Lagunitas Equinox Ale

Formerly brewed at Lagunitas Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Petaluma, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

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Date: 09/27/1998
Mode: Bottle
Source: Beverages & More, SF

slightly cloudy yellow, whispy white head, sweet malt with light floral hop aroma, light malt flavor, low bitterness, too malty for a summer brew, too bitter for a bock, good but no weo

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Score: *4
-------- /> The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Hazy golden-amber; lemony hop aroma with pale malts and, yes, oats. Tropical fruit esters (guava, mango, tangerine). The palate is fruity (peach, tangerine, lime), with some cedary hops. Light & refreshing.

Hazy golden with medium off-white head. Aroma is light sweet (honey), lemon, light bread, perhaps oats. Taste is mild sweet, lemon, grassy. Light-medium body. Pretty refreshing. Very nice for what it is.

Head is initially average sized, frothy, white, mostly diminishing. Body is medium yellow. Aroma is moderately hoppy (grapefruit, resin), lightly malty (toasted grain), lightly yeasty (dough). Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation.

Gold color, large head. Mildly hopped, mild malts. Oat malts results in a banana like slightly sweet flavor. Subtle, slightly sweet mild malt taste. Finish is clean. Aftertaste is slightly sweet, not bitter. An interesting beer, very different taste with the oat malts. Taste grows on you.

Cheers! Oddly enjoyable and well-balanced. Golden ale color, lovable mutt on a good label/bomber. Brewer philosophies scrawled onto the label. Bready, with a dry citrus/acidic and, no, I'm not making this up, shrimp broth characteristic. I'd have liked to have had this with some food, because I think it would have done well -- especially with Thai. Starchy, somewhat tart mouth, and nice zingy hops in the medium finish.

This must have been a magic bottle, because I poured a bottle of Lagunitas Equinox Ale and out came East European super-strength lager, with a hard metallic edge to its bitterness, a somewhat tingling body but a generally pale, flat appearance, and really very little to recommend for it. A hint of sweetness in the end. I can't explain it--it didn't seem like a bad bottle (fresh from a good grocery store), just a bad beer. Had it been a blind taste test--I have greatly enjoyed Lagunitas beers in the past--I would have guessed it was something from Hungary or Albania. I'll try another bottle when I get a chance.

6.4% abv: I give props to Lagunitas for this highly creative OatBock. The label says it’s both "bock style" and a "pale oat ale" so it’s confused about what exactly it is. There’s an odd grain aroma (must be the oats) and a slightly bockish, sweetish body. Has a crisp finish that I could do without but otherwise excellent.

Slightly hazy golden yellow, the head is frothy, large and long lasting, tons of lace to cut the glass. Nose is malt, floral, sweet, hints of oatmeal and bananas?, very interesting nose ’Me Thinks’. Front is sweet, the top light, the finish is hop bitter, lightly dry, acidic, and a rather hearty brew. Ranks #481 on my current 1000 beer master list.

UPDATED: FEB 22, 2003 transparent & golden in apple juice ways... shrinking white head, malty aroma with apple/white grape flickerings...pop-rock onslaught of fizz...bitter, wheaty/oaty...dried bananas sprinkled with malt vinegar...strange... with the added craziness of champagne dryness in the end!!