Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball Ale

Bottle from Volo in a tulip glass. Poured a deep ruby, with a small tan head. Aroma contains hops, caramel and a touch of alcohol. Flavour reminded me a lot of bourbon - the alcohol came to the fore, and there was a pleasant oakiness. I think the oakiness was a feature of the hopping, and it balanced off the sweetness of the malt somewhat. Mouthfeel is thick, making this one a sipper. Overall, I would have been happier if the alcohol was more muted, but it still made for a nice drink.

Bottle. Clear medium amber color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, beige head. Aroma is moderate malty, roasted, caramel, moderate hoppy, pine. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. (100907)

Clear dark ruby body with a small creamy light tan head. Sweet caramel malt aroma. Sweet heavy malt flavor, some caramel and thick molassas.

light brown, malty backbone, with a dry bitterness throughout. Alcohol is a little strong but not bad.

Pours a clear dark ruby with a tan head. Nose is heavy with hops and a slight touch of alcohol...though not much. Flavor is heavily influenced by hops, but the alcohol seems to mute it a bit. And if my naivete is skewing my judgement, the hops are defintely reigned in after being allowed to run out in the open for two seconds. In the overall sense, it is a good flavor pattern. Feel is a bit thin. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of carbonation on it. Overall it is a good brew. For a limited release though, I can’t say I consider it anything special. Just another hoppy release that is still good to try.

Bottle. Pours dark amber/brown color with a smallish off white head. Aroma is sweet cramel, brown sugar, earthy. Flavor is caramel, brown sugar, dried fruits, earth, alcohol. Palate is medium to full bodied, medium carbonation, finishes sweet and warming. Pretty good stuff.

Flaske. Rigtig lækker øl, med en duft af lagunitas. Ja det her er en klassisk en af slagsen, godt humlet med en god maltbase til at bakke den op.

Name: Hairy Eyeball Ale
Date: 04/14/2001
Mode: Bottle
Source: Belmont Station, Portland

Appearance: dark brown, fine light tan head,
Aroma: rich malt aroma,
Flavor: strong malt flavor, well balanced, low bitter finish,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Hairy Eyeball Ale
Date: 08/06/2005

Appearance: muddy brown with a wispy tan head,
Aroma: sweet carmel malt aroma with good rich earthy hops,
Flavor: rich malt flavor, lots of earthy bitterness, a bit oxidized, a touch of ripe fruit trying to break through,
Overall: big and rich but needs a bit more distinctive character
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Hairy Eyeball Ale
Date: 02/18/2007
Mode: draft
Source: brick store
Score: 2.7 to 3.5

Appearance: clear dark burgandy, frothy beige head, lots of lace,
Aroma: sweet brown sugar aroma with lots of dark carmalized sugars and a touch of earthy hops,
Flavor: lots of sweet dark caramel malt flavor, touch of ripe fruits, earthy bitterness that borders on astrengency, alcohol esters add rather than subtract from the experience, sweet sugary and fruity to the end,
Overall: a big improvment over prior batches, sweetness does get to be too much after a while
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Hairy Eyeball Ale
Date: 03/04/2008
Mode: draft
Source: brick store

stilll the big sweet brown sugar beer, lots of caramel sweetness,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Hairy Eyeball Ale
Date: 03/04/2008
Mode: bottle
Source: brick store
Vintage: 2005
Score: 3.8

Aroma: sweet fruity aroma with a winey character, heavily oxidized but the sweet winey sherry character overcomes the oxidation,
Flavor: sweet brown sugar flavor is still evedent but the fruity sherry character comes out to add a whole new dimension, bitter finish is all but nonexistant,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4