Mike Loves Beer

Name – Smuttynose Big A IPA
Country – United States
Type – American Double IPA

Appearance – Pours a very cloudy copper color.  There is a lot of particulate floating around in there.  It has a big fluffy white head and leaves a tremendous amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell – I get malts right up front with a very bready smell.  The hops in here are citrus and piney and blend well with the malts for a nice nose.

Taste – Quite malty just like the nose.  Hints of caramel, bread and rye balance well with the grapefruit like hop taste and slight earthiness.

I’ll admit that I haven’t been a fan of anything I’ve had from Smuttynose in the past but my friend Kevin from the Funky Buddha told me I have to give stuff from the Big Beer Series a chance.  So recently I have seen this one pop up in stores and figured I’d make this my first try at the BBS.  And I will say now that Kevin was at least right on this one.  A very big yet well balanced DIPA.  Lots of hops and lots of malts.  I really did enjoy it and can now say I like something from Smuttynose.  I look forward to trying other things from the Big Beer Series in the future.

Overall Grade – B+

Name – Smuttynose Summer Weizen
Country – United States
Type – American Pale Wheat Ale

Appearance – Pours a hazy golden yellow color with bubbly white head that disappeared quickly.

Smell – Yeast with a slight floral hint.

Taste – Yeasty taste up front with some lemony citrus notes and finishes of with a floral taste that just lingers.  Almost tastes like dandelions but I assume it is the chamomeile that the label advertises in it.

This hit me very oddly.  The floral taste threw me off from what I expected out of it and that taste just sat your tongue for quite some time.  It was slightly refreshing from what you would expect from a wheat but I just can’t get paste that floral taste.

Overall Grade – C-

Name - Smuttynose IPA
Country - United States
Type - American IPA

Appearance - Poured a clear orangish color with very small white head that didn’t leave much lacing.

Smell - Big pine smell with some citrus hints.

Taste - Again, big pine taste right up front that finishes with a nice hoppy taste.

This was my first brew from New Hampshire’s Smuttynose.  I’ve never noticed it in the store before so I wonder if they just started carrying it or if I just missed it all this time.  More or less it is what an American IPA should be.  Was a little too big on the pine tastes in my opinion but some people really like that.

Overall Grade – B-