Lagunitas Sucks Brown Shugga Substitute Ale - Lagunitas Brewing Company

beer2day

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Not thinking this one would live up to the hype ... but it did.

Light wheat gold pour, clear, with a 1.5 finger light cream head. Thin rind for retention. Very light lace.

Nose is a big citrus blast of grapefruit. Get light grains in the hops, too, adding to an earthy feel.

Hop bomb on the tongue. Grapefruit up front and in the finish, with a light sour feel just before the bitter end. Maybe a bit of lime sneaks in. A bit of biscuit malt creeps in, also. Alcohol is diabolically well hidden.

Feel is a little on the thin side. Just a bit of syrup up front.

I would love to see this become a year round from them. A very nice surprise in a sea of spiced Christmas ales.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 02:57:15 | More by beer2day

afdempse

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a light yellow color. Could be mistaken for a Budweiser if it weren't for the nice white sticky foam sliding down the glass. Crystal clear.

Tropical fruit aroma, citrus, faint pine/spruce. Very fresh!

Awesome west coast hop flavors here. Juicy fruits, citrus rind, followed by a hint of fresh biscuit, dry grain. Alcohol in the breath.

Super-balanced, refreshing. Mouthfeel is slightly sweet, which is fine for the style, and considering the beer's strength.

Lagunitas should make this a year-round offering. One of the most solid west coast IPAs I've found for purchase in this area, especially considering the price. Will certainly be buying more!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 02:13:12 | More by afdempse

Chico1985

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Decent amount of hype happening for this one, had to check it out...

Pours into a snifter translucent orange, small white head eventually turns to a decent cap, good lacing.

Nice nose, as expected. Pretty much split even between tropical and dank pine (i.e. good weed). Some grapefruit.

Taste is a bit of a letdown after the scent but good. Big pine, earthy, floral hops maintain well with some grapefruit and oranges showing up more towards the finish. Big malt backbone makes this sweeter than expected, candy caramel and slight toffee.

Oily feel, a bit foamy from the carbonation, no booze but it definitely deserves the double IPA classification, it feels on the "big" side.

Overall a nice seasonal IPA, comparable to Celebration Ale I'd say. Good price.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 02:03:50 | More by Chico1985

elgiacomo

Georgia

4/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottled November 4, 2011. Served at around 45F.

Pours golden amber with a two finger white head that leaves nice sticky rings of lacing and holds a small cap.

Aroma is orange, pineapple, some grapefruit, floral hops, some marijuana and bready malt, bit of fruitiness, hint of onion (Summit?). Very good strength.

Flavor is resinous hops, orange citrus, some pineapple, banana, bit of grapefruit, caramel and bready malt, hint of spice and onions, a touch of alcohol, finishes with good bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, oily, good carbonation.

Pretty good stuff...nice aroma, kinda comes across as a rye and/or danker version of their Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’. Definitely a far cry from Brown Shugga, but a worthwhile replacement brew for this winter.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 01:40:24 | More by elgiacomo

Duff27

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- About an inch tall white fluffy head on a clear light amber body. Slightly above average head retention and very nice clumpy lacing.

S- Sweet tropical goodness...somewhat dank, all delicious smelling.

T- Follows the smell. Very pungent hops, tropical fruits such as mangoes and grapefruits. Bitter hops are the star of the show but the malts give a nice pedestal. Mouthwatering. I'd guess this as higher in alcohol than 7.85%abv.

M- Seemly thick mouthfeel for the style. Carbonation is on the lower end. Its different but works.

D/O- I enjoyed this one a lot. In a crowded field of DIPAs, this one holds it own by being a tad different than the majority of it's peers. Drinkability is not high, most likely a "one and done" beer...the price point is great at around $10 for a six pack. Definitely recommended to dank DIPA fans. Thanks for the brew lou91!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 00:47:44 | More by Duff27

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

If this isnt as good as Brown Shugga', Im punching Lagunitas in the face.

Pours bright yellow. The carbonation is all being released by the laser etched hop cone in the center of my SN pint glass. Thin white head. Looks nice.

