Lagunitas SUCKS and A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale

Lagunitas SUCKS - Brown Sugga' Substitute Ale (2013)

Winter Seasonal (Dec/Jan)

6 Pack (72 fl. oz.) / $10.99 USD / 7.85% ABV

About: "AKA Holiday Ale. This beer was originally brewed in 2011 as a Brown Shugga’ substitute, due to construction-induced capacity issues in our facility. However, we liked it so much it had to make a return trip. Net contents: Ounces and ounces of Malt, Hops, Yeast and water."

Thoughts: SUCKS poured a golden light orange with quite a bit of yellow in there. The head was huge to build but eventually popped down to a sliver that coated the top of the brew evenly. Lots of lacing as is usual with Lagunitas stuff. The beer is clear and clean looking.

This is by far one of the best smelling beers I've ever had the pleasure of holding up to my nose for an hour. It smells like tropical fruit juice candy!!! Absolutely amazing, and the scent is huge too. Nothing is hiding here. It's smells strong, and fresh, and just fucking glorious. Grapefruit and pineapple sexin' it up and oozing that love juice all over the damn place. The dank on it is so sweet that it's sticky and man, if this beer came in a smokable version... you know what I'm sayin'. ;)

Very nice balance on the taste. It's got a smooth as all hell light-malt base that's sweet and soothing while the hops bleed all over the tongue and engulf the mouth with their resiny presence. This beer is a complete blast of flavor from the moment it hits your lips and it just lasts forever, fading out ridiculously slow and never completely. Which is a great thing too, because you won't want this beer to end. It's got a peppered spiciness to it, it's bready, has the perfect amount of sweetness complimented by what could be overwhelming hop strength... but the hop strength is perfect. Just at the edge of being too much, the bitterness falls back at the exact right time and it's just beautiful. It's hazy, dank, and blissful to drink. This has to be one of the best beers I've ever had (good thing I got six and there's more at the stores), and I don't usually come out and say it but I'm giving SUCKS a near perfect beer score.

SUCKS is seriously drinkable, just as it is enjoyable to sip or take small gulps with. I could easily drink about twelve of these and it would be pure ecstasy. It's hard to think of a more accessible near-8% ABV brew from Cali that's easily obtainable and worthwhile. The question I'm asking myself right now is this: If SUCKS is so damn good, and it's a substitute ale for Brown Shugga', then how fucking good is that beer!? I've yet to drink it, so somebody let me know. NOTE: I think I read the other day that this beer has just gone full time. Congrats, SUCKS. Being a substitute sucks, and being a replacement ain't the greatest thing either, but getting a year round release without usurping another brew? That's some popularity.

Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale (2013)

Brewed and Bottled by Lagunitas Brewing Company, in Petaluma, CA. USA.

(Un)limited Release (Year Round).

12 fl. oz. (x6) / $10.99 USD / 7.5% ABV

About: "Brewed with 50% Wheat Malt and all the "C" hops. This special ale is something fairly new under the sun. It's got a lot of wheat, it's rich with hops, it finishes dry. We've watched with some amusement as the internet beer rating sites argue over how to classify it. You ever notice how everything has to be today's version of yesterday's whatever. Well, whatever. Sometimes we wonder what the world would be like if everything was perceived for what it is, and now what it reminds you of. The sun would rise everyday as if for the first time, you'd wake as if newly born, you'd see your lover next to you anew, the air would smell like flowers, work would be like the first day back in school, a beer would make your eyes roll back in your head in ecstasy... well, maybe not. Made with: Hops, malt, Hops, Hops, Yearst, Hops, Water, and Hops."

Thoughts: A little Sumpin' Sumpin' huh? Jason Voorhees would not approve! Drank the first four of these while watching Friday the 13'th Part 3 in 3-D with those shitty blue and red glasses that came with the DVD. Talk about a headache. It was pretty shoddy business, but at the beer made it a little better. Too bad I didn't find "an eyeball!!!1" in my beer though. 

Little Slutty Slutty poured a very light yellow with a soft shade of orange in there. Kinda like honey actually, with a one and a half finger white bubbly head and tons of carbonation. The beer is crystal (lake) clear.

Nice, crisp aroma. Getting pears in heavy syrup, and a lot of wheat in the background. The beer has a sweet almost cider-like undercurrent to it, but in the forefront and dominating the scent is just sweet, tropical hops. Pineapple, mango, soft apples, and a hint of zest and peels.

