Lagunitas Cruising with Ruben and The Jets

Brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Petaluma, California USA

Imperial Stout? Not really the best classification for this beer, I don’t think. Crosses style guidelines, for sure..just like Zappa. So, I won’t rate this stylistically, but simply on enjoyment. Pours a dark, dark brown with a minimal off-white head that mostly dies. Smells a bit fruity, slightly roasty and kind of like cola. Smells is not too impressive. Tastes pretty good. Some dark berries, manifested in a way that is slightly reminiscent of extract fruits syrups. Dark cola presence. Light, light roast. Light chocolate. I have no idea what style I would peg this as, but the flavors are actually enjoyable - just don’t expect an RIS. Mouthfeel is slightly thin with decent carbonation - make sure this is served relatively warm or the body will disappoint. Drinkability is good. Recommended. Not incredible, but I also feel this beer is being judged a bit harshly given the imperial stout classification. Is this an imperial stout? No. Is this an interesting, tasty beer? For me, at least, yes.

Pours an oily black with a small head. I didn’t even know what style of beer this was when I bought it; I only new that it was Lagunitas by the funky label, and that it likely was another homage to Frank Zappa. So when I poured it, I was like, "Oh, is this an impy?". This is a lot better than their regular imperial stout. A lot thicker, more flavorful, and aromatic. Though it’s not world-class or anything, the aroma is decent, but with a big Nesquik chocolate powder smell. Flavor is very good and pretty complex. It’s chococlate, hops, a little whiskey, and some other stuff that I can’t quite identify. I’m glad I picked this one up. I would’ve been hesitant if I knew at first that this was going to be another impy attempt by Lagunitas. Overall, very good minus.

Bottle : The aroma consists of chocolate, caramel, faint fruit, and roast. It pours a somewhat dark muddy brown with lots of large sediment and a small beige head. The flavor starts with lots of chocolate and light caramel. The finish has some light roastiness and a hint of pepper. Full bodies with light-moderate carbonation.

Dark body with a violet tint when held up to the light. Lots of cocoa, vanilla, and dark fruits present. Light for an imperial stout. The peppercorns are not really noticed. Good, but a bit boring. I expected the pepper to take stage, but it was muddled in the background; so much so that I could barely even detect it.

Dense, light brown sugar colored head with midnight colored body below. Smells of light milk chocolate and plums come through initially. There is also some nice walnut. The taste has some strong cocoa powder with some pecans. A sweet, nutty finish. Fairly light in the mouth, this is a pleasing drink.

Dark chocolate and coffee notes right off in the nose, somewhat minerally, smoky. Perhaps some burnt caramel. Any pepper? Hard to say. Poured a very dark brown, mostly opaque, produced a nice foaming head but then it fizzed right off. Looks a little dead in the glass despite sufficient carbonation. Flavor starts mildly sweet, with some bitter chocolate in the background. There’s a rise of a kind of pepperiness. Fairly medium in mouthfeel, feels like its trying for more oomph than it has. Finish is a touch astringent, a touch hot. Interesting complexity but things just don’t seem to meld, its raw and unrefined.

22 oz. bottle served in tumbler- poured a fair midnight black in color, low carbonation, no head whatsoever as it tried it’s best to lace along the sides of the glass. Aroma of roasted coffee, various smoked meats, and toejam- not exactly appealing, but it’s right down the middle for me. Hits the mouth with low-wide body, some malt to start but starts to taste like oatmeal in the middle, middle has a dark chocolate feel but crude phenols are apparent in the background, finish tails off to an extent with a molasses feel on the back of the tongue and throat. Odd one for me, bad bottle?

22oz bottle. Pours pitch black in color with thin brown head. Aorma molasses, roasted coffee and malt. Taste coffee, dark chocolate and roasted malt with bitter finsih.