Lagunitas CitruSinensis 2016

I thought this year's batch was a noticeable step down from last year. And while I enjoyed the floaty haze from last year, the relative lack of that didn't detract from my enjoyment of it this year. Rather, I feel like the blood orange addition tastes a lot more artificial. This year's beer has a chemical aftertaste that I'm really not into. I will try it on draft when it comes around but my expectations are sadly in check now.

 

All the bad comments, well here's the flip side....I'm loving this years batch. Not sure I can even tell a difference between it and last years.

Still my favorite blood orange beer to date!

 

It was a big hit at my house yesterday. I didn't not if a difference from last summer's batch.

 

I hadn't had it before yesterday and I loved it. It made the IPA I won't name taste bland immediately after. I thought it was well worth the price and may hit the shop I bought it at again for more.

Cheers!

 

I also feel that this is not nearly the beer they released last year. That "juiciness" has been replaced with a "medicinal" aftertaste that makes the blood orange taste artificial. If this beer is released again, I will wait on some reviews before I buy another 6 pack......

 

I didn't have last years, but I'm liking this years.

 

I didn't see this at all last year, and I haven't seen it around Waterloo-Cedar Falls yet this year. Where is it showing up in Eastern Iowa?

 

It's really unfortunate that they felt the need to filter it this year. Last year was unique, floaty, and delicious. This year is good...but disappointing knowing what we are missing out on

 

Never drainpoured a sixer (now fiver) before. Thanks heineken, enjoy the 12 bucks. To those who can't distinguish between the two, well, to each their own i guess.

 

I had it on tap when it was made and not too far from the source. Yes this year is not the same, but it is not too far off. Those complaining need to understand filtering is absolutely necessary because of people wanting clean clear beer. It's a market thing.

Sad but true. I honestly think the beer was very close to last year but the body and mouth feel was less smooth because of filtration. It is more effervescent and a touch less juicy. Overall I think it was quite close. Also understand fruit is different year to year.

For those who have not tried this beer, I'll say it's sort of like a Lil Sumpin' ale infused with fruit flavor. Less bite than the Lil Sumpin' but very similar characters of bright citrus coming through.

As always I say if you like Lagunitas character beers then this one will probably work. Personally I think it's fine beer. If you don't like drinking this beer, don't dump it, use a food processor or blender and emulsify some olive oil and herbs to make a salad dressing.

 

Damn, you could have just sent them to me.

 

What you state is all well and good, but it was flying off the shelves last year. This year it seems to be a shelf turd in most shops in these parts. I easily purchased a case of this beer last year. The one sixer I purchased this year will be the only one.

Regarding marketing and filtration, plenty of very high end beers have no need to filter their beer to maintain sales. So that marketing reasoning doesn't fly with me.

 

missed it last time around. hope i can get my hands on it this year

 

There's a lot of nonsense in this thread over some floaties, the nostalgic fallacy of memory and the concept of "last years was better," hyperbole towards Heineken/scary "big business," and people not understanding that not everyone who buys beer is a BA'er with a incomprehensible boner for floaties and the "NE IPA" (don't even get me started on that nonsense) fad.

The beer is pretty good. It has a good balance between the fruits and the hops, which is often not the case in the fruited IPAs.

 

last year's release was god awful, hope this one makes up for it.

 

Boy, I hope I get distribution of the High Westified this year. I was only able to try it on draft last year, hope to get a hold of some bottles this time around.

 

yikes.

 

I'm sure Heineken is actually thanking you as well for spending $12 and then pouring it all down the drain rather than at least giving it to someone who may enjoy it.

 

when i told my beer buddies they said thanks but no thanks. they had it on tap beforehand and didn't like it. thanks heineken.

 

Last year, it was more of a unique beer and the orange in a beer thing hadn't quite hit on a cylinders like it is this year. That, ooh factor is gone.
I liked the floaties personally, but that's just not what Lagunitas beer is supposed to look like.
They've set that bar for themselves.