Lagunitas IPA

Lagunitas IPA comes in a 12-pack of cans and sits in the American India Pale Ale category, a style built around hop character more than malt. No ABV or IBU is listed for this pack, so treat the following as what the style usually delivers. Expect citrus and pine hop aroma, often grapefruit peel or resin, over a pale caramel malt backbone that keeps the bitterness from turning harsh. Most beers in this category finish dry to medium-dry with a lingering bitter edge, and many land in the 6 to 7 percent ABV range. Serve it cold but not frozen, around 4 to 7°C (40 to 45°F). Straight from the back of the fridge, the chill mutes hop aroma and flattens the malt. Let the can sit for a few minutes after you open the fridge and the citrus and pine come through more clearly. A standard pint glass or a tulip-shaped IPA glass works well. Pouring into a glass rather than drinking from the can releases the hop volatiles that make up most of what you smell, and it gives you a proper head to carry them. The bitterness and carbonation of an IPA cut through fat and heat, so it suits foods with some weight. Burgers, fried chicken, and sharp cheddar all stand up to it, as do spicy dishes such as tacos al pastor, Thai curries, and buffalo wings, where the hops refresh the palate between bites. Grilled sausages and barbecue are also a natural match, since the char and sweetness of the sauce play against the bitterness. Delicate fish and mild, creamy desserts tend to be overwhelmed by a beer like this, so keep it for bolder plates. The cans keep light out and are easy to chill in bulk, which suits cookouts and tailgates. For best flavor, store them cold and upright, and drink them fresh, since hop aroma in this style fades with age.