine

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a pint glass

A: Pours an ever so slightly hazy golden color. There is a small, off-white head which fades quickly, leaving light, spotty lacing.

S: The smell is more IPA than Belgian. Mango, citrus, and pine are prominent. There is a light caramel in the background which provides some balance to the hops. As it warms, some of the ester-y alcohol typical of Belgian yeast becomes apparent.

T: The flavor is more balanced between the IPA and Belgian styles here than in the aroma. An earthy pine flavor blends into some clove. Light tropical flavors are an interesting contrast with the more traditional Belgian flavors. The combination of pine and clove makes this fairly bitter overall, but it is balanced by some sweeter malt. The finish is lightly alcoholic and dry.

M: Moderate-high carbonation is foamy and fizzy. Fairly dry.

O: A good balance between the IPA and Beglian flavors. A little bit drier and more complex than the regular Little Sumpin'.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 00:56:33 | More by WankelEngine

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

3.88/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz, bottle poured into a large Allagash Goblet. Bottled September 13th of this year.

A - Pours a nice golden color with just a slight haze. There is a head about two fingers in height that holds steady for quite a while. Beautiful lacing.

S - Smells of bubblegum, candy malts, and a variety of fruits (banana, lime, grapes, pear). Some nice grassy hops and grainy malt make for a complex aroma. A little bit sweet, but very good.

T - Follows the nose closely. Sugary sweet with big grape and banana flavors. Citrus and grass on the back end. Cleaner finish than I usually detect in this style.

M - Medium bodied with mediocre carbonation.

O - This is a good Belgian IPA. It doesn't wow me, but it also doesn't have any of the off flavors I am sensitive to and usually pick up in this style. It is sweet, grassy, and fruity with drinkability high. I won't throw this in my regular roation, but for $5/bomber you can't go wrong.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 02:06:35 | More by NoLeafClover44

ThePaleRider

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Very light amber in color. Poured straight into the glass and made a very small head that never really picked up. Crystal clear.

S - Sweet fruits like apples, pears, even peaches. Very Belgian in smell. Reminds me of a light sour ale. A little bit of fruity hops can be picked up on the back, similar to the ones you'd find in a pale ale. Very unique character.

T - Hhhmmm... strong, bitter hops up front that immediately kicks into a sweet Belgian. Lots of sweet yeast and malt flavors, backed up by the slight sour taste of cherries or grapes. Very interesting style.

M - Loads of carbonation, which I really like. Leaves a dry, tart after taste that keeps you reaching for the glass.

O - Super great brew. Lagunitas has really made something special happen with the Westmalle Yeast. Their knowledge of hops and yeast really combine well, and make a truly special, unique brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 05:33:08 | More by ThePaleRider

at7000

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Watta beer. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the clove taste/aroma. This beer almost tastes like a good Belgian and even has some heffe taste going on with it. Not a beer easy to lump into one distinct style IMO. Complex brew. Great tasting and great smelling brew. I would highly recommend it. Has that clove/coriander/cardamom/yeasty finish of a good Trappist ale. A "must try beer," to say the least.

Serving type: growler

10-26-2012 22:13:33 | More by at7000

Stoutfan23DJ

Illinois

3.71/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a small tulip glass at 45 degrees.
8.8% abv & 72.5 I.B.U.’s, 650mL bottle without a freshness date.

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden/yellow color, very minimal carbonation with a syrupy body and some alcohol legs that stick around. The lack of carbonation makes it a bit unappealing.

Aroma: Loads of sweet fruit like grapefruit, orange, peach, mango and banana. Bready and caramel malts, prominent smelling Belgian yeast all around, wheat, clove, and of course the pungent, resinous, and piney west coast hops.

Taste: In the beginning I get a very sweet, ripe, tropical fruits along with lemon, peach and apple. Getting flavors like banana, clove and wheat that you would get from a Hefeweizen. Also getting the big resinous floral and sweet, pungent west coast hops characteristics that you would find in an American IPA. Belgian yeast, bready malts, caramel, and sweet honey are also detected here. The Belgian yeast and the bready malt characters come straight from and remind me of a Belgian-style Tripel. Nice complexity and some nice qualities to this beer but this just got a little too sweet and cloying after a while for me.

Mouth Feel: The carbonation is minimal but does somewhat stick around to the end. Has a medium body but is syrupy and the flavors stick around long after each sip. Slight alcohol when it starts to warm up.

Overall: I didn’t have much of a problem going through the entire bottle, and I did sip on this for an hour or two. The only nit-pic I have is that it was little too sweet and the carbonation was a bit too minimal. I have to state that I did enjoy this beer for what it was and all the interesting characteristics together and I enjoyed comparing the differences between this and the regular Sumpin’ Ale. Overall, a good Belgian IPA that I would personally have to classify as a double IPA/Tripel/German Hefeweizen. I would recommend this to anybody who really enjoys the year-round available “A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 00:40:05 | More by Stoutfan23DJ

rfbenavi80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours a clear deep golden color with 2 fingers of thick, creamy looking white head that lingers quite a while and leaves some minor lacing on the glass.

S- Very hop forward. Lots of citrusy hops. Sweet, overly ripe tropical fruits. Pineapple comes to mind.

T- Again, very hop forward. Not what I really expected being a Belgian IPA, but tasty nonetheless. Lots of citrusy hops, grapefruit, and tropical fruits on top of a biscuity base that is really does hide behind all those hops.

M- Smooth and creamy. Wonderful mouthfeel on this one. Perfect amount of carbonation to keep it refreshing. Compliments the hop profile well.

O- Enjoyable to say the least. There is no way in hell that you can beat 3.99 bombers from Lagunitas.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 22:49:46 | More by rfbenavi80