Craft Beer Enthusiasts: Comparing Ipas To Lagunitas' Signature Brew

The Lagunitas Brewing Company's India Pale Ale (IPA) is a well-rounded, highly drinkable beer with a unique flavour. With a combination of Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, and Simcoe hops, as well as a touch of Caramel Malt barley, the IPA offers a balanced taste that is neither too bitter nor too sweet. The beer has a sharp hops finish and pairs well with curried dishes, Thai cuisine, and specific types of cheeses. Comparable beers to Lagunitas IPA include the Voodoo Ranger IPA by New Belgium Brewing Company, Hazy Little Thing by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., and Island Beats Tropical IPA, another offering by Lagunitas, which has refreshing juicy citrus notes.

Pairing suggestions: curried dishes, Thai cuisine with shellfish, peppery cheeses

The Lagunitas IPA is a well-rounded, highly drinkable India Pale Ale. It is designed to pair well with food and, according to Lagunitas, "pretty much everything else". The beer's bitterness can be mellowed out by the richness of caramel malt barley.

Curried Dishes

Curries are often characterised by their blend of aromatic spices and herbs, which can be enhanced by the right beer pairing. The Lagunitas IPA can complement the complex flavours of curried dishes, particularly those with a spicy kick. The beer's bitterness and carbonation can help refresh the palate between bites, making it a refreshing choice to accompany curries.

Thai Cuisine with Shellfish

Thai cuisine is known for its vibrant flavours, incorporating ingredients like lemongrass, chillies, lime, and fish sauce. When pairing Lagunitas IPA with Thai dishes featuring shellfish, consider the following:

• Thai Larb Gai/Laab Kai/Laab Gai: This Thai chicken salad, featuring ground chicken or other proteins, toasted jasmine rice, and fresh herbs, pairs well with the Lagunitas IPA. The nuttiness of the rice and the caramelised notes from seared chicken complement the beer's caramel malt flavours. Additionally, the beer's high alcohol content can help temper the spice from chillies often found in this dish.
• Shellfish Dishes: The Lagunitas IPA can also complement the briny sweetness of shellfish in Thai cuisine. Look for dishes like grilled prawns or stir-fried noodles with shellfish, where the beer's crisp bitterness can provide a refreshing contrast to the savoury, umami-rich flavours of the dish.

Peppery Cheeses

When it comes to pairing Lagunitas IPA with peppery cheeses, consider the following:

• Blue Cheese: Blue cheese, known for its pungent and peppery flavour, pairs exceptionally well with the Lagunitas IPA. The boldness of blue cheese, such as in a blue cheese slaw or crumbles, can stand up to the beer's bitterness, creating a harmonious combination.
• Other Peppery Cheeses: In addition to blue cheese, consider pairing Lagunitas IPA with other cheeses that have a peppery kick, such as aged cheddar, pepper jack, or spicy Monterey jack. The carbonation and bitterness of the beer can help cut through the richness of the cheese, making for a delightful pairing.

Remember, when it comes to food and beer pairings, personal preference is key. Experiment with different dishes and cheeses to find the combinations that suit your taste buds the best.

ABV: 5.7%

The Lagunitas India Pale Ale (IPA) is a medium amber-coloured beer with an ABV of 5.7%. It is described as an easy-drinking, medium-bodied beer with a sharp hops taste and a sweet hops aroma. The beer pairs well with curried dishes, Thai cuisine featuring shellfish, and cheeses such as Pepper Jack, Gorgonzola, Limburger, and Cheddar.

If you are looking for comparable beers with a similar ABV, here are some options:

• Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing: This hazy IPA has an ABV of 7% and offers tropical flavours of citrus, berries, and lychee.
• Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion: While the ABV is not specified, this IPA is known for its fresh blast of mind-bending flavours, including lychee, peach, nectarine, and strawberry.
• Firestone Walker Firestone California IPA: With an ABV of 8%, this IPA is liberally dry-hopped with Mosaic and Strata hops, resulting in passion fruit and mango flavours.
• Bell's Two Hearted: Available in 19.2oz cans with an ABV of 7%, this IPA is a good option for various drinking moods.
• New Belgium Imperial IPA: This IPA, with an ABV of 9%, is described as having a hop bite similar to the Voodoo Ranger series.
• Founders 4 Giants Hazy: This IPA has an ABV of 8% and is mentioned as a comparable option to Lagunitas IPA.

