Undercover Investigation Shut-down Ale
I’ve written more than my fair share of praise for Lagunitas and their products. I have honestly not met a beer of theirs that I haven’t liked. And you can’t go wrong with the great prices. Aside from having one of the longer product names, this American Strong Ale is no different.
I picked up a few bottles the other day and have already thoroughly enjoyed this full flavored, smooth and warming sipper a couple of times this week. It was exactly what I needed after a long day of work — hoppy, malty, sweet and boozy.
Appearance
This beer pours a reddish amber in color with a quickly fading off-white head that left streaking lacing on the glass.
Aroma
Big time floral hops with a load of pine resin dominate the nose with a good deal of booziness from the 9.75% ABV. There’s a touch of orange peel and spices in the mix, as well.
Taste
The Undercover Ale starts off with a potent, hoppy punch that fades to a caramel malty middle before fading into a lingering, semi-sweet finish. The hop presence is piny and fruity while the malts are a bit more subdued, but balanced out the bitterness nicely. The finish retains some of the hop bite, but it’s only a slight tingle on the tongue. The mouthfeel of this beer is perfect for the style — slightly viscous and smooth. The higher alcohol content is quite warming and makes this brew a sipper for sure.
Overall
I loved this beer. Lagunitas’ hoppier take on the style is just about everything you’d want in a strong ale. It’s a big, full flavored beer that should mellow out a bit with age. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Rating: 4/5