Smuttynose IPA "Finest Kind" - Smuttynose Brewing Company

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Cask pour served in a true pint, the beer is a bright, slightly hazed honey-gold coloring with a frothy, bubbly, off-white head of about a half an inch. Aromas are flying off this brew, with a hoppy, citrus, and pepper blend that has a strong resiny overtone. Flavors are more subtle with the cask serving, with a roasty undertone giving rise to the wet, resiny, cedar hops profile that fuels the tastebuds. Light toffee backbone boosts the grapefruit highlights amongst the bitter and rich hops. This tastes great on cask. Bitter and resiny aftertaste, it's like chewing on a cedar and pine air freshener. The body is light and extremely smooth from the cask pour. The finish starts creamy smooth, then shifts quickly to a drying bitter end. Delicious!

Serving type: cask

03-23-2012 17:10:16 | More by GarthDanielson

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

4.78/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This one was served @ Beervana, got a few pours before the fest started. This was a cask dry-hopped with calypso hops. I am not the biggest cask beer fan but I guess if the beer's good it doesn't matter.

A- Hazy orange glow with a pale, thin head.

S- Pungeant, sharp hop aromas. Stanky.

T- This one is scathingly hoppy- in a good way. Really like chewing on raw hops. Minty, grapefruit, orange peel. Choking on the raw hop goodness.

M- Mouthfeel is very soft, bitterness is intense.

O- One of the best cask experiences I've had. Dry-hopping a beer like FinestKind really pushes it over the edge and makes for a fantastic beer. I'd seek this out again and again.

Serving type: cask

11-11-2011 12:57:44 | More by ShogoKawada

KDawg

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

this was from cask. Poured a nice medium orange color with a good foamy head.

very good complexity on the nose with a lot of hops, loads of citrus', and fresh picked oranges. Good depth with good hops to the aromas as well

fuller bodied with a real smooth feel and lots of hop and citrus tones.

I really liked this more from cask than from what I've had in the past. The aromas were really good and the feel was very good. This was a real quality IPA

Serving type: cask

09-24-2011 02:12:15 | More by KDawg

ToasterChef

Maine

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in my Uprising Chalice at Novare Res' First Anniversary Party. Reviewed from my notes. This Smutty IPA was aged in a Lagavulin Oak cask. It has a golden orange color and a pure white head of soapy bubbles. It had a grassy aroma that makes one think of being outside in a field. There is a full-bodied malt taste at first followed by a very sharp hop taste; it's bitter and strong. I imagine these flavors are enhanced by the oak cask cask and a higher serving temperature, so the bottled Smutty IPA may not be as forceful with it's hops, but this cask was certainly nice. It had a medium body and left a bit of a coating in my mouth. I couldn't really taste the oak or any hints of Scotch whisky, but they were probably there, my palate just isn't refined enough to find them.

Serving type: cask

05-22-2009 12:49:32 | More by ToasterChef

timmay41

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On cask today at the Moan and Dove (Amherst, MA). Dry hopped with cascade!

A: Pours a cloudy brownish/orange hue with softer yellow tones at the top and bottom of the pint glass. By the end it mellows out to a more yellow color. One-finger bubbly head that's pure white. It settles to almost nothing. Offers some nice lacing; clings to the glass like ocean tide foam on the sea shore.

S: Big hop wallop (to co-opt the phrase), along with floral and citrus (grapefruit, orange rine) scents. Some wheat or grass clippings in there too.

T: Huge hop bite--really bitter. It's pungent yet very drinkable. I expected this to be less aggressive, as it's cask-conditioned, but the dry hopping reshapes the taste on this offering.

M: Pretty bitter on the aftertaste but pleasantly so, with a little malt build up. Not as flat as other cask offerings.

D: I think there are a couple better candidates for American IPA session-ish beers (Mayflower, Greenflash, sometimes even Ipswich), but don't get me wrong--I'm a hophead and this beer rocks.

Serving type: cask

02-25-2009 22:51:01 | More by timmay41

maddogruss

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Currently on cask at the Cloverleaf Tavern.

A: Pours a hazy, golden body with a thick, silky white head with excellent retention and lacing.

S: A nice, balanced, smooth, malt and hop smell that seemed pretty balanced.

T: A nice, bitter hop taste that seemed to be a combination of Cascade and Fogles hops with a pretty good, malt backbone to balance. The Cascade hops were quite evident in the aftertaste.

M: A pretty full-bodied and smooth mouthfeel that was complimentary to the taste.

D: A good taste for an IPA and an amazing mouthfeel. Definitely a very drinkable beer overall.

Serving type: cask

10-30-2008 02:15:43 | More by maddogruss

wwheeler

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This Smuttynose IPA was from a cask that was dry-hopped with simcoe hops at the Moan and Dove.

Poured a dark orange color, with little to no head. Right from the start the sweet aroma of the simcoe hops fills your nose. Slight bitter IPA taste, but the hops make their presence known from sip to swallow.

