Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout
A coworker of mine passed this bottle along to me a few weeks ago and I finally got around to trying it this past Friday. I’ve enjoyed one other stout from this California company and while that was pretty good, this one’s a little bit better.
Personally, Lagunitas is one of those breweries that I associate more with the hoppier end of the beer spectrum. They make some truly tasty brews. As for their stouts, they’re good, but sometimes fall in the middle of the road for me. This coffee infused brew is darn tasty and rests comfortably in the group of dark roast brews that I’ve enjoyed lately.
Appearance
A large, light tan head sits proudly atop a near black brew that has a reddish hue around the edges. The head faded to a thin ring.
Aroma
There’s no denying it. There’s a good amount of Sebastopol’s Hardcore Coffee in this brew. It’s not overwhelming, but does add a solid compliment to the roasted malt and subtle chocolates the beer already presents on the nose.
Taste
Right away you’re greeted with a rich coffee presence that has got a decent roast and is backed by chocolate notes. It’s a smooth brew with a medium body that’s not too heavy on the roast, making it a pretty drinkable beer. There’s a lingering sweetness that hangs around in the slightly dry finish. At 8.8% ABV, the beer does a wonderful job at masking the alcohol, though there is a little warming sensation in the finish.
Overall
It’s certainly one of the smoother coffee stout’s I’ve had the past couple of months. It’s got a good flavor and easy drinking — a nice change of pace from the more robust coffee stouts/porters I’ve enjoyed recently. I can see this one making another appearance in my fridge before it gets too warm out.
Rating: 3.75/5