Strong flavor here. Tons of hops up front. A dry sweetness implodes, and an extremely gentle bitterness expands throughout the mouth. Pucker up and suck in some air and you'll get a slap of heavier bitter cold and yes, some noticeable alcohol strength. Hops and zest set off a tingling effect on the tongue, it's a little bit stinging, bubbly and bittersweet. But it's a really sweet bittersweet, like butterscotch candy, only an alcoholic version of it. There's a lot of lemony zest all over the back end of this one too. As it warms the flavors intensify and it gets really crisp, tart and sweet, but never rough or too strong.

Mouth feel, well, it kind of numbs the tongue which is weird. It's got a gentle watery texture but the heavy carbonation makes it tough to swallow. This is a solid brew, and probably the best Wheat Beer that I've ever had. For a Pale Ale it sure is hop forward and glorious. I don't like it as much as their "Sucks" brew, but I could still drown in this one. I'd like to try the variations they have on this one, particularly the Wild Ale version, as I'd probably like that one a bit more.

Anchor Summer Beer

Anchor Summer Beer (2012)

Summer Seasonal (April-October)

12 fl. oz. (x2) / $2.88 USD / 4.5% ABV

About: "Released each year in advance of the summer season, Anchor Summer Beer is an all-malt beer, with over 50% of its malt derived from malted wheat. It is fermented with a traditional top-fermenting "ale" yeast, yielding a clean, balanced flavor that highlights the refreshingly light flavor of malted wheat. The head is unusually abundant due to the natural protein deposits of wheat, with a thick consistency similar to meringue. Malts: Blend of 2-Row Pale and Malted Wheat / Hops: Goldings and Glacier."

Thoughts: Poured a very light yellow with a fluffy as all hell white head that came bursting over the top of the glass. Looks like of like whipped egg or cream.

The smell is very crisp, light citrus.

Taste is very heavy on the wheat with a dash of sweet lemon zest. It's a real gentle tasting beer, with a smooth malt flow that drifts into a slight haze. The first moment of each sip is a refreshing tingle. It's very clean tasting, aside from a little bit of grass towards the back of the mouth. After my second bottle it got a little metallic tasting, as the grassy undertones built and the sweet zesty citrus tones got clouded.

Mouth feel is light and bubbly. It's actually quite delightful feeling.

I'm confused as to why the description says this is an "all malt beer", and yet, the website states two types of hops and I get the sensation of hops in this. Though I'm not really a summer beer type of guy, I've been trying a few more lately and this one is pretty good. Not great, and not terribly interesting... but the light crisp nature of the brew and the tingling from the zest was fun while it lasted.

Sierra Nevada Old Chico

Sierra Nevada Old Chico Brand Crystal Wheat (2012)

Year Round (Local to CA.)

12 fl. oz. (x6) / $8.99 USD / 4.8% ABV

About: “Brewed using 65% wheat malt and 35% barley malt. This filtered wheat beer is light blonde in color, light bodied and has a wonderfully clean finish. This is a great choice for craft brew novices and beer aficionados alike.”

Thoughts: Old Chico poured an extremely clean, light golden amber yellow with a small fizzy white head. There's a medium amount of carbonation bubbles floating upward from all areas of the glass.

Scent is of low level malt, and wheat. It's very light, and there's not much to it as the smell isn't hidden or hard to get.

The taste is just like the scent. Wheat... lots of it! Light caramel, water and a slight bitter slap at the end. There's not much going on here.

Mouth is light, very crisp, refreshing - a great brew for older folks and people swimming in the community pool.

This is like a watered down version of their pale ale, only wheat based. It tastes better than other light beers, especially the mass produced shit, and it's decent for a wheat beer, but it's still a light beer (for Sierra Nevada) and that ain't my thing.

I never knew that this beer existed actually. When I saw it on the shelf in the supermarket I said to myself, "what the hell is this?" And on closer inspection I said aloud, "Sierra Nevada makes a light beer?!" What in the fuck for? But while I don't have a use for this brew, I can see why they put it out, as there is a demand from special people for light beers. And if you're a brewery that doesn't make one aside from Draft, then why the hell not? Then again, it's only sold in Chico, CA and now a limited surrounding area... so I guess I don't understand really.

Southern Tier IPA, Hop Sun and Phin and Matt's

Southern Tier IPA - India Pale Ale (2011)

Year Round Release
12 fl. oz. / $0.78 USD (Sale) / 7.3% ABV

About: "IPA stands for India Pale Ale and ours is an American version of the classic style. IPA’s namesake lies in its colonial roots. British soldiers on their way to India drank a lot of beer, but found it would go stale on the long voyages. Meanwhile, brewers knew that by adding more hops the beer would stay fresh. Voila! A new style was born and it is one we are proud to brew. Southern Tier IPA is triple hopped on its journey to your glass for a fully aromatic experience."

