Lagunitas Sonoma Farmhouse Hop Stoopid

22oz bottle. Pours orangish amber with a good size white head. Good retention, good lace. Smells dark citrusy and grassy bitter, very nice. Tastes of sweet citrus up front with a bitter citrus finish. Full body, good carbonation.

Sampled at Oregon Brewer’s Festival, July ’08. An intensely hoppy imperial IPA. Spicy and citrusy, but not overpowering. Very tasty.

On cask at the Real Ale Festival at PP Carlsbad. Appearance is cloudy and murky dirty yellow hue, thing white bubbles ring the outskirts, minimal lacing. Smell is a delicious aroma of pine needle and citrus hops, tea leaves, bread malts, lemon zest, light booze. Taste is initially lemon and grassy hops, pine resin soon after, tea leaves dominate the middle, finishes dry and bitter. Light/medium-bodied, oily resin texture, moderate carbonation. DIPA with amazing aroma and hop flavors, nicely balanced with the pale malts, definitely a solid west coast DIPA with low alcohol presence.

Glass draft at Charleston’s (New Lenox, IL). Pours a muted mixed golden amber color with a little haze and a small but sophisticated white head. Aromas are very floral and citrusy up front, leaving me very excited for this brew. Taste is very hoppy, citrus grapefruit dominates the character with some strong balancing sweet malt notes within. Hop character is strong and sticks with this brew through the whole experience. Finishes bitter but clean with a borderline refreshing feel (Unusual for a double!). A very nice IIPA that does the style proud. Will drink again hopefully.

Pours a clear golden orange, with a mellow white head. Extensive hop nose running the gamut of resin, ctirus and graepfruit, with a cookie dough maltiness. Sweet, but clean maltiness with a well balanced flavor on all accounts.