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Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale
Lagunitas Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Lagunitas Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
Ranked #68 - ABV:
- 9.6%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #7,457 - Avg:
- 4.07 | pDev: 10.07%
- Reviews:
- 1,097
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Yesterday at 04:19 AM
- Added:
- Mar 10, 2009
- Wants:
- 148
- Gots:
- 1,096
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding


Notes:
Our malty and rich beer with a snappy hop finish truly defies style…Imperial Mild?...Uber ESB?... We do know for sure that it is Unforgiven and Unrepentant.
In remembrance of the 2005 St. Patrick's Day massacre and in commemoration of the 20-day suspension that followed, Lagunitas brewed this especially bitter ale. See, the ABC conducted an undercover investigation of our brewery, finding us guilty of operating a “Disorderly House.” We did the crime. We did the time. We got the bragging rights.
In remembrance of the 2005 St. Patrick's Day massacre and in commemoration of the 20-day suspension that followed, Lagunitas brewed this especially bitter ale. See, the ABC conducted an undercover investigation of our brewery, finding us guilty of operating a “Disorderly House.” We did the crime. We did the time. We got the bragging rights.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
4.1/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Notes from 2011-12. 12oz bottle into a pint glass.
L: copper, fairly clear. Lite tan head.
S: caramel candy, earthy and fruity.
T: malty, sweet with a fine hop bite that doesn't go too far. Some pine lingers.
F: fairly smooth drinking with a medium heavy mouthfeel. On par with Lagunitas.
O: reminds me of a Christmas ale but not as bitter. Excellent.
Oct 15, 2021L: copper, fairly clear. Lite tan head.
S: caramel candy, earthy and fruity.
T: malty, sweet with a fine hop bite that doesn't go too far. Some pine lingers.
F: fairly smooth drinking with a medium heavy mouthfeel. On par with Lagunitas.
O: reminds me of a Christmas ale but not as bitter. Excellent.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.36/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.36/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.6%, OG 1085, IBU 66.6. Beautiful amber to copper colour, moderate off-white head. Strong aroma of fruity American hops, old marmalade, caramel and crystal malts, alcohol. The flavour is very sweet, and the alcohol is not well hidden, but soon overpowered by a massive hoppy attack. Warming mouth- and throatfeel.Maybe too much of everything, but still a guilty pleasure to drink.
Apr 18, 2021Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania
3.93/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.93/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
The pour from a tap into a plain pint glass brings an amber-brown fluid, closest to 16 on the SRM chart. There's a nice light biege head atop, but attention quickly shifts to the enticing malty hop aroma. There is rich body here, as evidenced by all the pretty glass lacing. The initial taste is good, malty but with some hop contributions. What kills the enjoyment is the cloyingly sweet after taste. If a honey like finish to a beer sounds good, here it is.
Oct 09, 2020Reviewed by maxpower from Missouri
4/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle pours a deep amber in color with a beautiful creamy beige head that leaves sticky sheets of lace in the glass. Strong hop aromas of grapefruit and pine. Full bodied with a thick creamy mouthfeel. Flavors of pine and grapefruit. More of a strong IPA.
Jun 05, 2020Reviewed by JasonQKing from Texas
4.91/5 rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.91/5 rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This here is the one that turned me onto American Pale Ales.
I think APA is now my favorite beer and it's thanks to Undercover Investigation Shutdown and others like it.
Doesn't look or smell too special but it tastes like a million bucks. For the high abv, you mostly just taste the hops and it is DELISH.
One of my top 5 beers I always look for and enjoy in season.
Great job, Lagunitas!
Jan 11, 2020I think APA is now my favorite beer and it's thanks to Undercover Investigation Shutdown and others like it.
Doesn't look or smell too special but it tastes like a million bucks. For the high abv, you mostly just taste the hops and it is DELISH.
One of my top 5 beers I always look for and enjoy in season.
Great job, Lagunitas!
Reviewed by IKR from California
4.08/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Clear amber color with a modest-sized light beige head that slowly faded. Nice looking beer.
Smell: Pine forward hop aromas with some mild fruit notes.
Taste: Moderate nondescript fruit notes with some moderate pine hop notes. The beer starts off mildly sweet but works its way to a fairly dry final finish.
Mouth-feel: On the light side of medium bodied with a medium level of carbonation.
Overall: A good easy drinking Strong Ale,
Jul 09, 2019Smell: Pine forward hop aromas with some mild fruit notes.
