Smuttynose Wheat Wine (Big Beer Series) - Smuttynose Brewing Company

output01x

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle (Dated 2009) into a snifter glass.

A vigorous pour yields a 1-inch cream-colored head that quickly disappears, leaving a nearly absent dusting and clumpy foam ring. The body is a hazy strawberry amber with no noticeable carbonation bubbles. Large floaties can be seen resting on the bottom of the glass like pebbles in a fish tank.

Strong alcohol stings the nostrils at not only the first whiff, but each subsequent sniff thereafter. Grainy wheat with notes of bananas and red apples helps to round out the rest of the nose. As the beer warms, the aromas combine to form a nose reminiscent to warm mulled cider.

Sweet, caramelized malts with a shadow of floral hops starts each sip. An apple cider characteristic lends itself nicely to the overall experience and helps to make the sweetness more acceptable. As soon as the beer is swallowed, a strong alcohol burn kindles in the back of the throat for a moment but quickly fades to a mere warmth coupled by a candied sugar sweetness. As the beer warms, the alcohol becomes less apparent, permitting the other flavors to come out more.

Medium bodied with very little carbonation, this beer is surprisingly smooth. The lack of carbonation has amazingly little effect on the drinkability. While it is rather sticky, and almost syrupy once warm, it is still easily enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 03:17:08 | More by output01x

Arenbeer

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle into a tulip glass

2009 Vintage

A- Pours a dark golden honey orange with no head at all, just a off white rim of bubbles around the edge of the glass. Leaves no retention either but does leave some really nice legs.

S- Sweet barley malts that blends nicely with the strong wheat aromas. Definitely some sweet caramel and toffee. Definitely has a spiciness to it from the wheat and also the "herbaceous" hops or what's left of them. Some graininess and slight alcohol. Unfortunately it's hard to get aroma due to the beer being pretty oxidized.

T- Creamy caramel malts and toffee up front with a strong wheat background that blends nicely. Some bitterness and spice from the hops but not to much. They're pretty much faded in this one. Luckily the oxidation isn't it the taste so I can actually enjoy this one and finish the bottle.

M- Medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation and a nice slightly bitter wet finish.

Overall if you got these sitting around I say drink them. I don't really see this beer getting much better than this (couple years old.) The barley malts have taken over and it's all caramel malts and sweet sugar. The hops are disappearing as well as that wheat spiciness. I was lucky enough to find this vintage on the shelf at my local store a couple days ago. Maybe the store didn't keep this beer to temp controlled and its a result of that.

SkÅL!

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 01:08:38 | More by Arenbeer

mdfb79

New York

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From 07/27/11 notes. Had on tap at Rustico in Arlington, VA at their Smuttynose event. 2010 vintage served in a tulip and sampled side by side with the 2011 vintage of their Barleywine.

a - Pours a hazy dark orange color with one inch of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s -Smells of caramel malts, sweet dark fruits, bready malts, and light alcohol. Sweeter than the barleywine, and almost a bit of sweet maple syrup in the nose.

t - Tastes of sweet dark fruits, caramel malts, toffee, vanilla, maple syrup, and bready malts. Again, sweeter than the barleywine, and no real alcohol head. Very nice.

m - Medium body and low carbonation, sweet and very light alcohol warmth. not as hot as the barleywine.

o - Overall a much better beer than the barleywine, though this had the advantage on aging a year. Sweeter and less alcohol, would have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2011 17:17:25 | More by mdfb79

happygnome

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cracked open the 2006 vintage (waxed dipped in August 2008) I was holding onto, decided to crack it last night to celebrate my first day back at work from the state government shutdown so i am reviewing from notes. Poured into a tulip glass.

A: pours a dark orange copper color with orange hues around the edge of the glass especially towards the bottom of the beer. There is about a quarter inch of head that disappears quickly leaving a good amount of sticky lacing around the edge of the glass. There is a small patch of lacing on the top of the beer and a slim ring around the edge of the glass sitting on the top of the beer. A little carbonation can be seen rising to the top of the beer.

S: Deep dark fruits, raisins and figs, maby grapes. The booze is well hidden in the nose. There is not a lot of hops or spiciness in the nose

T: Very similar to the nose, there are dark fruits dominating my palate right now. A slight hint of hop bitterness. brown sugar sweetness but not clowing.

M: medium to full bodied beer with not a lot of carbonation

overall: WOW, this is a great beer I enjoyed it so much.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 03:50:25 | More by happygnome

smakawhat

Maryland

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

My first wheatwine to taste, let's try this out! Poured from the bottle into a large snifter. Vintage and conditioned 2010.

A very good foamy head off white, a little brown in color, somewhat creamy like in texture, with some nice sheets that are tiny in the glass. Basic kind of cloudy amber colored body, but still looking like a standard barleywine if a little cloudy. I call alright.

Bouquet is, interesting. A little bit of alcohol boozy-ness but tolerable, soft. Slight smooth sense of butter. Chewy hot tolerable wheat density.

Taste brings the flavor and the sense of what is on the nose. Chewy wheat grain sense in the palate, mild booze sensation and mild buttery feel. Good flowing texture it seems, hard to put it into words.

