Smuttynose IPA "Finest Kind" - Smuttynose Brewing Company

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.19/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Smuttynose Brewing Company - Smuttynose IPA "Finest Kind"

Look - Pours copperish amber almost clear (slightly hazy but not what I would call unfiltered) with a good soapy head. Good lacing. Minimal carbonation.

Smell - Malty and bready with faint citrus hoppy overtones. Not aromatic like I wanted or expected but can't win them all.

Taste - Quite a pucker bitter hopt and malt blast, has some bite. East coast style for sure. Crisp and refreshing.

Mouthfeel - Sticky, malty, and rests quite comfortable with citrus hops standing. Not boozy. Mouthfeel is like a DIPA.

Overall - Interesting, from pale ale to IPA to DIPA in one sitting. I found it to be a little overrated in regards to the ratings on here, but I would still recommend this brew and I think it is great.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 11:22:51 | More by JMScowcroft

secondtooth

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev -8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a murky golden-amber, with a lush and extravagant head of white suds. Lace is thick and extensive.

Nose is citrus and floral/herbal hops.

Flavor is bitter on the acidic citrus/grapefruit hops, with a nice dose of sweet and sticky malts to balance it out a bit. Finestkind isn't a hop-bomb by any means, but it is a solid American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 23:08:53 | More by secondtooth

smiga

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A- Unfiltered, cloudy. Golden orange color with haze - dusk. Original.

S- Smells citrus cross of orange and grapefruit, not over done. inviting. laid back. seaside.

T- Taste LEAPS! Big Wow. Lovely sides of tongue bitterness. Sweet and bitter at once, creamy citrus. A bit of tropical fruit & apricot. Malt is balancing but in background. Lovely stinging, salty, swimming kind of beach sunset IPA. A top East Coast IPA.

M- Great mouth feel & finish. Weighty. Oily. Resinous. Imperial IPA mouthfeel, but not alcoholic.

Food - went great with salty tomato pasta with ham and mushrooms. Would be great with seafood. I got this in the sampler and want to upgrade to get all their IPAs. A great food beer, a great find.

SOUNDS LIKE... you gotta get this one fresh. Check the date as the reviews are great when fresh.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 00:33:33 | More by smiga

nickapalooza86

Wisconsin

3.19/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Well this beer poors a perfect hazy peach color with lots of floaters....

S- Grapefruit, maybe just a small amount of just about everything else, really blends well.

T- Is Perfect a flavor? Well no but grapefuit, citrus and pine are and they are all represented well.

M- Just enough body to keep ya goin. Dry enough to keep you wanting more, but wet enough to make you refreshed

O- If you are a IPA fan and have this in your area drink this instead of whatever IPA you are drinkin right now, Torpedo used to be my #1 but that is no more...

Edit, April 013...

Man I did not want to do this... But I am sick of repicking this beer up... I used to love it... There were floaties then, seems to be semi filtered now, no floaties, just hazy. Had it at different freshnesses over the last couple years and it has just not been consistant...

Smell is malt ya I said it MALT at first, minor citrus in the back

Taste is bitter hops, bitter grapefruit, and muddy malt.. Odd aftertaste...

Mouthfeel is average for the style

Well I have purchased this for the last few years... It seems to have changed a lot in the last couple, I guess it is time to stop buying it. I know they changes something, it used to have floaties fresh and now it does not at 3 months...

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 03:13:19 | More by nickapalooza86

claspada

New Jersey

3.74/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From notes, pours a dark golden color with a small amount of white head that recedes to leave some spotty lacing.

Aromas begin with a solid citrus and grapefruit hoppiness soon followed by an emerging pine hops presence. As it warms I get some herbal/floral hops with some lesser sweet pale maltiness and toasted white bread.

The tastes follow the nose with a brief blanket of malt sweetnes soon oversome by a big resinous pine and astringent citrus, grapefuit punch. Floral bitterness flavors in the background.

The mouthfeel is medium-light bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is quite heavy towards the bitter, dry end; more resinous than I expected.

