Head to Head: Weyerbacher Hops Infusion India Pale Ale vs. Lagunitas IPA

Welcome to today’s Head to Head challenge.
Style: India Pale Ale. View the Top IPAs

Beer	Weyerbacher Hops Infusion India Pale Ale	Lagunitas IPA
Brewer	Weyerbacher	Lagunitas
Country	America	America
State (if Applicable)	Pennsylvania	California

Appearance: Winner – Lagunitas

Weyerbacher – This beer has an amber color with a small white head that leaves amost no lace.

Lagunitas – Pours a amber color with a medium off-white head. Some lace is left on the glass as the head quickly recedes.

Aroma: Winner – Lagunitas

Weyerbacher – The aroma is very subdued with a small amount of sweet caramel and a trace of floral hops.

Lagunitas – Lots of hops in the aroma. There are definite smells of flowers, and resin along with a slight candy undertone.

Taste: Winner – Lagunitas

Weyerbacher – For an IPA this is lacking hops and the accompanying bitterness.

Lagunitas – There is a sweet flavor to begin with but then the bitterness from the hops starts to build. The floral character of the hops is very evident in the taste.

Body/Finish: Winner – Lagunitas

Weyerbacher – This has a medium body, a short and not to bitter finish.

Lagunitas –A medium body is accompanied by a long dry and bitter aftertaste.

Overall: Winner – Lagunitas
This was a real surprise. Seeing as last time these two beers met the Hops Infusion was the clear winner with nice robust hop flavors I struggled with the result. After some checking to verify which was which it was the Lagunitas that came out on top. Both bottles had come from the same six-packs and the tasting was only a few weeks apart. The fact that the bottles varied so much was a shock. But that does not change the fact that the Lagunitas on this occasion was excellent. Everything I could want from an IPA. Good hop aromas and flavors with a delectable bitterness and finish that left me wishing it would go on and on. Of course there were other beers to drink so I could not linger to long. Now that Lagunitas is available locally I will source some more of these two beers and have a run off to settle the score.

~ by alelagerlambic on August 13, 2008.