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 tectactoe:
Photo of tectactoe
Reviewed by tectactoe from Michigan

4.19/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a halfway hazy golden color with some bright yellow and faint copper-orange highlights. Lots of huge chunks of unadulterated sediment float around the class and kind of hang in suspension without much movement at all. The head is thick and fluffy, almost brilliant white, leaving generous amounts of chunky lacing in its path. The nose comes out swinging with a floral and fragrant hop aroma; flowery, wet, and abrasive - you can almost smell the bitterness. Heavy lemon zest and apple skins, and I'm actually getting a touch of wheat - strange, because I'm fairly sure this beer has absolutely no wheat in it. Might be something from the pale malts.

Smuttynose IPA rolls along the palate with a medium body, somewhat slick and wet. The first thing you notice is the extroverted bitterness that hits hard, beginning, middle, and end. It's like the watchdog of the flavor profile - no matter what you taste, that heavy floral bitterness it gonna be there, too. Very perfume-like on the palate, mostly floral and flowery. On the fruity side of things, you get some intensely sharp and bittersweet grapefruit pith, which is more on the bitter side than the sweet side. The flavor warms up and gets more zesty with time - the pine needles and resin start to come out and the hop profile is evolving right in front of you. Despite the resin that comes into play, it never tastes or feels heavy on the hop oil - interesting. Some slight orange zest flavors hit on the tail end, finishing with an earthy, vaguely peppery, floral hop bitterness. High carbonation shows no mercy on your tongue, either.

What a damn good IPA. It's not the MOST bitter thing I've had, but the bitterness is unique and it remains strong for the entire duration of the brew. Nice light citrus to back it up, too. Pale malts? Yeah, maybe. But who needs 'em? This is a nice IPA for the bitter loving freaks out there.
Jan 17, 2013
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