Lagunitas Hop Stoopid 22OZ

Lagunitas Hop Stoopid 22OZ is an 8.0% ABV Imperial IPA from Lagunitas Brewing Company, sold in a 22-ounce bomber format. Earning a 93 on Beer Advocate from over 8,000 ratings and a 99 on RateBeer, this hop-centric ale has become one of the most respected double IPAs on the American craft beer landscape.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.0%  |  IBU: 102  |  Origin: Petaluma, California  |  Style: Imperial IPA  |  Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Lagunitas Brewing Company was founded in 1993 in Lagunitas, California, before relocating to its current home in Petaluma. Hop Stoopid stands apart from many Imperial IPAs through its use of complex super-critical CO2 hop extraction equipment. This technology replaces the massive volume of hop vegetative material typically loaded into the kettle with concentrated extracts, yielding cleaner, more defined hop flavors without the harsh vegetal bitterness that can plague heavily hopped beers. The base is built on malted barley, and the beer is brewed with water, hops, and yeast — nothing more.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pine and cedar resin dominate immediately, with hop aromatics that virtually leap from the glass. Behind the initial wave, tropical fruit and a warm caramel sweetness round out the nose.

Taste: The entry is sharp and resinous — grapefruit rind and pine sap hit first, announcing the 102 IBUs without apology. The mid-palate reveals surprising depth as layers of treacle, honey, and light caramel malt flavors emerge, keeping the beer far from one-dimensional. Despite the aggressive hop presence, the balance is remarkably well managed.

Finish: Long and drying with lingering piney bitterness that coats the palate. A faint malt sweetness persists underneath, encouraging the next sip.

How to Drink Hop Stoopid

Pour Hop Stoopid into a tulip glass or snifter at around 45–50°F to let the complex hop aromatics fully develop; drinking straight from the bomber mutes much of the experience. This beer is best enjoyed on its own, but it can anchor a few beer-cocktail experiments: a Hop Shandy with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice that amplifies the citrus notes; a Michelada where the aggressive hops stand up to hot sauce, lime, and Worcestershire; or a Beer-a-Rita where Hop Stoopid's pine and citrus character substitutes for the traditional lager with bold, bitter results.

Best For

• Hopheads seeking a benchmark American Imperial IPA
• Sharing at a backyard cookout or tailgate (the 22oz bomber pours two generous glasses)
• Introducing a craft beer enthusiast to the double IPA category
• Pairing with spicy or rich grilled foods that can match the beer's intensity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hop Stoopid taste like? Hop Stoopid leads with assertive pine and grapefruit rind bitterness backed by a supportive malt backbone of caramel, honey, and treacle. It registers 102 IBUs but stays balanced and avoids becoming abrasive.

How does Hop Stoopid compare to Stone Ruination IPA? Both are aggressively hopped West Coast-style Imperial IPAs, but Hop Stoopid's super-critical CO2 hop extraction produces cleaner, less vegetal hop character, while Stone Ruination tends toward a more raw, unfiltered bitterness. Hop Stoopid also sits at 8.0% ABV compared to Ruination's 8.5%, making it slightly more sessionable for a double IPA.

Is Hop Stoopid good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — poured into a proper glass at cool-but-not-cold temperatures, Hop Stoopid reveals enough malt complexity and aromatic depth to reward slow, attentive drinking.

Where is Hop Stoopid made? Hop Stoopid is brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company at their facility in Petaluma, California, in the heart of Sonoma County.

What foods pair well with Hop Stoopid? Spicy buffalo wings match the hop bitterness note for note. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the piney hops with rich, tangy creaminess. Grilled burgers with caramelized onions echo the beer's malt sweetness. Fish tacos with a citrus slaw complement the grapefruit character. A rich carrot cake or bread pudding provides a surprising dessert pairing that tempers the bitterness.

What sizes does Hop Stoopid come in? Hop Stoopid is widely available in the 22-ounce bomber format and can also be found in 12-ounce six-packs and draft.

Is Hop Stoopid worth the price? Hop Stoopid positions as a highly accessible entry point into the Imperial IPA category, typically priced well below many comparable double IPAs while carrying critical ratings — including a 93 on Beer Advocate and 99 on RateBeer — that rival far more expensive releases.

Why Hop Stoopid?

What separates Hop Stoopid from the crowded double IPA field is Lagunitas's investment in super-critical CO2 hop extraction, a technique that strips out unwanted vegetal roughness and delivers the pure essence of hop resin, citrus, and pine. The result is a 102-IBU beer that somehow stays drinkable and balanced at 8.0% ABV — no small feat. With a 93 on Beer Advocate across thousands of reviews and a 99 on RateBeer, Hop Stoopid has earned its reputation through consistent quality rather than hype or limited-release scarcity. For anyone serious about hop-forward American ales, this bomber belongs in regular rotation.