Lagunitas Cruisin’ with Ruben and the Bretts on Cherries

Brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Petaluma, California USA

Serve in Snifter

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Labeled as Return of Ruben and the Bretts, but from what the bartender told me, this is the same thing. Pours a black color with a thin layer of tan head. Has a nice bourbon aroma to it and plenty of tannic oak, cherry, and chocolate. A light tartness to it, too. The flavor is highly influenced by the barrel. Lots of bourbon, oak, and some tartness. A little bit of vanilla and quite a bit of chocolate. Semi-dry, too. Medium bodied and medium carbonation.

Draft. Dark mahogony beer with a tan head. Tart cherry aroma with toffee. Cherry and chocolate flavor with caramel/toffee. Medium-plus bodied. Chocolate and cherry lingers with toffee and light backing brettiness.

Draft at the Bistro BABF. Nose of light cherries, chocolate, waerk funk, and oaky vanilla.

Sweet, light medium bottom, some light fruit aromas, toasty, mild brett character, more heathery than dung, some residual sugar, some alcohol. Some vinous character. Very nice but hard to get a handle on.

Tasted at the 4th Annual Bistro Barrel Aged Beer Fest on 11/14/2009. This Imperial Stout pours a very cloudy medium black color from the tap. Medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is chocolate, cherries and funk. A medium bodied Imperial Stout. The malts are chocolate, cheery, and some funk. The hops are earthy. Nice chocolate flavor, the funkiness dries out the beer at the finish. For some reason the flavors seems to fade as it warms. Love to try this one after its been it a bottle for a year or so. HINT HINT…. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

On tap at Bistro BA Fest called Rueben and the Bretts on cherries so may be a different beer. Poured a translucent dark brown with a small lingering tan head. Aromas of cherry, carmel, milk chocolate, light horseblanket and light leather. Palate was light to medium bodied and crisp with a smooth lightly tart finish. Flavors of cherry, horseblanket, leather and cocoa with a smooth dry lingering lightly tart finish.

Draft @ Bistro Barrel Aged Festival. Pours a very murky, dark brown color; light tan head with good retention and fine-bubbled lacing. Lots of bitter chocolate, very lightly tart dried dark fruits, raspberries and tart cherries in the nose; reminiscent of a muddled Avery sour with a hint of band-aids. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: lots of pepper, chocolate, and charred malts upfront; lightly tart red fruits; overripe, pepper, lots of roast and charred notes here; very peppery and not completely seamless. Lasting finish: red fruits, roasted malts, lightly bitter end; toasty.

Draft at Bistro BA Fest. Deep brown color. Significant brett and cherry aroma. Flavor has lots of sweetness, caramal, vanilla, light roast, and the bretty flavors take more of a back seat. Good flavor overall.