Lagunitas Born Yesterday 2018

That's the value of writing a review.

 

I don't remember the details, but I took a few notes at the time that I referred back to. I may not know exactly what 2016 tasted like, but I know this ain't it.

 

I get it, but 2016 was a completely different presentation. That stuff from Chicago was almost luminescent in the glass and the grapefruit, lemon, pineapple flavors were off the charts. It was one of the BEST NE style IPAs I have had.

It is not the same as saying Nugget Nectar is subtly different from year to year. That version was a completely different animal from what they brew today.

 

I have my notes from threads that year, and I also have pictures that, at the very least, show a DRASTIC change in the look.

 

After having cans from some of the best brewers on the East Coast of NEIPA's for the past 12 months, I'm saddened to say that the six pack of BY I purchased yesterday is about five too many. Doesn't really compete with beers by Other Half, the Veil, Aslin, Grimm, etc. Though I'll drink them since I paid for them.

 

Is it possible folks are complaining the beer is something it is not intended to be? Even in 2016, people were complaining the Petulama bottles weren't as hazy as the Chicago bottles. So that's what - 2014, 2015, half of 2016, 2017 and 2018 that were not hazy. It's an unfiltered fresh hop pale ale. It never claimed to be a NEIPA.

 

That iteration was most certainly a NEIPA whether intended or not. Subsequent batches though may lead us to believe that it was what Bob Ross would call a “happy accident”.

 

You guys are crazy. This has always been a wet hopped WEST COAST STYLE PALE ALE. Sure some years are better than others, as with hop seasons, but the 2018 version tastes like a mildly different version of what this should taste like... which is fantastic.

 

I know that nearly all of the batches are as you describe, but ‘16 out of Chicago was its own singular thing.

 

I drank the '16 Chicago version on tap and out of the bottle, and just because it was unfiltered and less bitter doesn't make it a NEIPA.

 

I'm not sure if I would describe the 2016 California version as a NE IPA, since I had never had one at the time, but it was certainly in a league of its own as well when compared to the other years of BY.

I don't care what you call it, 2016 was different and better than the others.

 

Speaking of past notes. It looks like I bought 4 cases in 2016 and it wasn't the Chicago batch nor was it hazy. It definitely felt juicier. this year, I feel content with the two sixers I had. Maybe one more for halloween. Then onto the next. We really couldn't say that in 2016.

I will say. In that two year span, I've had quite a few hyped beers. Maybe my palate has changed. Maybe I'm drinking less now. Maybe I didn't know what I was getting into two years back and over rated it then.

2016 in my notes ran juicier. Heck, 2015 from my notes had onion type melon vibes and hop floaties. Sort of reminiscent of this year. So who the hell knows.

Aromatics have been down for me for awhile on many hyped beers, so maybe it's all on me.

Aromatics and a slight lack of Ibu should be the only common theme between this and a ne or hazy IPA. This has never been creamy or soft or anything more than 25% hazy. It's odd that it's built up that mystique over the years. It's been a majority juicy Wc beer since inception

 

...then what does? It also used new-school fruity hops and was distributed quickly for immediate consumption. I'm not sure about their hopping schedule, but I bet it tends toward the late/dry hop.

 

They’re all unfiltered, clear or not. It was less bitter, uber-tropical, opaque (not just hazy), soft textured, etc. In my experience, it had everything except a northeast zip code.

Regardless, the point of contention on this thread isn’t really NEIPA or not...it’s whether or not that particular ‘16 version was a very different beer than all of the other versions. I would argue that it was very different. I nearly always attribute variations from year to year to my own changing palate. This example is an exception I think. Cheers!

 

Of course its not going to compare to top brewers on the East Coast. This goes without saying

 

I did not, that might be the root of the difference in opinion, 2017 was my first.

 

Anyone notice how much this beer has changed since its release? Drinking my last bottle now and I can't believe how fast the hops have faded. For what it's worth, this is my first beer all day so my palate is pretty clean.

 

This just got to my area. Bottled 10/8/18. Very good! Has a sort of raw hop flavor, in a good way.

Also tried brown shugga at a tasting today. I forgot how good that beer is but damn does it need to be 10% abv?

PS: where is Sucks? I haven’t seen it in ages.

 

I would offer up that is indeed the crux of the issue.

The 2016 Born Yesterday (from Chicago) was OUTSTANDING in my opinion. Earlier today I had my second 2018 Born Yesterday (draft) and while I enjoyed drinking that beer (and the other draft pint prior) this year's version is notably different from the 2016 Chicago version.

Maybe some year Lagunitas will replicate what they did in 2016 at Chicago?

Cheers!

 

Damn this beer is ridiculously good especially for the price. Don’t over think it.