Lagunitas IPA - Lagunitas Brewing Company

david18

New York

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was a recent review of the bottle version:

A very solid all around India Pale Ale that is now pretty available everywhere. Laguinitas makes so many unique styles that this one if often overlooked but it is as good as many good ipas and one that can be enjoyed without getting you too wasted. Excellent taste, color and aroma.

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The cask version was even better and one of the best cask ales that I've had in a really long time. Get it if you can find it.

Serving type: cask

04-24-2012 19:04:24 | More by david18

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Seems like it's high time I reviewed this IPA... have been drinking it for years now.

On cask at Max's today.

Have not seen this beer on cask much, so thought I'd visit with an old friend today. The beer pours a peachy orange color with considerable creamy head and lots of sticky lacing. Retention is excellent in this beer. The nose is just a thing of beauty, with considerable pine, balsa wood, light orange citrus and even ginger. There's a hint of sweet malt as well, but you can tell right off that this West Coast IPA will be on the dry side. The flavor profile generally replicates the nose, though it's not as intense or rich as I would expect from the nose. Still, this is one damn fine IPA, and as expected, it leans to the dry and lean side, with a long, refreshing, bitter finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied to light, though there's plenty of flavor and the finish is long. Drinkability is perfection in an IPA. This beer is incredibly light on its feet, with the alcohol completely unnoticeable. Also, the balance in this beer is just amazing, which once again enhances the beer's drinkabilty.

Always a crowd pleaser (especially if you're a hophead), and completely sessionable... especially on cask.

Am such a big fan of the Hop Stoopid, I often forget about this beer these days. Still, if I had to pick only one IPA I could drink for the rest of my life, there's no doubt this would make the short list. It's that tasty and that easy to drink...

Serving type: cask

11-11-2010 20:04:44 | More by johnmichaelsen

nas5755

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On cask at the Union Brewhouse
iPhone review

A- clear lite copper ale with a nice head and lacing all over the glass.

N- big citrus flavors, grapefruit and tangerine. Very pleasant

T- just like the nose, lots of citrus with a nice buttering note that isn't pronounced. A malt backbone that is barely noticeable but present.

M- pleasant light prickly carbonation that only a cask can provide.

Overall- A very nice beer that is sessionable and a fine example of a west coast ipa.

Serving type: cask

10-23-2010 00:33:12 | More by nas5755

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on the hand pump at the Brick Store Pub. It's amazing how nicely this beer lends itself to cask treatment. What a pleasant surprise! Pours slightly hazy to start, but clears a bit- probably just some chill haze. Grainy, rocky head that leaves some nice lacing. Gentle carbonation, but it's there. On the nose there are gentle aromas of grapefruit, orange, and sweet apple, and a hint of spiciness from the hops. The malt is purely background. The taste is gentle as well, nicely rounded. The hops are in the forefront, but they aren't absolutely dominant or too assertive. Nice citrus flavors coupled with some hoppy spiciness, and some sweet caramel malt. A bit coppery, right at the end. In the mouth it's grainy and hoppy, but the lovely understated carbonation and creaminess ties it together. Much softer version on cask , with hops that taste fresher, fruitier, and gentler. I really enjoyed this.

Serving type: cask

09-08-2010 03:49:22 | More by Georgiabeer

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.58/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On cask at Trappeze in Athens. Delicius grapefruity goodness meets the smoothness of real ale. Camra would be proud of this offering and the people of England couldn't handle these west coast hops. Amazingly easy to drink thanks in part to Lagunitas and also thanks to the wonders of cask conditioned ales.

Serving type: cask

04-16-2010 04:36:31 | More by KickbacksSteve

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On handpump at Maxs today.
An absolutely gorgeous pour ,mildly hazy orange with a dense white head that lasts forever, coating my glass with gorgeous lacework. Stellar in this aspect. The nose is solid, bright and mildly citrus-like with a blend of orange, pine and a little grapefruit. A subtle malt character is noticeable with a little toffee and biscuit, this has a mildly fruity English yeast character. These flavors are replicated on the palate, with an enjoyable bright citrus hop character up front with a low level of bitterness. Flavors of pine are present, along with a mellow malt character with toffee and a little honey, but there's something about this beer on cask that makes it stands out. Light in body with a soft and gentle carbonation, this beer finishes mildly sweet with a moderate bitterness. Thoroughly drinkable, I would not pass up on it again.

