210. Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale
This is another six-pack that I purchased when Susan and Christian came over for dinner. The last bottle sat in the fridge for a week or two because I thought I hadn't had it before, but this must have been one I had sometime my first two years in grad school.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.95
Pours a hazed copper, and is topped by a fluffy, one-inch head that retains well. The aroma is pumpkin flesh and accompanying pumpkin pie spice. Definitely strong cinnamon and nutmeg. Smells like pumpkin pie, which is what I like in a pumpkin beer.
Sweet pumpkin starch upfront, moving into a spicy center with the sweetness of the pumpkin as an undercurrent. There's a bit of toastiness as well. The finish has more hop bitterness than most other pumpkin ales that I've had. Light-bodied, high carbonation, smooth.
Pretty spicy, so not something to have a lot of.
This is another six-pack that I purchased when Susan and Christian came over for dinner. The last bottle sat in the fridge for a week or two because I thought I hadn't had it before, but this must have been one I had sometime my first two years in grad school.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Alcohol: 6.00%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: Pumpkin Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance: 4.0 | Smell: 4.0 | Taste: 4.0 | Mouthfeel: 4.0 | Drinkability: 3.5
Overall: 3.95
Pours a hazed copper, and is topped by a fluffy, one-inch head that retains well. The aroma is pumpkin flesh and accompanying pumpkin pie spice. Definitely strong cinnamon and nutmeg. Smells like pumpkin pie, which is what I like in a pumpkin beer.
Sweet pumpkin starch upfront, moving into a spicy center with the sweetness of the pumpkin as an undercurrent. There's a bit of toastiness as well. The finish has more hop bitterness than most other pumpkin ales that I've had. Light-bodied, high carbonation, smooth.
Pretty spicy, so not something to have a lot of.
Labels: Pumpkin Ale, Smuttynose Brewing Company
755. Smuttynose Robust Porter
I bought a six-pack at Somerville Wine & Spirits a few nights ago.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.70%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a dark ruby-brown, almost opaque. Topped by a sudsy, fluffy, one-finger, brown head that thins to a film leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Rich and roasty. Chocolate is the predominant aroma with hints of coffee and a sweet fruitiness.
Taste (4.0): Slightly sweet upfront with some dark fruit elements. There's also chocolate, a bit of spiciness, and a coffee bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium to full-bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth.
Drinkability (4.0): Tasty, balanced.
Overall (4.0)
I bought a six-pack at Somerville Wine & Spirits a few nights ago.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Alcohol: 5.70%
Serving: Bottle, 12 oz.
Style: American Porter, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a dark ruby-brown, almost opaque. Topped by a sudsy, fluffy, one-finger, brown head that thins to a film leaving patchy lace.
Smell (4.0): Rich and roasty. Chocolate is the predominant aroma with hints of coffee and a sweet fruitiness.
Taste (4.0): Slightly sweet upfront with some dark fruit elements. There's also chocolate, a bit of spiciness, and a coffee bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium to full-bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth.
Drinkability (4.0): Tasty, balanced.
Overall (4.0)
699. Smuttynose Maibock
I've had this bottle in my fridge since the spring sometime. Jadyn bought some heirloom tomatoes at the Davis Square farmer's market along with some ravioli from Dave's Fresh Pasta. We had this with dinner, which was the ravioli tossed with chopped tomato and sliced heirloom tomatoes.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.70%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Maibock/Helles Bock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.0): Pours a clear copper. Topped by a sudsy, off-white head that thins to a film, leaving no lace.
Smell (3.5): Malty, spice, grassy hops and strong alcohol.
Taste (3.5): Sweet and malty upfront, some juicy fruitiness. The finish is a peppery alcoholic spice with a mild bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): The alcohol is very evident.
Overall (3.45): This is a pleasant enough beer, but the alcohol really masks a lot of the other flavors and aromas.
