Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale - Smuttynose Brewing Company

CircusBoy

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass, beer is a slightly hazy copper orange with a half inch white fluffy head that sticks all around the glass.

Aroma smells of a combination of piney and citrus hops, along with a grassy and earthy smell.

Initial taste is of strong grapefruit followed by pine and wood flavors in the aftertaste.

Pretty good mouthfeel and actually feels like a bigger beer. The flavor of the hops are powerful and hang around for a while.

Overall this is a very good Pale Ale that has been in my fridge many times and will be there many more.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 01:32:58 | More by CircusBoy

NODAK

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Smell is very floral straight away and maintains that floral, piney hop goodness. Pretty strong aroma for the style. Good!

Taste isn't much of a surprise then. Definitely floral all around and that's the dominant taste of this one....again, not a surprise for the style but well done. A bit of grain comes in at the finish to give a semblence of balance....finish is pretty clean with a bit of bitterness hanging around to close it out...but overall there isn't much left after the swallow.

Pretty unsurprising APA but very well done.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 01:19:21 | More by NODAK

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I picked this up in the multi-pack for a party. The other guys didn't do their part of drinking the beer I provided. So, now I have to suffer through this beer. Just kidding, this is a really good pale.

This is a spot example for pales. The coloring is a medium brown, and the head is fluffy and plentiful. The smell and flavor is consistent light hoppiness. You get a little malt, and a light citrus feel. This is an extremely drinkable pale.

I will have to pick more of this up. It makes for a very good summer pour.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 23:24:53 | More by ummswimmin

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

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

L - Medium-to-dark amber color with a 4-finger dense, creamy, bubbly white-tan head. Great retention and lacing. Crystal clear with a few bubbles. Looks perfect.

S - Bready, caramel, and nutty malt with earthy, almost musty, and citrus hop aromas. Can almost smell some hop spiciness in the aroma.

T - Follows the nose. Sweetness is up front with caramel, bread, nut, and citrus flavors followed by a pleasant grapefruit hop bitterness. Maybe a bit too much malt for my liking in a pale ale, but not bad.

F - Medium-bodied, not a whole lot of carbonation, creamy and chewy mouthfeel, and a slightly dry and bitter finish. Grapefruit bitterness and sweetness lingers for a bit but not for too long.

O - This is a tasty and very sessionable beer. Nothing really exciting as far as aroma, taste, and mouthfeel go, but just a pretty solid beer. I’d like to see more hops from a pale ale, but they’re definitely still there. As I said before, great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 04:03:12 | More by BlackBelt5112203

match1112

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: clear amber body with a inch of off white head.

s: hops, caramel, malty, grains.

t: caramel sweetness with a touch of grainieness and a nice level of hop presence.

m: med body, good carbed. dry bitter finish.

o: very good apa. good clean crisp beer. really like it, nothing bad to say.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 01:34:13 | More by match1112

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best before April 2012 (might have to revisit just to make sure I get this right):

A: hazy brown body had a one finger foamy tan head, sporadic lacing, some rings, light carbonation rising

S: some malts, grains and earthy toasted caramel

T: malts, slightly toasty, slight bitter aftertaste

M: medium, sessionable, nothing harsh on the tongue

O: this is a decent pale ale even if it did expire(?). I would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 19:20:53 | More by kangarooAdam59

cosmicevan

New York

3.63/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

enjoyed from a blue point snifter. 2 months beyond best by date (yikes - take my thoughts with a grain of salt)

a - brew poured semi clear amber with a huge 2 finger foamy cream colored off white head. pretty foamy and creamy. nice present lacing.

s - malt forward, some grains. earthy, caramel. hops seem to have faded. toasted.

t - malt forward with bitterness on the finish. hops seem faded if they were ever present. toasted.

m - medium feel with a bitter finish.

o - overall, decent pale ale...a bit too malt forward and toasty, but to be fair, this one is a bit too aged. will try again fresh and revisit. almost more brown or marzen then pale ale with all these malts. missing the hop that i expect from a pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 03:40:38 | More by cosmicevan

RTEdmunds

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from a 12 oz. bottle.

Good sized foamy head, and a slight reddish tinge. Solid lacing.

Hoppy presence in the nose. Earthy and a hint of caramel.

Quite malty, tastes roasty and sweet. A nice bittering finish. A bit of spiciness as well in the background.

Medium bodied, with a yeasty sort of chewiness to the texture. Carbonation is moderate.

Good brew, very enjoyable/sessionable. In some aspects it reminds me a bit of an amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 03:11:32 | More by RTEdmunds

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark copper/orange, some haze on the 2nd pour. Off-white head retains decently as a ring and slight cap, not much lacing left.

About even amounts of hop+malt in the scent. Herbal and earthy hops mostly with some light fruit in there as well, caramel and toasty malts.

Taste builds on the smell nicely, still a great balance but the hops are a bit more pronounced - herbal, grapefruit, some citrus and lemon. Pale and caramel malts provide a good backbone, baked bread on the finish.

