Lagunitas Brewery

     As I write this I am drinking a Lagunitas IPA, and reading the label on the front of the bottle. In small print around the edge it says,"Thanks for choosing to spend the next few minutes with this special homicidally hoppy ale. Savor the moment as the raging hop character engages the qualities of the malt foundation in mortal combat on the battlefield of your palette!" And here I thought I was just having a beer.

     On the bottom of the six-pack carton-on the bottom!-there is still more writing. It reads, "In this life, there are only a couple of things better than opening up a fresh box of hops. One is drinking the beer it later becomes and the other one isn't. You know what the other one is..." I do. At least I think I do. Lagunitas IPA. As good as sex. Well, that might be pushing it a little. Still, it's a tasty brew that can muscle up with the big-boy regional and national brands and more than hold its own. And it just might be at a neighborhood cold case near you.