Lagunitas India Pale Ale

Brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Petaluma, California USA

I’m a huge fan of the India Pale Ale beer style, but I’m not so crazy about imperial versions since they tend to be a little too rich and not crisp enough for me. What would happen if an IPA had the taste of an imperial but the weight and drinkability of a regular IPA? I suppose the answer would be Lagunitas IPA, which seems to be a hybrid of the two.

APPEARANCE AND AROMA

This beer flows very smoothly out of the bottle due to its thick composition. It’s bright orange with some yellow colors around the edge. It’s mostly clear, but slightly cloudy (like a summer day here in Albany – ha!). The head is off-white, frothy, and leaves generous lacing on the glass and sticks around long after the beer itself has been consumed.

The aroma is indicative of something much heavier than the beer actually is. I smell a rich floral bouquet with notes indicating rich sugary sweetness from the scent alone. There’s a touch of pine, but it’s more like pine sap rather than pine needles.

TASTE

When I took my first taste of Lagunitas IPA I was immediately reminded of many heavier versions of the style I have encountered over the years. The taste is extremely rich and malty with a distinct hoppiness to the body but followed by a dry back end. Overall, the palate is best described as sweet and syrup-like, almost sugary.

What’s interesting is there’s a creamy texture as well as a distinct caramel taste – but which is responsible for which? This is definitely one of the sweetest and maltiest IPAs I’ve had - which is fine because it’s tasty and refreshing.

DRINKABILITY

It’s rare that I pay attention to the speed at which I drink a brew, but I was honestly surprised that I was able to slug down Lagunitas IPA so quickly. This is even more surprising considering the mouthfeel is rather thick, but soft. It finishes very smooth despite the bitterness to the palate.

WEIGHT

I did not know the weight of this beer until after I had drunk a bottle of it. From the aroma and taste I assumed Lagunitas IPA was something bordering on an imperial style, but considering the ease of its drinkability and its lack of an effect on me; I knew it couldn’t be too hefty. I was vindicated of this once I discovered this is only 5.7% ABV, which is actually a little light for an IPA.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I have to say that Lagunitas IPA took me by surprise in more ways than one. I was impressed by its versatility and drinkability, and while the palate was definitely inviting it didn’t quite blow me away. However, it’s one of the few IPAs that would lend itself perfectly to sessioning.

NOTE: Watch the video version of this review at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18i4c2cGeCc

13-MAR-2010, bottle @home, from "Fish & Beer". A while since I had this last. But no danger in going back:) A textbook example of an IPA. Not the most extreme, not the hoppiest, not the most bitter, not the most anything - just a very pleasant drink. Very smooth, nice tasting, not overly bitter. I could drink a lot of these. And then Lagunitas are perhaps the cheapest American craft beers sold in Denmark. No doubt, I will revisit.

yellow golden colour with a little white lacing. nice hoppy, floral, citrus aroma. citrus hop flavour. not a bad summer drink.

2007: Really nice light orange color. A bit hazy, but light colored. Nice finger of foamy head. Good ring of frosty lace. Good flowery, estery hop smell. The smell is somewhat mild. Has a fruity citrus. Smell strengthens as it warms up. Fruity but bitter hops. Nice combinations of hop flavors: the bitter, the fruity and the estery. Very smooth considering its complexity. Great bouquet of flavors. Both bitter and flowery. Creamy and even bubbly. Has a nice thick feel but smooth as well. What a nice drink. Flowery, smooth, a little bitter. Easy easy drinker.

Pours a clear amber with a bubbley, off-white head. Aromas of carmel, dough, pine and citrus. Med-full body with flavors of carmel, oranges, pine and very light coffee. It has a long, biting citrusy finish. Quite good!

Bright orange in colour with thick white head. huge floral hop aroma, hint of caramel. Short hop mouthfeel, dry finish. Amazing.

Slightly hazy orange appearance. You can definitely get the caramel, pine and hops in the aroma. Citrus and caramel taste, but not very bitter at all. Medium bodied quality IPA from Lagunitas.

Pours from bottle a coppper/orange with a white foamy head. Moderate carbonation, aroma of hops. Creamy mouthfeel, taste of floral sprucy hops, balanced well by caramel sweetness. Very good beer, should of tried it sooner but was turned off of IPAs by a few bad examples the first times i tried the style. Brewery is only a few blocks away, gonna have to visit now.