Smuttynose IPA "Finest Kind" - Smuttynose Brewing Company

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip.

A: Pours a hazy golden amber color with a surprising amount of yeast floaties in the body. The look is more Belgian tripel than anything. The head is a two finger light cream color with fairly large bubbles and a sudsy texture. It leaves spiderweb-esque lacing on the glass, as well, sticking to the sides with aplomb.

S: Pretty typical. The combination of grapefruit peel, pine, and herbal notes with biscuity malt is well done, but nothing particularly different.

T: Quite bitter, but everything is nicely kept in check. At first, the tongue is immediately assaulted with grassy, piny, herbal hops, but mango and grapefruit notes begin appearing after some of the hop resin is left on the palate. There's a underlying malt backbone, but this is otherwise dominated by hops. It's imbalanced, but somehow isn't at the same time. This beer is exactly what happens when an east coast IPA decides it wants to be a west coast IPA, and the end result is fan-freakin-tastic.

M: Despite the resiny texture and lingering bitterness, it doesn't finish as dryly as one would expect. Moderately carbonated with a fairly light texture, giving this excellent drinkability.

O: Oh yeah, I really enjoy this one - in the right time and place, I could enjoy 3-4 of these in a sitting. Who says there are no good east coast IPAs on the market?!

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 20:01:43 | More by ThisWangsChung

irs

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%

05-22-2013 05:07:08 | More by irs

russwilliam

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

05-22-2013 03:04:13 | More by russwilliam

nebula1999

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-22-2013 01:01:13 | More by nebula1999

JoyHelfrich

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-21-2013 01:10:54 | More by JoyHelfrich

dheacck11

Connecticut

2.93/5  rDev -29.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Slightly hazy pale golden orange with a 1/4 finger of dense white foamy head. Nice lacing.

Nose is pretty non existent. Just a hint of lemon. Nothing spectacular.

Taste is pretty hopforward, with dry, straw flavors. Little bit of lemon and orange in the mix, but finish is lots of super dry hops. Mouth puckeringly bitter from the hops.

Feel is a little too thick for all that hoppiness.

I am skeptical that this beer may have been infected, as the tastes are so far from what I expected. Though as time passes drinking it, it does balance a little more. I think it's just not for me. Too much dry hop. Not enough fruit and juice, nor stickiness.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 00:00:51 | More by dheacck11

bessborough

New Brunswick (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

05-20-2013 22:24:00 | More by bessborough

AMCPhD

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.4%

05-20-2013 01:15:46 | More by AMCPhD

Stonehill64

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%

05-19-2013 12:43:14 | More by Stonehill64

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