Lagunitas Maximus

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

2003 bottle. Interesting experience I had. I try it at about 55 degrees and it seems exceedingly bitter, overhopped, out of balance. I let it warm up to about 60-63 and all of a sudden there is ample sweet malt to balance it out. Still, nothing out of the ordinary here, well made, PNW alpha hops, pale malt. Very bitter. Nice appearance, duller amber-red, small amount of head, tons of sediment that hangs in suspension throughout. Typical bitter hop smell, mildly citric. Not overly complex in aroma, average complexity in flavor.

(22oz bottle) Sampled at Cafe Volo, Toronto. Pours a large, frothy, almonde head with a deep orange body. Nose is very hoppy, leafy-fresh with undertones of citrus. This is a very bitter hop flavour with a mild bite of alcohol. I was expecting another level of dimension but its not there. This is a fine beer but not worth the extra $$$ over Hairy Eyes which seemed like a bargain.

Bottle. Orange/amber color, small white head. Creamy, fruity, hoppy aroma, some vanilla, some grapfruit. Quite hoppy, grassy perfume flavor, fruity notes, dry, bitter and with some fruit.

Bottled. Thanks Marsiblursi. Clear amber colour. Black currant, berry jam and tea are all very prominent in flavour. Jam-like flavour profile(no, not Zinfandel Wine) with tea here as well and a good bitter finish. Every thing about this beer is of a plain IPA. Aroma hops, flavouring hops and bitterness. 7, 5 would always be on the edge as I see it. Very much house character, with the tea.

O n cask @ the Falling Rock poured a clear copper with an off white head. Body was a little thin. Aromas of carmel and light citrus. Flavors of bitter carmel and citrus with a dry finish.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry at Bar Volo. Pours a hazy amber with a frothy average white head. Earthy aroma heavy on the hops with some citrus. Flavour wasn’t as hoppy as I expected -- bitter, spicy and a bit malty. I found I could taste the alcohol a bit too much. May have been served a little too warm. A good IPA, I would definitely get it again, but ultimately I was a little dissapointed.

22-oz. bottle. Pours a coppery orange sunset with tiny bubbles quickly rising to form a rocky, frothy off-white head, good lacing. Orange citrus rind and pine aromatic bouquet with traces of yeast (sweat) and malt (meal). Heavily bitter, moderately acidic citrus rind, pine and resinous flavor that scorches the taste buds almost to the point of hiding the medium sweetness and malt, yeast notes. Medium bodied and spicy, lively carbonated palate.

On tap at the Northside Restaraunt. Pours a cloudy dark orange amber with an average size off white head. Strong aroma of pine, floral hops and citrus. Flavor is dry hopped, floral, some citrus and pine. As expected very hoppy, not as nicely balanced as some other IIPA’s I’ve had, but still great. 8-4-7-4-17 Re-rate from a bottle...Pours a translucent golden amber with a smaller bubbly off white head that left some light lacing. Aroma of citrus, pine, floral, caramel malt Flavor of floral hop flavor, pine, light grapefruit and some caramel malt. Kind of thin and really not as great as I once remember. Still a solid beer.