Malt: Caramel malt barley, English crystal malt

Caramel malt barley and English crystal malt are two types of malt used in brewing. They are both used to add flavour and colour to beer. Crystal malts are generally used to add sweetness and colour to both extract and all-grain brews. The lighter-coloured crystal malts are strictly sweet, while darker crystal malts can add some roastiness or nuttiness in addition to sweetness. Caramel malt is a type of crystal malt, and it can be applied to malts that are caramelised in both the kiln and the roaster. Caramel malts are produced in drum roasters, which allow for higher temperatures to be applied to the green malt, which is necessary for the caramelisation of sugars. This process also allows for uniform temperature application to all kernels and precise control of airflow and moisture. The result is full caramel flavours and aromas that are not achievable with kilning.

Lagunitas IPA is made with a bed of fine English crystal, caramel, and Munich malts. The caramel malt barley provides richness that mellows out the twang of the hops. The English crystal malt in Lagunitas IPA lends a smooth backbone and a beautiful orange hue to the beer.

Hops: Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic, Columbus, Tomahawk, Zeus

The Lagunitas IPA is a well-rounded, highly drinkable India Pale Ale. Its bitterness is balanced by a bit of Caramel Malt barley, which provides richness that mellows out the twang of the hops. These hops include Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, and a splash of honorary “C” hop, Simcoe. The Simcoe hop is known for its strong pine and grapefruit overtones, making it a bold and distinctive choice.

Cascade hops are often described as having a citrusy, floral, and spicy character with a hint of sweet fruitiness. They are one of the most popular varieties of hops used in craft brewing and are commonly found in American-style IPAs. Centennial hops, on the other hand, contribute a strong floral and citrus aroma with hints of pine and spice. They are often used to add a bold, bitter edge to IPAs and are known for their high alpha acid content.

Chinook hops are known for their robust, spicy, and piney character with hints of grapefruit. They contribute a strong bitterness and are often used in combination with other hops to create a complex flavor profile in IPAs. Like Chinook hops, Tomahawk hops also offer a strong bitterness and are commonly used in IPAs. They have a unique flavor profile that includes notes of citrus, stone fruit, and tropical fruit.

Citra hops are known for their intense citrus and tropical fruit aromas, with hints of pineapple, mango, and passion fruit. They are often used in IPAs to add a juicy, fruity character without being overly sweet. Mosaic hops are also known for their tropical fruit and stone fruit notes, with a hint of pine and a slight earthy character. Columbus hops, also known as CTZ hops, have a bold, pungent aroma with notes of citrus and earthy resin. They are commonly used in IPAs to add a strong bitterness and a unique flavor profile.

Finally, Zeus hops are known for their high alpha acid content and strong bittering qualities. They have a clean, crisp bitterness without an overly assertive flavor profile, making them a versatile choice for bittering IPAs and other beer styles.

Taste: Sharp, bitter, piney, citrusy, grapefruit

If you're looking for a beer with a similar taste profile to Lagunitas IPA, you're likely looking for something sharp, bitter, piney, citrusy, and with notes of grapefruit. Here are some options that fit the bill:

Stone Tangerine Express

This hazy IPA has a strong citrus presence, with tangerine and pineapple puree added to the brew. It also features Magnum, Centennial, Citra, Sterling, Mosaic, Simcoe, Cascade, and Azacca hops, resulting in a mix of bitterness and sweetness. With an ABV of 6.7%, it's a great choice for those who enjoy a fruity, bitter, and slightly sweet IPA.

Cisco Gripah Grapefruit IPA

This IPA is known for its piney, hoppy, and lightly bitter flavor, complemented by the addition of ruby red grapefruit zest, giving it a refreshing, slightly sour, and acidic taste. If you're a fan of grapefruit, this beer will definitely deliver a healthy kick of that flavor. It has an ABV of 5.5%.

Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin

Starting with their well-known, piney, and bitter IPA as a base, Ballast Point adds tart, tangy, and sweet grapefruit juice to create this variation. The result is a well-balanced and refreshing beer with notes of grapefruit, orange peels, herbal and floral hints, and a bitter hoppy finish. This is a great choice if you're looking for a citrusy and bitter IPA.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo

This "Extra IPA" gets its name from the use of a "hop torpedo," a device used to extract oils from the hops, resulting in bolder, hoppier, and more citrusy and herbal flavors. This IPA presents notes of wet grass, ripe lemons, and bright resin, followed by flavors of ripe pineapple, juicy mango, lime, and subtle pine. With an ABV of 7.2%, it's highly drinkable, with low bitterness and a pleasing kick of pine.

The Hop Concept Brewing's Citrus & Piney IPA

This IPA lives up to its name, delivering bold citrus and pine flavors. It has aromas of orange peel, honey, and bready malt, with tangerine and grapefruit notes leading to a crisp, spicy finish. If you're looking for a well-balanced IPA that showcases the best of both citrus and pine, this could be the one for you.

These beers all showcase similar taste profiles to Lagunitas IPA, emphasizing the sharp, bitter, piney, citrusy, and grapefruit notes that you're looking for.

Frequently asked questions