Lagunitas Brewing Company Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale American Pale Wheat Ale at 7.5% ABV (C$3.50 at South Trail Co-Op, 355 ml, bottle date 16-Dec-2014)
Pours clear pale gold with one finger of rocky white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Nose is floral, pine resin, wheat, citrus and stone fruit, pale malt. (9/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderately strong bitter. (8/10) Light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
That’s a seriously drinkable – and seriously dangerous – beer. A lovely decently crisp finish encourages the next sip, and the complete lack of any hint of the 7.5% ABV provides no warning whatsoever. Nicely complex aromas and smooth wheat ale flavour. However, the smoothness of the flavour can tend to come across as a slight dulling of what used to be a bright IPA, instead of an intentional hefeweizen/kristallweizen character. I also find the body a bit too light given the complex flavour, and I’d like to see better retention and lacing. Those are, however, minor quibbles about what is in fact a damn fine beer. (18/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
