Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale - Smuttynose Brewing Company

RWLawman

North Carolina

4.85/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance – Pours a medium brownish color, almost rustic. Moderate head that has great retention.

Smell – Roasted malt, almost exclusively. Smells like a brown ale should.

Taste – Prevalent malty flavors with some nutty taste on the back, along with some sweetness from the caramel. Absolutely delicious. The prime example of a great brown ale.

Mouthfeel – Well-balanced carbonation and creamy texture. Very smooth and easy to drink. Leaves you wanting more with each and every sip, and then finally leaves you craving more once it's gone.

Overall – One of the (if not THE) finest brown ales I've ever had. I absolutely love this and Sierra Nevada Tumbler. Highly recommend both beers, if you like browns as much as I do.

I've had this beer both on draft and from the bottle. While draft is obviously the superior drinking method, the bottle is every bit as tasty. If you haven't tried this beer, you're missing out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2012 15:23:27 | More by RWLawman

Mojo

Alabama

4.23/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours up a deep copper/light mahogany with about a two finger head, some retention, and some lacing, although minimal in both cases. The nose is quite nice. I can't quite pick out all the aromas, but it is pleasant and appealing. Taste is very well balanced. Lucious and sweet upfront seamlessly giving way to a mild hoppiness on the finish. It is a mild flavor, yet a full flavor as well. Nothing is quite in your face, but it is loaded with understated flavor. Mouthfeel is very smooth, with a small aftertaste that is similar to dark chocolate. I wish I had bought more of these. Maybe next trip.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 05:09:23 | More by Mojo

jpbersa

Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was my first Smuttynose beer. I had this on Halloween and it fit awesome with the season. The smell is fantastic, the taste is sweet, hop taste is light.

Rich malt taste with just enough hops to balance it out

Head was solid, retention good

Feel was great

Overall this was a fantastic beer, if your looking for ambers with some serious taste and quality, then this is your beer. If you get the chance try it, it's worth it.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 04:35:42 | More by jpbersa

DarkBeerGuy

New York

4.35/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Smuttynose I friggin' hate you. You make in impossible to pick your best beer. This beer has an incredible pour. The color has a great copper glow in the low level bar light. The fragrance is good and the flavor is a incredible. While most beers that are amazing on the first beer and you can't see drinking more, this is not the case with Old Brown Dog. It is a staple of the darker beer diet.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 21:15:49 | More by DarkBeerGuy

Darkmagus82

Montana

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance –Pours a hazy deep copper, almost brown color. Upon pouring there is a fizzy off white head that initially fades fast to leave a persistent white foam head on the brew.

Smell – The aroma is overall very light. It consists of some roasted malt, a little bit of nuttiness and light caramel aroma.

Taste – The flavor starts out an interesting blend of darker fruits, a bready flavor, as well as some caramel sweetness. As the taste advances further some roasted and nut flavors come to the tongue. As the flavor advances to the end, the bready flavors begin to fade, but some of the fruit flavors get quite a bit stronger and in the end a nice lightly roasted and sweet flavor is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer has a moderate amount of creaminess with a carbonation level that is on the lower side. Both are quite nice for the roasted, dark fruit, nut and bready flavors and really enhance them.

Overall – The nice flavors, drinkability, and good smooth transitions of the brew make for a great one to go out and try (and try again).

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 00:43:53 | More by Darkmagus82

JustinCurtisKoch

3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: dark, quite dark. looks fairly heavy, nice light tan head
S: malts dominate the smell, caramel and hints of vanilla
T: smooth and subtle, what i expect from a american brown. slightly sweet for my palate, typically but enjoyable none the less. notes of hazenut possibly.
M: heavy as i expected but not too much so. definitely silky smooth
O: enjoyable beer, probably would not have more than two in one setting but would defintely order it again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2012 00:06:00 | More by JustinCurtisKoch

TheSeeker61

Georgia

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I like this brown ale. The appearance is a ruddy brown which pours a quarter inch head. The nose is of sweet malty, dark fruit. The taste is malty with some dark fruit in the mix. The mouthfeel is medium. Overall this is a solid brown ale and gets better as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 20:22:42 | More by TheSeeker61

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Thick, heavy, brown syrup. A bit of a red shimmer as well. Very pretty. Looks like a nice session.