Definitely wet-hopped. Full citrus hops cones, almost a dank smell. Im almost feeling like pineapple flavored hemp. Slightly dank. Interesting, and exactly what I'd expect after the Brown Shugga' incident.

Double IPA, no. Wet-hopped IPA, yes. Im expecting west coast hops, but I get more citrus than usual. Slightly sweet malt. I cant get over the dank hints. Full body and a decent mouthfeel. Marijuana flavors are really felt upon exhale in the nose.

i cant even believe im admitting this, but I actually dont mind the marijuana flavors. Well done Lagunitas (you still suck)

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 00:25:58 | More by VncentLIFE

nandemo1

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very fizzy golden yellow with a white head. Leaves a good amount of lacing.

Smell is just raw hop, like I am sniffing a handful of pellets. Slightly citrus, very piney. Taste is very, very bitter with a light maltiness and lots of pine.

Mouthfeel is light and crisp, finishing very dry.

Very drinkable but not balanced enough to make it exceptional in my book. Add a little more residual sweetness and this would be a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 00:11:53 | More by nandemo1

gshak

Texas

4.95/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - pours a clear golden yellow, with a finger's worth of head that dissipated quickly leaving some lacing.

S - probably the best aspect of this beer. Overwhelming aromas of guava, mango and peach. Some pineapple and citrus notes as well. Exceptionally well done...reminiscent of Avery Maharaja, albeit a less malty, intense version.

T - extremely well balanced. Sweetness from the malts upfront, cut by the hops in mid-palate, and a very smooth and crisp finish, inviting another sip.

M - medium mouthfeel, light carbonation and hits the spot for an ipa with none of the cloying, sticky overbearing sugary richness typical of american dipa.

D - this concoction is so dangerously drinkable that in the interest of public welfare, I may have to take away some points. But then again, oh well ....

This is, by far, the best sixer your $10 can buy this holiday season.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 07:26:54 | More by gshak

kojevergas

California

3.41/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

I'd reviewed last year's (2011) unfavorably on 12/05/11. I'd given it a 2.53. This year, I decided to revisit it given the hype. My original review is included below, but the rating given here reflects my latest review.

7.85% ABV confirmed. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in Los Feliz, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given the hype and more recently the recommendation of a friend, blakelive784.

Served straight from the fridge. Acquired earlier tonight at a local SoCal beer store. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger head of beige colour, nice cream and thickness, and pretty good retention for the high ABV (~4+ minutes). Body colour is a clear somewhat dull copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Typical for the style. Standard fare so far.

Sm: Grapefruit citrus hop notes, pungent floral hops, that distinctly Lagunitas hop extract/hop oil note, hints of hop nectar, and pale malts. Lightly soapy. An assertive, imbalanced aroma that's pretty strong.

T: Heavy grapefruit. Some soapiness. Pale malts form the foundation. The Lagunitas trademark hop extract core. Hop bitterness does come through but it's well hidden by the abundant floral hop notes. Not particularly complex or subtle, but nicely balanced. No yeast character or alcohol comes through. Well layered and built, if simple. A bit soapy on the climax to its detriment.

Mf: Coarse and wet, bringing the flavours out. Good carbonation. Pretty good palate presence. Refreshing and nectary/oily. Suits the flavour profile decently. Coarser than many beers in the style. Not quite thick enough.

Dr: A very drinkable double IPA from Lagunitas, but it's nowhere near as special as current reviews suggest. I'd certainly try it on-draught, but it's not a world class double IPA. Hides its ABV well. Doesn't live up to the hype, but it's a solid beer in the style and one that I like. I'll be glad to see this year-round. Would pair well with spicy food.

B-

---
12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into De Molen stemware in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high as I've seen this compared to some pretty high-rep beers.

A: Pours a half-finger head of fair cream, decent thickness, and good retention - especially for the ABV. Colour is a transparent yellow.

Sm: Extremely hoppy. That's all I detect. A moderately strong aroma.

T: Wonderfully hoppy, but lacking in balance. Too bitter. The balance is entirely wrong. Otherwise, the build is decent.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with some coarseness on account of the hops. A poor match for the flavour.

