Maximus and IPA are two words that belong together, their destiny is to be imprinted on a bottle of beer. That’s just what Lagunitas did, they took plenty of hops, malt, and yeast to make the Maximus IPA. Clocking in at 72.41 IBUs there should be some decent bitterness, but not so much that it is difficult to create a well rounded IPA.

Out of the 22 ounce bottle the Maximus has a great orange color with a two-finger fluffy white head. There is plenty of sticky lacing on the glass and some good visible carbonation. Aromas of grapefruit, hop spice, a bit of earthiness, and a slight hint of alcohol come through. The grapefruit and citrus aromas are great. The malt also lends some light caramel notes in the background.

There is a hit of bitterness upfront on the palate, enough to let you know what you’re drinking. This is followed by plenty of citrus, which is to be expected given the nose. The grapefruit is joined by orange peel and some spices from the hops that are weaved together nicely. There is some added complexity from the malt and yeast elements, with some malty sweetness and bready notes coming though. The hops are great throughout with a good amount of bitterness. The 8.2% ABV is well hidden and the mouth feel is crisp yet smooth, with a lingering finish of bitter citrus.

This was a great, well rounded IPA and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The complexity is nice and the bitterness plays well. The craft beer nerd will appreciate all this beer has to offer, while the novice will like how approachable the beer is. I do wish that there was a little less sweetness, as the citrus and sweet elements from the malt make for a stickier beer than I wanted. Even with that this is one to go for.

Rating

89
out of 100