Overall this is a good IPA but just not the flavor profile I look for in my IPAs nowadays. These intense grapefruit and pine flavors were fine when they were novel, but now I would much rather prefer a more aroma forward or balanced offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 19:14:52 | More by claspada

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.79/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Fresh bottle poured into a pint had a golden coloring. Nice fluffy head held on for some time.

Light lemon essence in the nose there was a thin maltiness. Hints of grapefruit and floral hops end the scent but all in all entirely too weak.

Touches of piney resin mixed with brewed tea, malt and earth tones. Hints of citrus balance out the flavor but don't come to the forefront.

Overall not a bad IPA, easy to drink, hints of diversity and a telling smoothness.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 22:26:47 | More by KYGunner

Bones10

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev -32.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

Very disappointed.

Opened a bottle dated best by 8/25/13.

With 4 months left on the best by date, I was of the assumption I would be in for a fresh treat. Wrong! I am kicking myself for passing on some March crafted Two Hearted(Crap!).

Smuttynose, get some QC quick, your beer was good last year, now it is bad. I had a single a while back and enjoyed it. This batch tastes like they forgot all the hops except the amarillo, its just a bitter mess. I would have been kinder had I not known what a good batch can be. Very upset at this offering, I feel like Smuttynose owes me an apology.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:35:48 | More by Bones10

stewart124

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Pours a deep golden color with sediment and a dense white head. The label warns about sediment. Very pretty spider lacing.

Nose of pine, grapefruit and just a bit of juicy fruit.

Puckering initially. Whoa. 75ibus. Hop resin and its like biting into a grapefruit. The pale malts do little to hide the hop bitterness but I believe that was the point. Medium mouthfeel and a dry finish.

Lingering pine on the tongue and my tastebuds scream for more.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 01:18:36 | More by stewart124

Burkbom23

Connecticut

3.68/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Dull, cloudy gold in color with a nice foamy white head that doesnt go anywhere. Tons of sticky lacing all the way down. I wish this head was on a better looking beer! Got whiff of barnyard as soon as i put my nose to it which was a little off putting at first. As it warmed up got notes of citrus and orange peel and some wheat aroma as well. The smell was more pleasant as it went on. When I tasted it I sensed some faint malt/sweetness and a little breadiness up front. Not far into the sip the hops take over and completely dominate the beer from there. Hopsgalore. Very bitter hop profile. Some alcohol. Taste of hops lingers long after you have put the glass down. Medium body with a warming feeling from the alchol and a really good bite. This is beer is far from balanced. Hops are the star of the show and make it a bold brew

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 03:12:18 | More by Burkbom23

ktblue22

Vermont

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Delicious wonderful IPA from my birth state :-)

Gorgeous hazy burnt orange in color with a frothy head. Very citrusy lots of grapefruit delicious IPA very refreshing! Mouthfeel is gritty and highly carbonated - you can tell how fresh this beer is. Highly recommend with some smoked chipotle salsa

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 22:30:03 | More by ktblue22

Greywulfken

New York

4.04/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: into a nonic pint, pushed up a mass of tan bubbly foam - head persisted all the way down, but had a congealed squishy look toward the end that wasn't too appealing. The beer was deep gold but with a some rather chunky pieces of sediment in the haze.

S: crisp citric hops and fresh pale malt

T: bitter, up-front hops suggestive of lemon pith and with a bitterness like that of an unsweetened espresso; great pale malts and floral hops.

M: smooth, crisp, lingering bitterness, light body

O: a really good IPA - a good go-to kinda beer - definitely has an American workingman-beer feel, and I guess that was the idea... Thought the appearance was a little off-putting for an IPA, but that's just my opinion (I infer that they were going for that from the description provided).

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 20:33:08 | More by Greywulfken

AmitC

Indiana

3.96/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Best before date of 6/4/13

Color is strawish pale. A lot of haze and suspension. Too much yeast and hops floating around giving it a dirty look. One finger thick white head with decent retention. Excellent lacing on the sides. Heavily translucent.

Aroma is low to moderate in strength. Very disappointing for an exceptional IPA. Weed like notes, very slight grapefruit and raw mango. Some grass if i may say. A good amount of malt with some spices added in. Everything faint as hell and asking you to sniff it out.

