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The Waldos' Special Ale

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Dank, a triple IPA at 12.8 % in the latest vintage, an April release. It honors the origins of 420: in 1971 the Waldos met at 4:20 in front of their school near the statue of Louis Pasteur and set out in a '66 Impala with a treasure map to search for a secret garden near Point Reyes. The story of Lagunitas starts on a kitchen stove in Northern California in 1993.

ABV
12.8%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
dankhoppyresinous
dank
hoppy
resinous
tropical
piney
citrusy
Aroma
Aggressive herbal and resinous hop character dominates the nose, with pronounced piney and citrus notes layered beneath.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for The Waldos' Special Ale

◎ Appearance

The beer presents a hazy golden-amber hue with a light, pale straw cast at its edges. A modest white head forms and disperses quickly, leaving minimal lacing on the glass. The haziness stems from suspension through the yeast, typical of the style, and carbonation is brisk and persistent.

hazy golden-ambersoft white headbright carbonation

◌ Aroma

Aggressive herbal and resinous hop character dominates the nose, with pronounced piney and citrus notes layered beneath. Subtle tropical fruit esters—hints of grapefruit and stone fruit—emerge as the beer warms. Underlying malt backbone is present but restrained, allowing the hop profile to command attention.

resinous pinecitrus and grapefruitdank herbal hops

◐ Taste

The palate opens with bold hop bitterness and resinous texture, grounded by a full body and restrained malt sweetness that prevents harshness. Mid-palate brings tropical fruit and citrus complexity alongside lingering herbal notes. The 12.8% alcohol is evident as a warming presence but remains well-integrated within the overall structure.

full-bodied, robustbitter resin and citrustropical fruit complexity

◑ Finish

The finish is long and drying, with persistent hop bitterness and herbal character fading into a gentle boozy warmth. Residual resin and piney notes linger on the palate for several minutes.

long dry finishlingering herbal bitterness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
78
Finish
81
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with The Waldos' Special Ale

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About Triple IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Triple IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar Triple IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dank, hoppy, boozy character as The Waldos' Special Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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