Maximus - best name never: Lagunitas Maximus IPA

I was in need of some crisp and cool hoppiness this evening, so I decided to turn to one of the IPAs I was holding off on (since, admittedly so, the blog is very IPA heavy). Tonight, we look into the self proclaimed "greatest" IPA in Lagunitas' Maximus IPA.





Lagunitas is a California based brewing company (is it me, or do most IPAs come from the west coast?) that currently only ships beer to 29 states and 2 Canadian provinces. They constantly brew 7 different types of beers, including 2 different IPAs, along with a nice variety of seasonal beers.

I tried to pour this beer a little harder than I typically do to judge the true head of the beer which, not to my surprise, was minimal and quickly dissipated, but was much more visible than when I typically pour my beers. The beer is a clear, golden color typical of many classic IPAs and has a subtle, hoppy aroma. The flavor is smooth and refreshing, with a nice undertone of hops that does not over power the flavor of the beer. Underneath the hops is a soft citrus and spice that balances out the hops.

I can honestly say that this is one of the better IPAs I have tried lately. As much as I enjoy a skull-crushing hoppiness, sometimes it is nice to be able to see clearly after drinking a beer! This is an IPA that could easily be tolerated by those who are new to stronger flavored beers, but tasty enough for the professionals to enjoy. I like to think about having several beers of one type over the course of a night as a gauge to the quality of beer...this is a beer that I could enjoy several of without tiring and wanting to switch to something else!

Do yourself a favor and pick up some Lagunitas Maximus IPA to try for yourself!


Flavor: Hoppy and citrus with nice spicy notes
Color: Golden with a nice clean finish
Alcohol Content: 7.5% (by volume)
Average Price: $10.98 (6 pack)

Calories: 233
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Carbs: 21.5 g
Protein: 1 g

Wait, im NOT reviewing an IPA? - Sierra Nevada Stout

I have been a fan of Sierra Nevada since my first sip of it in a few years ago...however, I can say that my experiences have typically been with their different varieties of hoppier beers (IPAs, seasonal beers, etc.) The company itself has a very unique and inspirational history (the president began brewing in his garage and now has one of the largest microbreweries in the country...all with no paid advertising). Today, to experience more of their brand, I will be sampling the Sierra Nevada Stout.







Right off the bat, this is probably one of the darkest beers I have ever seen; imagine a Guinness without the defined head and unique bubbling. The aroma is nice and chocolaty, but not quite as potent as the aforementioned beer...The flavor is rich with a surprising (and pleasant) hoppy finish. I suppose that this is to be expected with a Sierra Nevada, as it seems that they pride themselves on the ability to infuse any beer the brew with a good amount of hops. The flavor is forward, but doesn't linger on the pallet much longer than it should.

All in all, I would say that this beer is a very tasty addition to my already beloved Sierra Nevada brand. If you are looking for a traditional (i.e. Guinness) flavored stout, I would probably steer away from this one, but if you are looking for something a bit more unique than your typical stout, then I would definitely recommend this beer!


Flavor: Chocolaty with a warm hoppy finish
Color: Dark brown (practically black)
Alcohol Content: 5.8% (by volume)
Average Price: $8.99 (6 pack)

Calories: 175
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Carbs: 14.1 g
Protein: 1.5 g

Couldn't let Dave go there on his own...La Fin du Monde

Well, it has certainly been a rough few weeks...ever since starting my P90X diet, I haven't been able to properly review as many beers as I would like to (thanks go out to Dave for picking up a lot of the slack), so I decided that today would be a nice day to treat myself to a good review. Dave previously reviewed La Fin du Monde (French for "The End of the World"), but since this is one of the beers that Jess purchased me for bachelor weekend, I wanted to do it justice and double review this one.





Unibroue Brewing is based out of Chambly, Québec...Canadian beers have always been interesting to me, as they mainly have 3 areas of influence (English, French, and American) and many tend to fold easily to American interests (lighter flavored lagers, etc). La Fin du Monde is a golden style Belgian ale, so it seems that the European side of this influence should hold firm in the beer.

First glance shows an especially clouded beer with little visibility and lack of any noteworthy head. The aroma is soft and citrusy and the color is a dark gold... The first taste is very complex: hints of a sharp hoppiness on the tip of the tongue that follows closely with a flowery sweetness. There is thicker mouth-feel which isn't overpowering and could possibly be explained away by the cloudiness of the beer. After his visit to Canada, Dave said that this is one of the area's most famous microbrews and, after tasting, I can clearly see why. This beer is complex in it's flavor and unique in taste. Strict Beeritarian approved!


Flavor: Hoppy beginnings with a sweet, flowery finish
Color: Cloudy dark gold
Alcohol Content: 9.0% (by volume)
Average Price: $3.00 (11 oz bottle)

Calories: 225
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Carbs: 30g
Protein: 0g