Lagunitas IPA

Smitty's picture
Wed, 07/29/2015 - 22:03 -- Smitty
Container: 
Bomber
Looks: 
4
Smell: 
5
Taste: 
5
Mouthfeel: 
4
Overall: 
5

Poured out of a large bomber at about 40 degrees into a pint glass.

Poured out cold, this beer is a slightly hazy medium amber, although after a few minutes, it becomes quite clear. The head is full - a pour down the middle of the glass gives a full 2.5 fingers - and it stands up well. It also leaves some nice lacing along the glass as it works its way down.

The nose is, at first sniff, fairly hoppy, but a second (and third, and fourth) sniff will uncover some nice subtleties. The hop aromas, for instance aren't just piney and grapefruit, but there is some subtle floral and almost fruity aromas as well. The malt aromas are also a little more subtle than the hop aromas, but the caramel and toffee sweetness is pleasant and works nicely together with the bolder hop aromas.

Despite the hop aromas being so upfront in the nose, on the tongue the hops and malt are much more equal partners than leader and follower. The grapefruit and pine character does cover up some of the lighter, more fruity and flowery aromas, but the bitterness is still, overall, quite mild for an IPA. The hop flavors do seem to kind of 'build' over the course of a bottle (or few), so as the beer warms up and as you get a little further into the beer the citrus and fruity notes (and the hop bitterness) do come out in a gradual crescendo. This provides a nice natural buildup to the stronger hop flavors, instead of just a slap across the face. The finish is fairly quick and simple, with a mild and subtle pine bitterness that seems to fade out slowly and gradually.

The body is a bit on the lighter side of medium, but still nicely smooth and round instead of sharp and prickly. There doesn't seem to be much of a sticky residue either, and the carbonation is nicely balanced.

Although the hop flavors are subtle at first, the buildup should provide enough of the stronger hop flavors (though not always bitterness) that are characteristics of the IPA style. This makes the Lagunitas IPA a nice IPA for those who love hops and those who are just dipping their toe into the IPA style.

As an aside, the Lagunitas website suggests one possible food pairing with the Lagunitas IPA as 'mild blue cheese' . By chance, when I was reviewing this beer I was having a lamb/beef burger with blue cheese on top, and the richness of the blue cheese does provide a nice balance to the bright and sharp hop flavors and can keep the crescendo of hop flavors from getting too out of hand.