I've had this bottle in my fridge since the spring sometime. Jadyn bought some heirloom tomatoes at the Davis Square farmer's market along with some ravioli from Dave's Fresh Pasta. We had this with dinner, which was the ravioli tossed with chopped tomato and sliced heirloom tomatoes.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Alcohol: 7.70%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Maibock/Helles Bock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (3.0): Pours a clear copper. Topped by a sudsy, off-white head that thins to a film, leaving no lace.
Smell (3.5): Malty, spice, grassy hops and strong alcohol.
Taste (3.5): Sweet and malty upfront, some juicy fruitiness. The finish is a peppery alcoholic spice with a mild bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, high carbonation, smooth.
Drinkability (3.5): The alcohol is very evident.
Overall (3.45): This is a pleasant enough beer, but the alcohol really masks a lot of the other flavors and aromas.
682. Really Old Brown Dog Ale
I purchased a bomber of the latest release in the Smuttynose Big Beer Series, Really Old Brown Dog Ale, about two weeks ago at Downtown Wine & Spirits. I let this warm and served it in one of my New Belgium glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Year: 2007
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Old Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a clear ruby-brown with a fluffy, beige head that fades to a film leaving patchy lace.
Smell (3.5): Sweet malts, caramel and light fruit, some roasted aromas, as well as a light graininess.
Taste (3.0): Sweet and malty upfront: caramel, raw sugar, and dark fruit. The finish is roasted bitterness with a light spiciness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Full-bodied, moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): A sipper.
Overall (3.5): This isn't an unpleasant beer to drink, but it doesn't quite fit the style.
I purchased a bomber of the latest release in the Smuttynose Big Beer Series, Really Old Brown Dog Ale, about two weeks ago at Downtown Wine & Spirits. I let this warm and served it in one of my New Belgium glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Year: 2007
Alcohol: 7.00%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Old Ale, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a clear ruby-brown with a fluffy, beige head that fades to a film leaving patchy lace.
Smell (3.5): Sweet malts, caramel and light fruit, some roasted aromas, as well as a light graininess.
Taste (3.0): Sweet and malty upfront: caramel, raw sugar, and dark fruit. The finish is roasted bitterness with a light spiciness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Full-bodied, moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): A sipper.
Overall (3.5): This isn't an unpleasant beer to drink, but it doesn't quite fit the style.
Labels: Old Ale, Smuttynose Brewing Company
680. S'muttonator
I purchased this at Downtown Wine & Spirits a while ago. I let it warm to around 50º F and served it in my NERAX pint glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Doppelbock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a very lightly hazy ruby-brown with a thick beige head that thins to a film.
Smell (4.0): Rich and malty, caramel and dark fruit. Light peppery alcohol.
Taste (4.5): Sweet upfront with notes of caramel and dates. Moves into a peppery, spicy alcoholic finish with a firm, balancing bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Full-bodied, low-carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): A flavorful sipper.
Overall (4.15)
I purchased this at Downtown Wine & Spirits a while ago. I let it warm to around 50º F and served it in my NERAX pint glass.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 8.50%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Doppelbock, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a very lightly hazy ruby-brown with a thick beige head that thins to a film.
Smell (4.0): Rich and malty, caramel and dark fruit. Light peppery alcohol.
Taste (4.5): Sweet upfront with notes of caramel and dates. Moves into a peppery, spicy alcoholic finish with a firm, balancing bitterness.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Full-bodied, low-carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): A flavorful sipper.
Overall (4.15)
Labels: Doppelbock, Smuttynose Brewing Company
489. Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale
I noticed another Smuttynose Big Beer release at Downtown Wine & Spirits last week. This one is a Wheat Wine, which is a style I've never had before. I let it warm to around 45º F and served it in my New Belgium glass.
The bottle says:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 10.70%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Wheat Wine
Appearance (4.0): Pours a lightly hazy amber. It's topped by a one-finger, off-white head that quickly thins to a sudsy film that slowly fades to a ring. Lace is low and sporadic.
