Thursday 2 October 2008

Review: Lagunitas Sirius Ale

Lagunitas Sirius Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company
Rating: B

Not quite sure what to expect from a "hi-gravity cream ale" but we'll see.

Appearance: Pours a pleasant amber, very clear, with a thinnish head that fades fairly quickly.

Smell: Smells a bit like a double IPA with all the rough edges sanded down. Hops are mostly pine resin. In the background, reminiscent of malted milk balls, or a just-opened bag of dry malt extract, used for homebrewing. Nice.

Taste: Quite smooth, piney hops and caramel malts playing nicely. A bit of an alcohol bite on the finish, however, which calls to mind malt liquor. That unpleasant finish gets more and more noticeable as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Fairy light body, surprisingly so. Carbonation is moderate, and hard to characterize as "creamy" despite the label.

Drinkability: Moderate. A decent beer, but for me seems trapped between styles.

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