I know, I know. Two Lagunitas posts in a row. Lagunitas just became available in the great state of Michigan so I’ve been digging in and making it happen.

I rather knew what to expect with this one, seeing as it was written on the bottle, however were it to be an unknown, I would have been more pleasantly surprised. When I think barleywine, I think Big ol’ fat ass barleywine! This, was not anything of the sort. This was more of the subdued nature I think the creators of the style had intended.

As far as description goes, it didn’t have much scent aside from being an ale, categorically. It was a bit darker, a clear, brown color. It had a small white head. It tasted more or less exactly like what I thought it would taste like, except weaker. It tasted like a lighter barleywine. In fact, it didn’t have a ton of real flavors. It had some malt sweetness, but was direly lacking in the hops.

I was really disappointed with this, because I LOVE barleywines. I give it a 4 out of 10.

-brian

p.s. Lagunitas, if you’re reading this, this was the first beer of yours I’ve actually been disappointed in. So you’re 4 for 5 right now. 80%. Better than I did in college.