Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale

I first saw the packaging on this beer and thought, that's funny - "Holiday Sucks" ha ha, yeah sometimes.   At the time I just passed it by and purchased something else.  Then I kept seeing it, so I picked it up.  

After reading up on this one I soon realized it was "Lagunitas Sucks" Holiday Ale and not a Grinch-like holiday statement.  Lagunitas explains, "There is nothing cool about screwing up this badly and we know it. Maybe we can sue our own sorry selves. There is no joy in our hearts this holiday and the best we can hope for is a quick and merciful end. F*@& us." This response was in regard to recent expansion plans that made them unable to brew the popular, yet difficult to make Brown Shugga'.  So instead of not putting out a Holiday Ale, they threw together this gem of an IPA.

This one is a big ole hop fest.  Upon first sip, I was smacked with some pine & citrus hops.  It calms a bit as you're drinking it, probably due to a small amount of lighter styled malts.  Then it ends with a bitter, clean, but still hoppy finale.  

Sucks started flying off of shelves and it's actually pretty tough to find right now, although I think another shipment hit stores in MA recently as I started to see it pop up again.  If you haven't had the chance to try this one and you like hoppy IPAs, you really should try to nab some before they're all gone.  Because of the popularity of this one, I'm hoping that it gets added to the Lagunitas lineup, but they do have a few worthy IPAs already (IPA, Maximus) if you miss out on this one.

Kev Rating: B+
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 7.85%

IBUs: 62
Availability:  Hit or miss at most decent Craft beer sections.  Will get harder to find as we get away from the Holidays.
Had: 6 pack (few times) purchased at Gordon's in Watertown, Martignetti's in Allston, and Gordon's in Waltham.
Region: Petaluma, CA