Lagunitas Cruising with Ruben and The Jets

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

Pours a murky dark brown, with a small swirly light cream coored head. Smells of toffee, molasses, some dark fruit and malt, and hints of vanilla. Doesnt look or smell imperial stoutish to me. The flavor is pretty sharp. Big doses of caramel malt, a little of that pepper, vanilla, some dark fruits, and a touch of oak in there too. Actaully pretty complex, its just not an imperial stout by any stretch. More like a barley wine to me in its characters. Still pretty decent to drink though.

Bottle: Pours a nice dark mahogany color with a nice creamy head. The nose is roasty with some carob but a nice chewy dose of hops thrown in for good measure. Seems more like a barleywine to me but the maltiness is sublime with how the subtle roast and grass hops play around on the tastebuds. Sadly I didn’t get any peppercorn notes. Good!

Bomber. Pours dark black brown, off white head. Aroma is malty and grassy. Flavor is tangy dried fruit, dough, honey, wheat. Nice grassy/bitter doughy finish. Slightly chewy. A surprising flavor for an imperial stout. Almost on the refreshing side. *gasp* No tar here, although I have nothing against tar ;)

Clear, reddish brown appearance with a small. off white head and little lacing. Aroma is pepper, bakers chocolate and burnt toast. Taste follows through on the chocolate, with molassas, dried fruit, spices and even some piney hops for balance. Mouthfeel is medium-to-full bodied, decently carbonated, with an oily, fruity, spicy, long lasting finish. Not a typical Impy Stout. My first thoughts after an initial glance, whiff and taste was an imperial brown, or something else off centered. However, more of the pieces came together after it sits for awhile.

Pours a murky dark brown with a small tan head. Nose of dark fruits, chocolate and molasses. Taste of winter spices, candied raisins and baked malt. Palate is smooth and silky with medium body. Another good beer in this series.

Pours a nice thick dark brown with solid tan head. Hops and caramel aroma. Wonderful chocolate flavor with a mild hint of hops that goes down incredibly smooth. Very clean finish. Would like to have again.

This is more like a dark ale that an imperial stout. I like this brewer and this doesn’t disappoint but not in the sublime category I’ve experienced before with Lagunitas.

Pretty decent stout actually, and I am not a fan of lagunitas usually. Pours a dark hazy brown with light tan head and lots of chunky white floaters. Mostly milk chocolate, nuts, and caramel, with notes of pepper, spice, and plum. Pretty thick mouthfeel. It’s definitely not an easy drinker, but it’s worth a try.