Smell (4.5): Very aromatic. Tart fruitiness, floral hops, and spicy and peppery alcohol in the background.
Taste (3.5): Lightly fruity with sweet malts upfront. The malts run throughout and provide a nice backbone. There is substantial hop bitterness in the finish that mingles with spicy alcohol. The aftertaste is a light citric tartness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium-bodied, low carbonation, with a lightly oily texture.
Drinkability (4.0): High alcohol, but it's very warming, which is nice on a cool night like tonight.
Overall (3.85): This is my first Wheat Wine, so I'm not sure how it compares to other examples of the style. I enjoyed it.
I noticed another Smuttynose Big Beer release at Downtown Wine & Spirits last week. This one is a Wheat Wine, which is a style I've never had before. I let it warm to around 45º F and served it in my New Belgium glass.
The bottle says:
Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale is a unique hybridization of two well-known beer styles, combining the rich voluptuous taste of a traditional barleywine with the subtle, tart flavors of an American wheat ale , topped off with a healthy dose of crisp, herbaceous hops.Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 10.70%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Wheat Wine
Appearance (4.0): Pours a lightly hazy amber. It's topped by a one-finger, off-white head that quickly thins to a sudsy film that slowly fades to a ring. Lace is low and sporadic.
Smell (4.5): Very aromatic. Tart fruitiness, floral hops, and spicy and peppery alcohol in the background.
Taste (3.5): Lightly fruity with sweet malts upfront. The malts run throughout and provide a nice backbone. There is substantial hop bitterness in the finish that mingles with spicy alcohol. The aftertaste is a light citric tartness.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium-bodied, low carbonation, with a lightly oily texture.
Drinkability (4.0): High alcohol, but it's very warming, which is nice on a cool night like tonight.
Overall (3.85): This is my first Wheat Wine, so I'm not sure how it compares to other examples of the style. I enjoyed it.
Labels: Reviews, Smuttynose Brewing Company, Wheat Wine
444. Smuttynose Big A IPA
I picked this up at Downtown Wine & Spirits on Monday. The most recent DIPAs that I've had have been a little too sweet in my opinion. I'd heard Smuttynose Big A IPA was a "hop bomb" so I picked up a bottle before DW&S ran out for the year. I let this warm and served it in one of my New Belgium glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 9.20%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a lightly hazy orange-golden with a foamy white head that thins to a patchy layer leaving light lace on the glass.
Smell (4.5): Lightly sweet and fruity malts are noticeable, but secondary to a strong citric hop aroma. Very nice.
Taste (4.5): Malty upfront, which are lightly sweet and toasty. A big tart and citric hop bitterness appears in the center. The aftertaste is a lingering bitterness with a brief flash of citrus.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, and a slick oiliness.
Drinkability (4.0): The hop bitterness is dominant and balanced by some malty sweetness, but isn't overpowered.
Overall (4.3): A good hoppy DIPA. The hops are dominant and aren't overpowered by malty sweetness like some that I've had.
I picked this up at Downtown Wine & Spirits on Monday. The most recent DIPAs that I've had have been a little too sweet in my opinion. I'd heard Smuttynose Big A IPA was a "hop bomb" so I picked up a bottle before DW&S ran out for the year. I let this warm and served it in one of my New Belgium glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 9.20%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: American Double IPA, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.0): Pours a lightly hazy orange-golden with a foamy white head that thins to a patchy layer leaving light lace on the glass.
Smell (4.5): Lightly sweet and fruity malts are noticeable, but secondary to a strong citric hop aroma. Very nice.
Taste (4.5): Malty upfront, which are lightly sweet and toasty. A big tart and citric hop bitterness appears in the center. The aftertaste is a lingering bitterness with a brief flash of citrus.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, and a slick oiliness.
Drinkability (4.0): The hop bitterness is dominant and balanced by some malty sweetness, but isn't overpowered.
Overall (4.3): A good hoppy DIPA. The hops are dominant and aren't overpowered by malty sweetness like some that I've had.
