Product: Lagunitas PILS Czech Style Pilsner, The Hairy Eyeball, India Pale Ale: While the IPA is a No, and the Pils is OK, I Say “All Hail the Hairy Eyeball!” Wait, What? Producer: Lagunitas Brewing Company Approximate Retail Value: $7.99 per six pack Category: Beer Country of Origin: Petaluma, Calif., USA Reviewer: Jon Costantino The F Words: Flavor – Feel – Finish –

Rating:

Lagunitas is one of the more adventurous breweries to come out from California.  They’ve experimented with different kinds of fruit-flavored beers, and most of them come with some unusual name (including one name so odd, they sell it with a “Censored” label). But with such diverse titles comes with tastes that appeal to all kinds of beer drinkers. Below you will find a brief sampling of what the folks in Petaluma, Calif. have come up with.

First up is the PILS Czech Style Pilsner, and this is a beer for the casual drinker who is sometimes scared off by the whole microbeer concept. When you pour it into the glass and give it a quick whiff, you might think you’re about to enjoy a better batch of “The King of Beers.” But it is brewed in the true Czech style of a heavier flavor with a lighter color. This is an excellent beer for a hot summer day. It has a lot of flavor without feeling like drinking it will cause you to gain 100 lbs. The finish is a little bit heavy for my taste, but at least it has more body compared to the usual brew of its style and color. While I would rather have a darker, more full-bodied ale, this is the perfect brew for weaning your less-enlightened friend off the cans of Natural Light.

Being Italian, I’m used to someone aiming the Hairy Eyeball at me, but I’ve never had it given to me in a glass before. Named for the stare you give your enemies, I would only serve this beer to the best of friends. With its beautiful dark color and chocolate, nutty flavor, this is one of the top beers you’ll find. It might be a little intense for the average beer drinker, but for me this is what a beer should be. For all of its strength, the feel and finish are amazingly smooth. And the best part is there is no harsh, lingering aftertaste.  While the name might scare off the average beer enthusiast, I cannot recommend this beer enough.  So c’mon, have your bartender give you the Ol’ Hairy Eyeball.

One of my favorite beer types is IPA, so I was really looking forward to tasting the Lagunitas IPA. Alas, it was my least favorite of the three. While it has a beautiful amber color, its aftertaste ruins the whole drinking party. At first sip, the flavor is nice and mild, but what is left in your mouth after the swallow is quite unimpressive. It’s a shame that such a great beer would leave such a bad taste. I have tried numerous IPAs and this one ranks towards the bottom. Also, if you do find yourself drinking this beer, at least drink it from the glass, because it needs all the help it can get.

So in all, the PILS is a good summer beer that will cool you off as well as refresh, but I would seek other labels if you are looking for an IPA. But do yourself a favor and try to find the Hairy Eyeball if you can. It is a truly unique beer experience, as well as having a cool label.  

PILS Czech Style Pilsner

Flavor: Lots of hops and lemon.
Feel: Budweiser but better.
Finish: Refreshing but wheaty.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

The Hairy Eyeball

Rating: 4 Stars

India Pale Ale

Rating: 2.5  Stars