Lagunitas Gonzo

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

Pours murky orange with a yeast sediment and a white head. Dry woody and dense caramel malty with a solid citric to orange note. Smooth and yet fruity hops into a slight dry finish.

22oz bottle acquired in trade with DarkElf (thanks!). Poured a deep orangish color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of caramel, dark fruits (cherries and plums), citrus, and a little earthy. Tastes of caramel, light roast, dark fruits, and citrus. Smooth body with the alcohol content well hidden.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 2   Light Brown(1)->Dark(5) : 2   Ruby : XX   Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 3
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 2   White(1)->Tan(5) : 2   Lasting: 2   Lacing : 3
Aroma:
Intensity : 3  
Yeast : XX   Bread : XX   Apple : XX   Esters : XX   Banana : XX   Phenols : XX   Leather : XX   Perfume : XX   DMS : XX   Diacetyl : XX
Malt : 4   Biscuity : 2   Toast : 3   Caramel : 3   Toffee : 2   Maple : XX   Molasses : XX   Nuts : 2   Candy : 4   Pumpernickel : XX   Cereals : XX   Fruits : 3   Chocolate : XX   Coffee : XX   Vanilla : XX   Grapes : XX   Blackberries : XX   Dates : XX   Cherries : 3   Plums : 2   Figs : XX
Hops : 3   Noble(1)->American(5) : 3   Leafy : XX   Floral : XX   Orange : XX   Herbal : XX   Spicy : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : 3
Notes :   Earth : XX   Wood : XX   Cloves : XX   Smoke : XX   Pepper : 1   Ginger : XX   Peach/Pear/Apricot : 2   Candi Sugar : XX   Anise : XX   Vinous : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Sourness : 1   Bitterness : 3   Complex : XX   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 4   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 2   Clean : XX   Sharp : XX   Watery : XX   Oily : 3   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : 2   Mineral : XX   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: Quite fruity and very much candied (Jolly Rancher?), malt-oriented, sweet and oily ale with contrasting resinous american hops.

Bottled shared by goldtwins, courtesy of DarkElf: Dark transparent mahogany color pour has a nicely-lacing off-white head. Toasty dark caramel cookie dough aroma has some mild complex butterscotch and piney hoppy presence. Body starts with a toasty sweet caramel maltiness loaded with lots of fresh resiny and grapefruity hops. Very well-balanced and enjoyable and full of bold flavor that hides the abv very well.

Deep dark brown beer. Sweet malty aroma, a bit of herbal hop aroma, dill, sweet toffee aroma. Flavour is okay, a bit of meaty, salty flavour. Doesn’t do it for me.

Dark amber color with a larger foamy cream colored head. Berries and caramel mix in the pine forest. Sweet caramel and raisins seem to be about the most I get out of the flavor in this one. A mild hops presence and some fruit come in the finish and linger. Seems like just another American strong to me.

Sampled at Oakes’ ’05 Xmas Party
Clear auburn color. No head, no lacing. Nose of sweet roasty malts, grassy hops and light yeast. Strong and flavorful but not really pronounced in any one area aside from a Tootsie roll flavor.

Bottle, Vail fest, Jan 2006. Body is medium amber. Aroma is lightly malty (roasted grain), lightly hoppy (resin), with a note of sherry. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Yawn.