Smuttynose Imperial Stout (Big Beer Series) - Smuttynose Brewing Company

Jason

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bomber with a "Bottle Conditioned In 2006" freshness date on the label.

A- Light brown lace, opaque black ... yes this is one of those really really dark beers.

S- Coco powder, ripe blackberries, South American medium roasted coffee, faint vanilla and slight charred wood all in the nose.

T&M- More creamy than smooth, lush full body. The undertow from the roasted malts pull the taste buds in a bit, just the perfect amount of charred flavor. Some malt sweetness lays underneath with a balancing hop bitterness. Molasses and dark raw honey come to mind. Warmth from the alcohol comes middle to end with ripe dark berries. Finishes semi-dry with a mild roasted grain character.

D- A sipper for sure, an awesome beer for a cooler fall night ... going to finish this one off with a sweet Dominican cigar.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2006 02:25:29 | More by Jason

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 1 pint and 6 FL oz bottle. Number one in Smutty's "Big Beer Series." Old nautical map of the Shoal Isles.

Appearance: Pitch black, no light can be seen through this beer. Chocolate shake like head in the beginning, but it dissipated very quickly. No head retention at all.

Smell: Dark malts and smokiness.

Taste: Dark unsweetened chocolate flavour, chewy maltiness and an odd hop flavour (leafy and watery, trying to pull through) that lingers.

Notes: This is too similar to a traditional porter in style and taste. At 7.1% abv, this turns out to be a delicious very strong porter or chocolate stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-1998 00:00:01 | More by BeerAdvocate

mater

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-16-2013 12:51:07 | More by mater

doremite

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-13-2013 21:16:52 | More by doremite

brycevolk

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

06-10-2013 12:59:37 | More by brycevolk

Dbrag

Maine

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

06-09-2013 14:41:26 | More by Dbrag

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-08-2013 15:37:12 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

jkane101

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-05-2013 23:04:37 | More by jkane101

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

06-04-2013 05:00:39 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-08-2013 13:49:59 | More by ncstateplaya

JMBSH

Colorado

4/5  rDev -2.2%

04-29-2013 00:46:47 | More by JMBSH

Rekrule

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

04-15-2013 02:41:06 | More by Rekrule

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%

03-24-2013 21:16:10 | More by Sparky44

Japple

New York

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

03-17-2013 00:06:03 | More by Japple

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

03-10-2013 19:43:43 | More by spycow

renegadeburger

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%

02-21-2013 12:33:42 | More by renegadeburger

Pintoguiness

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%

02-20-2013 04:23:48 | More by Pintoguiness

jderosia603

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -2.2%

02-19-2013 01:14:52 | More by jderosia603

ROBSTARR

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

02-15-2013 15:05:18 | More by ROBSTARR

usofar

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

02-08-2013 05:12:56 | More by usofar

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%

02-04-2013 02:58:34 | More by calcnerd

kevanb

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, 2011 dated. Poured into a Smuttynose Big Beer Series snifter.

The beer pours a nice jet black color, thick, motor oil texture, touches of dark brown when hit by the light with a nice thick caramel colored head rising up the glass, about a finger and a half high that has decent retention and leaves behind no lacing. The aroma is of nice chocolate malt, mollasses, prune with some slightly roasted coffee with some residual sweetness from the malt a bit of fusel alcohol. The flavors follow nicely, big chocolate malt rush on the tongue with some nice stone fruit flavors, dark cherry and plum, mollasses with a much more prolific roasted coffee presence that lingers nicely on the tongue with a touch of alcohol at the finish. The body is fairly silky, moderately rich with a bit more carbonation than expected, higher on the medium spectrum with an easy smooth finish that has a nice warming sensation as it goes down.

Verdict: A very fine stout from Smuttynose. Their isn't a ton of complexity here, but the beer is very balanced and easy to drink. A worthy take on the Russian Imperial Stout and one I hope that gets brewed again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 02:33:13 | More by kevanb

MikeHRayn

Maine

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

01-27-2013 00:17:28 | More by MikeHRayn

tscanlon51

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

01-26-2013 02:10:46 | More by tscanlon51

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.34/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22 oz bottle (2011 vintage) poured into a snifter at cellar temperature.

L – Black color with a 1.5-finger creamy, rocky, tan-brown head. Decent retention but not much lacing.

S – This is full of lots of RIS aromas. Cocoa, plums, currants, molasses, licorice, and an aroma reminiscent of coffee liqueur come to mind. This smells much more complex and layered than I expected it to be.

T – The taste isn’t quite as complex as the nose suggested but man, is it tasty. It starts off sweet with molasses, cocoa, and some dark fruits. At about mid-taste, spicy licorice comes along for the ride. Towards the finish, big and bitter roasted coffee appears and lingers. As the bitterness mellows, dark fruit and cocoa sweetness comes back into play.

F – Full-bodied with good carbonation, a thick, creamy, and velvety mouthfeel, and a slightly bitter, slightly sweet, and dry finish. Bitter roasted coffee lingers until molasses and cocoa sweetness takes back over. There’s a bit of a throat-warming sensation from the alcohol, as well.

O – This is a really nice RIS. It’s big, bold, and complex enough while remaining very drinkable. It has all the elements that I would look for in a beer of this style. This is an awesome beer from Smuttynose. They really have yet to disappoint me.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 04:16:26 | More by BlackBelt5112203