Throughout the entire beer, I was thinking to myself that I couldn't believe how much a difference the dry-hopping made in the cask Smuttynose IPA. In March I had a cask of the IPA that wasn't dry-hopped, and I wasn't at all impressed. But this dry-hopped version was great.

Serving type: cask

05-31-2008 12:18:40 | More by wwheeler

madmanjf

New York

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this cask-conditioned, gravity keg pour

(A) Orange appearance and cloudy. Initial head good, retention low due to natural carbonation. Initial appearance is intriguing with the orange glow

(S) Very floral hop aroma. The sweet inviting kind, not bitter. I was there when the wood pin broke the seal and this aroma was evident long before the first pour.

(T) Not overly bitter, but definately has the hop bitterness one would expect from an IPA. The natural carbonation isn't too intense so the bitterness is gentle

(M) For myself, there was an odd lingering aftertaste that was somewhat dry and blank.

(D) Very drinkable except for the lingering aftertaste. It wasn't a huge issue though. I had 3 20oz imperial pints.

Serving type: cask

10-31-2007 15:57:54 | More by madmanjf

Shiredave

New York

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

"Cask" ( keg) conditioned and served from a bar top cradle minutes after the spline was removed and the tap hammered home, at The Beech Tree Grill ( by Dave) in Po-town.
Hazy, bright orange tinted beer with a thin clotted white head, which persisted right to the end.

Intense citrus aroma - sharp grapefruit and blood orange with a hint of honey sweetness. Very Left coast.

Flavor was sharp up front with powerful hop character and little malt to balance. Served a bit too cold, some grain sweetness came thru as it came up to temp.

Again, flavors seemed out of balance but the freshness and soft carbonation made this hop exstavaganza very tasty and highy drinkable. Long, hop finish is firmly bitter but not overwhelming or puckery.
Excellent session IPA for the Hop Head - fresh tasting with a wonderful soft mouth feel from the subdued, natural carbonation.

Serving type: cask

10-31-2007 03:05:47 | More by Shiredave

brentk56

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a cloudy light amber color; displays nice head retention and lays down sheets of lace

Smell: Grapefruit and pine

Taste: Bready base is quickly joined by grapefruit juice and pushes forward to a lengthy, bitter finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with gentle carbonation

Drinkability: NIce balanced IPA that drinks superbly on cask

Serving type: cask

03-17-2007 20:18:00 | More by brentk56

Truh

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got some choice cuts with this one on 5/29/2006. 16-oz. cask pour at Redbones, part of their new Monday night cask offerings. Dry hopped with Cascade and Amarillo.

Huge froth, more than an inch, which wasn't a surprise considering its serving style. Very little stick. Initially cloudy gold hue that clears out to be just a smudge on the glass; some quiet carbonation floating around. Citrus and pine crank on the nose in a sick-good way with some lemon zest traces. Lots of lemon rind and a biting pine essence on the mouth, but not disturbing. As it warms more, a great deal of the hop character reveals itself.

Good stuff. Have always liked the bottle version, but this was like Jimmy Walker, dy-no-mite.

Serving type: cask

06-08-2006 19:38:30 | More by Truh

JG-90

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a straw yellow color, which is almost translucent with just a tiny bit of haziness, with a moderate sized creamy white head. Head has okay retention and leaves heavy lacing.

Smells of orange peel, old bread, a bit grainy.Tastes of orange peel, grapefruit, stale bread, and pine. Has a clean, bready/piney/rindy finish. Has a moderate mouthfeel and slightly above average carbonation for an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 21:15:16 | More by JG-90

utopiajane

New York

3.84/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy sunshine yellow with fantastic retention and lacing. It couldn’t be more attractive in the glass. Nice yeast floating there suspended. Nose is more understated than I expected. Subtle, floral, grapefruit & pine. A confident malt presence as well. Taste is grand with malt character that offers up some honey sweetness, biscuit and grain to contend forcefully with an expansive hop profile. They rise up to the malt with earthly,floral and grapefruit finish that’s tremendously dry and bitter and leaves you with a good pucker. A rambunctious IPA whose flavors all play off one another so well. Would definitely buy this again and again.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 17:08:51 | More by utopiajane

CharlatanSin

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Surprised I've never reviewed this. One of my first craft beer loves. I'll do my best to just review the beer as it is.

A: Pours a very attractive orange amber. Almost radiant. Very little head, though.

S: Sweet floral and orange-y hops dominate here. Smells fruity, juicy. A little graininess too.

T/M: Nice and bitter. Citrusy. A blast of pine, which wasn't in the nose. Resinous. Decent amount of malt sweetness. Very long and bitter finish. Slick, smooth mouthfeel, medium carbonation.