Very good mouthfeel, feels full for only 5%. Good balance, smooth.

Definitely a standby pale ale for me. I appreciate the balance and that it's not a hop bomb while still producing some nice, varying hop flavor. Easy drinking, tasty, good price, great 6-pack purchase.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 13:04:30 | More by Chico1985

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ba Review #137
Served On: 03/14/2012
Glassware: Sam Adams Perfect Pint
Labeled ABV: -
Date/ Code: 7/10/12

This was in the current mixed 12 pack I found at Self Serve Beverage in York, PA.

Look: Poured a very clear copper with a few carbonation bubbles floating around. The head was a beige coating of patchy foam that eventually reduced down into a thin film. Nice sticky lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell: Aroma was of a nice subtle hop bouquet with a solid malt bill in the background. There was also an interesting sourness that I’ve also noticed in SN Pale Ale and a couple other mainstream examples of the style.

Taste: The hops hit first with a semisweet malt and some bitterness making up the middle. The finish was of citrus and grapefruit notes with a dry bitter finish.

This is a great pale ale that could easily become a staple beer in my household. I will definitely be picking this up again.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 22:36:19 | More by CraftBeerTastic

wafers

New York

4.43/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Deep copper-colored, light foamy head that disappears quickly
S: Mild hops aroma, somewhat grassy
T: Nice bitterness, grassy like the smell; some citrus, apricot, light taste of sour apples; definite malty background to mix it up with the hoppiness
M: Somewhat thick, flavors linger in the mouth awhile
O: Enjoyed this one, very drinkable, grassy bitterness but with a solid malt backbone to make it interesting, would definitely drink again

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 06:32:18 | More by wafers

greybeardloon

Rhode Island

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

best before June 21, 2012

A: Dark for a pale ale, slightly cloudy, nice head, some lacing.

S: Floral hops, with the malt coming through more than one expects.

T: Some floral hops, but until the long finish, it's more about the full, sweet (but not caramel) nuttiness from the malt and, presumably, yeast. Maybe the chinook comes through in a faint saltiness (or maybe I'm making that up), but I don't get the typical cascade flavors.

M: Modestly carbonated, which is nice.

O: This is a very solid pale ale and should be a staple in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 02:05:39 | More by greybeardloon

tdm168

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy, dark orangish amber with a half of an inch of soft, dense, off white head that has great retention. The nose is a bit tart, slightly malty, and a little fruity - almost a mediicinal cherry-ish note. The flavor is also a little fruity up front, malty, caramelly, a little bready as well. The tartness of the fruit notes present a little medicinally in my opinion. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and crisp with a good carbonation bite.

This is a decent beer. There are a lot of fruity notes - cherries and dark fruits - that one usually doesn't find in this style. It's good, but honestly I'd go for a different APA if given a choice.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 21:12:35 | More by tdm168

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a 14 oz. "pint" glass. Pours a nice copper amber tone with a small white head that dissipates quickly, but leaves nice lacing. Smells of flowery hops, but not that strong, and it is not as prevalent of other pale ales. Tastes of sweet hops and light malt, a nice balance between the two, but enough hops to have some great taste. Beer is carbonated rightly and beer is balanced for a pale ale. Overall, a nice beer and a decent pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 04:23:21 | More by cyclonece09

metter98

New York

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is rather hazy copper in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin beige head that quickly died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and a thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of caramel malts in the nose along with notes of toffee and hints of pine resin hops.
T: The taste seems to have more hop flavors compared to other pale ales and has a light to moderate amount of bitterness but is well balanced and also has flavors of caramel malts and hints of malty sweetness. The bitterness particularly stands out in the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and slightly crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a bit of dryness in the finish.
O: This beer is packed with lots of malty and hoppy flavors but is extremely well balanced and also very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 01:37:37 | More by metter98

dexterk1

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance is a dark amber and has a head that is relatively thick.
Odor is of citrus and a decent amount of floral odor as well.
Taste is floral upfront with some citrus, and malt there as well. Aftertaste is of hops.
Mouth feel is pretty good. Not overly carbonated and is medium bodied.
Overall a good beer that is still a little light as far as overall impact.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 22:17:52 | More by dexterk1

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into Victory pint glass.

A - Dark copper-brown, mostly clear with a white 1" head.

S - Sweet malt is most prominent, with a bit of citrus hops coming through. Overall very subtle.

T - Caramel malt up front, followed by citrus and floral hop flavors. Just a touch bitter. Leaves a lingering bready malt flavor in the mouth.

M - Medium bodied, smooth, decent carbonation.

