Let’s pop another beer that has been sent to me by the brewer for comment (I love this blog!).
Lagunitas Brewing Co.’s One-Hitter Series has brought forth Sakitumi, described as a “punched-up ale with rice and sake yeast.” It’s also had the usual West Coast complement of Simcoe, Tomahawk and Mosaic hops.
Let’s pop the top and pour then. The beer is slightly ruddy, just a shade off the usual golden ale color. A bubbly head that dwindles to some thin suds. The smell has a lot of zest to it, and those California hops are right behind it in the nose.
The taste shows every bit of its 9% alcohol, and why they stuck in a dangerously-sized quart bottle, I dunno. But the hops take the fore, with a big sour hit of grapefruit. It’s also sharp, aided by prickly effervescence. I’m guessing the rice basically adds to the beer’s strength without affecting the taste, the same use it goes to in Budweiser. It’s a tasty, big beer, but it comes up pretty close to a malt liquor more than any impression of sake.
In sum, it’s a big beer. Hoppy, but not an imperial IPA, nor even in the style of an IPA. But a big beer to stand by itself.
