Lagunitas Brewing Company

Founded in 1993, Lagunitas Brewery faced a few problems. The subject of finding a permanent home posed a severe problem for Lagunitas. They faced public discord from locals in West Marin California, who hated the idea of a brewery located in their city, and uprooted their efforts and moved into Petaluma. While Lagunitas initially stated that they outgrew this location, the fact remains that West Marin California did not possess the stones necessary to support a growing brewing juggernaught. I award Lagunitas three stars in the history category for perseverance and getting driven out of town.

The founder of Lagunitas Tony Magee is a true entrepreneur. Over the past 18 years, Tony continuously tried to expand the scope of Lagunitas, finding resistance at almost every turn. He bought a location in Point Reyes Station to plant hops and graze sheep. At this same location, he attempted to plant grapes in order to support an in house distillery. Tony intended on producing both brandy, vodka, and a few other items. Obviously, the locals could not stomach even a small-scale producer of spirits in the local area. This idea seems abandoned now since Lagunitas Brewery is pumping $9,500,000 into expanding their current brewing capacity.

Lagunitas, regardless to the opposition continues to gain results and act as one of the fastest growing craft breweries in the United States. Tony Magee appears not to sweat the small things, such as disappointments, and of course, everything is a small thing. Their annual revenue is roughly $2,700,000 at this point while producing only 100,000 barrels of brew. Once their slated expansion is completed, they will be producing an estimated 600,000 barrels.

This brewing company embraces adversary and rightfully claim that they can make beer anywhere and with anything. On a personal note, I hope they continue to make beer out of things other than asphalt and the surface of the moon. Lagunitas is one of the greatest IPA and Pale Ale makers in the United States. These particular products hold a technical perfection and style that few craft brewers can replicate.

If you have never tried a Lagunitas IPA or Pale Ale, put it on your to do list or your bucket list. Lagunitas rightfully earned their primacy in the creation of highly desirable and pleasurable IPAs. In the future, we might even get to witness first hand a brewing battle between Lagunitas and Dogfish Head in a classic East Coast vs. West Coast battle royal for the hearts and minds of hop lovers everywhere. Now that would be something to rap about…

The only issue that anyone could ever have with Lagunitas is there complete nonsensical gibberish they use in their promotions. It appears that they hired a handful of writers from the music industry that write dust covers for albums. You just wonder if they are violating any animal cruelty laws by employing those illiterate monkeys.

The story the Lagunitas professes for this particular ale is in complete anarchy, however; it is not important. It is essential to point out that stories that consist of phlegm and an eyeball falling into a glass of beer in Cleveland or Cincinnati does not hold much if any humor if everyone struggles like a Kindergartner trying to read it. The Hairy Eyeball Ale gains consideration as an American Strong Ale. This category continues to grow at an increasing rate amongst the numerous craft brewers across the United States. The strong ale category allows breweries to play jazz with their skills. In other words, improvise, adapt, and overcome. While there is some technical requirements with strong ale, by no means is there a defined outcome, but some seem to play it safe. Lagunitas for some strange reason contented themselves to color between the lines, though this is hardly a critical statement, with their Hairy Eyeball Ale.

Hairy Eyeball Ale holds a soul sucking 9% abv, after a six-pack, it is easy to feel more than a little tipsy. The ale displays the regal colors of a royal cloak dyed dark red. The head flows to the top stacking like the exhaust from a rocket ship headed to places unknown. Wait, after three ales, you just do not care where the rocket ship is going… The head is easily controllable and expresses itself a warm espresso color with finite bubble forming a rich cream. As the foam descends, it gently brushes the sides of the glass like an artist. The head subsides into a thin lace, which eventually disappears.

The aromas of pine laced with pineapple dominate the olfactory senses. These aromas lead the charge and pave the way for the delicate and rich aroma of chocolate that chases upon their heels. The flavors seemed separated from the aromas as a milky sensation hits the tongue displaying hints of chocolate and a perfect balance between aromatic and bitter hops. A heavy cream completely saturates the tongue and the flavors quickly fade.

This particular beverage screams for a pairing with rich fatty steaks grilled to absolute perfection. Another outstanding choice consists of a thick buffalo steak drizzled with a decadent chocolate sauce.

Thankfully, Lagunitas’s squadrons of flying monkeys have not yet fully destroyed the readability of the marketing material for this particular ale. Perhaps they found a new boy or girl band’s dust cover to write…

Little Sumpin’ is a hybrid ale, it fits into no distinct category that is known yet. This is due to the brew itself consisting of more parts than Frankenstein. This particular category will continue to grow all across the brewing world, since brewers want to escape the shackles of technical brewing. These shackles do not favor a craft brewery, who truly attempts to please the consumer. Instead, technical standards act as a set of industry safeguards that shield the brewing giants from falling flat on their face. This gives companies such as Coors and Budweiser the ability to claim some bogus argument about their purity. It is like a porno star claiming virginity…

Little Summpin’ posses a robust 7.5% abv that hungers extensively for a multitude of brain cells leaving a drinker in a zombie like state. With drool pooling at the corners of their mouth, it is hard to determine if drinkers want more or if they finally developed a taste for human fare. The flesh offers a delightful yellow orange glow like a yield signal on a traffic light. The head is slightly yellow and possess a hauntingly delightful staying power. Instead of lace, the foam forms a muffin top.

The aromas are the equivalent of a fruit salad with a pine freshener hung above it. These aromas are truly decadent and make a Little Summpin’ a little summpin’ special. The flavors of a multitude of fruit gracefully bounce across the tongue igniting sparks along the taste buds. Your senses indicate an invasion of apple, pineapple, citrus fruit, and banana. Following a long easy swallow, a piney flavor intensifies on the tongue before fading into silence.

Little Summpin’ is perfect guest for summer lawn and patio parties bringing a delightful new personality to the arena to meet. It pairs perfectly with fruit dishes, tropical fruit relishes and sauces with shrimp and fish, cheese smeared with fruit sauce, and acts as a perfect aperitif.