Smuttynose IPA "Finest Kind" - Smuttynose Brewing Company

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz brown bottle. Freshness date etched on label.
It pours a hazy orange-hued amber with a big, slow-fading off-white head and lots of sticky, clinging and trailing lacing.
A big whiff of floral hop is released immediately upon opening the bottle. Deep citrusy fragrant grapefruit and orange zest follow, as does a light smell of pinesap. A distant malty grain smell is noticed with a bit more concentration.
A lightly sweet caramelly malt is revealed incrementally as it warms. A mild taste of pears comes to mind.
Sharp-edged grapefruit and lemon zest bitterness really perk the pucker up. A bit of fumy alcohol is noticed from time to time. For all of the abundant hoppiness, this brew maintains a nice, lightly creamy malt body. This potent IPA should have a fairly decent shelf life.
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Serving type: bottle

05-17-2005 20:40:51 | More by BeerResearcher

bzach

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

05-18-2013 23:10:45 | More by bzach

inanity

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%

05-18-2013 00:15:04 | More by inanity

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

05-17-2013 14:46:20 | More by twenty5

Glider

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

05-17-2013 13:46:57 | More by Glider

AR_Rios

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

05-17-2013 02:19:53 | More by AR_Rios

Kunstman

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%

05-17-2013 02:12:02 | More by Kunstman

Nittanylion1991

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-17-2013 01:43:03 | More by Nittanylion1991

MerriweatherRaven

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%

05-16-2013 20:29:40 | More by MerriweatherRaven

Andrew041180

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured from a 12 ounce bottle approximately six weeks old. The beer is a light copper color with a slight haziness. The beer poured perfectly into a standard pint glass, with the head just barely coming over the rim of the glass. The head retention is incredible, and leaves nice lacing on the glass.

S - Not overwhelmed by the smell. I couldn't pick out anything in particular.

T - Again, not overwhelmed. It's definitely a well-balanced IPA, but I'm only getting a hint of the citrusy flavors that I expected, and a lot of bitterness that doesn't seem to add much.

M - Matches the appearance. This portion of the beer is solid, but weakened by the fact that I didnt' really want to keep the beer in my mouth for all that long.

O - A bit of a disappointment. I'd had it before, but after reading the reviews here I had hoped that my palate would be more welcoming of this East Coast IPA. Unfortunately it was not to be. Good beer, some great aspect, but didn't meet expectations for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 23:49:28 | More by Andrew041180

YalovaIA

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

05-15-2013 20:49:55 | More by YalovaIA

jcarbaugh

New York

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-15-2013 15:32:55 | More by jcarbaugh

jkane101

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

05-15-2013 00:43:55 | More by jkane101

Jimbo4430

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-15-2013 00:36:28 | More by Jimbo4430

jzmaui1

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%

05-14-2013 20:45:44 | More by jzmaui1

Chegui

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-14-2013 20:23:41 | More by Chegui

napier51

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I know it is one of the finer IPA's...I am not a 'hoppy' guy but I can drink this if served to me...impressive for an IPA....Smuttynose rarely disappoints me. It was refreshing and had a citrus after-taste. Probably more bitter than I like but that is the nature of IPA's. I will probably buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 20:18:00 | More by napier51

SonOfOdin

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-14-2013 18:45:54 | More by SonOfOdin

Bustersuess

New York

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%

05-14-2013 18:35:15 | More by Bustersuess

Rob315

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%

05-14-2013 18:15:59 | More by Rob315

BeerRunner77

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%

05-14-2013 17:44:42 | More by BeerRunner77

andrewschirmer

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +20.8%

05-14-2013 00:46:34 | More by andrewschirmer

lsummers

California

4.19/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a solid bright orange. Can't see through this at all. Vibrant and inviting.

Smells of grapefruit and some spicy hops. Definite orange/lemon zest.

Taste really is grapefruit and some zest. There's a peppery note that leads into a slight caramelized brown sugar sweetness.

Mouthfeel is mildly carbonated and slightly viscous. Perfect combination for a great lawn mower sipper.

Overall, this is a great ipa that's stands out from the crowd. The color, smell, mouthfeel blend excellently.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 17:26:41 | More by lsummers

buzzy

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%

05-13-2013 02:21:18 | More by buzzy

tenacioustomato

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-13-2013 00:50:36 | More by tenacioustomato