Thoughts: Poured a clear amber orange with a puffy two finger bone white head that slowly made its way down to a frothy one finger head of foamy goodness. I noticed as I was pouring this that a few small bits of hop flowers came out of the bottle... causing me to giggle mischievously like The Sinful Dwarf.

Wow. This is what it's all about. This is the kind of smell that you just want to breath it in all night while you sleep!

Major spices and haze hit the back of my throat, before a flow of circling biscuity malts and flowery hops roll around my mouth. Very peppery, malty and semi-sweet. For an IPA this one is superbly balanced. Whereas the hops in Hop Sun slightly overpower the wheat, the hops and malts here intertwine perfectly. The scent of hops in this IPA is a lot stronger than in the taste. The taste here is just fuckin' smooth as hell. Not a single sour note, just fresh and sweet hops with a brilliant malt backup.

Sweet and spicy. Very smooth. Little bit silky.

I believe this is Southern Tier's flagship beer. It's listed first on their website anyways. Aftertaste is a really cool kind of tingling peppercorn on the upper roof of the mouth. It's also pretty crisp, leaving behind no dryness but rather a clear mouth feel with lingering candy brew flavor.

Southern Tier Hop Sun - Summer Wheat Beer (2011)

Summer Seasonal (Limited Yearly Release - March)

12 fl. oz. / $1.79 USD / 5.1% ABV

About: "Pour Hop Sun Summer Wheat Beer into a pint glass, give it a long whiff and you’ll realize that this isn’t your average wheat beer. Filtered to a golden clarity and dry-hopped to perfection, Hop Sun is a fantastic session ale in which flavors of wheat, barley and hops commingle to a refreshing and zesty conclusion. Hints of lemon and sweet malts waft to the fore as a touch of bitterness contributes to Hop Sun’s bright finish. Enjoy Hop Sun all summer long as a perfect balance to your outdoor recreation. Summer never tasted so good."

Thoughts: Hop Sun pours a very light amber color that ends up resembling a bit of a yellowish lime green / orange mix with a stark white one inch bubbly head with a little bit of frothing. It's reletively transparant with only a few carbonation bubbles rising about.

Starts off with a mix of citrus and a little bit of pine. Wheat rounds out a malty ever flowing sensation. This is really a fantastic smelling beer.

The dry hopping they did for this beer hits me first, and then the taste of wheat just makes its way in waves before everything settles back down and the barley malt fades in. After breathing in there's a bit of a hop musk. I'm actually surprised that there are three types of malt in this one and only one variety of hop. Even though the name of this brew isn't Malt Sun, the hops here are pretty dominant. The hops used here were one of the two from their imperial Oat, because I'm getting the same sticky "dusty candy" aftertaste.

This beer is a bit light, very drinkable and is quite crisp.

Overall it's pretty good. For one of their session beers it sure does go down pretty damn smooth and it's nice to see what one of their "normal" beers tastes like. Seeing as I've tried most of their Imperial Bombers and have enjoyed them all, I figured that I'd like this as well. It's a good beer, but still there's that part of me that wishes it was a big bottle of the heavier stuff.

Southern Tier Phin and Matt's - Extraordinary Ale (2011)

Everyday Availability

12 fl. oz. / $0.78 USD (Sale) / 5.7% ABV

About: "When we sat down to collaborate on this beer, we knew we had to create something extraordinary. After sampling a wide array of great beers, we hit upon an idea: use vast amounts of whole hops, the finest malted barley North America has to offer, and crystal filtered artesian water. Thus creating this classic American style pale ale."

Thoughts: Poured a seriously light amber yellow with a huge fluffy and bubbly white head. Very minimal carbonation bubbles rising, and it's slightly hazy. The glass is looking pretty cool with all those bubbles clinging to the side like that.

Beautiful scent on this one. It's long and lingering. Candy apple sweet. A tingle of sweet hops with a very welcome flowy malt background. Nice.

Grassy hops. Caramel malts. This is a very pleasing beer. It's subtle, yet elegant tasting. You get this little hint of soft oven baked sweet rolls that are sprinkled with a peppery sugar... or a little bit of a caramel coating with not-really-cinnamon.

It's actually quite watery, goes down super smooth with a bit of a bubbly froth at the end of the gulp. Still, a bit more watery than usual though.

