Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball Ale

07’ Dark amber pour. Tastes of toffee nut,fruits, molasses, and a balance of hops and malts which leave a slight sweet hoppy aftertaste. I would have never guessed this ale was 9%. I would have to say it is very well balance for 9%.

2007 Bottle - Great brown colour and light tan head that sticks around. Much different from other holiday ales, nice toasted grain and very malty, alcohol nicely subliminal rather that what you would expect from 9%. Bitter malt on the finish, and honestly not one of my favs from Lagunitas. Very good beer, but most from this brewery are, and I find the others more memorable.

Bottle from 76 in Davis. I saw this one and had my doubts, but Lagunitas makes a superior product. I almost never buy 6-packs anymore, but I took a chance on the right brew. This one almost had a bubblegum-flavored malt to go with rich hoppiness. We guessed right about the American Strong label; excellent, excellent beer!

Rich Cranberry color. Aroma of sweet breads or cereal malts, grapes. Smells like a winter ale, berry + grape, fruity thickness. Medicinal cough syrup + Alcohol. Textrure of whole milk, enough carbonation to keep it interesting. Alcohol warming mouthfeel. Finishs dry and lighly berry astringent. Tastes like watermelon candy + butterscotch. Mild citrus hops balanced by sweet molasses malts.

Dark mahogany with tan head. Aroma of sweet caramel malts and smoke. I like the balance with citrus hops. It is rather smooth and thick (syrupy). The sweetness leads to a dryness. Nice bitter aftertaste is left on the palate. Very impressive!

This is my kinda of beer. It poured a dark amber color. Reminded me of many of the belgium strong ales. Very malty with the tase of dark fuits. Only slightly carbonated and smooth taste. Never knew it had 9 percent alcohol until I looked at the glass.

Cask! from Redlight Redlight. Moderately fruity with dark persimmon and raisins. A touch of freshly turned soil and a light peppery hop. Also a caramelized candy element. Peppery herbal hops are more apparent in the flavor. Low carbonation (its a cask afterall) with a nice rounded and smooth palate. Deep ruby color, smallish head with light lacing. There’s a bit of alcoholic harshness in the finish. Later the hops come through with a bit of cheesy footiness.

Bottle. Pours a nice dark reddish-amber with slight haze and a thin off-white head. Aroma is sweet citrus, caramel malt, and hints of dark fruit and alcohol. Flavor is heavier on the sweet-dark-fruit-and-alcohol thing, kind of port-like, though still with plenty of citrus and caramel. I like it, though it’s a bit rough in parts.