Taste: Moderate nondescript fruit notes with some moderate pine hop notes. The beer starts off mildly sweet but works its way to a fairly dry final finish.
Mouth-feel: On the light side of medium bodied with a medium level of carbonation.
Overall: A good easy drinking Strong Ale,
Reviewed by manoshandsoffate from Pennsylvania
4.07/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This is a real treat, bought as part of a mix-a-six at Bartonsville Giant. Poured out of 12 oz. bottle into pint glass.
L: Pours a rich cascading copper amber, with a big solid head that slowly recedes, leaving plenty of sticky lacing behind. Hazier than most beers I drink.
Smell: Sweet but rich. I detect rye bread, malt, toasted caramel, and honey. Notes of vanilla and tobacco emerge as it warms. Also a very mild, almost stale fruit note.
Taste: Luscious and luxurious. At first the hops tingle your tongue with bitterness, then you get the sweetness of the caramel and malts. There's something complex and smokey towards the back of the throat, like beef jerky. No burn whatsoever, and no tricks to hide the booze. For a beer of this alcohol content it is remarkably well balanced.
Feel: Very little carbonation. Still, the beer doesn't feel flat or sticky at all. Very smooth and clean, somewhat chewy and thick but not overly heavy.
Overall: Great beer. Most of the time I'm too broke to buy stuff like this but I decided to treat myself tonight. I'm glad I did. This isn't the most refreshing beer but it might just be the most palatable high-ABV offering you can buy.
May 14, 2019L: Pours a rich cascading copper amber, with a big solid head that slowly recedes, leaving plenty of sticky lacing behind. Hazier than most beers I drink.
Smell: Sweet but rich. I detect rye bread, malt, toasted caramel, and honey. Notes of vanilla and tobacco emerge as it warms. Also a very mild, almost stale fruit note.
Taste: Luscious and luxurious. At first the hops tingle your tongue with bitterness, then you get the sweetness of the caramel and malts. There's something complex and smokey towards the back of the throat, like beef jerky. No burn whatsoever, and no tricks to hide the booze. For a beer of this alcohol content it is remarkably well balanced.
Feel: Very little carbonation. Still, the beer doesn't feel flat or sticky at all. Very smooth and clean, somewhat chewy and thick but not overly heavy.
Overall: Great beer. Most of the time I'm too broke to buy stuff like this but I decided to treat myself tonight. I'm glad I did. This isn't the most refreshing beer but it might just be the most palatable high-ABV offering you can buy.
Reviewed by penguinsgoboom from California
4.09/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a one finger head. Deep caramel amber.
S: Sugary piney hops. Molasses, dark citrus, a nice pungency that keeps it grounded. Lemon to balance it out. Alcohol is definitely present
T: Starts off with a bready sweetness, culminating in a spicy grapefruity taste before a mild hop bitterness creeps and fills the mouth. The hop sensation lingers for awhile, creating a slight warming sensation.
O: The alcohol is hidden well. This is a sticky sweet malty beer that's saved by a hop cleanse after every sip
Apr 28, 2019S: Sugary piney hops. Molasses, dark citrus, a nice pungency that keeps it grounded. Lemon to balance it out. Alcohol is definitely present
T: Starts off with a bready sweetness, culminating in a spicy grapefruity taste before a mild hop bitterness creeps and fills the mouth. The hop sensation lingers for awhile, creating a slight warming sensation.
O: The alcohol is hidden well. This is a sticky sweet malty beer that's saved by a hop cleanse after every sip
Reviewed by emyers from Illinois
4.15/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.
Cloudy amber with a thin off-white head.
Nose: pine/floral hops, biscuity toasted malt, and caramelized sugar.
Taste: Caramel malt up front, floral hops, and a nice dose of buttering hops on the finish.
Feel: medium body, medium-low carbonation. Very drinkable.
Apr 18, 2019Cloudy amber with a thin off-white head.
Nose: pine/floral hops, biscuity toasted malt, and caramelized sugar.
Taste: Caramel malt up front, floral hops, and a nice dose of buttering hops on the finish.
Feel: medium body, medium-low carbonation. Very drinkable.
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania
3.59/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.59/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Definitely defies what it is. On tap at Industry Public House with Leah. Hoppy, malty at the same time. Yes, rich. Heavy on caramel. Deep rich Amber color. Nice beer. Strong alcohol.
Apr 16, 2019
Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
4558 ratings
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