Taste is better. The hop profile is complex and a mix of lot of different type of hops i would assume. Some weed like flavors, very slight citrus and some earthiness. Malts do take a back seat but support the hops really well. Bitterness is mild yet is felt.

Mouth feel is medium bodied. No warmth and no astringency. Smooth and drinks really well. Just a very decent IPA nothing exceptional about it.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 05:03:10 | More by AmitC

HeadyHopper32

New Jersey

4.46/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A- Unfliltered; very cloudy. Burnt orange color when held up to a light.

S- Smells like an orange with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled over it. Spicy, but a bright spice. Not one of the best smelling IPAs, but it's not off-putting in any way. Still, not it's strongest category.

T- What it lacks in smell, this beer makes up for in taste. Wow. Big back of the tounge bitterness. Sugar coated grapefruit; a bit of tangerine. Over ripened apricot. Malt flavor is detectable but is used for backbone and not for taste, just the way I like it.

M- Oily. Resinous. Thick. Double IPA mouthfeel.

O- I gotta admit I used to hate on Smuttynose IPA, but now I'm thinking it's because had older bottles. The bottle I'm drinking now is extremely fresh and I think it really makes a difference; this is definitely an IPA that must be drank fresh. It's damn good folks. If you love the grapefruit forward IPAs look no further. When I say I can drink this all day I really mean it. An IPA worth rambling over!

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 03:11:03 | More by HeadyHopper32

JasonTaverner

Virginia

4.64/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I love this ale. It is a staple in my line-up. A citrusy smell with a good solid mouhfeel. A delicious piney flavor upfront with a nice slightly bitter after taste. I have enjoyed almost all the beers I have tried from Smuttynose. I wish I could fine this on draft somewhere locally.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 02:43:23 | More by JasonTaverner

brureview

Massachusetts

4.44/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First time tasting this beer. Poured a golden honey color in a pint glass.
Two finger head. Floral character to nose with light grapefruit.

Very carbonated.

The balance in the taste is wonderful: slight bitterness, grapefruit-citrus, malt, and a floral character combine for an excellent finish. The nose and taste continue and become more pronounced with warming. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 01:04:49 | More by brureview

Rbodacious

Virginia

4.81/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

This beer was first reccomended by Juan at DogfishHead ,Falls Church , as a replacement for my love, the original Tuppers Hop Pocket Ale which had died. Thanks Bob & Ellie.
Smuttynose IPA :-) Finest Kind :-) answered the call.
This beer is exactly what I want from an IPA.
ZipDry,hop,pine,bitter,fizz .Thank you Juan..

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 02:39:25 | More by Rbodacious

boyermi206

Maine

4.49/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Best Western in Portsmouth NH.

A - Dark yellow with a firm 1 finger head that stuck around, light fizzy bubbles.

S - All hops, pine comes through heavy.

T - Amazing, did not expect the IBU's to be so high, but it's smooth malt then heavy hops. One of the best tasting beers I have had

M - Good, full mouthfeel: almost heavy with just right carbonation.

O - I would go out of my way for this beer. Perhaps the fact that I had it on tap, in Portsmouth contributed to the freshness and my impression of this beer but I would suggest if you see it on tap get it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2013 18:00:13 | More by boyermi206

dar482

New York

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

This reminds me of Dogfish 60, but much better. It has a good hop flavor. It's extremely clean hop flavor that cleans off quite well. It doesn't have too much piney or grass flavor. It has carbonation and one of the better "casual" drinking IPAs.

Watch out though, it does have a bit of a skunky flavor at the end and aroma .

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2013 05:34:36 | More by dar482

jwjon1

Delaware

2.53/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Best by 5/26/13. Drank 2/24... a good 3 months yet till this beer is over the hill.

I think that's the problem. It's either already over the hill, or never had a floral hop presence in the first place. Yet, it's dry hopped. And many reviews suggest piney, citrus aromas. So it must be over the hill as all I can smell are sweet malts. Zero floral hops.

Bittering hops remain. Not resinous/oily at this point, only bitter. And a huge malt profile before, during, and after.

