Rating 90
Style IPA
Produced In Petaluma, Calif.
United States
ABV 6.2%
Availability Year Round
Reviewed By
Review Updated 2022-08-09

Lagunitas IPA Review

In-your-face aromas and flavors are the name of the game at many IPA breweries today, but revisiting Lagunitas IPA — a beer originally introduced in 1995 — is a deft reminder that even old-school IPAs can practice restraint. Lagunitas IPA is bold in its own way, with citrusy, grassy aromas and pithy bitterness on the palate. However, where West Coast beers of this era leaned hard into bitterness, maltiness, or both, this beer is strikingly balanced. A rounded, very slightly sweet malt flavor balances out the medley of hops. Its flavor won't knock your socks off, but that's the point — this is a beer you'll just want to drink and stick with for a couple of rounds, without thinking too much about its sale to Heineken. It's one of few IPAs that is as dependable as a neighborhood pub — and it's probably the best IPA on tap there, too.

Lagunitas IPA Pros And Cons

Pros
  • Well balanced — not too bitter or overly juicy
  • Widely available
Cons
  • Flavor profile likely won’t wow modern craft beer drinkers
  • At 6.2% it’s not sessionable nor ideal for day drinking

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90
POINTS
Lagunitas IPA
In-your-face aromas and flavors are the name of the game at many IPA breweries today, but revisiting Lagunitas IPA — a beer originally introduced in 1995 — is a deft reminder that even old-school IPAs can practice restraint. Lagunitas IPA is bold in its own way, with citrusy, grassy aromas and pithy bitterness on the palate. However, where West Coast beers of this era leaned hard into bitterness, maltiness, or both, this beer is strikingly balanced. A rounded, very slightly sweet malt flavor balances out the medley of hops. Its flavor won't knock your socks off, but that's the point — this is a beer you'll just want to drink and stick with for a couple of rounds, without thinking too much about its sale to Heineken. It's one of few IPAs that is as dependable as a neighborhood pub — and it's probably the best IPA on tap there, too.

Reviewed On: 12-27-2020
90
POINTS
Lagunitas IPA
In-your-face aromas and flavors are the name of the game at many IPA breweries today, but revisiting Lagunitas IPA — a beer originally introduced in 1995 — is a deft reminder that even old-school IPAs can practice restraint. Lagunitas IPA is bold in its own way, with citrusy, grassy aromas and pithy bitterness on the palate. However, where West Coast beers of this era leaned hard into bitterness, maltiness, or both, this beer is strikingly balanced. A rounded, very slightly sweet malt flavor balances out the medley of hops. Its flavor won't knock your socks off, but that's the point — this is a beer you'll just want to drink and stick with for a couple of rounds, without thinking too much about its sale to Heineken. It's one of few IPAs that is as dependable as a neighborhood pub — and it's probably the best IPA on tap there, too.

Reviewed On: 12-27-2020