Dr: It seems they just dumped hops in without considering balance. I had high hopes for this, but it epitomizes the worst aspects of beers that handle the style in precisely the wrong way.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 07:24:22 | More by kojevergas

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

6 pack from Decicco's in Ardsley.

Lagunitas Sucks is a great beer name. The liquid is a pretty bright golden color with a small amount of whitw bubbles, barely a skim, moderate lacing though, squiggly lines. Smell is on the sweet side but hoppy as well, sweet bubblegum scent, weed, juicy citrus and a malt punch, great scent. Taste is enjoyable, alot of different things balancing sweet and hoppy in that order with the above mentioned scents going into the taste without the weed. Feel is on the light side for a double, carb is light in most of the bottles I had. This is good beer but the sweet outguns the hoppy in the end. I could do a bottle of this in a sitting but nothing more, just too much. Lagunitas continues to up their anne. They don't go the hype, massive inperial 18% stout route, they just do them, who can fault that.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 05:11:29 | More by onix1agr

Kvltbm

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle to snifter.

A: Pours a crystal clear golden orange with about half a finger of pure white head. Plenty of carbonation streaming off of the bottom of the glass.

S: I started to get some hop aroma just from pouring the beer into the glass. Tons of sweet tropical fruits on the nose of this one. Pineapple, mango, and some definite grapefruit. I get some resiny pine lurking in the background, too.

T: Right at the front of the tongue, I get a blast of sweet, ripe citrus. Plenty of bitterness with a piney tinge follows, leaving you with the nice, dry finish you want from a good DIPA. Some malt sweetness carries through as well.

M: Medium body, light carbonation. The drinkability on this is crazy. It's delicious and there's no booziness.

Wow, really impressed with this. Grabbed a sixer of this for $9.99 after hearing all the buzz on BA, and I couldn't be happier that I did. I've never had Brown Shugga, but it'll have to be pretty goddamn good to not make me miss this stuff when next year rolls around.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 04:30:54 | More by Kvltbm

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.2/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a bright, clear, vibrant, honey-yellow coloring with only a slight filming on top. The nose is an interesting blend of citrus, hops, cut grass, and cedar. It's like every time you smell, you get a whiff of a different green characteristic. Flavor is heavy on the tart grapefruit, and it does of good job of being sweet enough to balance the tartness, also. Good spicy hops presence as well, and the beer comes off extremely well blended and smooth. The aftertaste is slight, with a roasted quality, and some of the lingering citrus. The beer has an amazingly fast and clean finish, leaving the tongue a slight bit dry. Great brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 03:37:50 | More by GarthDanielson

gregb13

California

4.7/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours much lighter in color than I would have expected; lively carbonation and awesome sticky lacing. Smells of tangy citrus and pine; awesome. Taste follows with some sweeter citrus and tropical fruit notes as well. Very easy drinking, especially for a DIPA. This is the best I've had yet of the style. Very very good.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 02:58:50 | More by gregb13

DavidST

Texas

4.22/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. This pour a clear light golden color with a decent sized off white head, this leaves a slight lacing. The smells are full of grapefruit and pine king with some sweet malts. The feel is medium, the taste is pretty good lots of bitter grapefruit with some caramel sweetness, good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 02:28:49 | More by DavidST

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.7/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What an inspired name for a holiday brew....

I poured this into my Stone Brewing pint glass because... that's the way I roll.

A: Poured a crystal clear, light orange color, with a huge solid white foamy head that looked like whipped cream on top of a sundae.

S: I started getting the smell even before sticking my shnauzer down into the glass. Damn! Huge floral component with an EXTREMELY intense and compact array of hops and sugar. I can already tell this is going to be man candy!

T: Right away, I thought of Sculpin. It had that intense hop profile, along with an undertow of peachy goodness that only the great West coasters can provide! It had a very bitter, dry finish that only a truly epic IPA can provide.

M: Bitter, with sweetness to support it, but not syrupy in the least bit. The carbonation was slight and was just in the right ballpark. The lacing on the glass was ridiculous... as well as the stain on the taste buds.

