Lagunitas Nuevo Noir

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

Poured a clear amber color with a cream colored thin head. Malty sweet aroma of brown sugar and warm ketchup. Malty caramel flavor. Light to medium body.

Brown, lasting tan head.Light yeasty nose. Slightly metallic yeasty malt taste,late arriving medium bitterness. Gassy. Light alcohol heat

Couleur brune acajou aux reflets rouge foncé et surmonté d’une faible mousse beige pale. Malt hautement torréfié, pain grillé, noisettes et raisins secs sont unis et cohérant. Le caractère des grains rappelle initialement celui de certaine Bock Allemande. Intenses saveurs de pain grillé, de noix, de sucre brun, de réglisse noire et de poivre. Une touche d’alcool est facilement identifiable en finale, corps d’épaisseur moyenne, faible carbonatation. En fût, Barcade, N.Y., Septembre 2005.

Tasted at the Labor Day gathering. Clear copper color with a thin head. Flavor is spicy and full of residual sugars. Palate is ho-hum. Reallt a slow to get moving one. Could us a shot in the arm. A shot in the goddamn arm.

Draft at Barcade. Cola colored, hazy, but the head fades quickly. Rather complex aroma, lagunitas seems to be doing a lot of that “more ingredients is better” stuff, but it makes for an interestingly complex brew here. Bready and peppery yeast character meets the cerealic and chocolatey malt to form a rather desserty aroma. Heavy anise notes, corianger, ginger, pear, fig and the likes contribute to maintaining the momentum. Aptly chosen hops bring floral tones into the pot with more verve than I expected, but the sweetness level remains tolerable. Woody, cigary finish with small tea-like tannins and tart edges. Interesting, possibly a new lagunitas’ favourite, but nothing to break my mind and make me write a 10-liner.

the lack or aroma is a concern, but not a great one. it sleeps nicely between belgian and brown american. It has those desert quailty of many belgains -- here supplied my the dark sweet molasas quality of the flavor. like a treat they would give children before they had refined sugars. an interesting beer and a good choice for a seasonal.

Bottle: Courtesy of Styles. Aroma is very weak. Light yeast and some sweetness. Pours a transparent reddish-orange with a small white head. Flavors seems a little weak as well. Light yeast and slghtly stronger candy sugar. A touch of nuttiness in the background. Lightly bitter finish. I’ve been impressed with these guys in general, so this was a bit of a let down.

22 oz bottle, from BevMo. Pours clear dark chestnut brown with a moderate beige head. This is a nice belgian brown. Aroma is sweet and yeasty, with dark fruits, licorice, brown sugar and a hint of sourdough along with floral hoppiness. Flavor is also sweet like molasses soaked, dark rye bread with acidic notes and again, a floral hoppiness. Medium body and smooth carbonation. Quite enjoyable overall!