HOW TO PAIR BEER WITH EVERYTHING: Maximus by Lagunitas Brewing Company
Beer: Maximus
Brewer: Lagunitas Brewing Company
Style: American Double/Imperial IPA
ABV: 8.20%
Description: Maximus pours a clear orange-amber hue with a fluffy white head that leaves a nice lacing behind on the glass. The aroma is filled with hop notes of grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, hints of spice, and backing notes of bready malts. The taste follows the nose, with hops hitting on the front with strong citrus and pine notes and hints of hop resin in the mid-palate before the malts wash over and end with a great dry finish. The very smooth and creamy mouthfeel is a highlight that makes for a wonderful vessel to deliver this tasty beer.
The medium-full body and moderate carbonation are perfect for this beer and enable the hops to shine through without restraint. Maximus maintains great balance, and the 8.2 percent ABV is very well-hidden. This is most definitely a beer that many hop lovers will enjoy!
Ideal setting: The smooth, creamy body, bright hop profile, and easy-drinking quality of this IPA make it perfect to have while out for a night with friends. However, be careful with the 8.2 percent ABV; it will quickly sneak up on you and may ruin a good night!
Ideal music: The bright qualities of Maximus make for a great pairing with music that brings good times. Music with a solid dance groove and good vibes is always a good pairing with most beers, but it is especially nice with this one!
Some great albums to enjoy with Maximus are:
- Elefant – “Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid”
- Cut Copy – “In Ghost Colours”
- Foals – “Antidotes”
- Bastille – “All This Bad Blood”
- The Go! Team – “Thunder, Lightning, Strike”
Ideal movie: A movie with sun and fun makes Maximus even more enjoyable. Summer comedies, when done right, can lighten up even the darkest of days, and when paired with a delicious DIPA, they can make anyone smile!
Some great films to watch while enjoying Maximus are:
- “Wet Hot American Summer”
- “Meatballs”
- “Summer Rental”
- “The Sandlot”
- “One Crazy Summer”
Ideal book: Maximus packs a bit of a punch with its 8.2 percent ABV, so a book that is light and easy reading is the best pairing. Leave your thought-provoking existentialist books aside and make room for books with a strong narrative for great reading that you never want to put down.
Some great books to read with Maximus are:
- “About a Boy” by Nick Hornby
- “The Book of Joe: A Novel” by Jonathan Tropper
- “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult
- “Ghost World” by Daniel Clowes
- “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams
The perfect experience: Maximus is full of wonderful hop aromas and flavors backed with a very smooth malt bill. It is a beer that is complicated, yet simple and straightforward. This is a beer that is best enjoyed surrounded by friends and family while enjoying time playing a game together at your favorite bar or at home with some great music playing.
