This coming weekend I’m going to a lake to hang out with my good buddies from high school.  For the last week or so I’ve been pondering on what beer I could bring.  Something that is tasty and sort of sessionable.  Early in the week I got to try A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale from Lagunitas and I automatically knew then what to bring.  While not a session beer, it’s close enough dammit and it goes down so nice.  This beer is classified as a American Pale Wheat Ale.  It’s a hoppy version of this style.

This brew pours a clear copper color.  A two finger head is poured.  Fluffy, white, with great retention and lacing throughout the glass.  Bubbles can be seen from the bottom and rise to the top of the glass in a endless trail. 

Smell on this beer is fantastic.  Fruity.   Citrus, lemon, and grapefruit.  A slight amount of spice and a nice wheaty background. 

Taste is much more the same.  I did pick up more of the grapefruit taste followed by the lemon and then the citrus.  The wheat comes through really nice mixed in with a nice bready malt character.  While the beer is a nice hoppy brew, the malt comes through nicely to really balance nicely.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, nicely carbonated, crisp, and smooth.

This beer is a total winner in my book.  I tried it’s big brother, Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Extra last year and this holds up nicely to it’s bigger hoppier brother.  What is so fantastic about this beer, well any Lagunitas beer honestly is that their stuff is cheap and all of it is quality.  Now why can’t other breweries be like this?

Found: Grape and Gourmet, Virginia Beach, VA
ABV%: 7.30%
Price: Less than 2 dollars a bottle
Website: http://www.lagunitas.com
What the company says: Sneaky Smooth with a Touch of What we Call Wheatly-esque-ish-ness. Crispy Wheat and Pale Malt flavors with a Zippy Hop Finish. A Return of the Brand-Spankin’ New Beer From The Summer of 2009.
Other beers to try from this brewery: Lagunitas Gnarleywine, Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball
Other beers to try within the same style: Southern Tier Uber Sun, Bell’s Oberon
Rating: A-