Lagunitas Maximus

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

Really mean IPA and one of my old favorites. Always nice to see it pop up around here, not something that happens very often. This is absolutely as good as mid-grade IPAs come in general, and I tend to gravitate toward those that toe the line between regular and imperial (such as this), so it’s right up my alley. Awesome copper semi-transparent color and dense beige head. Nose and flavor are identical: big time resin bomb, medium-heavy hop presence. Extremely robust flavor that keys the hops in perfectly. Outstanding brew and a great value as well especially if you’re on the west coast.

Pours amber with a small head. Nose shows rich caramel, hoppy resin and orange marmalde. Flavours are very similar; huge amounts of malt, lots of caramel and golden syrup with more marmalade, pine and grassy hops. Bitterness is hardly aggressive for a DIPA, or even an IPA for that matter. Or maybe its just that insane malt overshadowing it. Carbonation should be higher to cut through the sweetness. Very easy to drink, especially for a DIPA.

355ml bottle. Looks great in the glass with a strong body and a nice cracking head that hangs around. Once those piney floral hop aromas get into your nose they take over your body. Full mouthfeel with a silky texture and a flavour that makes your throat glow. Definitely one to be savoured.

Bottle. Poured a clear amber with a dense beige head. Aroma is driven by intense hop esters of pine resin and grapefruit. Medium body, mouth feel is sticky with good carbonation. Big hop extract notes of pine, grass, and citrus and light pineapple, however, there is a strong enough caramel, sweet malt foundation to support the bitterness. Flavor is distinctly Lagunitas. Finishes slightly sweet with a good dose of lingering bitterness.

Bottle from Total Wine, Las Vegas. Pours a brilliant, almost Lucozade-hued orange with a slim, tenacious white foam. Aroma a pot pourri of Peach Soothers, rose, grapefruit and honey. Well-balanced with a slippery, lemon mousse palate, chalky alkalinity, notes of grapefruit, tinned peach and lemon zest and a firm, honeyed digestive biscuit malt base. Sweeter and more balanced than the pale ale and pils; a mellow, flowery, gently humming IPA with a big lovely cuddle of honey-cushioned bitterness. Just a slice less of tinned peach sweetness would, for me, nudge it from good to great.

Bottle. Clear orangeish amber pour with afoamy white head that doesn’t last long. Aroma has lots of nutty, caramely malt and hoppy notes of passionfruit, apricot, orange, lime, mango and grapefruit. The hops dominate the flavour a little more than the aroma but there is still a nice balancing malt profile. Moderately thick, oily mouthfeel with soft, tingly carbonation and a long bitter finish. Maybe not the most remarkable or original DIPA but still quite nice, easy to drink and kinda sessionable. A good choice for when you want something worthwhile without being challenged too much.

Pours a decent golden orange with a billowy cream coloured head. Plenty of lacing. Aromas are very malt forward with plenty or brown sugar and light caramel. Some citrus hop character in the background. Flavours are once againdominated by the malt. Plenty of sweetness and a slight toast. Hops come through near the end, Medium mouthfeel. No where near as hoopy as anticipated. Have definately had better DIPA’s.

Poured a Hazy copper Orange, Foamy white head and excellent lacing along the side of the glass. Aroma is hoppy with notes of honey, grapefruit and and something else sweet. Flavor is sweet and malty up front and bitter and hoppy on the back end. Nice balance, the sweetness has a taste of fruit....Banana or Pineapple? Whatever it is I like it. I would like to try this fresh next summer, maybe it will have a more "Hop" presence. Solid 2IPA