Review – Lagunitas Lumpy Gravy Ale

Lagunitas Lumpy Gravy Ale
7.2% abv

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a glass mug.

Appearance
Dark, almost ruby red color with hints of purple and shades or dark mud or dirt. Very little light can pass through this somewhat murky beer but doing so reveals the lighter shades of brown that are present.

Aroma
My nose immediately picked out the yeasty, bready whiffs of this beer. The earthy malt smells really overpower the bitterness from the hops.

Taste
Very rich and robust flavor with hints of smoke. Nutty characteristics linger throughout and bring a nice sweetness to the big-bodied beer. Although I found it easy to drink, the rich caramel and toffee flavors provide a sweetness that would get old after a glass or two.

Mouthfeel
Very good alcohol burn intermingled with the sweetness and gooeyness from the malt. Excellent carbonation rounds out the thick texture nicely.

Overall
As a somewhat new Zappa fan, I just had to try this beer to see what it was all about. I really enjoyed the complex flavors and textures of this Imperial Brown Ale so much that I called Lagunitas in California last night to find out more. Apparently, when seeking permission to use Frank’s cover, his widow asked the brewery to do a different beer style for each of Frank’s albums (wow, that’s a lot of beers). So go get ready so you can join me in “Evan’s Garage” for the next installment of The Full Pint’s Zappa beer reviews.

Dan’s Review on Lumpy Gravy from thefullpint.com