Sunday, October 18, 2009

110. Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Extra Ale

Another beer from Lagunitas—our fourth. We’ve run through El Chupalupalo, IPA, and New Dogtown.

Little Sumpin’ Extra has a hazy orange amber color and a creamy ivory head that laces the glass well down the sides. The nose is hoppy—there are pine and resin aromas with a light malt character. Some spiciness also emerges with warmth. Starting with a soft sweet front and some caramel flavors, Little Sumpin’ Extra moves into a bitter middle that has grass and pine hop flavors along with some slight astringency that carries through to the close. The bitterness does linger on the palate as does some of the residual malt flavor. The mouthfeel is a bit sticky and heavy, although also slightly creamy; the hop level does create a bit of dryness and puckering, especially at the end, although it is more on the side and back of the tongue. Overall, the hop load is nice, but there is too much sweet maltiness without as much flavor or variety—there is not a very complex malt profile. Little Sumpin’ Extra could use a better balance between malt and hops to drive the beer forward.

From the Lagunitas website: “The Big Sister of the Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale...Lots of Wheat for a Curious Malt Complexity and Leaving it Light in Color, But Huge in Flavor and Satisfaction.”

ABV: 8.74%
IBU: 72.51
OG: 1.082

(10/18/2009)

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