May 2007

I think we’ve already established that Lagunitas is one of my all time favorite breweries, so I may tend to be a bit biased. This however is not my favorite of theirs.

The labels states, and I quote: “Thanks for choosing to spend the next few minutes with this special homicidally hoppy ale. Savor the moment as the raging hop character engages the Imperial Qualities of the Malt Foundation in mortal combat on the battlefield of your palate!”

And indeed it does.

The IPA (not to be confused with their Maximus India Pale) hits immediately with a sweet hoppy scent the moment you pop open the bottle. The ale is light and a bit weak, and too bitter for my tastes. Not to say it isn’t good — it is — but I definitely prefer their Maximus. It reminds me a bit of the Henry Weinhards Private Reserve I used to drink in the early 80′s. A good everyday beer … though, it’s a taste I’ve grown away from.

If you prefer your beer with a wild hoppiness (which is very good for you, don’t forget) I suggest you try it … as Lagunitas “Special Prosecutor” Tony Magee says, it’s the best-selling India pale ale on the West Coast, and there has to be a reason for that.

Um. The first sip of an ale shouldn’t make you wonder what the heck you just put in your mouth.

It hits the palate with an unusual sweet and sour double whammy, finished by a low key malt taste that is so smooth that it might be completely missed if you’re not looking for it. The aftertaste is like a long, distant beerish echo, pleasant but so removed it’s like a ghost haunting an old cave.

Every sip hits the same way. Very odd.

It’s an ale, yes, but the closest thing it reminds me of is a mead my fiancée had me try a few weeks back. This traditional Flemish brown ale, top fermented, Champaign corked, has a distinct honey sweetness. It’s not unpleasant. It’s rather good. But…

See, I have a sweet tooth. No denying that. But for an ale, this is too sweet for my tastes, so that’s very sweet, my friends. I found it cloying. So as good as this stuff is, and despite it being rated a world-class champion, it’s not making the Holy Grail scale.

I’m happy to have tried it, but I won’t be going back for another.