***DEAR BEER FRIENDS! THE CAPTAIN HAS JUST STUMBLED UPON A REVIEW BY MAJOR MICROBREW, WHO I BELIEVE IS IN A SIAMESE PRISON FOR USURY, BUT GOODNESS! FROM THE DUSTY ARCHIVES COMES…THE BEER I JUST REVIEWED! I SHALL LET THESE TWO REVIEWS DUEL IT OUT AND MAJOR, IF YOU EVER MAKE IT OUT OF THE ORIENT, WELL DONE!

My first beer of the night comes to us from Lagunitas Brewing Co. in Sonoma County, CA. At first glance, setting up a brewery in the middle of wine country seems a bit like placing a tanning salon in an albino leper colony. But even surrounded by legions of grape-fondling juice jockeys, Lagunitas has managed to craft a very solid IPA in the Maximus.

My slow pour resulted in a very attractive reddish blond body, with a modestly fluffy head. Carbonation is on the low side, as expected for an IPA of this type. The aroma was a pleasant citrus and toffee mixture

Clocking in at a high-octane 7.5% ABV packed into the now-fashionable 22oz bottle, I expected all the subtlety of a swift ski boot kick to the junk. The first sip, however, was much more like cup-and-cough from that attractive 40-something female doctor, brisk and sharp at first, but with a warm and embarrassingly pleasant. The aftertaste was nutty, and a bit on the sweet side. Perhaps a bit too sweet to be a regular staple, but your tastes may vary.

All in all, the Lagunitas Maximus IPA is a highly enjoyable beer. Do yourself a favor and pick up a few, if you live within their distribution.