Is this big brewer brew review week or what? First a Landshark and now a Lagunitas. The COMDB translation department tell us that Lagunitas is Spanish for lagoon. It also happens to be the town in California where founder Magee started brewing back in 93. He moved his operations to Petaluma California a year later but kept the name. Of course today if you read the fine print this “California” beer is brewed and canned in the Netherlands. That’s right, this is a Heineken brand now.* So rebel California crafter Lagunitas becomes a Norwegian big brewer brew. Sounds like a Goose Island brew deja vue.**
And the canine on the can, the terrier trademark, is nobody’s dog in particular but was actually inspired by Petey, the dog from The Little Rascals. That sounds like a Jeopardy question for sure, under the category “Former Craft Breweries now Owned by one of the Two Largest Brewers in the World”. Time to stop carping about past crafts and start quaffing one.
A caramel coloured pour, a darker IPA approaching amber, with a bright white head. It would be a nice looking pour to see coming at you from across the bar. A pro pour for sure. An aroma of fruit and zing, initial indications of a hoppy evening. And the taste is a classic but mellow IPA, mild fruit with hops, not quite a zing, maybe a zig or half a zip per sip. Mellow for sure, no pine boughs or hazy fruit punch, or any punch at all really. A nice enjoyable big brewer IPA. The word “safe” comes to mind and makes you appreciate some of the risks the craft brewers like Flying Monkeys take with their wild and crazy IPAs.
This is a passive not agressive IPA and maybe a good intro for new to IPA drinkers. A laid back in the hammock, spill a little on your shirt, sip and swig, type of beer. Easy drinking and enjoyable with half zip no zing. OK maybe a zin.
0 Comments