O: Toward the top of the class of single IPAs. A classic for good reason.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 23:01:15 | More by CharlatanSin

wiegs4life

Pennsylvania

3.29/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Poured out of a bottle into a Chimay glass.

A - Orange like a if an orange peel was blinded into a drink, actually thats incorrect, this beer looks like a blue moon (bigger lie). This beer actually looks like just a standard American ipa (india pale ale (if you didn't know that you probably arn't reading this)) cloudy orange.

S - Imagine dipping your head in great smelling soy sauce. Instead comply forget soy sauce and think of a sewer. That's what it smells like.

T - This tastes like fresh butt hole. Actually just kidding. This tastes like the first bit of your favorite ice cream or if your a health freak, this tastes like the feeling after the perfect workout.

M - Like unprotected sex.

O - Overall this beer is not up to the hype but an great beer. Drink responsibly my friends.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 16:42:25 | More by wiegs4life

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Golden color with thick white lingering head. Lots of lacing. Bunch of chunky shit floating in the mix.

Tons of grapefruit and pine in the nose.

Taste was really hop forward. Lots of grapefruit and some spice. Very bitter.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation.

Overall this was good. Definitely for the hop-head.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 00:17:28 | More by TrappistJohnMD

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a yellow brown color with a thick creamy head. Some lacing on the glass.

S: Hops present yet malt presence.

T: Spicy, earthy hops - celery and peppers. Faint malting present. Nicely balanced.

M: Jack of all trades - spicy, hoppy, light, body.

O: Nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 23:33:37 | More by Oakenator

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.68/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

18 Jan 2013: on-tap in Alfie's (9th Ave), New York.

Pint glass, misty rather than cloudy, mini haze almost, golden body with a moderate head of white foam which didn't last a whole while.

The nose was all hop aromas, grapefruit and lemon esters: these flavours were also in the taste as well as some spicy hints. I'm not a huge IPA man but this was fine. -2 outside, this set me up nicely for the warming session I was about to embark on.

The body and alcohol level suited each other and although very hoppy (for a visiting Brit) I really enjoyed it as we rarely have such brews in the UK.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2013 04:12:48 | More by BlackHaddock

davidsumner

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First of let me just comment on the bottles add picture. The two old gentlemen on the front of the bottle. They are drinking this beer out of the bottle; which in my opinion is very unfortunate for them because one of the best qualities of this ale is it's frothy head.

The head is awesome. A good 2 fingers after a moderate, average poor. It reminds me of a vanilla malt shake or an Aweful Awful; for those who've ever been to Newport Creamery. Or a good bubble bath for the kids. It's downright thick! It lasts for the duration and the lacing is ridiculous. So I definitely give a 2 thumbs up for the head. ( let me just clarify, it does, after a few minutes, subside some; but it hangs in there strong).

The nose is good, but not great. There is a distinct yummy malt aroma alongside the hops. It is a really good balance and doesn't take a lot of effort to pick up. But I wouldn't call it strong.

So, eventually after the super suds subside, the taste is good. It's not over the top by any means, like an Imperial, but it's there and it's balanced and nice. This is definitely a good quaffable ale that is nice with meals and outside during a hot day.

Another BIG plus for me is that it is unfiltered. I love that.

But.. my only gripe is that it is a liiittttlllee too bitter on the finish. ( which I know, ought to be a defining character of an IPA ) So my own personal preference isn't really a good factor in my rating. But I tend to personally gravitate towards IPA's with a more sweeter finish and not so dry and bitter. Just my personal taste though. All in All though; This IPA has a lot going for it.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 18:34:42 | More by davidsumner

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

I think I got a fairly old bottle. I'll have to re-review it when I get my hands on a fresh bottle or perhaps try it at ACBF next week if I get the chance.

Appearance: It has a nice hazy golden/orange color to it. It has a nice off-white head that dies down moderately and leaves very nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas give out hints of faint citrus, faint pine with bready and grainy malts.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has some resiny pine, faint citrus, some bready notes and grainy malts.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with decent flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 21:00:18 | More by SebD

dheacck11

Connecticut

2.93/5  rDev -29.1%
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

Andrew041180

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -12.8%
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

napier51

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -3.1%
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

lsummers

California

4.19/5  rDev +1.5%
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

ElderBeagle

Maryland

3.81/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Wow very cloudy yellow with chunky precipitates floating around all over. Definitely different than what I am used to.

S: Good citrus, grapefruit, and also grain smell.

T: Very dry IPA. I taste the usual cirtusy hops, but man this reminds me alot of a grassy alfalfa flavor as well. Its honestly not very refreshing like a West coast IPA.

M: Medium to full body

O: Full disclosure I had a couple of these after moving furniture for several hours so I was quite thirsty. It was not what I wanted at the time (not thirst quenching). Nonetheless, this is a different IPA and not quite like any other I have had before. I suppose this is an East coast IPA, which is not a bad thing.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 00:25:48 | More by ElderBeagle