Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale

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

This is a spectacular looking beer! Pours a beautiful deep topaz color into a pint glass with a huge, pillowy head that lasts forever. Lacing all the way down the glass. One of the best looking beers I’ve ever seen! Aromas of fresh hops. Not overpowering, but very fresh smelling. Slightly fruity and flowery. Taste is very nice. Definitely bitter and hoppy, but not to the point of being overdone. A sweetness as well, but just enough to compliment the hops. I’m not sure I completely agree with the style for this beer. When I think of double IPAs, I think of over-the-top hoppiness and a very malty backbone. This beer seems more of a strong ale. But don’t get me wrong; I really like this and think it is very good!! Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Some bitterness remains on the palate after enjoying a mouthful. I have to say that as I write this review and drink this beer, the head is still amazing!!! Overall, this beer is exceedingly drinkable, but I know the ABV will catch up to me. Even so, I have to give it a high drinkabiltiy score, because it goes down so easily! Highly recommended. If you see it, pick it up and take it home.

(22 oz bottle) copper dark brown with generous tan head. Sweetish malt aroma. Flavor is sweet caramel malt and pine hops. I thought I would like it better, but somehow the flavors just didn’t mesh well for me.

Bottle courtesy of Bu11zeye: Poured a medium copper color ale with an average size head with some medium retention and no lacing. Aroma of dry bitter hops is dominating with very subtle caramel malt notes. Taste is also dominated by some dry bitter notes with very little else coming through expect subtle caramel malt. Average body with some medium carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Definitely not something I would want to have again, I thought this was one-dimensional and the malt profile was also indiscernible and no floral hops.

Bottle@Olbaren,Copenhagen. My 1400th rating. Pours hazy amber with a creamy lasting head & lacings. Aroma & taste have loads of fruity hops - pineapple/grapefruit, & a sweet barley/caramel note. Full & smooth palate. Fresh & crisp. Bitter lasting end. One of the better Lagunitas brews!

Hazy amber with medium off white head. Sweet and slightly fruity aroma with caramel and hoppy notes. Sweet and hoppy flavor with grapefruit and caramelnotes. Ends bitter.

Poured a nice red-brown color with a huge head from a 22oz bottle. A nice aroma of caramel and hops. Good mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Initially had a sweet caramel-malt taste with a balanced hop finish. Went down smooth for a strong beer. A great beer. Highly recommended.

Moderate malty and heavy hoppy aroma. Huge frothy, off-white head. Good lacing. Body is red brown. Heavy bitter initial flavor. Medium palate.

22 oz. bottle. Pours a hazy dull amber gold with a moderate linen white head that lasted through about two-thirds of the glass and left some light lace. Pleasant aroma of sweet citrus and pine. The flavor is initially caramel and sweet, which is then partially washed over with pine, and to a lesser extent grapefruit bitterness. The caramel lingers in the background, while the sweetness remains more prominent and compliments the bitterness at the finish. Kind of like a sweet-n-sour dish, only this is sweet-n-bitter. A solid beer.