After a year long hiatus, Brown Shugga’ is back. When I tried the 2010 release I was blown away by the sweetness, but this time around, I was surprised by the hops. Can Lagunitas make a malty beer? Brown Shugga’ has all the classic Lagunitas flavors like tangerines. But then there is the brown sugar and caramel. The whole thing is new and unique. 

Little Sumpin’ Wild is a strange little beer, all hops with a slightly yeasty, spicy finish. It’s fermented with a Belgian yeast strain, sort of different, but it is classic Lagunitas character, tropical mangoes and oranges. I’m not sure if Sumpin’ Wild is an IPA or a hybrid, but I like it.

High-res More drinks with Sarah’s friends in this dark, dark hotel bar, the Driftwood Room. It was great, but terrible for pictures. I had the daily pint, Project X from Cascade Lakes Brewing. It was Kolsch-like, a little bit bitter, a little bit lemon, and a little bit crackery. Crisp and summery, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn it was secretly a lager. I followed that up with an Upright #4. I couldn’t enjoy it because my mouth was on fire from a Thai chili pepper hidden in my Thai chili fries. I was a little bit disappointed to find a lemon wedge in my glass but that’s the way it is some times. #4 is a wit beer, but all I could taste was lemon juice. I finished the night with a Lagunitas Pils which was delicious. It’s the fruitiest pilsner I have ever tasted, crisp apples and maybe an orange. Overall a good night in a new bar.

More drinks with Sarah’s friends in this dark, dark hotel bar, the Driftwood Room. It was great, but terrible for pictures. I had the daily pint, Project X from Cascade Lakes Brewing. It was Kolsch-like, a little bit bitter, a little bit lemon, and a little bit crackery. Crisp and summery, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn it was secretly a lager. I followed that up with an Upright #4. I couldn’t enjoy it because my mouth was on fire from a Thai chili pepper hidden in my Thai chili fries. I was a little bit disappointed to find a lemon wedge in my glass but that’s the way it is some times. #4 is a wit beer, but all I could taste was lemon juice. I finished the night with a Lagunitas Pils which was delicious. It’s the fruitiest pilsner I have ever tasted, crisp apples and maybe an orange. Overall a good night in a new bar.

Back at the Bye & Bye

Tonight, I took my brother out for birthday beers a month after the fact.

I tried to explain to him the delicious possibilities in malts and hops and yeasts and water. I had a little glass of Mikkeller Beer Geek Stout and Nate had a Franziskaner Hefeweizen. The Mikkeller was super chocolaty, and the Franziskaner was super banana-y, and both were delicious. When the food came I got an Epic Spiral Jetty IPA which paired well with the spicy salsa. Nate had a Lagunitas pilsner which was super crisp and refreshing. 

Nate liked all the beers I suggested, so I win.

Holiday Ale Festival

None of these beers really merited a full pint, but they were interesting but not always in a good way.

Burnside Brewery Barrel Aged Permafrost:  Smells like candy. Tasted like an aged Ninkasi IPA. Sweet and hoppy.

Upright Brewing, Provision: Smells like a sour beer, tastes like a sour beer, sort of like a beer/wine hybrid. 

Gilgamesh Brewing, Chocolate Mint Stout: minty, chocolaty, what the fucky.  

Fearless Brewing, Mjolnir Imperial IPA: The usual IIPA but too sweet.

Fort George, Kentucky Girl: Like an iced black coffee with cherries. Interesting and not terrible.

Lompoc Brewing, Cherry Christmas: Cherry wheat ale. Eh.

Deschutes Brewery, Twisted Winter: Fruity but dark, sour apple.

Lagunitas Brewing, Gnarly Wine: Now we know, barley wine is like an even sweeter imperial IPA.