Barrel Aged Brown Shugga'
Lagunitas Brewing Company

What a great beer. As refined as Lagunitas Lil Sumptin IPA, but more sloppy like of barrel full of sweet molasses froth...bourbon notes. Sweet in the back of the throat. Straight out the bottle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a- very nice reddish brown color with good lacing and about 1 1/2 finger worth of off white head

s-very nice aroma of hops that is flowery and citrus, not much notable malt aromas

t- tastes isnt to over powering bitter very smooth and not overwhelming for being higher alcohol

m- good full body and isnt to harsh

d- overall this is a pretty good beer not overwhelming bitter and good balances to this beer

On cask at the Rose & Crown a few weeks ago. From notes jotted down when I came home. Interestingly, I hated this for the same reasons that largadeer loved it. Then again, he loves -bals unapologetically.

A: Pours a very hazy brown body with a small, short-lived beige head as expected from a cask ale.

S: Bourbon. Bourbon. Bourbon. Some vanilla, oak, and hints of brown shugga-... er, sugar.

T: Same as the nose. Very bourbon-dominated. After a while I felt I was drinking bourbon wood juice. Vanilla popped up periodically, with some hints of brown sugar and what seemed to be citrus hops, but by far this is an experiment where the base beer is completely obliterated.

M: Medium-bodied. Low carbonation, even still. The flavors (or rather, flavor) come out strongly.

D: I just didn't like this. Too much bourbon, not enough base beer. Not recommended.

Cask version at the Brick Store for the 12th anniversary party.

Pours a solid brown color with a large-bubbled tan head that dissipates quickly into a wispy layer on top and a thin ring around the glass.

Smells of bourbon, vanilla, sweet malts, and brown sugar. The nose definitely benefits from the barrel.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sweet malt flavors kick things off and are soon joined by a good hit of bourbon and lighter hits of vanilla. Midway through the sip brown sugar flavors come out with a small fruit twang.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a decent thickness with light carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have a few of these.

Overall I thought the normal version of this was odd but the barrel makes it even more so. There's a lot going on here, but it manages to work. Worth a shot.

Appearance: Pours an obscured, brown body with a few large bubbles from the pour, but they popped out just as quickly as they came in.

Smell: This is one very bourbony nose, singing with earthy, sweet-scented notes of brown sugar, vanilla, coconut creme, oak planks glazed with caramel sauce, and given a teeny tiny pinch of citrus zest.

Taste: Plenty of toaster oven-cooked dark caramel squares with a full, resounding sweetness, though there are some encroaching prickly tannic wood qualities. Ah, and there it is -- the warming bourbon, with a big taste of brown sugar to go with the brown sugar already added during the brewing process. Also some vanilla and light coconut. Earthy, citrusy hop character with a fair amount of bitterness remaining. All the while, there's a strong bourbon presence. Warming, downright intoxicating finish -- like a brown sugar and bourbon cocktail of sorts.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Near still body. Somewhat chewy mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Fairly enjoyable brew that went reasonably well for all the sweetness and bourbon present. Recommended if you ever come across it.

On cask at the Brick Store Pub for their anniversary.

A- murky/clearish brown. Small light brown ring around edge.

S- bourbon and oak. And... brown sugar.

T- Smooth mix of bourbon and barleywine brew. Overall very sweet and a very strong bourbon burn.

M- thin bodied lingering bourbon spice on the palate.

D- very bourony and sweet. Not as complex as i'd hope.

Special cask for the Brick Store Pub's 12th anniversary celebration. I don't know if this will be available elsewhere, but this is the first I've heard of it. Served on the handpump. Poured a dark chestnut color with a typical cask head- large bubbles that sink to a thin cap. Good clarity. Smells of bourbon, firm sweeet malt, and brown sugar, with some additional vanilla notes from the barrel and bourbon. Tastes sweet and whiskeyish and a little hot. A little on the thin side compared to the normal version- probably the cask more than the barrel that contributes to this. More bourbon notes, some light brown sugar, and thinner finish. Little vanilla or barrel tannins. The mouthfeel is a tad thin, and while I like this and was certainly a pleasure to try, I'm not sure this beer is the ideal candidate for the cask. I would have enjoyed this particular beer more in a standard keg.