O: Both Huhzubendah and Jayhawk (a couple of reviews down) about this one. I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that this one will be in the top 100 here on BA by the time all is said and done...

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 22:33:09 | More by Chaney

ksimons

New York

3.86/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A-pours a clear golden color with a few visible carbonation bubbles. Just a light layer of white lace on the top.

S-smell is full of citrus and pine notes with a light breadlike quality underneath

T-taste is even stronger than the smell, this is one bitter beer. Hops are a combination of citrus and pine and light pale malts. Finishes with an grapefruit bitterness. Alcohol is well hidden.

M-light to medium body, moderate carbonation

Overall I don't usually pick IPA's to drink but this is pretty good even for someone who doesn't like very hoppy beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 22:31:01 | More by ksimons

Treebs

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle served in a Bell's Tulip.

A: Pours a clear peach with some straw colored hues around the edges. A 1 finger white head forms on the pour and subsides to a nice ring. Nice sheets of lace are left down the glass.

S: Bursts of citrus and sweet fruits. Grapefruit, apple and mango are some of the great smells coming out. A very slight pine is on the backend.

T: The citrus just pops in your mouth. Grapefruit and orange citrus with a faint hint of sweet mango. Some light biscuit malts show themselves as well. The finish is a slight bitter pine.

M: Lively mouth with great carbonation. Light to medium bodied with a subtle sticky feel to it. Highly drinkable.

O: Just like everyone else, I was shocked and pleasantly surprised by this guy. The citrus bursts in your mouth and the malts and slight pine bitterness really balance it out. The drinkability is off the charts.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 21:24:48 | More by Treebs

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.22/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by jayhawk73. Thanks Jeff.

The beer is clear and light orange hued with an inch of white head that coats the glass with lacing. Lasting head retention. A superb appearance.

The aroma is fabulous! Fresh hops. A bouquet of tropical fruits, including oranges, mango, pineapple.

Wow, the taste follows suit. Utterly delicious. By far the best beer I have had from Lagunitas. A bit sweet from the onset - my only minor complaint about this beer. Alcohol and malt are afterthoughts. This beer is a showcase for hops.

Ridiculously smooth and easy drinking.

This beer shocked me to my core. A world class DIPA that wasn't even on my radar. At $10 per sixer, this is an absolute must try if you enjoy hop forward beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 02:54:53 | More by Huhzubendah

Aiptasia

Florida

3.48/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had one of these tonight in a 12 oz. pint glass. I was looking forward to trying this one after sorely missing Brown Shugga all winter long. Our local Total Wine & More finally got their supply in stock.

A: Pours a frothy crisp clean amber. Very respectable head with good retention that lingers for a good 10 minutes. Not a lot of lacing while being consumed, but what there is, is as white as snow.

S: Smells like a grapefruit mugged a pine tree. Overwhelming citrus and grass notes on the nose. Big citrus pine aromas.

T: This being a Lagunitas seasonal offering, I was really expecting more out of the taste. Hops, hops and did I mention the hops? I finished this beer fifteen minutes ago and my tongue is still bitter. It's liquid citrus rind flavor is out of balance with the malts. The alcohol is lost in there somewhere.

M: It drinks easily enough but it's a one note pony with the citrus hops. Carbonation is fine. Not overly alcoholic and finishes dry and hoppy.

O: You could easily call this Lagunitas Winter DIPA (which is what it really is). Being a seasonal christmas beer, I was expecting something really special. Instead, it's just another DIPA. Terrible? No. Disappointing? Yes.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 01:27:16 | More by Aiptasia

busterthecat

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been drinking this beer since it hit shelves here in Boston. Time to review. Poured into a SA perfect pint glass. Served at ~50 degrees.

A- Pours a bright transparent brassy hue that sits just as bright and clear in the glass. A nice paper white head forms, which leaves a good foamy capping after a while.

S- Loads of fresh grapefruit and pineapple upfront. A slight sweeter ripe orange aroma comes in secondary. Light and crisp. Very light caramel malt tones in aroma.

