Lagunitas is one of the fastest-growing craft breweries in the United States. Founded in 1993 by Tony Magee, the brewery is known for iconoclastic interpretations of traditional beer styles, and irreverent descriptive text and stories on its packaging. 12th of Never Ale is part of their un-limited release series, a hop-forward American Pale Ale expressed in a moderate voice.

This beer pours a clear yellow/golden color with a medium white head and high carbonation. The head dissipates pretty quickly leaving no lacing behind.

On the nose, hops of course take center stage followed by a tropical fruitiness. Citrus notes and papaya seem to show the most. There is a malty characteristic but isn’t very dominate.

A light bodied ale that brings some structure, 12th of Never is not as light as a session ale but still has crush-ability. A solid blend of hops gives off a smooth bitterness and citrus note, but doesn’t linger around. A good amount of oranges, lemons and spice build to give this beer a clean and refreshing profile. Some malts on the finish bring this together for an ale that can be enjoyed in all seasons.

The Beer Buyer Overall Rating: 3.5 Out of 5 Pints