Lagunitas Brewing Company
Lagunitas IPA
One of the highest-volume American craft IPAs, and evidence that a hop-forward beer could be a mainstream flagship.
- Strength
- 6.2% ABV
- Style
- American IPA
- Brewery
- Lagunitas Brewing Company
Also called Lagunitas India Pale Ale.
Lagunitas IPA is a caramel-inflected American IPA — more malt sweetness than a West Coast example, citrus and pine hop character, and a bitterness that stays balanced rather than escalating. That sweetness is deliberate and is much of why it scaled.
It demonstrated that an IPA could be a brewery’s volume product rather than its specialist one, which changed what American breweries expected their flagship to be.
What it tastes like
Inherited from American IPA, because this beer sits within the normal range for it. BeerHQ’s comparative scale, not a measurement.
Why BeerHQ carries this beer
| Reason | Carried because it is where many people start |
|---|---|
| Strength | 6.2% ABV — checked 2026-08-16. Strengths differ by market and change without announcement, so this is dated rather than absolute. |
| Record stability | Stable — this product has changed little and is not expected to. |
BeerHQ records no recipe, hop bill, malt bill, yeast strain, IBU or calorie figure for any commercial beer unless it is sourced. Nothing on this page is inferred from what the beer tastes like.
What is distinctive about it
- Noticeably maltier than a West Coast IPA, which is a substantial part of its accessibility
- One of the highest-volume IPAs in American craft brewing
If you like Lagunitas IPA
Worked out from what this beer actually tastes like rather than from what its style typically does. Three kinds of move, because “what should I try next” is three different questions.
Closest to it
Very similar in structure and flavour. Safe ground rather than discovery.
West Coast IPA — try Stone IPA
A close structural match for Lagunitas IPA — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less bread & biscuit (low → none–trace).
May not suit: Very close to Lagunitas IPA; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Session IPA — try Beavertown Neck Oil or Founders All Day IPA
A close structural match for Lagunitas IPA — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less bread & biscuit (low → none–trace).
May not suit: Very close to Lagunitas IPA; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Double IPA — try Pliny the Elder or Heady Topper
A close structural match for Lagunitas IPA — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly more alcohol warmth (trace–low → moderate–high).
May not suit: Very close to Lagunitas IPA; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
Similar, but different
Keeps what you probably like about it and changes one or two things. Usually the most useful answer.
American pale ale — try Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or Little Creatures Pale Ale
Keeps most of what Lagunitas IPA does and shifts tropical fruit.
Different: noticeably less tropical fruit (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less tropical fruit than Lagunitas IPA.
Keeps most of what Lagunitas IPA does and shifts tropical fruit.
Different: noticeably less tropical fruit (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less tropical fruit than Lagunitas IPA.
Keeps most of what Lagunitas IPA does and shifts tropical fruit.
Different: noticeably less tropical fruit (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less tropical fruit than Lagunitas IPA.
A bigger jump
Genuinely different, but connected by something specific — the shared trait is named so you can judge whether the bridge holds.
British golden ale — try Oakham Citra or St Austell Tribute
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Lagunitas IPA.
Different: noticeably less tropical fruit (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less tropical fruit than Lagunitas IPA.
India pale lager — try Jack’s Abby Hoponius Union
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Lagunitas IPA.
Different: noticeably less tropical fruit (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less tropical fruit than Lagunitas IPA.
Czech premium pale lager — try Pilsner Urquell or Budweiser Budvar
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Lagunitas IPA.
Different: much less citrus (high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less citrus than Lagunitas IPA.
Likely fits rather than promises. Taste varies, and a recommendation engine that claims certainty is claiming something it cannot know.
What to eat with it
Inherited from American IPA. BeerHQ does not duplicate pairings onto individual products unless the product genuinely differs from its style.
- Steak
Bitterness cuts the fat and the resinous hop character stands up to the char. A big beer for a big plate — the two are matched on intensity rather than on flavour.
- Tagine
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Adobo
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Beef stew
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
Keeping it
American IPA shows best within 1–3 months of packaging. After that it declines in quality rather than becoming unsafe.
Drink fresh. Buy it as young as you can and drink it soon. What makes this beer worth drinking is the first thing to leave it.
Derived from American IPA. See storage and freshness for the full model.
BeerHQ carries a small set of reference beers to anchor styles, not a catalogue. There is no rating here and there will not be one. Last reviewed 2026-08-16.