Aunt Sally pours with a light yellow to golden coloration with a fair amount of whitish head that remains sitting on top of the beer. Aunt Sally’s note showcases a good amount of piney hop elements, while the initial sip of the beer will yield tart elements that work in tandem with the hop snap.
As Aunt Sally continues to reach room temperature, the tart and sour elements that initially made themselves known fade back into the periphery. Hints of wheat and malt are picked up during the second half of each 12 ounce bottle; Aunt Sally has transformed. The sweet, malt, and grain elements make this into a solid drinking effort for bonfires or after long days of work outdoors. The initial sharpness of the beer is a solid palette cleanser, making it quite easy for an individual to drink a sixer over the course of a night.
This means that the hoppy side is matched with a sweeter element, making for something that is fairly unique in beer. Lagunitas has created something that is out in left field but possesses a dense enough palette to keep individuals interested from the beginning to the end of the beer. While it does not fit nicely into the India Pale Ale or sour style, I feel that Aunt Sally has more than enough to be had here to impress even the most dour fans of each approach. The fact that the beer ends in such a different place from where it started is further testament to the quality of Aunt Sally.
We reviewed Lagunitas’ Cappucino Stout a few months back. For additional information about the entirety of the brewery’s year-round and seasonal offerings, check out their social media and main domain. Pick up Lagunitas’ offerings at your local beer store.
Rating: 8.1/10
Aunt Sally / 5.7% ABV / https://lagunitas.com / https://www.facebook.com/LagunitasBrewingCo /http://twitter.com/lagunitasbeer