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Beer Reviews: Lagunitas Brown Shugga
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The transition to winter seasonals is here, my favorite time of the brew year (see what I did there?). No, there was nothing wrong with Fall, it was a pretty interesting and satisfying exploration for me. Some delights, some duds. Oh Fall beer, I would certainly miss you if you were gone for good, but you’re not because DFH Punkin’ is still on the shelves.
The first time I had this brew it was on-tap at the Ginger Man in Fort Worth back in February. The brother and I were there, throwing darts and such in their warm, cabin-esque tavern. Winter always seemed like the right time for the Ginger Man. I spotted the tap handle, the name seemed familiar beyond The Stones song and was I ever in for a treat.
Having the first sip at the bar, my eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas. So, I took off, dodging and weaving through the crowd, jumping over chairs, running on tables, pushing over old ladies, using all my might and concentration to keep the glass level. I reached the porch gasping for air with my tongue hanging from my mouth. My brother knew something was up, “What is it boy? Trouble at the old mill? Nazi invasion and final solution?” I could only bark and shake my head when I handed over the pint of Lagunitas Brown Shugga.
This was original Nintendo good, I’m talking Super-Mario-Brothers-3-realizing-that-mustached-Italian plumber-can-fly good. The Lagunitas brewery is up in Petaluma, CA which is just southwest of Sacramento. Their Brown Shugga pours a dark amber haze that is pushing the brown side with a white head. I would appreciate more foam, one of the few knocks against this one.
I had a much easier time getting a handle on the aroma than I did at the pub. The floral scent overwhelms the pint which, toward the middle, is downright vigorous.
The flavors are almost too many to sort through, every sip is something new, unique. The delectable brown sugar enriches the edges of the tongue that surround a middle that sways from citrus, to pine, to ginger, molasses, peppermint, coriander, bread, caramel, maple, candy, Xanax, hundred dollar bills and babies with a hop character on the end. Oh and according to the bottle it’s 9.84% by volume.
“I like this much carbonation,” said Julie who said more than she thinks. This is what lightens the beer and gives you a chance to sort through that little list above. Interesting enough, the weight of Brown Shugga will hit you later, but it’s light in your mouth (that’s what she said! Tee-hee!).
I suggest--no, I implore you: get to BevMo, shell out the $10.29 for a sixer--no, get a case in case of nuclear holocaust or final solution.
Overall: A+
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