Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Lizard’s Mouth Imperial IPA: For an IPA with quite high alcohol at 9.2%, this recent release from Fig Mountain is a deceptively smooth sipping experience, with enough warm, golden malts to balance the hops and hide the boozy heat almost completely.
The beer features one of the newer, more whimsical labels from this Santa Barbara County brewery — which now has tap rooms in the Funk Zone and Los Olivos, with a restaurant soon opening in their Buellton headquarters — but remains an ode to regional landmarks, this one a popular hiking spot of West Camino Cielo. It’s also available in kegs, for those so inclined to serve this to all your friends.
See figmtnbrew.com.