Mike's Beer of the Week

Beer Information

Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company

Beer Name: Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale

Beer Style: Double IPA

Abv.: 7.85%

Serving Glassware: Tulip, Pint

Serving Temp.: 50-55 deg. F.

Packaging: 6-pk 12oz bottles

Price: N/A

Availability: One-time Release

Pairings: Fish (haddock, shrimp), Burgers

Mike's Ratings (1-5)

Overall Grade/Rate: A/4.53

Appearance: 4

Aroma: 4.5

Taste: 4.5

Mouthfeel: 5

Drinkability: 4.5

BeerAdvocate Avg. Rate: A/4.27

Mike's Description
Thanks to Matt for this phenomenal rarity!
 

Appearance - Light golden color that doesn't suggest a Double IPA, but a lighter lager. Minimal head that fades almost immediately. Having trouble believing that this beer is a DIPA at this point.

Aroma - And here is where the style is given away. Tons of fruit and floral aroma radiating out of the glass. Hard to specify the fruit at this point, but definitely some expected citrusy esters. Minimal piney notes that often dominate this category.

Taste - The citrusy character is much more overwhelming here suggesting plenty of lemon and lime. The pine taste is slightly more pronounced and is complemented by some sweeter fruits such as pear and apple. Faint orange notes are present as well leading to an extremely well balanced flavor.

Mouthfeel - The previously mentioned fruit lingers from this surprisingly lighter-bodied brew. Although the fruit presence shows fortitude in terms of sweetness, the furtive hops do their job.

Overall - Fantastic name for this beer, and Lagunitas...you don't suck. For "screwing up this badly", as you suggest on the label, you've still obtained insanely high ratings for this beer. I do miss Brown Sugga', but this is a fantastic substitute that many breweries would strive and fail to obtain.