Lagunitas 2009 Correction Ale

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

I have to admit that I am a big fan of Lagunitas and this beer as well. Beer pours golden in color, lightly cloudy with lively carbonation and a big, thick totally retained egg white head. Aroma is pretty straight forward, lots of citrus hoppiness and more hops. This is a very hoppy beer for a pale ale. Flavor is consistent with the aroma, being very enjoyably bitter with a minimal amount of sweetness. When I add in the bang for the buck Lagunitas brings to the table, this rates out rather well.

THOUGHTS: Not a whole lot of balance, but it worked for some reason … at least at first. Soon the hops just took over. It was nice, but not great. With a little more malt to balance things out it could be great. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a clear, dark yellow with nice carbonation and a small to average, off-white head that kept a thin sheet and left fair lacing. The aroma was light caramel, and moderate to heavy floral, resinous orange, and lemony hops. The initial flavor was sweet, lightly bitter and acidic; while the finish was rather sweet, bitter and acidic with a long duration. There was caramel malt and then tons of lemon and orange citrus hops, then it finished with floral, resinous and metallic hops. The light to medium body was slightly syrupy and somewhat oily with soft carbonation and a metallic and lightly astringent finish.

Had this a while back and forgot to rate. I remember reading the "this is not a double IPA" thing on the label and wishing that it was. Really, I was rather bored by this beer. Pale golden color with just mild sweet flavor with some earthiness and a smattering of pine hops. I see no reason for this to be sold in bombers, as it’s just a plain old session beer which could be $8/six pack. Underwhelmed.

22 oz. bomber. A brewer who quotes Firesign Theatre on the label and has a series of Zappa beers! Sounds like… a thousand other guys I went to college with. Big hoppy smell right under the cap, earthy and English at first. After pouring, I get that familiar American citrus and pine smell, with a little apricot nectar behind it. Gold to amber color, big lacy head of foam in my glass. True, it’s not a double IPA, alcohol is not overbearing, but not sessionable either. Hop taste is "bright," suggesting a glass of OJ at breakfast. They sure are doing interesting experiments with alphas these day. Malts stay light, as the color indicates, to let the hops play through, so lighter on that palate than a Sierra Nevada. Unique in its choice of components.

Bottle: Light copper with a fluffy white head and sticky lacing. The aroma is wonderful, better than the taste. Thick hop aroma full of apricot, and mild juniper. Hoppy flavor with a tangy finish. Great APA, up there in the top ten in my mind.

Bottle pours a hazy yellow witha white fluffy head. Wonderful aroma of fresh west coast citrusy hops. Big bitter hop flavor. Overmatching the malt backbone a bit. Light malt flavors that struggle to keep their head above the raging torrent that is the Alpha Acid onslaught. Moderate carbonation and some slightly sediment or chalky feel. Long steady bitter trailer that fades like a vapor trail behind a F-4 cruising at Mach 2. Why is this not an IPA ?

Bottle Thanks IndianaRed Pours out a gold topped with a tall cream head. Aroma is GREAT lots of citrus and sweet hops. Taste a little sweet fruit notes a nice hop and malt balance. Very tasty IPA.

Sampled 1702, Tucson AZ; August 2009
This arrives from the tap with a half-finger thick, pale white colored head. The beer is almost clear and is a copper-gold color. The aroma has a nice fruity hop note to it that reminds me of tangerine, lychee and apricot all of which contribute to a smooth hop fruit character. No malt character is really noticeable.

There is a touch of sweetness to the flavor, but it has a drying effect overall. There is just enough malt sweetness here to carry the dominant hop notes. A biting clean bitterness is noticeable throughout and it lingers pretty well on the tongue. Also in the lingering finish is a menthol and pine flavored hop note. The fruity hop notes contribute notes of tangerine, grapefruit peel oil and lots of lychee. This has a nice light body to it, even lighter than one would expect in a beer of this strength; this is definitely quite quaffable. Some hot alcohol is sometimes noticeable in the finish and food seems to accentuate this to the point of being peppery. This is actually almost a bit too thin at times, but it is thoroughly serviceable and even pretty enjoyable over all.