Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale

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

dark red color, white head that fade almost immediatly. Strong nose of hop, caramel, lemon and some alcohol. First you taste the caramel then the strong bitterness bites with some wonderful grapefruit and finally, the swetteness wins (hints of mapple sirup). Very enjoyable.

Sept. 2, 2007; bomber. I’ve yet to have even a "ho-hum" beer from Lagunitas. The story behind this beer is available on the ’net, and the recipe certainly matches the sentiment that inspired it. As for the beer, it reminds me of Arrogant Bastard (another Calif. ASA), but LUISA is a bit more slick & oily, and perhaps more bitter. Very well balanced, and incredibly drinkable for a 9+% ABV ale. Fun to sample and read about this one. Highly recommended.

22oz. bomber I lugged to Paso Robles. Nice clear copper color with a thin, thick head. Aroma is woodsy, with some malts and citrus backbone. Great full bodied creamy, mouth feel that shows grapefruit rinds, lime and hops....wonderfully bitterfinish that leaves me wanting more...which I don’t have.

Copper coloured beer with a nice dense head. Aroma is hoppy, mostly pines, grapefruit and citrus. There’s some sweetness in the aroma too. The flavour is moderately hopped in a nice and parfumed way. There is some caramel sweetness backing the hops up. The end is nice and bitter but leaves your lips a bit glued together. A nice one, but not outstanding.

bottle: pours a clear clean cooper colour with a large fluffy white head with some lacing. aroma of grapefruit and pine hops a caramel malt and very small amount of tropical fruit. flavour is bittering grapefruit hops, some floral notes. finishes with bitter pine hops not much if any malt presences.

22oz. Sneak Release bottle poured into a pint glass. Another solid brew by Lagunitas. I’m a big fan of their Maximus IPA, and enjoyed the Lucky 13 as well. Pours a dark amber, almost copper with a small head that retains well throughout with some nice lacing. Aroma and flavor is a nice blend of citrus/pine hops and caramel malt. Well balanced. Sweet and syrupy with mild carbonation. Nice mouthfeel. Goes down smooth and easy, and you hardly notice the 9+% ABV...well at least in the taste...you will feel it. You do taste the alcohol more as it warms. A great bang for the buck. Kudos, Lagunitas, you’ve done it again.

Name: Undercover Shut-Down Ale
Date: 05/20/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Noog II

clear amber, whispy white head, big sweet piney aroma, sweet malt balanced by lots of bitternes leading to a long bitter finish, hop flavor shows up mid way through,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **4

Fits the style quite well. Arrogant Bastard-esque with some Red Rocket on the side. It has the whole copper malt meets resiny hops with a touch of caramel and toffee on the side thing going on. Pretty solid. Nothing to really complain about, other than it is nothing outstanding. Standard Lagunitas - ya know?