Lagunitas Maximus 19.2OZ

Lagunitas Maximus 19.2OZ is a 9.0% ABV Double IPA from Lagunitas Brewing Company, served in a single-serve 19.2-ounce stovepipe can. Scored 93/100 by Beer & Brewing magazine, this imperial IPA layers an aggressive hop bill over a substantial malt backbone that keeps the bitterness in check rather than letting it run wild.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9.0%  |  Origin: Petaluma, California  |  Style: Double IPA (Imperial IPA)  |  Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Lagunitas Brewing Company was founded in 1993 in Lagunitas, California, before relocating to Petaluma, where it remains headquartered today. Maximus is built around a trio of American hops—Simcoe, Cascade, and Centennial—layered over a grain bill of malted wheat, biscuity Munich malt, and English Crystal malt. What separates Maximus from many double IPAs is its massive dry-hop addition, which amplifies spice, floral, and berry aromatics beyond what the boil kettle alone delivers, while the wheat and Munich malt provide enough body and sweetness to keep the 9% ABV from tasting hot or thin.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Crushed pine needles and resin hit first, followed by a wave of fresh pink grapefruit pulp and subtle floral and berry notes contributed by the dry-hop charge. A biscuity, lightly caramel malt sweetness sits underneath.

Taste: The entry is hop-forward with pronounced pine character that transitions at mid-palate into juicy grapefruit citrus with a noticeable caramel malt sweetness holding the center together. The peak brings resinous bitterness balanced by the biscuity Munich and wheat malt, keeping the beer rich rather than astringent despite its aggressive hopping.

Finish: Medium-long, carrying grapefruit hop oils and a lingering resinous bite that dries the palate cleanly. A faint malt sweetness persists beneath the hops, inviting another sip.

How to Drink Maximus

Maximus drinks best poured into a tulip glass or snifter at around 45–50°F, which opens up the dry-hop aromatics without letting the alcohol warmth dominate. The 19.2-ounce format is generous enough to share or to enjoy over a longer session. As a cocktail-adjacent option, a Hop Shandy (half Maximus, half fresh lemonade) tames the bitterness for warm-weather drinking. A Michelada variation using Maximus adds pine and citrus complexity against the tomato-lime base. For a simple twist, a Boilermaker paired with a shot of bourbon plays the caramel malt notes off the whiskey's vanilla and oak.

Best For

• Hop-focused tastings comparing West Coast double IPAs side by side
• Backyard grilling sessions where bold food needs an equally bold beer
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who gravitates toward resinous, piney IPAs
• A single-can nightcap with enough complexity and ABV to stand on its own

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Maximus taste like? Maximus leads with bold pine and resinous hop bitterness, transitions into juicy pink grapefruit citrus at mid-palate, and finishes with a caramel malt sweetness that balances the aggressive hopping. The overall impression is a rich, full-bodied double IPA with a clean, drying finish.

How does Maximus compare to Pliny the Elder? Both are celebrated California double IPAs, but Maximus leans heavier on pine resin and malt sweetness from its Munich and Crystal malt bill, while Pliny the Elder (Russian River Brewing) emphasizes a more balanced floral-citrus hop profile using Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops with a drier, lighter body. Maximus tends to feel fuller on the palate, whereas Pliny is often noted for its deceptive drinkability at a similar ABV.

Is Maximus good for sipping on its own? Absolutely—its layered hop complexity and substantial malt backbone give it enough depth to drink slowly and appreciate neat from a proper glass, especially at a controlled serving temperature around 45–50°F.

Where is Maximus made? Maximus is brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company at its flagship brewery in Petaluma, California. The brewery was originally founded in the small Marin County town of Lagunitas in 1993 before moving to its current Petaluma facility.

What foods pair well with Maximus? Spicy buffalo wings work well because the malt sweetness tempers capsaicin heat while the hops cut through the richness. Aged cheddar or Gruyère complement the caramel malt notes. Grilled burgers with sharp toppings like blue cheese match the beer's intensity. Carnitas tacos with a citrus salsa echo the grapefruit hop character. Dark chocolate brownies create a surprising contrast that highlights the pine and berry dry-hop notes.

What sizes does Maximus come in? This listing is for the 19.2-ounce single-serve stovepipe can, a popular format for convenience and freshness; Maximus is also commonly available in standard 12-ounce six-packs.

Is Maximus worth the price? Maximus positions as a mid-range double IPA—more accessible than limited-release imperial IPAs yet noticeably more complex than standard IPAs, with a 93/100 score from Beer & Brewing and an 89 on BeerAdvocate supporting its reputation as a strong value within the double IPA category.

Why Maximus?

A 93/100 score from Beer & Brewing places Maximus among the higher-rated widely distributed double IPAs on the market. Its combination of three classic American hop varieties—Simcoe, Cascade, and Centennial—with a massive dry-hop bill produces an aromatic intensity that many competitors in the style achieve only through haze and juice-forward yeast strains. The malt bill, built on wheat, Munich, and English Crystal, gives Maximus a copper-hued body and a structural sweetness that distinguishes it from leaner West Coast doubles. For a beer at 9% ABV that remains broadly available in a grab-and-go 19.2-ounce format, Maximus delivers serious hop depth without requiring a brewery visit or a bottle release lottery.