Smell: Caramel malts with a hint of spice. A would have liked this a bit stronger.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Great flavors! Tastes a bit like Fat Tire Amber and a slightly hopped pale ale. Very nice balance. Mouthfeel, while filling, doesn't stand up to flavors, which are subtly balanced.

Overall Drinkability: Would make a good session.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 00:52:33 | More by tjsdomer2

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Best Before 9/21/12.

A: Amber in color with shades of brown at the edges of the glass. Not much of a bubbly, off-white head that leaves behind no lace or retention at all.

S: Slightly sweet, roasted malt, honey, molasses, wood, earth, faint hops.

T: Nice rush of sweet, roasted malt to the back of the mouth, followed by a welcomed hint of hops to provide some balance. Tons of flavor. As the beer warms, the hops release more complex characteristics. There is a very nice fruitiness and a slighty dry, oily presence. Makes you really appreciate this style. In my opinion, English Brown Ales can be too malty. What makes an American Brown Ale is the pronounced hop presence.

M: Super smooth, perfectly carbonated, and the flavors and hops shine. Drinkable and enjoyable. Could happily put down a few more.

O: Much better as it warms, this is a fantastic example of the style. A fresher bottle would be even better.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 19:46:17 | More by Gatch

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on draft Draft at Vineyard Grille in Logan airport

A: thin but creamy head; mild carb action; dark copper, slightly cloudy; decent lacing
S: caramel, toasty malt, quite light
T: well-balanced old brown ale; more malty than hoppy; nice blend with the alcohol; brown sugar, roasted malt;
O: really nice polish and finish

Pretty decent when on draft

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2012 13:22:58 | More by Arithmeticus

BEERMILER12

Maine

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Best Before 11/08/12

A: Pours a solid mahogany color with a fingers worth go head that recedes to a thin cap of lace that lasts for the entirety of the beer

S: Lightly toasted malts along with hints of fruit and very light hops. On the mild side for sure

T: Starts off with the nice lightly toasted malts that give a nice bready graininess. Raisin, dates, and fig come through as well, adding to the earthiness of the hops. Alcohol is hidden extremely well

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Nice and smooth, easy to drink

O: Very mild and restrained, but in a good way. The true strength of this brew is very well hidden and leaves the flavor in its invisible wake. A very good brown

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 01:45:27 | More by BEERMILER12

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is in fact, my first Smuttynose as I tend to judge a book by its cover. But I chose to switch it up tonight and drink some unknowns!

A: This beer pours a dark copper color with a mocha creamed 2 inch head that stays around.

S: According to other reviews, I will agree that the smell is faint. I do get some roasted malts, a little toffee, some caramel and a chestnut sense.

T: Flavor starts out with caramel, toffee and some dark chocolate notes. Also has a hint of honey, roasted malts and some type of roasted, darkened nut flavor.

M: The mouth is very creamy and smooth. Like a cross between a porter and a brown ale with some stout characteristics.

O: For a beer which label doesnt present it as much, this beer is really good. Lots of malt and roast flavors that are complimented by sweet tooth ingredients. Would seek this out again!

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 06:28:25 | More by SouljaSaia17

MrIncognito

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured from a 12oz bottle, left a 2-finger beige head with a sturdy pour beneath a dark brown/mahogony body. Minimal carbonation on the glass.

S - Very faint aromas at first but they eminated more and become more pronounced as the beer warmed in my hands. Smell is mildly sweet and malty and I catch the Munich malts for sure. A tad bit of spicy alcohol, prunes, cinnamon.

