Lagunitas The Waldo's Special Ale Review: Dank and Proud

By Ryan Gerstel

Lagunitas Brewing Company, one of my favorite breweries, produces some phenomenal beers. My favorite product of theirs, Sucks, is one of the best double IPAs I've ever had. In fact, their entire year-round lineup deserves two thumbs up. Needless to say, I'm a Lagunitas fan.

So whenever I see a new product of theirs on our shelves, my intrigue is instantly peaked. Since I'm such a huge fan of Sucks, I was ecstatic when The Waldos' Special Ale, a DIPA, hit the shelves.

Evolution Pine'Hop'Le: How does it compare to Pineapple Sculpin?

by Ryan Gerstel

Evolution versus Ballast Point is the craft beer equivalent to David versus Goliath. Ballast Point has been an esteemed, highly rated San Diego brewery purchased in November by Constellation Brands (aka Corona) for a ridiculous $1 billion. They are best known for brewing the double IPA Sculpin (and more recently its variants) that at one time in craft beer history was as revered and anticipated as Hop Slam.  Evolution on the other hand is a smaller, somewhat local (Salisbury, MD) brewery completely "unburdened" by a large infusion of corporate moola.  Evolution however does brew some excellent beers including Lot #3, their single, west coast style IPA, and Lot #6, their double IPA.

The newest addition to Evolution's year-round lineup is a pineapple twist on their Lot #3, which is cleverly dubbed, "Pine'Hop'Le."