The somewhat murky depths of the orange-gold beer holds quite a bit of carbonation, and this glass filled up quite a bit before I let it go down. As a result of this process, I can certainly say that there's going to be some sporadic lacing. Also interesting is the giant dollop of bubbles that has coalesced in the center of the beer. True to its name, it smells citrusy, but there is a yeast and a resin that seem to be tagging along.First sip is surprisingly smooth. With the citrus and the yeast, I wasn't expecting smoothness, and their flavors are certainly still very forward. Nevertheless, the overall effect is quite smooth. With the way hops were featured on the label, I was almost guessing that this should probably have been some kind of India pale ale, but the smoothness is not the kind that I would typically find in an IPA. Nope, this has something else going for it.
Tip-in is bread malt with orange rind, tangerine, grapefruit, and mango. The middle has carbonation and acid hiss around the top of the mouth while the much smoother beverage of bread and cracker malt laced with all the citrus oozes underneath. The finish hits a little dry with some bitterness, a cloud of flowers, and then a trail off of resin.
Bottom Line: Smooth drinking and flavorful. This is what I like about Lagunitas.
3.25/5
