• Marie DeAeth
• On June 6, 2013
• http://www.mariejdeaeth.com
• Twitter

ABV: 9.6%

Today PorchDrinkers, we are showcasing Lagunitas’ Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale. Okay, go back and reread the name of the beer again, but this time hear it in the voice of the guy who does the voice-overs for all the summer blockbusters. (pausing for you to reread) Yeah, there you go. Now we are on the same page.

The Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale is basically Sipowicz from the genius ABC primetime drama NYPD Blue. What, you thought I was going to go for a Law and Order reference on this? No. Both shows are good in their own ways but this beer needs the grit, the slightly more unpredictable nature we find in Blue. It pours dark and swirly with lots of foam that settles leaving a nice residue on the glass (lacing for the pros). The taste leaves a tingle on the end of your tongue and a warm, bitterness happening in the back of your mouth. The flavor lingers for a bit too, a gentle reminder of the depth of character your mouth just witnessed. Like Sergeant Andy Sipowicz, this beer is beautiful and tragic, a character that develops slowly throughout the course of your glass, that you grow to love. As the dark and brooding beers go, there might be better, sure, (see McNulty of The Wire) but dude Sipowicz is just doing his thing! And it totally works. Also, the Shut-Down Ale has a wicked ABV, so yay for that!

I know, I know. You’re like, “But Marie! Lagunitas is out of California! How can you compare it to a NYC cop show?!” I’m glad you asked. NYPD Blue was filmed mostly in LA. The comparison has an extra dash of awesomely-appropriate because the beer was named as such, in honor of the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control, this time) investigation that shut Lagunitas down for 20 days citing a “disorderly house.” (Pssst! Cheers fellas!) You can thank me for those little tidbits with a beer from your next trivia night earnings.