Lagunitas all taste the same?

I've always heard that Lagunitas house yeast is Ringwood, which is an unusual yeast strain that produces lots of esters and contributes to a strong malty profile.

 

I love Lagunitas but I find them, like a lot of west coast style breweries, to be a one-trick pony. They do that one trick really well but I do find that all their beers hit closely on the same register to me.

 

There is certainly something similar in all of Lagunitas beer. Luckily for me, I absolutely love the flavor.

 

I thought the same exact thing that's why the 6 pack IPA is the only way I go

 

They have said that Wyeast - 1968 is the house yeast, that is from Fullers.

They also mash high, in the 158-160F range.

The water is adjusted.

 

yeah I agree. and they definitely make some awesome beers. I'm just noticing it more and more as I drink further into their profile. This year was the first year I had Lagunitas RED and it was great, but I did get a similar taste in the finish as brown shugga and Sucks.

 

I do notice a specific taste in most Lagunitas beers, and don't have a problem with it, EXCEPT when those beers have gotten old. Then that flavor profile becomes unpleasant, at least to my palate...

 

I'm just going to pretend that you're Mark Ibold, OK?

 

The nail has been hit on the head about a hundred times already, with hop schedule/house yeast being the most important in my opinion.

However, one thing that hasn't been mentioned is that (almost?) every Lagunitas beer is made with some amount of wheat. This contributes a characteristic body to their line that I think helps create an identifiable "Lagunitasy" flavor.

 

I saw this already kinda sorta mentioned, but the 3 brewers that I can pick out by tasting any of their beers are Lagunitas, Two Brothers and New Belgium. My theory lies in the local water source, but that could be easily debunked comparing other beers from the area. Might need to get some local municipal authority's on the phone.

 

I'm going out on a limb and say that it tastes like they use malted rye in a lot of their brews. Possible? Plausible?

 

This is probably why I've just never developed a taste for their beers. That said, their IPA turns up on draft in the LA area in unexpected places that usually have few or no other craft options available, so I drink the hell out of it on those occasions and am grateful.

 

Ha! Free that Kitten!

 

I agree that many lagunitas taste similar. I feel that way about some of Maine Beer Co's stuff too, and when I was in college and used to drink a lot of Saranac I also felt that way about some of their stuff. I always assumed it was their house yeast strain.

 

To my admittedly unsophisticated palate -- at least compared to so many of my learned BA colleagues -- they absolutely DO taste quite similar. My son and I once did a blind test of Maximus, Hop Stoopid, and Sumpin' Sumpin', and while we COULD distinguish definite differences, they were relatively subtle to us. Oh, and we loved 'em all. Had the Brown Shugga once and it was awesome as well. Looking forward to trying the Sucks.

 

Is that why I get more of a sweet hoppiness more than an overt bitterness from their beers, the high mash temp? I mean I know they're still hopped to high hell.

 

Lots of british breweries are like this - Caledonian, Shepherd Neame, Batemans etc. All have distinct house flavours. Not so good some of them.

 

To me, one reason Lagunitas Sucks was so amazing when it first came out is that it didn't taste like Lagunitas. I've heard it said many times that this is the "house yeast" that creates the similarity however Old Sucks i.e. the stuff in 32oz bottles that's been on shelves for 6 months (and tasted good fresh) seems to have taken on a bit more of that familiar Lagunitas house taste.

 

Same beer different label