Serving type: cask

03-19-2010 04:25:53 | More by DefenCorps

GeezLynn

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Served from cask at The Porter.

Nice tall head, dirty yellow color (more golden than copper).

Smell was enjoyable - pine, grassy, mostly hops.

I typically do not make strong distinction on mouthfeel, but the flatness of this beer really took away from flavor profile as well as the mouthfeel. The hop flavors were very subdued,which was not especially good for an IPA with a lighter malt body.

I recall having a favorable impression of Lagunitas IPA the last time I had it (bottle) and so will give it another review next time I get a bottle of it.

Serving type: cask

05-19-2009 13:46:24 | More by GeezLynn

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle > Sensory Pilsner glass

A - Pours a reall nice light amber color, foamy two finger head of an off white color, lots of nice lacing going on.
S - Lemon peel, a light sweet malt, some pine, and a little musk and spice.
T - Well balanced between some light malt, mild bitterness and good hop flavor. The pine and light tangerine flavor is most notable from the hops, and some biscuity malt as well.
M - Coats your mouth with a nice balance of flavor and feel. Perfect to session as well.
O - Solid single IPA, cannot go wrong at all with this.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 00:30:19 | More by Omnium

BeerAficionadoMCMXC

California

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

The appearance has a light amber color. The aromas consist of some citrus and hop resin. The taste begins with soft caramel and finishes with a strong bitter flavor. It fits the style but with a strong emphasis on the hop image. The bitterness lingers like an unpaid whore... A reasonably priced hooker for your tongue's every desire.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 06:53:09 | More by BeerAficionadoMCMXC

CurtFromHershey

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a brilliantly clear copper with a modest white head. Decent retention.

Smell is the full array of hop scents.... tropical and citrus fruit, pine, cat pee.

Flavor is surprisingly malt-forward given the hop dominance of the aroma. Biscuity, sharp pine, fairly well balanced. Nothing overwhelming.

Overall a solid beer that I would buy again if the price was right.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 00:34:10 | More by CurtFromHershey

Kit

Maine

3.91/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Serving - 12 oz bottle poured into a mini-imperial style glass 10oz?
A - tall, dense head, leaves lots of lace rings on glass, beer is clear, bright amber, fine tiny bubbles
S - hoppy floral, citrus, pine
T -smooth, mellow, hoppy middle and finish
M - smooth, love the tiny bubbles, a little citrus bite
O - I like this beer. It's well balanced, and I might even drink more than one at a sitting--which says a lot! I tend to like IPA's in small doses, but this was tasty with the curry I had for dinner, and going down just fine for dessert as well.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 02:04:15 | More by Kit

secondtooth

Indiana

4.24/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a clean, clear golden-amber, with a nice frothy off-white head. Thick, detailed, and layered lace. Exceptional.

Nose is crisp, floral, citrus hops goodness. Delicious beginnings.

Taste is similarly delicious and well-balanced, with plenty of big West Coast hops taste, but with a subtle malt profile to leverage against being a "hop bomb" or palate wrecking IPA. I get pine and citrus notes here.

An exceptional IPA, no doubt about it.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 14:27:09 | More by secondtooth

lsummers

California

3.81/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a copper orange, cloudy with some moderate carbonation. A nice semi offwhite fluffy two finger tall head.

Smells of piney citric hops right away. Orange and lemon zest hits the nose as the subtle caramel malts comes in with some sweet notes to balance out the smell.

Taste is refreshing and lighter than some other ipa's out there. The hops are balanced and blend well with the toasted wheat bread notes. Hops come in with some herbal, pine notes and subtle grapefruit. I'm not getting as much orange zest as in the smell. The caramel malt sweetness lends well to balance out the mild bitterness.

Mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing. Moderate carbonation keeps the sticky hops from weighing down the beer.