I don't get the hype on this one. I'm guessing I need to find a fresh bottle... problem is the six pack was labeled with "best by", and that date was way off. When was this bottled, anyway? I assumed having 3 months left till d-day meant this was pretty fresh, but I guess Smuttynose bottles six? twelve? months ahead of best by dates?

Peak IPA freshness is subjective, but come on brewers: take the guess work out of it and give us bottled on dates on the bottle!!!!

What a let down.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 02:20:00 | More by jwjon1

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12pt bottle. Tumbler glass. Enjoyed on sep´12. Pale gold in color. Crystal clear appearance. Close & dense crown, white in color. Citric, floral & resiny aromas. Balanced mixture of hop & malt flavor lingers from the upfront into the middle. Flavorful body, moderate to soft carbonation. Oily texture. Resiny finish. Undoubtedly refreshing beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 15:18:10 | More by GONZALOYANNA

dsnyds25

Ontario (Canada)

4.21/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed this beer sitting around the garage with my father-in-law and his friends who returned from a ski trip to Lake Placid.

Having drank this beer out of the bottle, I can't comment on appearance.

The smell was wonderful; unsurprisingly hoppy with pine and citrus - grapefruit dominating.

The taste followed the smell; it was smooth, refined, dense and left my mouth puckered.

Overall, a great IPA; one I would return to regularly, though I can't imagine finishing half a case in one night (as occurred on the ski trip!).

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 17:24:56 | More by dsnyds25

trxxpaxxs

New York

3.13/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Best by date: 6/21/13

A: Pours a translucent orange gold with a half finger of a fluffy pure white foam cap. The head sticks around for quite a bit with this beer. There is some nice lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is lemony citrus and some light malt. It's not super hop forward.

T: It starts out a touch sweet, with a nice citrus hop bite. The malt is there in balance, but it's a bit overwhelming for an IPA.

M: Light bodied beer. It's sweet and sticky to start, smooth in the middle, and lingers on the palate for a bit after it's been drank. The hop bitters stick around for awhile.

O: I don't know what is going on with this beer. In times past this has been super hop forward, strongly bitter with big pine and medium citrus. This bottle is subdued and mild. It actually feels like a hopped up pilsner over an IPA. I am really disappointed with this bottle. I'll have to revisit this beer in a few months.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 21:11:39 | More by trxxpaxxs

Mojo

Alabama

4.29/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle -> World Market tulip glass

This beer pours up a medium gold with a one finger white head, not much retention, and bits of lacing. The smell is a fresh citrus, pine, oak, and resin. Taste is very sweet with notes of pineapple followed by grapefruit and bitter hops. Mouthfeel is nice, about the right amount of carbonation and neither too thin nor two thin. This is a solid offering.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 04:45:00 | More by Mojo

barczar

Kentucky

4.01/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a brilliant golden copper with a frothy inch and a half cream head that clings to the glass in sheets of lacing.

Fresh cut grass, resin, and pine dominate the initial aroma. Doughy malt and catty notes are more subtle, with floral hops and citrus surfacing at the end.

Flavor is far more citrusy, with complex tropical fruit notes of pineapple and mango A underlying the profile, accompanied by grapefruit and tangerine. The finish is decidedly bitter and resiny, with a touch of pepper. Caramel malt ties the hop character together, but is not prominent. Floral and piney hops are evident in the aftertaste.

Body is a touch watery, with carbonation on the high side and light alcohol warmth.

Very hoppy ipa, in both flavor and bittering. Fairly complex, but it's a little bitter for my palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 00:01:19 | More by barczar

jjchristiano

New Jersey

4.21/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - So hazy that it almost looks like a Belgian white but just a little too golden. Very active carbonation.
S - Faint on the hops not expecting a hop bomb.
T - Definitely not a hop bomb but has the crisp hop taste Almost an IPA "Lite".
M - Very drinkable, not overly carbonated. Most of the hops as an aftertaste.
O - I find it very drinkable and a nice "session" IPA as it is not overpowering in taste. But I really don't see why it gets exceptional or world class ratings. I really almost felt it was an IPA cut with water.

I just read the bottle and it states "dry hopped and unfiltered" explains a lot of the appearance and taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 04:17:48 | More by jjchristiano