Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball Ale

Brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Petaluma, California USA

draft @ BSP last winter. In retrospect seems pretty close to Lucky 13, similar deep red pour and head, perhaps a little less hops in the finish, still good stuff.

Poured a dark red color. Smell seems like it might be a double red ale. Smell is citrus with some raisins or sweet dark fruits. Taste is much the same, hops don’t come through a whole lot. They are more in the background here, but still nice. re-rate: rating before was from an aged bottle. this rating is fresh. Hops come through a lot more here, very punchy and in your face. Still nice backing bready/caramel malt.

(Bottle) Pours beautiful deep dark red. Malty aroma of caramel, light roast with some hints of coffee, roasted nuts, dried fruits, light toasted white bread and some boiled spaghetti. Hoppy notes of citrus, apricots and flowers. Rather typical Lagunita, stale hop profile. Some alcohol warmth both in the nose and taste. Also a tiny bit buttery. Light roasted and toasted malt flavour with some fruity tones and some caramel. The hop brings resin and apricots flavour wise. Medium bitter and medium sweet. Buttery and soft mouthfeel with a sharp, sticky edge. Caramel aftertaste with a bit too much alcohol coming through. Medium body.

The Dan journal #74. Tasted 2/10/2007. 12oz bottle. Deep brown with a slight ruby tint. Syrupy malty maple nose. Orange citrus aromas. Spicy malty full and sticky. Nice touch of alcohol. Dreid prunes. Citrus zest. Full bodied dry bodied. tasty!

12 oz bottle from Duane. Thanks Dad. Brown pour with lots of caramel and toffee aroma. Lightly hopped for an ASA, but good nonetheless.

bottle. pours a deep and cloudy brown shade with orangy highlights. a khaki colored head forms on top but quickly dissapears. strong caramel nose with some sharp hops in the back. lots of richly sweet caramel flavors from a strong malty base. tea cola and tannin are detected. hops provide a nice balance bringing a pinet resinous to the finish.

Very little head with a clear brown color. Lots of different aromas: heaby malt, bread, taosted, burnt, dates, oak. Nice oak and a little smoky taste.I hint of pine and citrus, but not muuch. Didn’t really taste of feel the alcohol. Decent level of carbonation. Will want to taste this again in a year or so.

Lordy, this is good stuff. It has it all: toffee malts, a fruity character, ruby-brown body with lacing and some eyeballin’ particles floating about, hot, syrupy mouthfeel and a pleasantly bitter finish. Smell and flavour are strongly reminiscent of saltwater taffy, Tootsie Rolls or cotton candy. What sick freak wouldn’t enjoy this? No friend of mine, I’ll tell you that.