T- Very close to how the aroma would indicate. Lots of fresh zesty citrus hop quality. There is more soft caramel malt body then detected from the aroma, good and adds another dimension. The hop flavors are bold and crate a good level of bitterness without being overpowering.

M- Medium bodied brew with big bold flavor. The body is pretty light and crisp. The carbonation adds extra zing and pop to the palate. Bitterness lingers lightly and is good balance. Stays pretty wet.

O- A very hoppy and crisp brew from Lagunitas. Easy to drink and enjoyable. Glad that they came up with something new to 'replace' brown sugar this season and this beer does make up for it. A great value at ~$10 a 6pk.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 00:26:17 | More by busterthecat

gatornation

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

from a 12 oz bottle

A- pours a clear golden yellow color with a 1 finger white head that settles to a fresh white collar ,very little lacing

S- fruity tropical hops with grains,malts and bread, again a very tropical smell of hops

T- was superb, notes of citrus and pineapple with other tropical notes, pine and slightly bitter ' with a touch of rye and wheat

M- was sweet and fruity with just the right amount of hop bitters, nice finish and balance of grain and rye and wheat

O- a tasty 2ipa

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 18:56:10 | More by gatornation

BeforeNoon

Washington

4.28/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up at the Fred Meyer here in Vancouver WA.
12 oz to Smuttynose Big Beer Series tulip

A: golden, translucent, very small white head

S: amarillo hops, citrus

T: lemon, grapefruit

M: hops forward, clean malt, fantastic hop finish

O: Not at all what I expected when I picked up this holiday offering from Lagunitas, but that's what I love the most about it. Hops are all throughout this brew. Well balanced for an imperial IPA with a great finish. Between this and Sierra Nevada's Celebration, it's going to be a good holiday.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 06:02:37 | More by BeforeNoon

jayhawk73

Maryland

4.72/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a golden yellow color w/ a nice one finger white head. Massive sheets of lacing left on my snifter glass. The beer is very clear, w/ good carbonation. Smell is really nice- hops, wood, floral notes, maybe some pepper. Really hoppy, well balanced, really nice nose. Not overbearing at all. Taste is good as well- hops in abundance, w/ some malt in the background. Some floral, pepper, and spice in there as well. But let's not kid ourselves... the hops are in charge here. After half a bottle, they've had their way with me.... in a good way. None of the 7.85% alcohol is evident at all- very well hidden. Feel is medium, with nice carbonation. Killer hops bite on the aftertaste. The hops coat your throat like a throat lozenge. Overall, this beer really surprised me. I really enjoyed it. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 01:09:12 | More by jayhawk73

phishtube

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First off I just have to say what a surprise this was as soon as I opened it and took a whiff. WOW. Not your normal predictable Lagunitas brew profiling the beers spice character. And, not a Holiday beer by any means. If you are looking for that slightly spicey and sweet Xmas beer go elsewhere. This is a hop lovers kind of holiday brew!

Appearance: Gold and Yellow....bit of orange in there.

Smell: Citrus hops.. I couldn't help but smell Hop Slam in there. Really.

Taste: Great hop profile. Nice balance of malt and hop bite. Not too sweet though. Retains a tiny bit of dry finish. For a one off beer this has a great west coast IPA flavor

Mouthfeel: Def a dIPA on my tounge. Nice and sticky!

Overall: Easily my favorite brew Lagunitas has ever released. I'm just hoping they keep this one around for years to come!

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 23:53:40 | More by phishtube

elNopalero

Texas

4.7/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The Brown Shugga replacement. What a contrast—I was expecting a ‘holiday ale,’ or something in a similar vein to Brown Shugga (big, malty, hoppy, spicy, perhaps?) and instead this deliciously drinkable surprise of a brew. What a contrast. What a treat.

This appears to be a pale golden straw color. It has a big hop aroma, as should be expected of anything from Lagunitas, reminiscent of grapefruit zest and other citrus. Tasting it gives the impression that it’s lightly hopped but full of flavor—a floral, fruity hop bill with just a touch of pine that makes it a delight to drink. I hope that this joins the regular line-up, or at least comes around to visit again next year.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 20:58:48 | More by elNopalero