Sweet merciful crap! It’s been a full week since my last review. That’s not cool — not cool at all.
Let’s get back on track with another big beer from Lagunitas Brewing out in California. The latest product from th company to grace my local shop shelves is their Hop Stoopid, a brew that weighs in at 102 IBU and 7.7% ABV. Threatening to “…remove the enamel from one’s teeth,” Hop Stoopid is indeed a burly, hop-fueled monster. Despite it’s dental damage claims, the beer is still easily drinkable and surprisingly smooth.
Appearance
This one pours a relatively clear, golden amber in color with a massive off-white head.
Aroma
Holy fragrant hops Batman! As you would have guessed there is a boatload of hop presence in the nose along with the typical grapefruit and citrus notes. There’s a nice sweetness in there as well that makes this one smell inviting.
Taste
I was surprised to find Hop Stoopid not as annoyingly bitter and as hoppy as I had expected. Lagunitas have done a great job in retaining the hop pucker and dominating over-all hop flavor, yet balance out the brew well with a great, tempered bitterness in the finish. The level of sweetness is at just the right level as it blends nicely with grapefruit, piny and slight pepper notes.
Overall
I was also surprised to read on the label that Hop Stoopid was made with hop extracts. Now, what this has done to the beer’s flavor that whole hops would have done differently, I can’t know — my palette isn’t nearly that refined. What I can tell you is that this is a sweet, hoppy, bitter, yet smooth beer that I need to get more of. Once again, Lagunitas have produced a truly wonderful drinking experience.
Rating: 4/5
April 17th, 2009
Viki said:
I totally agree with your review. I, too, was surpised that it had the great flavor without the unpleasant after-taste. Lagunitas hits the mark almost every time. The only beer they have made, that I’ve tried, that I do not care for is their Brown Sugga.