T & M - This beer had way more complexities than I expected. Lots of great spice flavor: cinnamon, cayenne pepper, brown sugar. The alcohol is noticeable but not overpowering. It comes in as a spicy note to keep sweetness at bay. Definitely tasting chocolate and Munich malts. Not much hop presence to note.

O - I really liked this brown ale. I think my favorite one to date

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 12:18:24 | More by MrIncognito

57md

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a dark, muddy copper with a finger of beige head. The head dissipates rather quickly, but sticks around the edge of the glass leaving a healthy dose of lacing behind. The nose is bready for sure. Definite malt forward flavor with a bitter and semi-dry finish. Not fancy, but still one of the best browns around.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 04:12:57 | More by 57md

greybeardloon

Rhode Island

2.95/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Best before July 17, 2012

A: Clear, dark red with a dense and substantial head and some lace.

S: Faint sweet malt and, oddly, dust. Very subdued nose.

T: An initial aggressive assault of white sugar, then some sweet maltiness with minimal character--not really a caramel flavor, but maybe some faint nuttiness. More floury dust. A surprisingly dry finish with some faint hops. Except for the sweetness, the flavor is subdued.

M: Thin and a bit bubbly.

O: This might be an interesting beer at 3.5% abv. At 6.5, I don't get it.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 14:58:38 | More by greybeardloon

NODAK

Tennessee

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Aroma here has a nice mix of toffee and roasted malts going for it. Very much like you'd expect in a brown ale, but somehow I think the flavor is going to be robust knowing who the brewer is.

Taste is actually quite mild but very nice and pleasing in this American Brown Ale. Taste has a definite chocolatey note to it along with a distinct nuttiness....with a small roasted note and perhaps a tiny bit of caramel. All in all, very smooth and inoffensive. Everything is in place. Hops are pretty much not here at all, which I find acceptable for style. A little bit of roast hangs around after the swallow but it's small.

Again, Smutty does this one well. They don't overdo it, which I think is crucial. While many breweries try to one up one another and become more extreme, beers like this become more and more appreciated.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 01:11:28 | More by NODAK

tdm168

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - dark amber with a thin lacing of white head

S - very faint caramel

T - caramel, nutty, a hint of coffee, a hint of roasted malt, faint bitterness in the finish

M - crisp, medium bodied, smooth

The appearance and the nose weren't all that I was expecting but the flavor is solid. The flavor is full, enjoyable, and to style. It's worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 00:36:31 | More by tdm168

charlzm

California

3.43/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Consumed March 16th, 2012.

Beer is a slightly cloudy caramel brown with reddish highlights. Small head with slight foaminess.

Sweet caramel aroma. A touch of honey and nuttiness.

Flavor is ever so slightly sour. Robust brown malts, moderate bitterness. Evaporative flavor, as in virtually no aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is light and, like flavor, beer seems to just disappear after the swallow. Neat trick!

Nothing bad going on here, but I don't think I'll ever be seeking this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 18:26:11 | More by charlzm

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a dark brown, almost black color, with a small brownish colored head that leaves nice lacing. Smells of darkly roasted malt and slight coffee notes, very nice. Tastes of slight coffee notes, but primarily of darkly roasted grain, sweet, but not too sweet. Goes down real smooth for a medium bodied beer. Overall, a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 01:31:55 | More by cyclonece09

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-medium brown color with a small off-white head and some lacing

S-malts and caramel with hints of bitter

T-nice malty flavor with caramel and a slight bitter hop presence at finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth feel

