Lagunitas Maximus

Brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Petaluma, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

Comes in a somewhat interesting 12 fluid ounce bottle with some ramblings about its high intensity. apparently it is 72.41 IBU’s. Has an indecypherable freshness code. Pours a clear copper with a 1 and a half finger slightly off white head with large bubbles. Leaves some slightly intricate lacing behind. Smell is of hops, not that intense though, I expect more from a DIPA. Has a sweet/earthy characteristic. Body is smooth, with a small amount of carbonation. A bit of biscuity malt and a hint of watermelon and apple. Hops are present in the form of pine sap, honey, a spritz of lemon, and intense bitterness. The aftertaste bittersweet. The alcohol is well hidden. This isn’t too pungent considering it is a DIPA, maybe I need to get it fresher. Overall its a pretty average selection in the DIPA category. It just seems very pedestrian considering the IBU’s and the somewhat of hype it gets.

Pours a pure gold with quickly dispersing foam. Smells sweet of lupulin. Tastes primarily of floral hops, though quite sweet and lightly bitter.

UPDATED: JAN 12, 2012 12oz bottle. Somewhere between amber and orange with some frothy white head. Lots of delicious pine and tropical fruit hop aromas - very balanced with a great malt backbone. Resiny and chewy - reminds me of why I love this style so much, especially when done this well. One I keep coming back to year after year. Had the wet hop version of this on tap at The Common Table and it was incredible. The resiny wet hops made this already great brew even better.

I had this from a bottle poured into a pint glass. There is a light very small head. It is medium amber color with strong hop flavor and taste. A little citrus but that is mostly overwhelmed by the hops. Good Beer, not sure I can drink too many though.

Pours deep amber with one-finger white head that laces pretty well. Hops aren’t too strong on the nose for the style, with some stickiness and lots of malt character. Some tropical fruit citrus, perhaps pineapple, lurking in the background. Taste is hoppy, but with much more malt than expected. Very coarse beginning, with initial hop bitterness quickly countered by fruity sweet malt. Pine is evident mid-sip as well which is nice. Sticky finish that lingers on the tongue. Drinkability is decent, nothing incredible for the style, but still solid. Lagunitas cranks out affordable, good beers and I laud them for that.

Good IPA. Nice aroma. Tastes of citrus in the beginning and ends with good hops flavor and bitterness. Crisp. Great summer beer.

A pretty solid beer. Aroma of pineapple, sweet grapefruit juice and resinous pine. A beautiful bright golden orange body with a moderate finger of whitish head. A sweet highly hopped beer with tangy mango and pineapple flavours. A wonderful beer, but not as good as other IIPA’s from Lagunitas.

(bottle) Light copper color with long-lasting head and lacing. Refreshing and distinctively hoppy, without being overwhelming. Mellow and smooth. Could easily session this.