Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale
Petaluma, CA
This beer is brewed in remembrance of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s 2005 undercover investigation into a suspected marijuana-selling ring at a weekly Lagunitas tasting. The ABC could only find Lagunitas guilty of running a “disorderly house” and placed the brewery on a 20-day suspension.
ABV: 9.75
ABW: 7.76
COLOR: 19.3
BITTERNESS: 66.5
ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1080
AVAILABLE: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NB, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, DC, WA, WI, WY
An easy couple of bottles will encourage undercover activities. Pours perfectly with hues of amber-gold highlights and a head in the cumulus clouds, leaving a lovely lace as it slowly dissipates. Hoppy nose segues into a big, rich but not overpowering hop-centric palate, leaving a spicy bitterness on the tip of the tongue. We supped sensuously on this and other aphrodisiacs, including oysters Rockefeller, radicchio braised in shallots and butter, and grilled blue wagyu steaks followed by Winnemere cheese and crusty bread—pure sex!
- Charles Finkel
Let’s throw off the cover and open this investigation of what’s on my palate. Remarkable head retention; evidence of skilled brewmasters. Light copper color. Sexy and warm. Soothing hints of sweet caramel: be my sugar daddy? Counterclockwise swirl of perfectly twined hop aroma—wow. It deceives in flavor. I’m reminded of artfully balanced old-school barley wine. This is a beautiful beer. Enjoy two or more with any meal and smile the rest of the day (or evening). Memorably exquisite. I don’t want to share.
- Charlie Papazian
Charles Finkel
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.
Charlie Papazian
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com. Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.
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