Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball

Brewed by: Lagunitas Brewing Company

Brewery Location: Petaluma, CA

Style: American Ale

ABV: 9.00%

I haven’t had much experience with the Lagunitas Brewing Company, and I have to admit that I bought the Hairy Eyeball on a complete whim. I had only had their IPA before this, and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with that was effectively a completely random purchase.

Per usual, I poured into a traditional pint glass and was a bit blown away by the color that made an appearance. A deep brown, with a hazy red tint, greeted me. This bad boy is dark, and had about a half-inch head that displaced rather quickly.

Upon first smell, it was apparent that the Hairy Eyeball definitely had an alcoholic bite to it. It smelled a bit boozy, with hints of deeper fruits, like grape and plum. There are also some deep undertones of coffee and malt, but they laid in the background and really let the dark fruits shine through.

The taste followed suit with the smell perfectly, which in this case was a very good thing. The fruits were the forefront players, and left a pleasant aftertaste. There were some malt and coffee traces, but the most apparent tastes were definitely fruit and booze. It almost tasted like a barley wine.

Like I said, for being a completely impulse purchase, I was very happy with this beer. It’s a bit too heavy for me to designate it anything more than a once-in-a-while drink, but if I was ever presented with the opportunity to drink it again I most certainly would. If the Hairy Eyeball and the IPA are any testaments towards the quality of the Lagunitas Brewing Company, I will certainly be trying more of their brew.