Overall, I'm really enjoying this ipa. It's a refreshing change from the overly hopped ipa's. It's got the bitterness I really enjoy but is balanced nicely to keep it from going over the top.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 04:56:26 | More by lsummers

sommersb

Tennessee

4.24/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Tasted On: 05-04-2013
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Globe glass
Purchased: 6-pack from Kroger

Appearance: Clear, amber beer topped by a tall off-white head. Both lacing and head retention are excellent.

Aromas have floral and piney hops, spices, some sweetness from fruits and a bit of caramel malt as well. Very pleasing to smell

The taste opens up with the bitterness of hops as you'd expect, and is then joined by tropical fruits, spicy yeast and the underlying malt bill. Really balanced well

The mouthfeel presents a medium-bodied brew with a carbonation somewhere between moderate and high. The finish is sharp and bitter, with the balance of malts as noted in the taste.

Overall an excellent IPA - incredibly balanced but still an IPA. Leaves me wanting another!

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 22:25:20 | More by sommersb

barnzy78

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle, pours golden with a frothy, off-white head that holds decent retention & leaves chunky lacing down the glass as it fades. Fruity aroma with citric grapefruit, floral hop, caramely malt, faint pine. Tastes are bready, caramely, grapefruity, piny, slight tropical, floral hops, nice balance. Medium bodied, finishes bitter with some astringency. Overall, I enjoy this one more and more each time I have it. It is a world-class American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 11:21:56 | More by barnzy78

Schoonerorlater

California

4.31/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

a-orangish golden color. pours to a full, big head that recedes to leave some mushy bubble. delicious lacing running down.

s-some hop notes, lots of citrus and a doughy smell.

taste-grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, with some hopiness mixed in initially. it finishes with a full bread like taste.

m-fuller body. considerable carbonation but not over bearing.

o-an IPA that can hold it's own with its West Coast brethren.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 01:58:39 | More by Schoonerorlater

Bowers-Brew

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Nice golden color. Very tall foamy head.

S - Hop aroma is pleasant but a little faint for an IPA

T - Smooth taste with a hint of all the right notes.

M - Nice carbonation and malty texture helps back up the bold hop flavors.

O - A good IPA for someone just getting into the hop addiction. Lagunitas rarely disappoints and that remains true with this IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 22:26:46 | More by Bowers-Brew

JG-90

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into glass gives a medium, creamy, off white head. The beer is golden-straw in color, clear with noticable carbonation. Head recedes to leave a small amount of bubbles on top, with moderate lacing down glass.

Smells of grapefruit and orange, with bread and pale malt. Taste starts with citrusy hops - grapefruit, orange, pinnaple, and a bit of lemon. Finishes with pale yet assertive malts and a hint of hearty bread. Has a clean finish. Medium/light body with high carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 20:19:29 | More by JG-90

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

3.81/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 120z bottle. This beer poured with a solid one finger of nice frothy head, it dissipated within about a minute of pouring the beer.

The beer itself is a very clear pale copper color, not a whole lot different looking than a typical BMC.

This beer, like most of the Lagunitas that I have had, smells like a grapefruit. For me, this is good, as that is my favorite IPA smell/flavor. It is not as pronounced as other Lagunitas I have had, such as Maximus, but it is very distinct.

The tast is also quite grapefruity, almost like there is some grapefruit juice in there. There is some slight malt character in the background too, but mostly this is fruit forward.

Overall a very, very nice beer (if you like grapefruit IPA). I would buy this again, but I think I would prefer Lagunitas Maximus a bit more solely for the reason that it would have a more assertive grapefruit character.

Love the LAGUNITAS!

