Lagunitas’ Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ blows my mind a little bit. It’s hoppy, it’s malty, it’s wheaty, and it’s definitely got the sort of  oomph that might kick you in the seat of the pants if you aren’t watching out for it.  But with a name like Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’, would you expect anything less?  Seated at the bar of Northeast Kingdom this evening where they are currently serving the beer on draft, my Australian photographer and his friend called this beer “undrinkable,” which is somewhat understandable considering Aussies tend to appreciate a light, easy brew over something with more character; this beer has nothing if not character.

A friend of mine now works at Lagunitas Brewing Company, one of the west coast’s finest breweries, and I asked him for the inside scoop on the beer.  Back in college, Barry and I perfected that most gracious of Midwestern arts: shotgunning ice-cold Natural Lights out of cans in the bathroom.  We’ve come a long way since then and have left our Natty behind us in favor of somewhat more legitimate beer-drinking endeavors, which for Barry means working on “strategery” at Lagunitas (he is the first to admit the folks there don’t take themselves too seriously).  According to Barry, Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ started as a seasonal brew, but soon became so popular that Lagunitas decided to sell it year-round, and it’s now the brewery’s best seller after their IPA.  Take that, Aussie haters.