Beer Confessions: That One Brewery I Just Can't Seem to Enjoy

Re-posted from my blog: Malted Musings.

Generally I'm fairly impartial: to me beer is beer. I know everyone has their own tastes and at the end of the day enjoy what they enjoy- far be it from me to get in between a person and their beer! Here's where my "beer confessions" series comes in; it's my intention with these types of articles to drop a little heavy opinion on you all so you can tell me just how right (or wrong) I am!

Today's confessional involves me talking about a brewery that, despite great press, beer that people seem to love, and a brewing philosophy that seems largely agreeable, I just can't seem to enjoy as much as everyone else. That brewery is Lagunitas.

Ok don't get me wrong: their beer is pretty solid! I've never had a skunky bottle or a beer that is downright undrinkable (undrinkable hyped beer is for a different confessional) from them before. My problem is that I've had several of their styles, but every time I crack one open it's as if I'm drinking the exact same beer. There's a bright, carbonated body, intensely high bitter hops, then a long, dry aftertaste that clings hard to my palate. And that's it. The IPA, Little Sumpin, Hop Stoopid, Censored, all (I swear) taste within a stone's throw of each other!

Now the one style they have down bad isn't bad, but it's just really, well, bitter. Super bitter. Crazy bitter. I guess the bitter one may be me, and that's due to my confusion with people's fascination with ultra-bitter hopping. Don't get me wrong, a Lagunitas is refreshing on a brisk fall day, I've enjoyed Stone beers with over 100 IBUs, and I've tapped more than one or two Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPAs in my time. I just don't get why people (Lagunitas in particular) is obsessed with making all beer low on sweetness, and high on clinging bitterness.

One may argue that Lagunitas then may be for the "hop head." To avoid branching out on another rant in the middle of this one I'll say simply that loving hops doesn't mean that one needs to drink beer that is arguably more bristly than most gins I've had. Seriously. Hops come in floral and sweet varieties, why can't we seem to get past the bitters? Why can't they experiment with hop strains that aren't brutally bitter or (even better) try some styles that are deep, rich, and malty?

Anyway that's my confession: I'm not a huge fan of Lagunitas. It feels good to come clean, but I want to know: am I wrong? Have I overlooked some Lagunitas brew that will change my mind and bring me back around to this critically acclaimed west coast brewery? Or, leave a comment and let me know which craft brewery you feel slightly embarrassed for not liking! Believe me, it will be a weight off your shoulders!  Follow me on Blogger, Twitter, and Facebook for more beer info, future events coming down the line, and my own opinion on beer of all kind!