Overall, a pleasing taste all around. There's no super sweet, no bitter, no sour and no discomfort. It's just soft and smooth and like a watery candy. Hops and Malts balance equally and they're both identifiable. It's really done so well, even if a bit watery. So far I like this one the best out of the three standard Southern Tier brews that I've tried (Hop Sun and IPA). This one's Nice. Is it Extraordinary? I don't think I'd got that far.

Dogfish Head Ta Henket

Dogfish Head Ta Henket - Beer brewed with Za'atar, Doum Fruit and Chamomile (2011)

Brewed and Bottled by Dogfish Head Craft Brewing Inc., in Milton, DE. USA.
Occasional Rarity (Limited Release - December [when and if brewed]).

25.4 fl. oz. / $13.39 USD / 4.5% ABV

About: "Working with our archeologist friend Dr. Pat McGovern, this beer was created to incorporate the ancient ingredients and techniques described in Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Ta Henket is brewed with Emmer (an ancient form of wheat) and loaves of hearth-baked bread, and is flavored with Chamomile, Dom-Palm fruit and Za'atar (Middle Eastern herbs). To ferment Ta Henket, Sam and friends traveled to a date grove near the pyramids (Cairo), set out baited petri dishes and captured a native Egyptian yeast strain (referred to as Saccharomyces)."

Thoughts: Poured an ultra transparent almost yellow, light honey amber color with a stark white head that popped and bubbled like crazy. It settled down quickly enough with bits of larger and smaller bubbles, surrounded by the foamy middle and edges. Carbonation seems a rather light medium. 

Smells a bit malty, somewhat grassy. It's kind of like a sweet malt liquor. That must be the chamomile mixing with the Egyptian yeast.

Huh! It's pretty mellow. Very Light herbs, and that special yeast strain seems to be overpowering the doum fruit and chamomile. I actually expected a lot more chamomile than I'm getting here, but it's still blended right into the brew. It's peppery but not really spicy at all. It's bready, little hints of wood or wheat, and sprinkled with the flavors of a soft oregano and basil.

Pretty damn frothy and chewy at first. Gets a little watery once it starts to warm. After a short while it becomes almost intensely drying. 

Not at all unpleasant, but nothing really to get excited over. For the price I'd have to say that it's not worth it - if only to try once. I'll admit that I was a bit hyped up for this one, but it didn't really deliver at all. It's not a bad beer by any means, but I doubt this will be memorable at all aside from the very cool artwork and story that goes along with the brew. Hopefully this is a trend that Dogfish Head can break sooner than later. I've liked every one of their brews that I've tried, but these experimental beers are horribly overpriced.

Shipyard Applehead

Shipyard Applehead (2011)

Winter Seasonal - December through March (New Release)

12 fl. oz. / $1.85 USD / 4.5% ABV

About: "Master brewer Alan Pugsley has combined the subtle sweetness of cinnamon and apple with a clean, refreshing wheat ale to create a whole new beer experience. Malt: 2-Row British Pale Ale, Light Munich, Malted Wheat / Hops: Willamette, Hallertau / Yeast: Top-Fermenting English." 

Thoughts: Poured a very light and translucent Granny Smith apple green with a ton of carbonation bubbles going crazy and a little white head that vanished in an instant. 

Hmm. Smells pretty good actually. The spices and brew base are obviously a clone of their Pumpkinhead, except this smells really fresh. Incredibly fresh even, and even like a McDonald's apple pie (is that a contradiction?). Haven't had one of those in about fifteen years but this smells like I remember them.

Huh. Not sure if the smell trumps the taste, but that was the first thought that popped into my tiny brain, so it must, right? The smell actually closely resembles the taste and though pretty watered down feeling, there is this incredible little burst of pie crust that's coming through and quite simply saves the beer from the (b)land of oblivion. Must be the wheat background! The spices aren't bad or overpowering, and it tastes clean. It's sweet, and not at all sour.

This is pretty damn watery. Thin. And most surely gets boring after one beer.

Well, I finally broke down and tried it. I'm pretty hard to please when it comes to Apples, Cider and especially Beer with "apples". This beer isn't horrendous though. It's a great deal better than their lazy ass production of Pumpkinhead beers from last year. What, did it all just become too routine? "The zombie hordes will still buy it even if we don't try." This Applehead tastes like it would be on tap, freshly popped like a new cherry. I guess that's the key: a little effort. It is after all a new product. Will this beer steadily decline in quality over the next year or two? I guess we'll see.