Lagunitas Hop Stoopid 6Pk

Lagunitas Hop Stoopid 6Pk is an Imperial IPA from Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma, California, packaged as a six-pack of 12 oz bottles at 8.0% ABV. Scoring a perfect 100 on RateBeer and a 93 on BeerAdvocate from over 8,000 ratings, Hop Stoopid has earned its reputation as one of the most respected double IPAs on the American craft beer shelf.

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

Production & Heritage

Lagunitas Brewing Company was founded in 1993 in Lagunitas, California, before relocating to Petaluma, where it grew into one of the country's largest craft breweries. What sets Hop Stoopid apart from conventional Imperial IPAs is a distinctive production approach: rather than loading the kettle with raw hop cones, the brewery uses supercritical CO2 hop extraction equipment to distill hop flavors and alpha acids into a concentrated, syrupy extract. This method replaces the massive volume of vegetative hop material that would otherwise clog pumps and create a spinach-like mess in the wort, resulting in cleaner, more focused hop character at a staggering 102 IBUs.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pine and cedar resin dominate the nose immediately, with hop aromatics that virtually leap from the glass. Beneath the resinous top notes, more delicate layers of honeysuckle, hibiscus, orange blossom, and ripe pineapple emerge.

Taste: The palate opens with a blast of grapefruit and pine bitterness that matches the aromatic intensity. At mid-palate, a malt backbone of treacle, honey, and light caramel provides necessary counterweight, keeping the beer from becoming one-dimensional. The 8.0% ABV is well-integrated, adding body without overt boozy heat.

Finish: Long and persistently bitter with lingering pine resin and citrus pith that coat the tongue. The caramel malt sweetness fades first, leaving a dry, resinous close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Hop Stoopid

Pour into a tulip glass or IPA glass at 45–50°F to let the complex hop aromatics open fully; drinking straight from the bottle mutes much of the nuance. For cocktail-curious drinkers, Hop Stoopid works well in a Hop Shandy with fresh lemonade, where the citrus plays off the grapefruit hops; a Beer-a-Rita built with lime juice and a salted rim, where the high IBU cuts through the sweetness; or a Boilermaker alongside a pour of bourbon, where the pine and caramel notes in both create a natural bridge.

Best For

• Hopheads seeking maximum IBU intensity without sacrificing drinkability
• Stocking the fridge before a backyard barbecue with bold, smoky foods
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates hop-forward styles
• Side-by-side tastings comparing hop extraction methods across Imperial IPAs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hop Stoopid taste like? Hop Stoopid delivers aggressive grapefruit and pine bitterness at 102 IBUs, balanced by a malt backbone of honey, treacle, and light caramel that prevents the hops from overwhelming the palate.

How does Hop Stoopid compare to Green Flash Imperial IPA? Green Flash Imperial IPA sits at 101 IBUs — just one IBU below Hop Stoopid — making them close rivals in sheer bitterness. The key difference is Lagunitas's use of supercritical CO2 hop extraction, which tends to produce cleaner, more concentrated hop flavors compared to traditional hopping methods.

Is Hop Stoopid good for sipping on its own? Yes, Hop Stoopid drinks well on its own when poured into a proper glass at cellar temperature, allowing the layered aromatics of pine, honeysuckle, and tropical fruit to develop fully alongside its substantial malt body.

Where is Hop Stoopid made? Hop Stoopid is brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company at its brewery in Petaluma, California, located in Sonoma County in the North Bay region.

What foods pair well with Hop Stoopid? Spicy Thai dishes like green curry complement the hop bitterness with contrasting heat. Aged cheddar or Gruyère echo the caramel malt notes. Grilled burgers with sharp blue cheese stand up to the bold hop intensity. Citrus-glazed grilled chicken mirrors the beer's grapefruit character. Dark chocolate brownies create an unexpectedly harmonious bitter-on-bitter pairing.

What sizes does Hop Stoopid come in? Hop Stoopid is commonly available in 12 oz bottles sold in six-packs, as well as 22 oz bomber bottles.

Is Hop Stoopid worth the price? Hop Stoopid positions as a mid-range Imperial IPA that punches well above its price tier, particularly given its perfect 100 score on RateBeer and 93 on BeerAdvocate — ratings typically associated with more expensive limited-release double IPAs.

Why Hop Stoopid?

The supercritical CO2 hop extraction process used in Hop Stoopid is a genuine differentiator in a market saturated with conventionally dry-hopped Imperial IPAs. That technical innovation delivers 102 IBUs of remarkably clean bitterness — big but never muddy. A perfect 100 on RateBeer and a 93 on BeerAdvocate with thousands of ratings confirm that this is not merely an experimental novelty but a consistently well-executed beer. For anyone who wants to understand what focused, engineered hop intensity tastes like at a reasonable price point, Hop Stoopid remains one of the benchmarks of the style.