Fusion V - Lagunitas Brewing Company

smakawhat

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured on tap at Meridian Pints in DC into a shaker pint glass. Just getting this beer out before it kicked.

An off tan light creamy head, pin sized yellow/white creamy bubbles, with a copper amber body is presented very red in appearance. Seriously this thing looks blood red almost and clear. Head is almost cheese cake like in appearance, very big lacing while drinking the glass. I think this looks really cool.

Mild hop sensation kind of a sweet sense with alcohol, slightly better than average.

Taste is very creamy for this style and sweet but I like it. Giant fruit cocktail artificial cherry sensation especially on the finish. Sweet and dense giving way to sugary malts and a hint chocolate on the swallow too.

This is not to style probably in terms of hop presence, but it felt very unique with the fruity cherry thing going on (very much into Strong Ale/Barleywine territory), and felt like something to just really be desired. I dug it!

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2011 00:39:28 | More by smakawhat

Metatron6

Maryland

3/5  rDev -20.2%

02-15-2013 19:08:56 | More by Metatron6

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

02-01-2013 03:02:05 | More by calcnerd

david18

New York

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had a half pour of this at the Rattle and Hum bar in midtown Manhattan. The 14 percent abv worried me a little, which was the reason for the small pour. A very good beer but a little strong for my taste.

Color was a red/amber. Very dense, hard to see through. Not enough carbonation.

Aroma featured a combination of dark fruit as well as an nice hoppiness.

Flavor was quite strong but also complex and balanced with dark malt, figs, hops and alcohol.

I liked this beer but I think it's a better end of day beer, rather than a lunchtime fare, which is when I had it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2012 21:02:25 | More by david18

whartontallboy

New York

4/5  rDev +6.4%

01-08-2012 04:00:26 | More by whartontallboy

Jips

Kansas

2/5  rDev -46.8%

12-21-2011 06:50:23 | More by Jips

sideshowe

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.4%

11-17-2011 13:37:19 | More by sideshowe

litheum94

California

5/5  rDev +33%

11-16-2011 17:27:15 | More by litheum94

westcoastbeerlvr

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

11-14-2011 18:59:25 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

SDtastentune

California

5/5  rDev +33%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- Deep copper, good lace.

S - Strong alcohol, some mild hops and sweetness.

T - Has a strong bite, but not bad for a 14% beer. Had a barleywine thing going but more malty and sweet.

M - Goes down hot, but not too bad, great malty sweetness with a hop background.

O - Overall impressed and a great sipper, had this on tap at obrians pub. BIG alcohol outta a beer, gotta have this one if your able to come by it

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 23:55:08 | More by SDtastentune

SourBatchKid

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured on tap in a Lagunitas Balls glass.

A- Sunset red with bright lights of yellow pushing through the glass when held up to the light. Creamy, yummy, tan head with small pearls of carbonation stacked one inch high.

S- Slight bits of zesty citrus up front that slowly pull into a sweet hoppyness.

T- Deeply bozzey then sweet that aerates into a solid sticky icky citrus blow.

M- Smooth and slick, I was surprised that it wasnt thicker, based on its appearance.

O- Supper scary, I could drink a lot of this crazy brew, If only the ABV wasn't so high.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2011 01:55:38 | More by SourBatchKid

PreacherBrewer

Virginia

3.03/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Orangey copper in color with a generous white head.

S - Smells sweet and citrusy. Not anywhere near the complex bouquet I'm used to from quality DIPA's.

T - Tasted predominantly sweet with some citrus and pine overtones from the hops. More like a barleywine IMHO. Alcohol is a little too present for my liking.

M - Quite thick, but still in style. Slow drinker.

O - This beer seems to miss it's mark if it's indeed a DIPA. It's not even that great as something else. It's just OK. better than BMC swill anyway, but not well-rounded and complete. I'll pass if offered...next please!

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2011 16:53:02 | More by PreacherBrewer

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On-tap, served in a pint glass

An amber body with an off white head that stood firm. Slow retreat leaving moderate lacing in its wake. A first whiff reveals a rich malt presence. Chewy caramel, earthy undertones, oranges and lemons round out the nose. Sweet and fruity (cherries) on the palate with that underlaying earthy tone adding a layer of complexity. The mouthfeel was thick and syrupy but not real heavy. Medium body with an oily, chewy feel. The finish is sweet cherry, pine and citrus. High abv and an odd drinker. I wasn't a huge fan of this, but maybe that's because it was mislabeled and I thought I was getting a DIPA.

A little research and I found this is actually a triple bock version of Brown Shugga. Ahh, makes a lot more sense. Still, though, I feel like this one missed its mark.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2011 01:11:39 | More by ColForbinBC

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On tap at Max's today.

Pours an orange amber color with good head retention and lacing. The nose on this beer is pretty odd, and seems more in keeping with the description of this beer on the beer menu at Max's (special blended ale). I swear to God, there is Hawaiian punch and orange coolaide in the nose, maybe some sweet ice tea as well. This is an imperial IPA? On the palate I get more of that tropical sweetness, but at least there's considerable hoppy bitterness in the finish as well.... but I'm still not really digging it. The sweetness and noticeable alcohol just don't play all that well together, and I can't imagine trying to drink a pint of this. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a long, bitter, somewhat alcoholic finish. Drinkability is just not very good in this beer. The sweet tropical fruit and coolaide just don't seem to work well with the 8% abv.

Am a big fan of Lagunitas, but this one just isn't working all that well for me. Don't think I'll be ordering this one again any time soon.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 21:40:48 | More by johnmichaelsen

vfgccp

New York

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

- Tasted at Split Thy Skull 2011 at Mugs Alehouse -

A - Ice-tea. White head with a fine bubble structure.

S - Lightly breadyness. Touch of maple sweetness.

T - Solid malt body. Croissant sweetness. Warm booze. Light orange. Pine/ herbal backend with a rolling bitterness.

M - Nice smoothness. Medium body with a pleasant bitterness.

D - Goes down easy. Hops slow you down just a tad.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 17:11:38 | More by vfgccp

Glibber

Idaho

3.8/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A redish amber beer with a nice tan head that laced the glass. Bot much of an aroma other than subtle pine. Nice complex blend of malt and hops with some plum and citrus sweetness up front, and a sneaky hop kick at the end. Not overpowering, and a nice smooth drink for 8%.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2011 03:45:24 | More by Glibber

NorCalYeti

California

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

taste- citrus hop flavor, malt backbone

color- golden

clarity- clear

smell- grapefruit, biscuits

body- lean, medium-weight mouthfeel and short-length finish

appearance- steady carbonation, good lace retention

overall impression- good beer, well balanced, nice character

notes and comments- beer needs more inspiration

beer spy- double ipa festival, bistro, hayward ca, 2/12/11, 6 oz. glass

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2011 00:44:34 | More by NorCalYeti

jslot38

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Max's in Baltimore.

Appearrance: hazy orange, just barely off white head covers the top. Pretty good lacing.

Smell: doesn't hit as hard as the taste. Very floral, bit of malt in the back, orange zest and pine.

Taste: straight citrus and pine, hardly any malt background.

Mouthfeel: very slick from the hop resins. low carbonation level but nice.

Drimkability: the hops are a little abbrassive, and pungent. I like this beer, the citrus pine hop overload is very nice.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2011 18:09:42 | More by jslot38