Lagunitas Brown Shugga

Brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Petaluma, California USA

12 oz bottle. bronze and amber color minimal light tan head. aroma is sweet with brown sugar being the most notable smell. caramel notes and juicy west coast hops are hiding in the back. smooth with a full body and a rich palate that is too not sticky. yum. hops provide a nice bitter balance in the middle but the sweet malts retake the finish. alcohol is not noticeable. a better than average winter brew.

Creamy, dark red pour with a creamy, off white head. Aroma is hops, caramel, and brown sugar. Flavor is sweet and malty, some hop bitterness, alcohol decently hidden. Creamy mouthfeel. Could I say "creamy" more in this review"? This beer represents an interesting experiment that worked out.

Bottle, poured into a snifter. Rich red-brown appearance with fizzy centimeter of white head that forms and fades quickly. Bright aroma of hops, cranberries, and, dare I say, brown sugar? Flavor very sweet, malty, not as pronounced as a typical barleywine. Alcohol evident. Is that wheat toast in the air, or this beer? (It might be wheat toast.) A swirl halfway through releases a powerful hops presence underlying this well balanced ale, and some vanilla. Flavors more evident as it warms. Sticks to the tongue a little like a double IPA. A little creamy, likes the outsides of the tongue more than the middle. A great aperitif.

Ah truly gets a sweet release with this here fine, fine product. Yessir. Ah surely does. Poured only a small sample so didnt get much of a head. But, whats there lasts. No lace. Lovely deep red tinged amber color. Dark ripe fruit, malts, caramels, brandies in flavors. Booze in the mouth with good carbonation. Very good mouth. Quite rich. Maybe a bit heavy for a session beer. Nice finish.

Bottle at Funky Buddha. Amberish color with a pretty big head. Aroma is full of candi sugar, molasses, and certainly some citrus notes as well. Flavor is very nice with great notes of caramel, vanilla and some very nice hop notes. This is good stuff.

Pours orange amber into a snifter. Off-white head recedes leaving no lacing. Raisin and pit fruit aromas. Plum and raisin upfront with a chalky vanilla finish. Full and sweet.

On tap at the Grumpy Bulldog in Naperville. Pours a very clear copper with a big, light tan fluffy head that remains pretty heavily laced and lingers. I think this pub does a good job of making their beers look really good coming out of the tap...might have to rate it later...but it looks delicious. Aroma is very sweet. Lots of brown sugar and molasses. Some flowery hops giving it a very fresh smell too. Hints of vanilla and slightly sour as well. Taste is pretty sweet too. Similar in the molasses and brown sugar. Malty up front and finishes with the mild floral hops. Some tastes of raisons or dates, vanilla beans, and maple syrup. Pretty full bodied and a carbonated finish. Very creamy and slightly dry in the finish. Overall, a nice balance between the sweet flavors and the floral hops. I like the take on a barley wine. Will be looking out for more of this one.

Bottle, pours a deep red amber beer with a huge orange head. aroma is citrus grapefruit and hops. Flavor is sweet malt then the citrus bite of the hops and a dry piny finish. Notes of heavy alcohol, yet still balanced. pretty good beer! Bottle says 9.5% 2008