391. Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ IPA

Ah, the dog days of summer. And nothing cures the woes of summer heat like a scrumptious IPA—a Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ IPA. We found this on tap at South Park Tavern. Will miracles ever end? Not as long as South Park is serving beer, I tell you. Previously on what we’re drinking, we’ve sampled Wilco Tango Foxtrot, New Dogtown, Little Sumpin’ Extra Ale, IPA, as well as the awesomeness that is (or was) El Chupalupalo from Lagunitas. That makes six. Don’t let it go to your head.

Little Sumpin’ IPA came served in a blank pint glass, the kind no one covets. It was a clear gold with a white thin head. The nose was a mix of caramel malt sweetness and resin, pine, and citrus hop aromas. Or, in more basic terms, it smelled yummy. The front started with sweet caramel flavor, moving quickly into both hoppiness, with resin, pine and citrus dominating (Simcoe?), and hop bitterness as well. After the hop flavor assault, the finish was mainly made up of lingering bitterness, specifically of the kind left by a bad break up—there was no brief taste of sweetness to offer a mild palliative, just straight rancorous bitterness. Little Sumpin’ IPA had a medium body and a creamy sweet mouthfeel (well, until the finish). The caramel-y and hoppy flavors make this beer a classic example of an American IPA and a delicious beer in general. I want my summer back, dammit!

(7/26/2010)