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Lagunitas Brewing

(Brewpub)

Last updated: September 3, 2000

1280 North McDowell Boulevard
Petaluma CA 94954

Phone: +1 707-769-4495
Fax: +1 707-763-5254

Opened February 1, 1994.
Brewer: Scott Wittenkeller.
5,200 bbl annual capacity.

I'm told that they produce "house brands" for some Bay Area restaurants, but I don't have any specifics. They recently moved from Lagunitas to their new digs in Petaluma CA. Their other beers include a Rye Porter (seasonal), Lagunitas Gold and a Peach Wheat (seasonal). A big mahalo to Lagunitas' own and for sending most of the bottled beers I've reviewed here. The labels alone are worth the price of the bottle...the excellent beers are a bonus!

We at the Lagunitas Brewing Company believe in the three Great Principles of Craft Brewing. 1) Always be true to your school. 2) Never use the word Autolysis in public. 3) Be obsequious, and live in a swamp.

My Opinion Of The Beers That I've Tried:
17.5 points overall

• Bug Town Stout (bottled)
  Style 11 - Stout
  • 17 points - Beer #19-1478, Kamuela HI, at home, May 15, 1996
    Pretty black, red around the edges, good head. Coffee nose, with hops. Thick and roasty. Roasty bitterish finish. "Contains no known actual insects...add to taste."

• Cappuccino Stout
  Style 11 - Stout
  • 19 points - Beer #12-910, The HopYard, Pleasanton CA, May 1, 1995
    Black, thick nitro-tap head. Oooooo...great coffee nose. Sweet, coffee flavors. Coffee all the way through the finish.

• Dog Town Pale Ale (bottled)
  Style 6 - American-style Pale Ale
  • 17 points - Beer #19-1475, Kamuela HI, at home, May 15, 1996
    Pale amber, good carbonation, OK head. Aroma has a good caramel/hop mix...could be stronger. Real good body. Smoky-hoppy flavor. Smooth bitter finish. High carbonation bite. "No dogs were harmed during the Dog Town Pale Ale brewing process."

• IPA (bottled)
  Style 5 - English-style Pale Ale
  • 18.5 points - Beer #29-2377, Willow Glen Liquors, San Jose CA, December 29, 1997
    Golden amber, quite a bit of haze, massive head. Floral-fruity hop aroma. Medium body, plenty bitter. Nice carbonation bite, nice balance. This is a Real Smooth Beer. A little resiny hop feel at the very end. Quoting the label: "Thanks for choosing to spend the next few minutes with this special homicidally hoppy ale. Savor the moment as the raging hop character engages the imperial qualities of the Malt foundation in mortal combat on the battlefield of your palate!" Thanks to for the bottle.

  • 18 points - Beer #19-1477, Kamuela HI, at home, May 15, 1996
    Golden-amber, good carbonation and head. Very nice hop aroma, some smoke. Good body, fairly bitter. Smooth bitter finish. Good hop flavor. "100th batch since January 1994...1.059, 45.6 IBU"

• Lagunator Solstice Ale (bottled)
  Style 6 - American-style Pale Ale
  • 18 points - Beer #19-1479, Kamuela HI, at home, May 15, 1996
    Dark red opaque, nce brown head. Lots of caramel aroma, some hops. Big beer, fairly bitter, good crystal flavor. Long bitter finish.

• Oat-Brewed Equinox Pale Bock Style Ale (bottled)
  Style 23 - Specialty Beer
  • 15.5 points - Beer #19-1476, Kamuela HI, at home, May 15, 1996
    Golden-amber, high carbonation, OK head. Nice hop nose. Thick, malty, just bitter enough at first...finishes sweet. According to the label, "Originally we were going to name this categorically ambiguous ale an 'Oat Brewed-Cold Filtered-Ice Draft-Super Premium-Wormwood Aged-Cold Fermented-Pale Bock Style-California Brewed-Mother Lovin'-Yada-yada-yada-Ding Dong Dang-Beer'. But, alas, we learned at the last minute that due to an arcane state law we are actually unable to call it beer at all. We believe that Kafka himself would have been impressed."

• Red
  Style 4 - Mild / Brown Ale
  • 19 points - Beer #7-439, Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA, September 21, 1994
    Clean red, very low carbonation. Good white head. Starts fruity. Excellent body and caramel flavors. Great brown ale character. Clean. VNI!

• Wheat (bottled)
  Style 6 - American-style Pale Ale
  • 16.5 points - Beer #19-1474, Kamuela HI, at home, May 15, 1996
    Yellow opaque, good carbonation and head. Yeasty-fruity aroma. Good body, good wheat flavor. Well-balanced. Carbonation is a little high. Finishes clean, except for a small yeast bite. Good beer.

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