O-good drinking brown ale with nice malt character and flavor

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 00:32:13 | More by MDDMD

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This was served from the tap at The Office in Montclair, NJ. It arrived in a standard tulip glass and glowed the deepest maroon color. It held a one finger tall eggshell colored head which showed good retention, leaving sticky, patterned lacing around the glass. A ghostly film of bubbles was left atop the liquid. No sediment or haze was noted, and carbonation appeared light. The aroma gave notes of steely caramel, milk chocolate, and roasty malts much like a milder stout. Chalk, fig sweetness, and molasses rounded out the nose, with light gingerbread spice coming in with warmth. Our first impression was that there was a rich depth to the malts. As we sipped, caramel, roast, brown sugar, and a light leafy hop bitterness came in to balance each other out. A steely bite of raw coffee bean came at the peak, with bittering char, and white sugar sweetness. Sugars carried us to the finish where chocolate and peppery spice came through to bitter, along with tannins of English breakfast tea. Grain was present as well, giving bite much like cherry cough syrup. The aftertaste breathed of unsweetened lemon iced tea, light metallics, coffee, and chocolate malts. The body was medium and the carbonation was high, prickling the tongue. No real coating was left, and the feel really thinned out at times, but there was still decent slurp, cream, and a dry smack. The abv was appropriate, and this beer drank easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew were the quality malts, and the drying finish to the feel. These malts showed depth and solid flavoring, but they become a bit mild and redundant by the end of the glass. We wished the nose was more robust, showcasing more of those great malts. Everything else about this beer is pretty average, but it makes for a tasty, well-balanced treat.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2012 15:36:07 | More by TheBrewo

garuda

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz brown bottle, best by date stamped on neck

A - Ruby, hazed, with some suspended sediment. Off white head has good retention and lacing.

S/T - Slight chocolate sweetness, then a mild roast coffee. Rolls into a bready, doughy sweetness mid palate, almost cookie-like. Finishes with a healthy dose of pine hops to balance and clean it off.

M - Medium body, medium carbonation, nice and smooth across the palate.

O - Really enjoyed this one, a new standard to hold other brown ales to for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 13:22:51 | More by garuda

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass at cellar temperature.

L - Amber-brown color with a 2-finger bubbly, tan-white head. Decent retention, not much lacing at all.

S - Nice biscuit, nut, and caramel malt notes with a hint of floral and possibly some citrus hop aromas as well. Smells like a brown ale should.

T - Very nice malt profile with sweet caramel and toasty biscuit and nut flavors. Has the slightest bit of a bitter finish with some floral hop flavors.

F - Medium-bodied, nice carbonation, mouth-coating feel, with a slightly bitter and dry finish. Bitterness hangs around for a little bit but malty sweetness lingers longer. Good body and refreshing at the same time.

O - If you’re into brown ale malty goodness, this is a very good beer. It’s a good beer regardless, but especially good if you like brown ales. Smells and tastes good and has a solid mouthfeel. As with the other Smuttynose beers that I’ve had, there’s nothing spectacular or particularly different about this beer, but it’s just an all-around good beer. I’d look for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 03:23:01 | More by BlackBelt5112203

claspada

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy, brown. Head is quite minimal with minimal lacing.

The aroma is malty, an odd mustiness, and hints of nuttiness. Fruity yeastiness emerges as it warms

The tastes begin with a sweet, caramel malt flavor upfront with slight nuttiness. Fruity yeast again just like the aroma. Toasted bready and light biscuity maltiness emerges more as it warms.

Mouthfeel is pretty light with a slight creaminess. Fairly crisp and clean finish.

Overall I enjoy this more now than I remember first sampling in the bottle. Maybe that bottle wasn't fresh or handled poorly. Nothing stellar or monumental but just a really drinkable solid brown ale, not my favorite but good non-the-less and quite acceptable to find on draft at a random bar in NYC.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2012 15:16:04 | More by claspada

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4.23/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Into a pint glass:

A: maple brown colored body that gave way to a one finger white foamy head and left some spotty yet in a spiderweb pattern running down the sides of the glass. There weren't any rings down the side.

S: some nuts and caramel which was very well balanced.

T: some sweet malty and brown sugar tones to it. The nuts and the caramel come back slightly in the background.

M: medium with a good smoothness coating the tongue and mouth just right.

Overall, this is good for the style and good for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 16:37:48 | More by kangarooAdam59