Lagunitas Lumpy Gravy

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

THOUGHTS: Finally something a little different from Lagunitas. The aroma reminds me a little of Southern Tier Pum King; and that is to say Cap’n Crunch. But as it warms it becomes just another malt and hops monster from Lagunitas. nothing with with that, but it’s hard to remember which Lagunitas is which. This has a little less hops. And when the hops do pop up they’re a little harsh. Could use a little more balance or a better transition. TECHNICAL: Bottle Poured a clear, medium to dark red with a small, off-white head that mostly diminished but left fair to good lacing. The aroma was moderate to heavy toasted malt and a little grain along with citrus hops of both the orange/grapefruit and lemon/lime varieties. Also some port, alcohol, liquor like a brandy, a little Cap’n Crunch and a little dark fruit. The initial flavor was lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic and moderately bitter; while the finish was moderately to heavily sweet, heavily to harshly bitter and slightly sour with an average to long finish. The flavor was sweet malt and grain and then very bitter citrus, pine and metallic hops. The medium body was sort of oily and a little dry with fizzy carbonation and a light alcoholic, moderate astringent and metallic finish.

I don’t get why Lagunitas is so enthralled by Frank Zappa, but the beer is good. Pours a dark amber, with a small head that grows a little before disappearing. Aroma and initial flavor are of honey, and the flavor also includes hints of orange marmalade and hops. Not a life-changing event, but definitely above average and very pleasant and satisfying.

Sweet and syrupy - more like a brown ale that’s gone awry and had too high of an OG and then was under attenuated. Not one of the better beers of the evening.

Bomber. Aroma has caramel, brown sugar, raisin, and grapey malt - the character of a Bock and a Dunkel, with earthy hops and spicy alcohol. Chestnut pour, still clear, with a creamy, rocky tan head. Taste is somewhat sour, brown sugar and lots of caramel, light sweetness and bitterness, sticky an full of fruity miscellany, with plum and raisin. Dirty dry tone, plummy earthen roots and nuts around the edges. Medium-bodied and lip-smacking sticky. Earthy, grassy hops. Not really sure to make of this, tries to go extreme in several directions, maybe a gritty-hopped brown ale with grapefruit accents. Seems stronger than 7.2 but without being too boozy. Lots of flavor, robust, easy-chugging and enjoyable, there’s a ton going on here, but I struggle to make sense of the whole.

Pours dark amber with a medium sized tan head. Aroma is earthy and floral, with sweet caramel and brown sugar. Flavor mostly sweet caramel, lighly fruity with notes of raisin and apricot. Hops mainly poke through in the finish, with an earthy and slightly piney presense. Decent, but just not my cup of tea.

Bottle: Nice semi dark brown brew with a lingering light cream colored head. Kinda citrus and sweet scent to it. Goes down really smooth with a flavor of something citrus and hops.

Pours a clear copper/amber with a small beige head. Aroma is medium sweet brown sugar, light grapefruit, caramel and dark fruit. Flavor is caramel, plum, apricot, brown sugar, earthy and light grapefruit. Medium body, sticky texture. Finishes somewhat long and bitter.

Bottle shared with Hogtown Harry, Blankboy, and Garthicus, courtesy of Blankboy. Sweet malt, some hops in mild aroma. Dark orange, small white head. Good taste - burnt caramel malt, , nice hops, strong (alcohol present). Straightforward strong simple stuff.