O - A fine pale ale, although there is nothing really distinct about it. This is more 'malt forward' than other pale ales I've tried, which isn't a bad thing. It has high drinkability and a good flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 19:16:33 | More by mooseo

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

2.83/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Review adapted from notes taken 9/4/11

Appearance: Somewhere between a dark gold and amber, with some yellow - white head, nice lacing

Smell: Kind of strange - mild floral, herbal, and grassy hops - notably earthy, kind of smells like dirt - pale malts are pretty dull, but they are there

Taste: Also strange - very earthy, almost salty - the hop profile is very weird, grassy - malts are decent, pale with some toastiness, some sweetness - but the weird characteristics are too prominent - overly earthy, too much minerality - gets better as it warms, but not by much

Mouthfeel: Medium body, nice carbonation

Overall: This just does not work for me

I tried this beer in early 2008 and it was a drain pour. In 2011, I finally tried it again. While I did finish the beer, I still taste too much grass and salt. I don't understand it, as I really have enjoyed everything else I have had from Smutty.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 07:09:49 | More by angrybabboon

iabeerbaron

Iowa

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another pretty solid brew from Smuttynose. Copper color pour with a medium sized white head. Nice lacing on the glass. Powerful citrus character in the aroma with grapefruit being very present. Taste is very similar; citrus with malt and bitterness coming through. A very nice pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 14:34:44 | More by iabeerbaron

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a medium copper color with a huge bubbly bone white head that displays great retention and lace. Smells of citrus, earth, mineral water, bread and a hint of toffee. Floral earthy hops are noticeable but restrained. Taste is bready and toffee malts up front. Earthy mineral with a hint of citrus from the hops cut through the sweetness nicely. Medium body with lively amount of carbonation and a resinous mineral water mouthfeel. Very nicely balanced English style pale ale. Great for what it is, but boring to the palette I've been working on wrecking for the last few years.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 00:51:29 | More by johnnnniee

rangerred

Tennessee

3.7/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Appearance is a slightly hazy reddish-copper with a 1.5 finger white head. Lacing is really good.

Smells of citrusy hops with just a few malt undertones.

Taste is hoppy up front with citrus/floral notes leading to a long lasting moderate bitterness. A nice caramel maltiness follows along with toasty flavors. Nicely balanced between malt and hops.

Overall this is quite a tasty APA. Good flavor without too much alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 01:39:23 | More by rangerred

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Slightly hazy amber/orange. Big creamy off-white head eventually settles into a thin slip. Delicate lacing clings to the glass in rings.

S: Floral and piney hop profile. Some resin. Bready pale malt. There's a creamy porridge-like aroma as well.

T: Pale malts open, but quickly give way to floral and resiny hops with a firm bite of pine. Grainy tastes return, and drag woody and slightly husky tastes in their wake. A touch nutty. Finishes with grain and bitter resiny hops.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied. Delightfully full and creamy. Velvety, even. Just the right amount of carbonation. Reminds me a bit of a good cask mouthfeel. Stellar.

O: A quintessential American Pale Ale. Full, creamy, and tasty with a distinctive hop bite. A great beer.

Notes: Gives Sierra Nevada Pale Ale a real run for its money. And I really can't say enough about that mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 21:12:51 | More by ryan1788a5

FanofHefe

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into a Duvel tulip; best by June 2012. Surprised how dark the body is on this one, hazy dirty yellow body with a bit of red tint. One finger tan head that has decent retention and leaves a little streaky lacing.

Light aroma of citrus hops, mostly grapefruit. A little sweet bready malt in the background.

The flavor steps it up a notch over the aroma. The citrus hop flavor is, again, primarily grapefruit but a touch of orange and lemon lend a hand. The sweet malt comes through with enough balance to give a decent assist to the hops.

Medium to light mouthfeel that is very drinkable. Solid APA for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 20:46:12 | More by FanofHefe

SirWalkAbout

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice red color with a perfect head that stays with it till the end.

Citrus smell along with a strong hop smell.

Taste is light and pleasant. Not as much of a hop bite as expected. Grapefruit. Very clear.

Rolls off the tongue cleanly, no aftertaste.

Overall, solid pale ale. Would get this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 23:28:09 | More by SirWalkAbout

Kendo

New York

4.2/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Best by date of 5/16/12. Consumed on 1/5/12, so I'm guessing this one's real fresh.

A: Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. Body is slightly hazed dark golden/light copper color, turning more orangey when backlit. Small ecru-colored head on top leaves behind some decent lace.

S: Nice nose - definitely citrusy C-hops in this house. Strong enough in the hop department to smell like an IPA, but there's also a touch of underlying malt.

T: This is a very solid APA. Malt is there and imparts an almost English-like taste with a light taste of crackers and caramel malt. Hops are the star of this show, however, as I get the grapefruity, citrusy stuff I sensed in the nose. Finishes with a slight metallic/minerally taste that competes with lemony bitterness. Torn between a 4 and a 4.5 here - will give it the 4 due to that metallic taste and up the "overall" score to offset a bit. But this is close to deserving that next level.

M: Medium in heft with a slightly resiny, slightly slick feel to it. Carbonation is active but not offensive.

O: Good stuff. I was surprised to see I hadn't reviewed this before, and now I'm disappointed that I hadn't.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 02:27:48 | More by Kendo