Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Wild Ale

Stopped in for a quick shop at Sherbrooke today looking for something I haven't tried yet.  They have a shelf dedicated to new beer as soon as you walk in, and lately it's been stocked with a variety of tasty treats.  I noticed a few Dogfish bottles I have yet to try (Chicory Stout, Burton Baton Imperial IPA, and the Squall IPA...drooool).  I picked up a bottle of the Burton for later consumption and plan to hit up some friends to go in on the $28 bottle of Squall.  Also in the bag I added a bottle of Fuller's 2010 Vintage Ale to cellar and for tonight a bomber of Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Wild Ale.  Recently I had the opportunity to sample a bottle of their Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale, which absolutely blew my mind, as well as the "Censored" Copper Ale.

The Little Sumpin' Wild Ale is a seasonal beer brewed every September, using a ton of malted wheat and Belgian Westmalle yeast.  She pours a clear golden copper, with a gorgeous white frothy head that slowly crawls away leaving moderately heavy lacing.  Huge on the nose with tons of citrusy aroma, grapefruit and orange mostly.  Smells rich and sweet, the Belgian yeast highlighted nicely.

Quite the hoppy flavor, coming off a little sharp at the end and leaving a slight acrid aftertaste.  Nothing overly obnoxious, but still a flavor that lingers long after the party is over.  Luckily the mad amount of malts (barley and wheat) give it some sweet body, well rounded flavor, and fairly enjoyable balance.  If only the hops could have been handled a little better it could have been very satisfying.  It has a smooth textural feeling in the mouth, a buttery finish that I found interesting, and for a fairly high ABV beer (8.85%) the presence of alcohol is barely detectable.

The Belgian flavor is something I have yet to find a love for.  I can appreciate the character these yeast strains bring to the table but for some reason I just can't fall in love with it.  I see plenty of the Belgian beers leaving the bar at work, unfortunately most of the ones I've tried disagree with my tastes.  This one I find makes good use of the yeast, adding appropriate North American hop varieties and plenty of viscous malts to produce a delicious flavor profile.  A well crafted beer, despite the runaway hops.  Although not something I would buy again, just because of my personal tastes, it's still something I would recommend to a friend.  I really like this brewery and think they craft amazing beer.  In the case of this particular beer, don't listen to me, go buy it for yourself and see what you think.  It could very well be your perfect drink.