"In 1971, the Waldos met one afternoon at 4:19 as to not be later and set out
in a ’66 Impala armed with a treasure map on a journey to find a spot near
Point Reynes, They never found the spot……...But they kept lookin’. The Dankest
and Hoppiest beer ever brewed at Lagunitas was made with the help of the Waldos, for all treasure hunters."Confused? Well if not, you darn well ought to be, because I know I was, and to a certain extent, still am!
From time to time I get sent bottles of beer to taste and review. Several months ago I received a beer called Waldos' Special Ale; an 11.3% Imperial IPA brewed by Lagunitas. Described as the dankest and hoppiest beer ever brewed at Lagunitas, it's also presumably one of the strongest the company has brewed as well.
I don't mind strong beers per se, but I have to be in the
right frame of mind, and also in the right place, to want to drink one. It's
perhaps not surprising then that this particular bottle sat unopened in my
fridge for all that time.
Waldos' Special Ale is described as either a Triple IPA or
an Imperial IPA. With an ABV of 11.3%,
it is a not a beer for the faint of heart. It has a vinous feel, with a real
resinous mouth-feel, no doubt due to the copious amounts of hops used in the
brewing.
So definitely not an everyday beer, and not even one for
special occasions, but despite this, or
perhaps even because of it people on sites such as Rate Beer and Beer Advocate are
all over this super-strength beer. This may possibly have something to do with the rather
ridiculous and over-hyped story behind it.
The story involves a group of five American students, called
the Waldos, who attended San Rafael High
School in Marin County,
California . The students called themselves
the "Waldos" because their chosen "hang-out spot" was a
wall outside the school. They had a plan to search for an abandoned cannabis
crop that they had learned about, based on a "treasure map" made by
the grower of the weed.
Well I expect you're feeling as under-whelmed as I am by this
story, and probably wondering why this obscure non-event was chosen as the inspiration
behind this limited edition beer?
Perhaps if your origins are steeped in West Coast "counter-culture," the
"Waldos" might mean something, but for the rest of us the story is
definitely something of a turn-off.
A shame really as it's an interesting beer, and some may
even say a truly great one. I haven't drunk enough of these high-octane,
uber-strength IPA's to be able to form an opinion, one way or the other, but
I'm still pleased to have had the opportunity to enjoy this one.
So Lagunitas, thanks for the beer, but next time please spare us the obscure,
far-out, trippy-hippy, Californian
references, because most of us just don't dig it, man!
3 comments:
" It's perhaps not surprising then that this particular bottle sat unopened in my fridge for all that time."
I'm with you on that Paul. I currently have two bottles of 9.5% Ice Bock in my fridge that have been there since February. Originally had 12 but I only drink one bottle, once in a while, as a nightcap. :)
"This may possibly have something to do with the rather ridiculous and over-hyped story behind it."
This goes hand-in-hand with the Boak and Bailey beer geekery bit (no disparaging intended to those two).The Waldo Ale is a one-off (or one hitter as Lagunitas says), not one of their usual beers. Combine the special edition with the high ABV and the overhoppines, plus the 'unique' story and some folks will fall all over themselves to get in on the action. :)
"The story goes that because of the 4:20 pm meeting time, the number 420 ended up as an obscure coded reference to marijuana."
See above. I've seen the Wiki page. My guess is one or two of those guys are doing the editing. (LOL)
"but for the rest of us the story is definitely something of a turn-off."
I live on the west coast (but Canada, not the US) and even I find the area from LA to Portland can be a bit overly pretentious. :)
"but I'm still pleased to have had the opportunity to enjoy this one."
Yep, and that's the key. It's a one off (or one hitter) so it's nice to be able to say that you've had one. To be fair Lagunitas makes a fairly decent IPA. But it's a bit pricey in my neck of the woods. And there are some local BC brewers that do a nice IPA as well*.
Cheers
* Currently enjoying a 500ml can of a 6.5% IPA from Red Racer in BC that cost me the equivalent of one pound twenty-six pence at the liquor store. :)
I agree Russ, Lagunitas certainly do make an excellent and very drinkable IPA, which quite often is available at a discount price, here in the UK. Bottles are sometimes available in Wetherspoon's outlets as well.
According to Wikipedia, Lagunitas have something of a cannabis fixation; although quite how that fares with new owners Heineken, is anyone's guess.
I suppose if you grew up watching Cheech & Chong, you might find the constant weed-related comments amusing, but the whole thing leaves me cold; especially as it reminds me of a former friend who turned into a real "pot-head."
ps. The Red Racer IPA sounds good.
As someone once said "dear, dear, dear no, dear, dear, dear, no, dear no, oh dear no" (and not in a curry house either).
I'm pretty strictly session beers. If I want something with a higher ABV, with a meal say, then I'll go with a decent Burgundy, Bordeaux, or Chianti.
I don't really like any beer which is discernibly sweet, and the stronger ones do seem to be.
Cheers,
E
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