Lagunitas Brewing Company Imperial Stout
What the brewers say
“Dark, thick, and scary. Made with plenty of highly roasted malted barley to give the beer a richness and smoky roasty depth, sort of like a hydraulic sandwich in a glass.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Moderate caramel, a touch of licorice and molasses, dark chocolate, moderate coffee, moderate smoke phenol. Medium alcohol heat, roasted peanuts, hint of cacao nibs, rose esters. Moderate citrus hops.”
Flavor: “Malt flavors are excellent—dark chocolate, dark roasted coffee, slightly caramelized sweet finish. Moderate smoke. Hint of piney hops bitterness. Light body. Sweetened black coffee with a boozy shot added. Dark fruit reminiscent of abbey styles. I’m not sure what they’re attempting with this one.”
Overall: “The flavor profile is excellent, but the body is a bit light to support all the malt complexity. Caramel coffee—like a (boozy) specialty drink from the coffee shop. A touch of Belgian ester character.”
