Lagunitas Brewing Company Undercover Investigation Shutdown Ale American Strong Ale at 9.3% ABV (C$2.83 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before)
Pours clear red-tinged pale amber with a fat finger of rocky white head, great retention and heavy lacing. (5/5) Nose is brown sugar, raisins, dank piney resin, citrus, mild boozy fruit. (8/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Medium body, lively to moderate carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
Wow – that’s a whole lotta hops for a non-IPA. But, it’s almost all on the nose and relatively little on the tongue (which is why I’m thinking it’s a lot of dry hopping, as opposed to in the boil). Interesting. (And the name is pretty much what you think. Let’s just say, the residents of Sonoma County are/were somewhat more accepting of certain other intoxicants than the state Alcohol Beverage Control, and that Lagunitas’ tastings reflected that sense of accommodation.) Aesthetically, you’d be hard-pressed to find a prettier beer – seriously, I can’t think of one. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