Labels: American Double IPA, Reviews, Smuttynose Brewing Company
428. Smuttynose Imperial Stout
I purchased this at Downtown Wine & Spirits several weeks ago. I let this warm to 45-50º F and served it in one of my New Belgium glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 10.00%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Russian Imperial Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours an opaque black with only the faintest hints of red at the edges. A thick brown head tops the beer. The head slowly fades to a quarter-inch layer before disappearing completely.
Smell (4.0): On first sniff, piney hops dominate the aroma. As the beer warms roasted aromas like coffee and chocolate appear. There are also hints of fruit an alcohol.
Taste (4.0): Chocolate and tart fruit upfront, the finish is a combination of roasted coffee and dark chocolate bitterness, as well as a juicy hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel (5.0): Full-bodied, creamy, with tingly moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): Hindered by the strong flavors and high alcohol.
Overall (4.15): A nice, strong RIS. I may buy a bottle to age for a year or so to see how this changes.
I purchased this at Downtown Wine & Spirits several weeks ago. I let this warm to 45-50º F and served it in one of my New Belgium glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company
Year: 2006
Alcohol: 10.00%
Serving: Bottle, 22 oz.
Style: Russian Imperial Stout, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours an opaque black with only the faintest hints of red at the edges. A thick brown head tops the beer. The head slowly fades to a quarter-inch layer before disappearing completely.
Smell (4.0): On first sniff, piney hops dominate the aroma. As the beer warms roasted aromas like coffee and chocolate appear. There are also hints of fruit an alcohol.
Taste (4.0): Chocolate and tart fruit upfront, the finish is a combination of roasted coffee and dark chocolate bitterness, as well as a juicy hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel (5.0): Full-bodied, creamy, with tingly moderate carbonation.
Drinkability (3.5): Hindered by the strong flavors and high alcohol.
Overall (4.15): A nice, strong RIS. I may buy a bottle to age for a year or so to see how this changes.
Labels: Reviews, Russian Imperial Stout, Smuttynose Brewing Company
376. Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale (Big Beer Series)
I picked this up at Trader Joe's about two weeks ago. I chilled it and served it in one of my Duvel tulips. Farmhouse Ale is a Saison. BJCP Style Guide.
Appearance (4.0): Pours a lightly hazy copper topped by a thick fluffy/creamy head that thins to a persistent half-inch layer, leaving lace all over the glass. The clarity is very good.
Smell (4.5): Sweet dried fruit aromas, pepper, musty yeast and light hops.
Taste (4.0): Fruity upfront with an orangey tartness, toasty malts and a significant bitterness in the finish. This beer might be a little sweet for the style, but the flavors make up for it.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Moderate-carbonation, medium-bodied, silky with a dry finish.
Drinkability (4.0): Nice flavors and refreshingly dry and bitter.
Overall (4.1): I like saisons because they're a nice balnce of fruity and spicy and hoppy. This beer was no exception.
I picked this up at Trader Joe's about two weeks ago. I chilled it and served it in one of my Duvel tulips. Farmhouse Ale is a Saison. BJCP Style Guide.
Appearance (4.0): Pours a lightly hazy copper topped by a thick fluffy/creamy head that thins to a persistent half-inch layer, leaving lace all over the glass. The clarity is very good.
Smell (4.5): Sweet dried fruit aromas, pepper, musty yeast and light hops.
Taste (4.0): Fruity upfront with an orangey tartness, toasty malts and a significant bitterness in the finish. This beer might be a little sweet for the style, but the flavors make up for it.
Mouthfeel (4.0): Moderate-carbonation, medium-bodied, silky with a dry finish.
Drinkability (4.0): Nice flavors and refreshingly dry and bitter.
Overall (4.1): I like saisons because they're a nice balnce of fruity and spicy and hoppy. This beer was no exception.
Labels: Reviews, Saison, Smuttynose Brewing Company
