Lagunitas #10 (formerly #9)

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

Lightly Clouded Gilded Orange with White Head. Some Grassy Floral Notes on the Nose. Thin to Medium Mouthfeel. Sweet Malt, Dry, Bitter Herbs, Some Yeast Flavor. Tastes Closer to a Saison in its Grassy/Herbed Qualities Than a Belgian.

Rated 5/12/07: I was greatly surprised by this one from Lagunitas considering all of the beers I’ve had from them have been rather hoppy. A self-described "Crispy Summer Ale" the reading on the label mentions that this is Belgianesque, so I didn’t know what to expect. Golden and earthy like a Belgian Strong, fruity and spicy like a Witbier, and even resembles a Saison in a couple aspects. Deep golden pour, the white head diminished quickly and there wasn’t much lacing along the glass. Aroma is weak, but did produce a yeasty scent with sweet malt and light spice. Thick mouthfeel, very crisp and smooth with a slick clean finish. Flavor is a nice mesh of belgian malt and yeast hopped ever so slightly. Mild pepper and spices with a splash of banana and orange flavors. Pretty damn tasty.

Pours a deep golden orange with a fading, lively white head. Has a very interesting aroma. Fruity, with lots of honey-like malt characteristics. Sweet notes of banana and a hint of wood. The body has a lively & smooth carbonation. Flavor also has a honeyish background with a light musty-wood hint. There’s also an almond-like nutty component. Also has a straw flavor and a somewhat dry finish. A unique and interesting Belgian Ale.

Bottle-2006: Pours a deep golden orange with a fading, lively white head. Has a very interesting aroma. Fruity, with lots of honey-like malt characteristics. Sweet notes of banana and a hint of wood. The body has a lively & smooth carbonation. Flavor also has a honeyish background with a light musty-wood hint. There’s also an almond-like nutty component. Also has a straw flavor and a somewhat dry finish. A unique and interesting Belgian Ale.

# 10 - 22oz. bottle- color of golden yellow , with a white head – full nose of yeast , spices , orange zest , and lemons – taste of orange zest , yeast , cloves , other spices , and mild bitterness - body is slightly acidic , and with high carbonation – aftertaste of orange , hops , and slight maltyness

650 ml bottle

It is not often that you pick up something like this for only $1.99 a bomber. At that price I am willing to try almost anything once. The worst case scenario is that it turns out to be a drainpour and I’ve still spent less than a single bottle of Expedition or New Glarus Unplugged. This one, while no superstar, was almost good enough to make me go back for an additional bottle. Lagunitas has a good beer going on here with the #10.

Aroma / Apppearance - Wheat, apples, hay and pine sol form a very inviting nose with undertones of cream soda. It is very light for a Belgian but that is what it says on the bottle. The body is very light (golden) with lively carbonation giving it life. A short lived head of pure white sat on top as I poured into my snifter.

Flavor / Palate - Light vanilla flavors, hay and cream soda form the introductory base. Afterwards comes a subtle pepperiness and a trace of bubble gum. A yeasty followthrough caps things off before the dry finish. It reminds me of something that would be nice on a cool summer evening - it is hard to pick up the almost 7% ABV until the very end.

Golden, beautiful and completely clear beer with white head. Nice aroma of citrus, coriander and fruity esters. The flavour is fat and yeasty with hops and citrus nicely integrated. Lingering bitter end. The carbonation is as it should be. Good and wholesome beer!

Bottle. Creamy high white and lasting head. Clear golden body. Apple pear banana peaches aroma. Sweet and fruity flavor with a surprisingly low bitterness. Some dryness in the aftertaste and a good deal of carbonation.