Lagunitas Brewing Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale Review

Located in Petaluma, California, Lagunitias Brewing Company is a craft brewing operation that is known for its bold, flavorful brews. This brewery offers a good mix of regular and seasonal products, along with the occasional special release beer. An example of the latter is  Lagunitas Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale, a beer with a strong hop presence.

Beer Commentary:

Lagunitas Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale is copper in color and has a clear, see- through body with a solid head of foam. The nose is spicy, hoppy, and a little bit fruity with some hints of pine cones. There is less citrus in the nose than with other west- coast ales, but the scent of citrus is there, hidden behind the scents of pine and spice.

Lagunitas Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale offers the flavor of caramelized malt along with piney hops and a slightly toasted malt character. Citrus taste is present as well, with some grapefruit notes followed by a dry finish. This ale is medium in bodied and well- balanced between hops and malt. Its vital statistics include a bitterness rating of 77 IBU and an alcoholic content of 8.3 percent by volume.

Lagunitas Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale is a tasty ale from a California brewer I am growing to like more and more each day. This ale is not as full- bodied or alcoholic in flavor as its appearance and vital statistics indicate. That isn't to say that Lagunitas Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale is a weak beer- it just isn't as full and rich as I imagined it would be. But in this instance, the body and taste are just right and I am relieved that Lagunitas made this ale the way they did. The brewers seemed to have gotten everything at just the right balance to eliminate most of the flavor of strong alcohol. If there is any bite to be felt in this ale, it would be from the hops.

Speaking of the hop content, it is certainly pronounced and most drinkers will recognize its contributions immediately. But once again, the final result is actually a fairly well- balanced beer. Hops are most evident, yes. But this beer also offers a solid malt base that contributes flavors of toasted malt and caramel. The IBU are at 77, but the malt does contribute some good flavor to the finished product, leading to a fresh, hop- accented brew that is still malty enough to warrant discernment in that category alone.

Bottom Line Viewpoint:

Overall, Lagunitas Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale is a very tasty ale and one I will certainly purchase again if I get the chance. This product is, at present, offered only in limited release so there is a small chance it will not be brewed again. It is certainly a beer worth sampling and savoring, and I recommend getting your hands on a bottle while the product is still available on the store shelves.