Lagunitas Maximus IPA

As I explore the world of beer (and my new-found taste for the hops) I thought another double IPA from Lagunitas Brewing Company "Maximus" was in order. Plenty of quality bars have this monster on tap and it has been bottled in 22oz bottles in the past, but currently the 12oz bottle in 6-packs has become the standard. At about 8% abv, a 6-pack of Maximus probably has as much alcohol as a 12-pack of the Silver Bullet, so light beer drinkers beware!

The Maximus pours out a nice reddish-orange hue, crystal clear, with a nice full one-finger foam on top.  Bright ivory in color, the foam is lively and leaves behind a nice sticky lacing. The aromas are bright and zesty, full of citrus, floral and grapefruity hops. The aromas are bountiful, but very soft in nature; this is one of the sweetest/most pleasant smelling IPAs I've ever put my nose in.

On the palate the Lagunitas Maximus is very similar to the aromas. Very bright and flavorful hops are dominated by a very soft, smooth, and citrusy style of hops. There's a slight hint of spice in the mid-palate, with a touch of malty sweetness on the back-end.  Much the same way that DFH 90 Min is a hoppy yet sweeter style IPA than the 60 Min, this Maximus brew is a little bit on the sweet side.  Despite being rated at over 70 IBUs, the Lagunitas Maximus DIPA is quite easy to drink, and verges on refreshing.

Lagunitas Brewing
Maximus
TCSH Rating - 8.5/10
Aka - I'm a fan of the hops!

Eli
Bibo Ergo Sum