Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball Ale

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

On tap @ Brew Kettle Ogrefest 2007 2/13/07: Lasting light beige head on a chestnut brown, coppery body. Caramelly malt is strong w/ some toasty melanoidiny (figish)fruity esters. Light perfumey alcohol; Toasted and bready malts get stronger as it warms, and has hints of herbal hops. Well balanced lightly sweet up front, but finishes semi dry, then turns lightly bitter in the aftertaste. Caramelly malt flavor dominates up front, but an herbal hop flavor permeates the mid palate and into the lingering aftertaste. For some reason, there is also a smoky flavor hidden in the aftertaste w/ this one. Maybe it’s "residual" flavor from being in a restaurant w/ smoked foods? Medium body, low medium carbonation, well hidden alcohol for the most part. Finishes a bit dry in the mouth. This one is more my style w/ the hops not being quite so dominant and a caramelly flavor helping to balance the hop flavor and bitterness.

3/17/2007: Lagunitas "The Hairy Eyeball" Ale isvery dark amber color with ruby highlights to it. There is a cupy creamy, parchement-colored head that has great retention and leaves solid lacing on the glass. Sticky, sweet caramel malt and citrus fill the aroma. The flavor is rich and sweet. It is deeply malty with not too much (moderate) bitterness. Very well balanced overall. There is some warming alcohol in the finish, but for the most part the alcohol is fairly well hidden. The carbonation bubbles are tiny. The body of this beer is nearly full and the mouthfeel/palate is smooth, creamy, thick and milky. Overall this is an enjoyable and bold beer at a decent price. There is something in there for everybody whether its rich caramel flavor, bitter citrus hops, or a hefty amount of alcohol... 12 oz bottle, $1.50+tax from River’s Bend WIne & Spirits. O.G. 1.090, Alc 9% by Vol, I.B.U. 56.7.

12oz, no date. Pours a clear brown ruby with a fading 1/2 finger beige head. Good aroma of earthy piney hops, scorched toffee, toasted grain, raisins and brown sugar. Flavor is some earthy piney hops with a bit of spiciness, and scorched toffee, tobacco, grain, and raisins. Semidry finish with a little bitterness. Full bodied with some moderate, somewhat creamy carbonation. Pretty decent. My friend had this on tap @ Hollingshead, and it was a fair amount better than this bottle.

Very nice. A strange but good brew. Aroma is hoppy sweet with intense malts. Appearance is dark brown with a cloudy density. Mouthfeel is nice, with a pleasant aftertaste. Flavor is strong and malty.

Great beer. Malty aroma, but a decent amount of hops flavor. Doesn’t taste nearly 9%, which can be good or bad depending on how you look at it.

Dark brown with red glints. Decent cream head that lasts. Malty ale with not much else. Flavor is malt with some hops coming though, but it gives way to lightly dark fruits and some sweetness. Doesn’t at all taste 8.8% which makes it easy to drink. Nothing overly "strong" about this ale.

This beer pours a very dark cherry wood color with a thick head that has good retention. The aroma is thick malts with some yeasty notes and surprisingly little hop character. The flavor, on the other hand, is initially all piney resinous hops with a bittersweet black cherry and raisin malt balance. As the beer warms, the power of the hops fades a little, but remains deliciously present. The mouthfeel is thick and chewy, but not sticky. Overall quite an enjoyable beer that hides the 9% ABV extremely well.

Pours a deep dark reddish/brown with a pale tan head that is full and sticks around for a while. Aroma is dried fruit and roasted malt. Taste is hop bitterness up front followed by prunes, raisins, mollassas and sweet malt. A really good example of the style, but a little too hoppy. Oh wait, this is made in California. Never mind.