Finestkind IPA
Smuttynose Brewing Company

Finestkind IPAFinestkind IPA
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From:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #380
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,036
Avg:
4.1 | pDev: 11.71%
Reviews:
1,880
Ratings:
5,462
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 01, 2024
Added:
Mar 12, 2004
Wants:
  353
Gots:
  1,255
You could say, then, that Smuttynose IPA is a physical salute to the glory of the American hop grower. The citrusy hop flavor coming from a mixture of Simcoe and Santiams is pleasantly balanced by a smooth bitterness from the Amarillo hops. The beer itself is light bodied and crisp with a golden color that will throw a slight haze, as we bottle it unfiltered. At 75 IBU's, this is definitely not a training-wheels IPA, but is meant for hop lovers looking to satisfy their craving in a way that's not easy to find. We think they’ll be quite pleased.

75 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by StoutHunter:
Photo of StoutHunter
Reviewed by StoutHunter from Michigan

3.79/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I picked up a bottle of Smuttynose's Finest Kind IPA a few days ago for $1.79 at Holiday Market. I've been wanting to try this beer for awhile and now that Smuttynose is available in Michigan I thought I would start off with their IPA, so lets see how it goes. Best by 6/4/15. Poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a teku.

A- The label looks nice, it's got a classic look to it and it's a little eye catching. It poured a slightly hazy golden color that took on more of an orange color when held to the light with almost a finger and a half worth of off white head that died down to a thin ring that stayed till the end and it left some spotty lacing behind. This is a good looking IPA, I have no complaints.

S- The aroma starts off with a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness with the hops being the first to show up and they impart a mixture of green hops and citrus rind aromas with each aspect showing up evenly. Up next comes a slight bit of doughy yeast that leads into the malts with some pale malts, sweet malt and light bready aromas coming through. This beer had a pretty nice aroma, but I could have gone without the green hop aspects.

T- The taste seems to be similar to the aroma and it starts off with a medium amount of sweetness with the hops being the first to show up and they impart the same even mixture of green hops and citrus rind aromas. Up next comes a slight bit of doughy yeast that leads right into the malts which impart the same aspects that they did in the aroma with the sweet malts seeming to sticking out the most. On the finish there's a medium amount of bitterness with a green hop, citrus rind and sweet malt like aftertaste that was just a little watery. This was a pretty nice tasting beer, but I wish more of the citrus rind hops showed up.

M- Fairly smooth, crisp, fairly clean, on the lighter side of being medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. This beer had a good mouthfeel and it's what I would expect from the style.

Overall I thought this was a pretty nice beer and I thought it was an above average example of the style, it's a nice IPA, but I don't really see what sets it apart from the rest and while it is enjoyable I don't find it to be all that memorable. This beer had a nice drinkability, it was fairly smooth, crisp, fairly clean, not too filling and the taste did an ok job at holding my attention, I could drink a couple of these, but the taste doesn't really give me the urge to come back for more. What I like the most about this beer was the mouthfeel it was good and just what I expect from the style. What I like the least about this beer was the green hop aspect, I think this bee would be better if it didn't have that. I would buy this beer again, but I don't think it's something I'll keep in the fridge at all time. I would recommend giving this beer a try, but I can't say it's a stand out in the style. All in all I liked this beer, but I didn't love, it's a pretty solid IPA, don't get me wrong, but when it comes down to it, I don't think it has anything that really sets it apart or makes it memorable. This beer made for a nice first impression for Smuttynose and I think it falls at above average for the style. Nice job guys, this is a solid IPA, keep it up.
Feb 14, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Amerino
Rated by Amerino

4.71/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Taste the biscuit ! Taste the goodness of the biscuit… really tho ! This beer is a keeper.
Mar 01, 2024
Photo of jjamadorphd
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida

3.56/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
It was okay, not necessarily the best IPA I've ever had, but it's still decent. I did enjoy its look and hoppy smell, even though the mouthfeel was way more carbonated than I prefer.
Dec 21, 2023
 
Rated: 3.84 by QuintusHorace from California

Nov 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.36 by Manfrombelmonty from Massachusetts

Sep 25, 2023
Photo of Foyle
Reviewed by Foyle from North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
poured from 12 oz can into pint glass. Thin white head drops quickly, mild lacing, slightly hazy orange color, abundant carbonation. Aroma is pine dominate with definite malts as well. Mouthfeel is medium. Flavors: pine, orange peel, grapefruit, bread dough. The 6.9% is hardly noticeable (i.e. no strong alchohol burn). Overall: an American IPA as they once were. Good to enjoy an IPA that actually fits the style.
Sep 03, 2023
Photo of Danmooney40
Rated by Danmooney40 from Virginia

3.92/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
It's good. One of the few old school IPA choices amidst all the hazy juicy brews.
Jul 21, 2023
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
clear brite yellow with thick head great smell of hops refreshing hop taste in every sip
Jul 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by TimDixon1964 from Maryland

Apr 19, 2023
Photo of MrOH
Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Light amber with slight chill haze, off-white head, good retention, rings of lace
Aromas of grapefruit, pine, and caramel malt
Citrus, pine, and caramel malt flavor. Slightly sweet, nice lingering bitterness
Medium bodied, slightly sticky, appropriately carbonated
A real throwback. West coast IPA brewed for folks used to the old school east coast IPA.
Apr 18, 2023
Photo of Ggallin
Rated by Ggallin from New Hampshire

2.11/5  rDev -48.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
Meh.
Dec 22, 2022
Photo of MutuelsMark
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.19/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bronze in color with a slight head that gave way to lacing. Nose is piney. Taste is slightly smokey with a big bitter smash. Could use a little more ABV. Very well done IPA.
Dec 20, 2022
Photo of DavetotheB
Reviewed by DavetotheB from Pennsylvania

3.76/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From a 12oz bottle dated 9/15/22 into a pint glass.

Pours a ever-so-slightly hazy yellowish orange with about one finger of white head. Meh retention. Light lacing.

Smell is interesting...light citrus, mainly oranges. Bready smell as well. Maybe mild cornbread.

Taste is a nice balance of hops and malts. Pine/resin with some bready backbone.

Slightly sticky mouthfeel. Very easy drinking. Light bitter aftertaste. Low carbonation.

Good old-school IPA that trends on the malty side.
Nov 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.19 by Tcsox from Massachusetts

Oct 11, 2022
Photo of izraelc
Rated by izraelc from New York

3/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a clear gold. Thin foam. Soapy aroma. Bitter hop body. A little skunky. Not really as good as it should be. Pretty one sided.
Aug 28, 2022
Photo of Bitburger
Reviewed by Bitburger from Vermont

4.53/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It's the Thing...! Bravo!!!
Beware of the batch: 4/21/2022 4019:21 I had a 12 ounce 6-pack
It's totally over carbonated; 1/3 of EVERY can is foam whenever you open it. Bad luck this time :(
Revised 10/25/2023: Today i got a nicer, newer 12-pack from Glouchester MA. It´s the THING!
Aug 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by cdarezz

Aug 14, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by LAM01833 from Massachusetts

Aug 01, 2022
 
Rated: 3.91 by kirkgarner

Jun 02, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by tonystanhope from Florida

Apr 04, 2022
Finestkind IPA from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 5462 ratings