Lagunitas Brewing Releases The Waldos’ Special Ale
Only a day away from April 20th, better known as 4/20 Day, Lagunitas Brewing is known for its appreciation of this day of cannabis culture. First introduces in 2011, The Waldos’ Special Ale now is part of the 2016 One Hitter Series that is available in 6 pack, 12 oz. bottles. The Waldos’ Special Ale is said to be brewed for all the treasure hunters.
The story of the Waldos is as follows from Lagunitas.
In 1971, the Waldos met one afternoon at 4:20 in the front courtyard of their school near the statue of Louis Pasteur. They set out in a ’66 Impala armed with a “treasure map” on a journey to find a secret garden near Point Reyes. They met there at the same time every day and continued their quest. They never found the secret garden….But they keep lookin’. The dankest and hoppiest beer ever brewed at Lagunitas was made with help of the Waldos for all treasure hunters.
At 11.5% ABV and over 100 IBUs, The Waldos’ Special Ale is not for the inexperienced. Be careful as this beer masks its higher ABV quite well.
Today, Tuesday, April 19, Belmont Station will celebrate the release of The Waldos’ Special Ale one day early with its Waldo Release Pre-Funk & ‘Steal the Jar’ Giveaway. Beginning with a minute to spare at 4:19pm, the Station will tap this year’s batch of Waldo, a day and a minute earlier! When you purchase a glass of this big hop bomb you’ll get to take home a Lagunitas Mason jar glass.
The Waldo’s Special Ale replaces the recently releases CitruSinesis Pale Ale as part of the 2016 One Hitter Series. CitruSinesis Pale Ale is brewed with natural blood orange flavors from fresh Sanguinello Blood oranges. This concentrated juice was added to a new imperial version of its New Dogtown Pale Ale. At 8% ABV this beer will not be available for much longer.
The other new release from Lagunitas is Aunt Sally, a dry-hopped sweet tart sour mash ale. Aunt Sally joins the year round lineup of Lagunitas beers in 6 pack, 12 oz. bottles. The brewers were going for a “gateway sour” that is brewed with a “shit ton of hops”. With this goal in mind they definitely succeeded with a nice, approachable tart beer that offers up some pleasant fruit notes at only 5.7% ABV.
Lagunitas describes Aunt Sally this way.
We soured the wort on the Hot Side with Lactobacillus for a few days and then brewed up this smooth and hoppy sour. It tastes like a big bowl of fruity candy or some chewable flavored vitamins, but what’s the difference? It’s sweet, tart, and sassy, just like the tasty cherry pie that your favorite aunt makes. For all the Aunt Sally’s out there, You know who you are…
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.
Aunt Sally is great and you can get it on tap at the Yamhill Pub. I and the other patrons that preview-sampled it there a month ago lobbied the owner hard to get it on tap.