Lagunitas Phase Change 4Pk Cans

Lagunitas Phase Change 4Pk Cans is an unfiltered, wet-hop ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company in California, coming in at 7.4% ABV and 60 IBUs. What distinguishes this beer from virtually every other wet-hop ale on the market is its use of Lagunitas' proprietary hop liquification process, which allows year-round wet-hop flavor — a breakthrough that Drinkhacker recognized with an A- rating.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.4%  |  IBUs: 60  |  Origin: California, United States  |  Style: Unfiltered Wet-Hop Ale  |  Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Lagunitas Brewing Company, founded in 1993 in Lagunitas, California, and now headquartered in Petaluma, has long been at the forefront of hop-forward brewing. Phase Change uses Columbus and Cascade hops that have been processed through the brewery's proprietary hop liquification method — a technique that preserves the lupulin oils and aromatics of freshly harvested hops well beyond the traditional autumn harvest window. The beer is then dry-hopped with Citra and Mosaic (with some vintage years also incorporating Simcoe, Sabro, and Cashmere), and left unfiltered to preserve its full body and aromatic complexity. This approach has been called "the Holy Grail pursuit of hoppy brewing" — the ability to deliver a genuine wet-hop character at any time of year.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh-cut flowers and cantaloupe open the nose, followed by waves of ripe peach, blood orange, and a subtle weedy, grassy freshness. A thread of pine and milled lumber rounds out the bouquet.

Taste: The entry is juicy and tropical, with mango and stone fruit meeting a backbone of slightly bready malt. At the mid-palate, resiny pine and bitter citrus rind assert themselves, while the balance between hazy-style juiciness and West Coast bitterness keeps things dynamic. Medium in body with medium carbonation, Phase Change drinks lighter than its 7.4% ABV suggests.

Finish: The finish is dominated by exquisite grassy wet-hop character — a quality rarely found outside of harvest-season releases. A spicy hop wash lingers alongside touches of fresh-cut grass and a final echo of tropical fruit.

How to Drink Phase Change

Pour into a tulip glass or IPA glass to fully release the aromatic complexity; the unfiltered hop oils and lupulin character reward a slightly warmer serving temperature than a typical lager, around 45–50°F. Phase Change is built to stand on its own, but its tropical and citrus profile makes it a strong candidate for beer cocktails: try it in a Michelada, where the citrus and pine complement tomato and hot sauce; in a Hop Shandy blended with fresh lemonade to amplify the blood orange and mango notes; or in a Beergarita alongside tequila and lime, where the grassy wet-hop character adds unexpected depth.

Best For

• Hop enthusiasts seeking wet-hop character outside of fall harvest season
• Sharing at a backyard cookout or tailgate with fellow craft beer fans
• Gifting to a West Coast IPA lover looking for something beyond standard dry-hopped ales
• Pairing alongside bold, spicy food at a casual dinner gathering

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Phase Change taste like? Phase Change delivers a juicy tropical and blood orange character up front, balanced by bready malt, resiny pine, and a grassy wet-hop finish with a lingering spicy hop wash.

How does Phase Change compare to Lagunitas Born Again Yesterday? Both beers use Lagunitas' proprietary hop liquification process to achieve year-round wet-hop flavor, but Phase Change leans more tropical and citrus-forward at 7.4% ABV and 60 IBUs, while Born Again Yesterday tends toward a more straightforward, sessionable wet-hop expression.

Is Phase Change good for sipping on its own? Phase Change is an excellent standalone beer — its medium body, moderate carbonation, and balance of juicy hoppiness with malt sweetness make it remarkably drinkable despite its 7.4% ABV.

Where is Phase Change made? Phase Change is brewed by Lagunitas Brewing Company, which was founded in Lagunitas, California, in 1993 and operates brewing facilities in Petaluma, California, and Chicago, Illinois.

What foods pair well with Phase Change? Grilled fish tacos with mango salsa play off the tropical fruit notes; spicy Thai green curry complements the beer's citrus and pine; sharp aged cheddar contrasts the juicy hoppiness; smoked pulled pork matches the bready malt backbone; and citrus-dressed arugula salad echoes the fresh, grassy finish.

What sizes does Phase Change come in? Phase Change is available in a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Phase Change worth the price? Phase Change positions as a premium craft ale within Lagunitas' specialty lineup, and the proprietary hop liquification technology — which delivers genuine wet-hop flavor year-round — represents a real production innovation that justifies its place above standard IPAs.

Why Phase Change?

The central achievement of Phase Change is something brewers have chased for decades: authentic wet-hop character available beyond the narrow autumn harvest window. Lagunitas' hop liquification process preserves the volatile oils and lupulin compounds that typically degrade within hours of harvest, and the result is a beer that tastes genuinely fresh-hopped in a way that conventional pellet or whole-leaf beers cannot replicate. With an Untappd community rating of 3.9 out of 5 across more than 27,000 ratings and an A- from Drinkhacker, Phase Change has earned credibility among both casual drinkers and serious hop heads. For anyone who has been limited to hunting down wet-hop releases during a two-week October window, this beer changes the equation entirely.