Lagunitas #10 (formerly #9)

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

Pours clear gold with a small white head. The aroma has spice and wheat, very clean and crisp. Medium body with some sharp carbonation. Starts off honey sweet, smooth and tangy. Somehow it reminds me of a cross between and hefe and Belgium ale. The finish gets tingly with the carbonation. Some spicy hops and Belgium yeast come out. The beer is a little bit cloying, not overly so. This is an okay beer, enjoyable but not too exciting.

Lagunitas #10 (2006, 6.6% alcohol, 29.50 IBU)... Clear golden yellow. Moderate carbonation with a very light yellow crown. Aroma is reminiscent bananas foster. Kind of has a complex flavor. There are a lot of characteristics floating around in there and it is had to pin any of the them down. Some of the flavor nuances I am picking up include wheat, yeast, lemon/citrus, corn, honey, alcohol, floral hops, and some kind of spice. It also has a crisp, slightly bitter finish that is balanced, creamy, and refreshing. This beer reminds me a bit of New Glarus Spotted Cow. 22 oz bottle, $4.25 from River’s Bend.

22 ounce bomber purchased at the Nugget on Mace in Davis, CA. SPicy, yeasty, very eastery banana-like notes in the nose along with some pepper. Transparent golden color with a small, scant, white head. Corny, sweet, malty, with some eastery banana flavors along with a bit of citrus. Lots of cereal in this guy as well. Finishes very smooth and lightly hopped. This is a beer that would be very good for transitioning someone from macros to craft brew. It’s not gonna knock your socks off, but it is tasty enough to be refreshing.

Bomber. Poured a clear, light, and bright golden with a tall cap of white head. Saison-like aroma with peppery spices, apples, floral hoppage, and some honey sweetness. Flavor had a sticky honey base with white pepper and clove spiciness, dusty yeast, and light fruits above... quite tasty. Just shy of medium-bodied on the palate, light, and refreshing... fruits and carbonation were a bit sharp on the tip of the tongue. Good stuff!

Orange golden beer with a thin white head. Sweet honeyish Belgian malts. Soft floral/spicy yeast aroma. Some orange blossoms, honey and spice. Yeast isnt’ terribly complex but it’s tasty enough. Light sulphury aroma with some lingering honeyish sweetness. Okay, but it’s a bit sweet and fat for my tastes.

Too much spice in the nose for a summer ale, not refreshign at all. Taste of nutty clove sand honey make sit a good drink, but not summer, but a nice break from the others..

Bomber. Bright gold, some brief white head. Big clove nose, mildly sharp and sour there--by "summer" beer standards, not by belgian standards. Not sure which marketing genius chose to put summer on the label instead of belgian, but I was honestly misinformed and felt hoodwinked on first sip. After working at it, though, it’s a fair to middling belgian. Some acid and grassy flavors on the palate, some fast-rising carb, some sour and bitter build up through the finish. Not bad, but mislabeled and unexceptional.

Rating for #10, 2006 @ 6.6%     Pours bright golden with sparkling carbonation and a creamy white head that holds as a thick cap. Strong initial aromas of smoky clove brings to mind a Wiezen. Additional dusty florals, nuts and light notes of plastic. Creamy mouthfeel carries dominant malts and complimentary sweet, floral yeastiness. Honey, lemon, candi, more clove. Bitterness chimes in at the finish, but the flavor is primarily sweet... too sweet. This really turns cloying and I wish I bought something smaller than a bomber.

<font size=-4>Puchased at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/frankf Liquors, Frankfort, IL 60423</font>