Lagunitas New DogTown Pale Ale 6Pk

Lagunitas New DogTown Pale Ale 6Pk is a bold American pale ale from Petaluma, California, clocking in at 6.2% ABV across six 12-oz bottles. It earned a remarkable 99-point score in a blind taste test conducted by BJCP-certified judges for Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine — a near-perfect mark that places it among the highest-rated pale ales in the country.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.2%  |  Origin: Petaluma, California  |  Style: American Pale Ale  |  Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Lagunitas Brewing Company was founded in 1993 in Lagunitas, California, before relocating to Petaluma. New DogTown traces its DNA to the brewery's Kill Ugly Radio seasonal, a limited release that commemorated the 40th anniversary of Frank Zappa's second album — the two beers were hybridized to create this year-round pale ale. The hop bill layers Warrior hops for a clean bittering backbone with Amarillo, Cascade, and Simcoe added in the dry hop, delivering a multi-dimensional aromatic profile. The malt side brings complexity through a combination of Vienna malt, aromatic malt, Victory malt, and Briess special roast malt, giving the beer more body and character than a typical pale ale.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A big, floral hop nose leads with tropical fruit and citrus peel, followed by pine resin and a gentle undertow of toffee-like malt sweetness. The Simcoe and Amarillo dry hop creates a fragrant, almost perfumed quality.

Taste: The entry is bright with grapefruit and tropical fruit — mango and orange marmalade come through clearly on the front palate. Mid-palate, the malt asserts itself with biscuity, lightly toasted grain and sweet toffee notes that balance the hop intensity. Bitterness builds steadily but never becomes aggressive, staying firmly in the assertive-but-drinkable range.

Finish: Moderately long with earthy, piney hop bitterness that dries the palate cleanly. A lingering citrus essence and faint malt sweetness round out the close.

How to Drink New DogTown

Pour into a pint glass or tulip at around 45–50°F to let the hop aromatics open up fully; this beer rewards a proper glass over drinking straight from the bottle. New DogTown also holds its own in beer-forward mixed drinks: try it in a Hop Shandy with fresh lemonade, where its tropical character amplifies the citrus; a Michelada, where its malt backbone and bitterness stand up to lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire; or a Beer-a-Rita blended with tequila and lime juice, using the ale's fruity hops in place of a lighter lager.

Best For

• Backyard grilling sessions where a hop-forward beer complements charred and smoky flavors
• Introducing IPA-curious drinkers to bolder American hop character at a manageable ABV
• Stocking a craft beer fridge with a reliable, everyday pale ale
• Pairing alongside spicy food nights — tacos, wings, or Thai takeout

Frequently Asked Questions

What does New DogTown taste like? New DogTown leads with tropical fruit and grapefruit hop flavors supported by a biscuity, toffee-tinged malt body, finishing with earthy pine bitterness that keeps it balanced and highly drinkable.

How does New DogTown compare to Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale? Both are American pale ales, but New DogTown runs hoppier and stronger at 6.2% ABV versus Mirror Pond's 5.0%, with a more tropical and resinous hop profile. Mirror Pond leans toward a more traditional, Cascade-driven pale ale with lighter body and more restrained bitterness.

Is New DogTown good for craft beer beginners? It works well as a stepping stone from lighter lagers into hop-forward territory — the malt backbone provides enough sweetness to temper the bitterness, though at 6.2% ABV it drinks bigger than entry-level pale ales.

Where is New DogTown made? New DogTown is brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company at their facility in Petaluma, California. Lagunitas was founded in 1993 and has become one of the most recognized craft breweries in the United States.

What foods pair well with New DogTown? Grilled burgers benefit from the hop bitterness cutting through fat; fish tacos echo its citrus and tropical notes; sharp cheddar mirrors its malty sweetness; spicy Thai green curry is tempered by the beer's body; and wood-fired pizza with pepperoni works naturally alongside the toasty malt character.

What sizes does New DogTown come in? The standard retail format is a 6-pack of 12-oz bottles, which is the most widely distributed packaging for this beer.

Is New DogTown worth the price? New DogTown positions as a mid-tier craft pale ale — priced in line with other nationally distributed craft six-packs — but its 99-point score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine and its unusually complex malt bill give it a quality edge over many comparably priced options.

Why New DogTown?

The 99-point blind taste test score from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine is not a marketing exercise — BJCP-certified judges evaluated this beer without knowing the brand, and it still landed at the top. Its origin story sets it apart as well: hybridizing a Frank Zappa tribute beer with the brewery's existing pale ale recipe produced something with more personality and depth than a straightforward single-hop pale. The four-hop dry hop combination of Amarillo, Cascade, and Simcoe over a Warrior bittering base gives it layered aromatics that reward attention, while the Vienna, aromatic, Victory, and special roast malts deliver a fuller body than most beers in this category. For a pale ale that punches well above its weight class without tipping into IPA territory, New DogTown is a serious contender.