The California based craft brewing company, Lagunitas, will be represented at Utica On Tap this upcoming weekend. Two of their seventeen beers will be available to sample. One of those beers is their IPA and the other is a unique beer called "Hairy Eyeball."

The Lagunitas Brewing Company is in its 21st year of production. Tony Magee is the owner and founder of the brewery in Petaluma, California. It all started in his kitchen on a stove top, according to Ron Lindenbusch. Ron, or "Beer Weasel," as he's referred to by the brewery staff is the Chief Marketing Officer for Lagunitas. I had the opportunity to interview him about this popular brewing company of which he's been with from the beginning. What started as a few recipes in Magee's kitchen quickly began to spread throughout Northern California and can now be found in 40 states.

Here Is My Interview With Ron Lindenbusch:

The two beers, as I mentioned before, that will be featured at Utica On Tap Saturday, March 22nd at the Stanley Theatre are the IPA and the somewhat sweet tasting beer, "Hairy Eyeball."

The Lagunitas IPA
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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First I will talk about the IPA.

There are so many IPAs out there, I think everybody kind of finds their own flavor profile that they dig.

The IPA is a very popular category in the craft beer world. People who really love the bitter notes associated with IPAs are sometimes referred to as "Hop Heads." I consider myself to be a "Hop Head" though I am most certainly a convert. Much like black coffee or deep red wines such as merlot, the IPA has an acquired taste. It's up to you whether you want to acquire it. "Beer Weasel" realizes that there is a lot of competition when it comes to IPAs he says, "There are so many IPAs out there, I think everybody kind of finds their own flavor profile that they dig." What's different about the Lagunitas IPA is that the malts in it really even out the bitterness of the hops, which give it a really great flavor, perfect for any pallet.

Here Is A "Virtual Taste" Of The IPA:

The Lagunitas "Hairy Eyeball"
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Next up is the "Hairy Eyeball." This is one of Lagunitas' seasonal beers which is usually 

When you wake up with that hangover and you gotta shave your eyeballs to get out of bed.

available on New Year's Day. The name actually derives from the hangover one sometimes endures after the New Year celebration. According to Lindenbusch the name comes from, "When you wake up with that hangover and you gotta shave your eyeballs to get out of bed." This beer is not like a lot of the other beers in Magee's repertoire. Where as most of the beers they produce contain a lot of hops, this beer has many different dark malts which give it a real chocolatey and caramel flavor. This beer is the perfect mid-winter brew, definitely good for warming you up in the harsh Central New York weather.

Here Is A "Virtual Taste" Of The "Hairy Eyeball:"

Craft beer has been growing in popularity over the years and many people have begun to stray from traditional American beers such as Budweiser, Miller, etc. "It's just totally consumer based," says Lindebusch,

It's just the drinkers out there that are looking for something better. They're tired of being dumbed down by these big breweries and you know, all three of the major breweries are owned by overseas companies now.

"It's just the drinkers out there that are looking for something better. They're tired of being dumbed down by these big breweries and you know, all three of the major breweries are owned by overseas companies now." Craft beer is an "ancient art" according to Lindenbusch. The Lagunitas Brewing Company has taken that ancient art and brought it back to life in the modern world. Many people do not realize that it is okay to have different tastes to their beer, just like fine wines or different types of scotch. To drink the same old beer day after day takes the pleasure out of the beer drinking experience. I think every craft beer fan remembers their first sip of the beer that they weren't quite ready for. Every "hop-head" remembers their first bitterly amazing IPA on a hot summer day. Craft breweries across America provide jobs and help stimulate local economies. That is why you should definitely attend this incredible event. Even if you may feel intimidated, I can guarantee there is a craft beer for you.

With two sessions, over 95 great beers, including these fine Lagunitas brews, great food courtesy of Pizza Boys in New York Mills, and live music, there is no excuse to miss these fantastic three hours of sampling. Take your pick! You can either attend the Noon-3pm session or the 4pm-7pm session. Either way you won't be disappointed. Get your tickets in advance and you can save $10. Just $30 for unlimited sampling. What a great deal!

Utica On Tap is this Saturday, March 22nd @ The Stanley Theatre (Noon-3 and 4-7)

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