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 20:29:20 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy

RyanTeeter

New York

3.99/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

a: A nice lace rapidly appears and remains for several minutes and even leaves a nice thin layer for the remainder of the drinking experience. A lighter copy color that is quite transparent.

s: Very pleasant bready sweet (honey) bitterness.

t: The bitterness is extremely wonderful. This beer has a sweetness that is honey yet going back to the bitterness it is completely balanced. I would not call this a sweet beer, yet I would not call it over hopped - it is a perfect blend of the two.

m: A light tingle with a lingering hop flavor.

o: This is right at the top of my list of favorite IPA's. Great job Lagunita's. I will buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 01:52:25 | More by RyanTeeter

Mojo

Alabama

4.14/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle -> World market Tulip glass

This one pours up a slightly hazy medium amber with a foamy one finger off white head. Lacing and retention are minimal. Smell is very floral and earthy. Taste is hoppy as expected and the citrus notes were grapefruit and orange. Mouthfeel is quite nice with a goodly amount of carbonation. This can easily be a go to IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 05:15:44 | More by Mojo

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a medium golden amber with a finger of white head with great retention and lacing. Aroma of citrus hops, grapefruit, sweet malt. Flavor is light citrus and tropical fruit, citrus and piney hops, sweet bready malt with an intriguing very light spicyness. Light to medium bodied. Flavors are not assertive, but well balanced. I would like a bit more hop assertiveness, but perhaps I did not get an absolutely fresh bottle (dating please…). A pleasant, low key American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:18:17 | More by LiquidAmber

Hibernator

Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Lagunitas IPA
12 oz brown bottle
Served in a 20 oz tulip glass

Pours a bronze color with an orange tint. Little carbonation bubbles race to the top of the glass. Webbed trails of sticky lacings are all over the glassware.

The nose is strong with whiffs of citrus fruit, specifically a freshly cut grapefruit.

A fruity and sweet IPA with flavors of orange, lime and a grapefruit bitterness. The malt profile is rather understated with a biscuit mouthfeel. An aggressive IPA, packed with flavor and quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 23:39:29 | More by Hibernator

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

4.04/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a Lagunitas Mason glass.

A: Brilliantly clear golden-amber. Two fingers of creamy white head retain extremely well. A thin blanket of lacing coats the glass.

S: A vibrant nose bursting with tropical hop aromas. Tangerine, melon, pineapple, sugary white grapefruit. Mild tropical esters. Hop oils. Grainy and doughy malts underneath.

T: Melon, tangerine, hint of lemon, dank and oily. Touch of passion fruit. Slight tropical esters. Modest bitterness. Grainy malt base. Dry and somewhat understated finish of oily hops and thin grain.

M: Medium bodied. Ample scrubbing carbonation makes it seem a bit lighter than it is and adds a biting crispness. Slightly creamy.

O: In my book this beer goes down as one of the best flagship beers on the planet. Vibrantly hoppy and infinitely drinkable and quenching. The bitterness rests at just the right level. It's enough to keep it approachable but still challenge a green palate and introduce it to what a real beer can be. Excellent quality for the price too. Lagunitas built itself on this beer, and it's a rock-solid foundation.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 00:35:31 | More by ryan1788a5

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – The beer pours a hazy golden amber color with a one finger white head. The head has a moderate level of retention, fading over time to give a good level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is big and bold of the citrus hop smells. A large grapefruit hop smell is the heaviest and is mixed with some orange and lemon smells. Mixed with these are some smells of tropical fruits of mango and pineapple as well as smells of a bready and malty nature.

Taste – The taste begins with a moderately malty and bready flavor mixed with a good dose of grapefruit hop. Upfront there is a decent caramel sweetness mixed with the hop and malt. As the taste advances the grapefruit hop bitters more in nature as some of the caramel gets lighter and the grapefruit gets a bit more intense. Toward the end some piney hop flavors bring another hop dimension to the beer and mix with a lighter tropical fruit flavor of mango and pineapple as well as the stronger grapefruit and bready flavors to leave a nice bitter but not overly bitter flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the average to just above average side in terms of its creaminess and thickness with a carbonation level that is a bit on the lower to average side. Both the slightly thicker body and slightly lower carbonation suit the hop flavors well, but still allow the sweeter flavors to be detected and help balance out the malty and hoppy flavors.

Overall – A tasty IPA that is fairly easy drinking without any one aspect being too overpowering producing a fairly well balanced brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 00:57:08 | More by Darkmagus82