Lagunitas Cruising with Ruben and The Jets

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

pours clear a nearly black shade of ruby dark brown. it’s capped by a long lasting khaki/cocoa colored head and moderate spots of lacing.

the smell reminds me of a really sweet rather mediocre baltic porter... malt powder, coffee-like nuttiness, chocolate, licorice, molasses, lactose and a bunch of dark dried fruit.

the palate is a touch on the sweet side for me. it is also rather baltic-like... milk chocolate, malt powder, earthy woodiness (must be the peppercorns), coffee, dried stone fruits and caramel flavors abound. there’s a dry hoppy bitterness on the finish which helps to make the sugar seem like a non issue. it also leaves behind a nice floral aftertaste. about mid palate i notice a slight sourness or light tang which borders a charred character which also helps deal with the sugar. the medium body is quite creamy and smooth with sudsy carbonation yet dry and prickly. 7/4/7/4/15/3.7

Bottle (22oz) shared with HogTownHarry & garthicus -- courtesy of garthicus. Pours a clear deep ruby with an average size somewhat-lasting tan head. Mild aroma of roasted malt along with some cofee and fruit. Flavour of roasted malt, some earthiness and chocolate -- I’m not getting any pepper though. Medium bodied. It’s pretty good but based on the description I was expecting more -- still a good Stout though.

[January 24, 2009]
Pours a dark, dark brownwith a tan head. The aroma is sweet and malty without a hefty amount of roast, though it is slightly nutty. The palate is pretty light. A molasses character reminds me of a stout, but not much else here does. I get hints of bread, nuts, light baking spices. The finish is fairly earthy and the molasses sweetness is noticed throughout. This is light bodied but reasonable. I see now pepper was used in this. I made no note of that.

22oz bomber. Pours a cloudy brown - dark but not nearly black - more like a brown ale than a stout. The head pours up immense and tan. It lasts, fading very slowly into a thin ring, and leaving subtle rings of lace as it goes down. The aroma is rich with caramel toffee, sweet malts, and chocolate. The aroma also offers up subtle notes of hops and dark fruit. The flavor follows the nose: lots of sweet malts, chocolate mousse, and chewy caramels. There is a nice vinousness to the malt profile that makes it chewy and malty-tangy and compliments the chocolate nicely. At mid-palate is very pleasant US hop bitterness - pronounced and well-balanced, yet somehow seemingly soft and subtle compared to the waves of chocolate. The finish is full and a little bit too sweet, but it also has nice notes of chocolate, malts, and spicy hops. The description indicates white pepper was also used, but it was nowhere to be found by my palate. The mouthfeel is rich and full in body with a creamy, sudsy feel of carbon dioxide. Overall, a very tasty beer - though it lands far from stout (no roast) but much closer to strong and chocolatey brown ale. The alcohol content is well hidden in the deceptively delicious flavor.

22oz bottle. Pours dark dark brown with a big tan head. Looks to be hella carbonated. Malty somewhat chocolate aroma with some dark fruit, hop and roast. Flavor is pretty much the same with a creamy sweet finish. Not bad, but not extraordinary by any means.

Crushed with Jakebra. Whatever a BopaDooAyDoo Style Ale is... I like it. Roasty and sweet on the nose. Flavor is excellent. For a screw-top bomber, it’s good.

Actually enjoyed this brew although the description of "chocolate pepper stout" doesn’t sound appealing. Mahogany pour with a garnet glow when held to the light and moderate latte head. Aroma is toffee, caramel, and roasted malt. Flavor exhibits brown sugar, maple, oak, and molasses. A little bit of spice not really distinguishable as white pepper but adds a nice zip. Very tasty!!!

Great Zappa album cover on the label. Good price too. Thanks, Lagunitas. Dark pour with no head. Nice hop and malt aroma, with some pungency. Sweet molasses malt flavor dominates, with a nice sprinkling of spicy hops. A touch of tobacco and coffee flavor too. A fine rich ale. I did not realize it was a stout.