Lagunitas Maximus Colossal IPA 6Pk

Lagunitas Maximus Colossal IPA 6-Pack is a 9% ABV American double IPA from Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma, California, sold as six 12 fl oz bottles. Scoring 93/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing and an 89 on BeerAdvocate across nearly 6,000 ratings, Maximus has earned a firm reputation as one of the more accomplished year-round imperial IPAs on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9%  |  Origin: Petaluma, California, USA  |  Style: American Double / Imperial IPA  |  Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Lagunitas Brewing Company was founded in 1993 in the small Sonoma County town of Lagunitas before relocating to nearby Petaluma, where it operates today. Maximus Colossal IPA is built on a grain bill of malted barley, malted wheat, biscuity Munich malt, and English Crystal malt — a more complex base than many double IPAs that lean on simple two-row alone. The hop schedule layers Simcoe, Mosaic, CTZ, Cascade, and Centennial varieties through the boil and into a massive dry-hop addition, giving the beer its signature resinous, floral, and tropical punch while the layered malt backbone provides genuine counterweight.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pine resin and citrus peel hit first, followed by waves of tropical guava and floral hop character. A bready, almost biscuit-like malt sweetness rises underneath as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry is smooth and surprisingly creamy for its strength, with orange pith and blood orange rind leading into a mid-palate of dank tropical fruit and berry notes. Rich Munich malt and wheat provide a bready sweetness that holds the aggressive bitterness in check, while a gentle warming alcohol reminds you this is a 9% beer without overwhelming the hop flavors.

Finish: Long and resinous, with lingering pine-grapefruit bitterness and a spicy, slightly herbal edge. The malt fades slowly, leaving a dry, bitter close that invites another sip.

How to Drink Maximus

Pour into a tulip glass or snifter at around 50°F to let the complex hop aromatics fully open up; drinking straight from the bottle mutes the floral and tropical layers. A West Coast Shandy — Maximus cut with fresh grapefruit juice over ice — tames the bitterness for warm-weather drinking. Try it in a Hop Drop, a boilermaker-style pairing where a small pour accompanies a shot of reposado tequila, whose agave sweetness plays off the pine and citrus. It also stands up well in an IPA Michelada, where the beer's bold hop bite cuts through Clamato, lime, and hot sauce without getting lost.

Best For

• Hop-forward beer enthusiasts exploring year-round imperial IPAs
• Backyard cookouts where bold food needs a beer that can match it
• Gifting to a craft beer fan who already knows the standard Lagunitas IPA
• Side-by-side tasting sessions comparing West Coast double IPAs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Maximus taste like? Maximus delivers a bold combination of pine, citrus peel, and tropical fruit layered over biscuity Munich malt sweetness, finishing with a long, resinous bitterness and gentle warming alcohol.

How does Maximus compare to Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA? Both are 9% ABV double IPAs, but Dogfish Head 90 Minute uses a continual hopping method that produces a more integrated, caramel-leaning sweetness, while Maximus relies on a massive dry-hop bill that delivers more upfront pine, tropical fruit, and floral aromatics with a drier finish.

Is Maximus good for sipping neat? Absolutely — poured into a tulip glass at cellar temperature, its layered malt backbone and complex hop character reward slow, attentive drinking despite its 9% ABV.

Where is Maximus made? Maximus is brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company at its primary facility in Petaluma, California, in Sonoma County.

What foods pair well with Maximus? Charred burgers with sharp cheddar work well because the bitterness cuts through fat and cheese. Spicy Thai green curry finds balance against the malt sweetness. Blue cheese or aged Gruyère complement the resinous hop notes. Grilled citrus-marinated chicken echoes the beer's citrus and tropical character. Dark chocolate brownies create a satisfying contrast with the pine bitterness.

What sizes does Maximus come in? Maximus is widely available in 6-packs of 12 fl oz bottles, and can also be found in individual 12 fl oz bottles at some locations.

Is Maximus worth the price? Maximus positions as a mid-premium double IPA — its 9% ABV, five-hop layering, and complex grain bill deliver depth that competes with more expensive limited-release imperial IPAs, making it strong value for a year-round offering.

Why Maximus?

What separates Maximus from the crowded double IPA field is the sheer complexity of its recipe architecture — five distinct hop varieties over a four-grain malt bill is unusual for a year-round production beer at this price tier. The 93/100 score from Craft Beer & Brewing and consistent praise across nearly 180,000 Untappd check-ins confirm this is not just a big-ABV novelty but a genuinely well-constructed beer. The massive dry-hop addition delivers the tropical and floral aromatics that modern drinkers expect, while the Munich malt and English Crystal backbone provides a richness many contemporary haze-forward doubles lack. For drinkers who want assertive West Coast bitterness paired with real malt substance at 9% ABV, Maximus remains one of the most reliable choices available year-round.