Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale

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

Pours a clear amber color with a large ivory head. The nose is on the weak side - with gentle notes of pine, citrus, and hops. Mild malt flavors are dominated by strong citrus, pine, and hop flavors, with a good hop kick in the finish.

22 oz bomber, no freshness date noted.

Clear copper with a thick tan head and sticky lace.

Aroma is caramel and grapefruit and pine.

Flavor starts out sweet with sticky caramel flavors, then ruby red grapefruit with sugar, and a light dusting of piney resin.

Finish does get a bit sticky towards the end of the glass, but it has enough hops to keep it from going over the edge.

Reports of this being similar to a Arrogant Bastard put it firmly on my must get radar screen. During my last visit to Green’s, I was able to pick up a bomber to fulfill my suppressed cravings for the unavailable Stone offering. When poured into a pint glass, the clear body looked a lovely shade of copper, and the head was beige and craggy. The aroma was fantastically hoppy, and a little alcoholic as well. The taste was almost as citric hoppy as a DIPA (which some might still consider this to be), but the malt backbone was toastier (which makes me think this is more of an American Strong Ale exemplar). The alcohol was proudly showcased in an “if you got it, flaunt it” manner. Apricots, peaches, and mangoes were recalled as the residual sugars made themselves evident. A big beer in every regard, so a definite sipper. Sticky clingy body, and a bitter aftertaste finished this neat limited release package. More similar to Bigfoot than Arrogant Bastard if you were to ask me, and that is just a fine place to be.

bottle. pour is a reddish orange brown with a rootbeer float like head. booze is there in the nose, frutiy.the bitter flvor at first sip continue throughout this eventually finishing to a point that it is a burning flavor and sensation.the great thing about lagunitas is that even if i buy a beer like this that i don’t care for it is not breaking the bank. the best per dollar brewery out there, now i’m off to have a sirius to get the resin burnt taste out of my mouth.

22. Pours crystal clear medium rubied amber. Towering off-white head with thick moussy rocks and suds knocking around. Gorgeous, bruising-looking beer. Big tingly, salty, floral and decidedly cheeba-like hop nose. Not much else in the way of aromatics to keep it company, but with a hop stank like that ya got nothin’ to cry about. Body’s decidedly on the medium side, not especially thick at all. Bold attack, though, since the carb is fully tangible, and the flavors are forward. This tastes like it would get pretty biscuity as it warms, but it’s really more like a slightly caramel-y IPA than an ASA. The hops are that prevalent. I really couldn’t care less about style pigeonholes (it doesn’t affect my score in the slightest), just using that as a descriptor. Gotta be one of the more refreshing and bracing 9.9% beers I’ve had--the booze is well-hidden and the flavor is definitely more invigorating than it is heavy. Nice stuff. Yet another winsome ASA from Petaluma.

Marietta, Ga. - Bullock’s Wine & Spirits, 22 oz bottle. Sparkling dark copper pour with a thick frothy creamy off-white head that leaves nice trailing lace. Piney, citrusy, sprucey, grapefruit - aroma and flavor all intermingles - we’ve been down this road before and its all good. Yeah - some of these Laguntias specials start tasting the same - but you know what - they all taste great. Creamy, thick mouthfeel - goes down smooth -excellent nightcap.

22oz bottle. pours dense deep mahogany with white head. nose has lots of citrus hop notes, and some caramel notes. flavor is nice and hoppy, citrus, grapefruit, and fruit punch, with a big malty backbone. more on the side of a iipa on the asa spectrum. alc. well hidden. carb. smooth. one of the better lag. brews i’ve had.

Amber body, off-white head with some lacing, mild hops and some sweet malt in the nose. This is 9.9%? Hides it well. Moderate bitterness on a semi-sweet base; does not blow me away.