Overall, I enjoyed my first wheatwine.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 03:36:58 | More by smakawhat

rvdoorn

Netherlands

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Look: pours dark amber with some reddish notes in it.
Smell: Maple syrup, caramel, raisins, wheat, spicy bitter hops and alcohol
Taste: The taste follows the nose. Bit more fruity than the nose (apple, figs, plum). Bitter-sweet aftertaste with warming alcohol.
Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation and medium body
Overall: Nice beer, would drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 15:53:49 | More by rvdoorn

twiggamortis420

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber of the 2009 vintage pours a very lowly carbonated copper color with very little foam. Pretty hazy too.

Nose is quite oxidized, thick aromas of caramel, toffee and saltwater taffy. Alcohol and some of the lighter fruits.

Taste is more of the same with a burnt caramel sweetness pervading the beer. Surprisingly dark malt flavors are coming forth. Maybe a bit too sweet? Nah..alcohol swoops in to rescue the day from the dreaded cloying demon-beast. Shockingly to me, this brew becomes more drinkable and quite enjoyable as the ounces pass. I think I would like this better fresh, but it is quite tasty even now. All the ingredients come together nicely and make the whole tastier than the sum of its parts. Color me impressed.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 00:54:55 | More by twiggamortis420

RockyTopHeel

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours amber in color with a late-erupting, quickly dissipating head. Aroma of raisins, burnt sugar and bitter hops.

Flavor is deep and complex. Biscuity malts spiced with nutmeg and clove sit beneath caramelized figs and hops, with a faint touch of apricot at the periphery. Finish is mostly clean, with a late, slightly cloying sweet note, and the high ABV adds a phenol punch.

Balanced, but big - and enjoyable. Easy does it on this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2011 00:51:45 | More by RockyTopHeel

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2010 vintage (about 6 months aged)

pours a murky reddish brown with just a spattering of foam, though it leaves nice lacing.

very barleywine-ish aroma with raisins, figs, dates, grape skins, some brown sugar, a bit of spice, and just a bit of toasted whole wheat bread.

again akin to a barelywine in the flavor profile, but the wheat seems to smooth it out a bit. dark fruits, booze, caramelized brown sugar, maple syrup, grape skins, with just a bit of wheat lingering behind that.

a bit light bodied and low on carbonation, but with a nice smooth finish and a slightly pleasant alcohol warmth after the swallow.

overall, its good, but doesn't differentiate itself enough from a barleywine to really stick in my head.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 05:05:21 | More by silentjay

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.47/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Comes out of the tap a hazy, barely transparent coppery red-brown with a thick, fine-bubbled, fairly persistent pale tan head that leaves some good lacing. Aroma is wheaty and fruity, the latter an interesting mix of apple and citrus, with a hint of an alcohol bite. Fruity, wheaty flavor has an undertone of barleywine (i.e., serious alcohol content) and equal parts sweetness and bitterness. Very tasty! Texture is rough and rowdy, leaving behind a nice fizz. Heartily recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 02:24:55 | More by Cyberkedi

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle into DFH snifter

A - Deep copper red with a wispy tan head

S - Sweet and bready. Candied fig and a hint of booze.

T - Very sweet and slightly boozy. Bready malt and lots of dark fruit flavors. Finishes with a sweet fig and even a bit of chocolate covered raisin.

M - Full bodied and a bit sticky sweet. Fairly crisp, somehow. Very smooth finish.

O - A very interesting beer. Like a barley wine but smoother. Definitely a big beer, it takes a while to drink it down.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 23:06:36 | More by greenmonstah

NODAK

Tennessee

3.33/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Big beer, big aroma. Reallly big aroma. Gobs and gobs of sweetness here. Thick. Caramel, dark fruits, booze...it's all there and in loads. I also perceived perhaps some grapes there as well.

Pours a light amber color, somewhat hazy with a small head at first that disappears rapidly.

Taste is bold up front, with quite a bit of maltiness in the form of toffee, dark fruit and some liquorice as well. It's interesting. Not so sweet as to overpower though, as in their doppelbock. It's also somewhat "hot" with the booziness...there isn't a lot of doubt that this has a high ABV. Bitterness in the finish is certainly present and though it isn't exceptionally much, it's somewhat sharp on the sides of the tongue and lingers a little. A roasted note also lingers as well after the swallow. Honestly, I don't really get any wheat out of this beer. I love wheat beers, I tried hard to percept wheat flavors...I don't get it.

Interesting, but perhaps not my favorite. A bit hot, and the flavors aren't really all that exciting here.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 01:47:52 | More by NODAK

Stunner97

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance- brownish and orange in color, with very thin white head and low carbonation, murky in color

smell- very sweert and sour nose, very nice citrus notes and tones with slight bitter hops too,

Taste- very unique flavor on the mid palate is there where it does begin have some flavor points of wheat ale, slight fruit flavors and little bit sour, but mostly strong bitter hop notes more reminds me still of the flavors of the barely wine, really reminds me mostly of barley wine only slightly lighter flavor profile

Mouthfeel- very heavy and thick with low carbonation, just a real big bruiser of a beer

Drinkablility- overall this beer is pretty drinkable considering the high abv, the wheat gives it slightly more light version of what you get out of barley but still real big flavor, this beer was good but I would have fall short of calling it great and as my first example of the style it was more okay then amazing, a unique style of beer i will have try again, do have admit though the beer did grow on me and certainly started appreciate balance of sweet and bitter

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 03:47:12 | More by Stunner97

aepb1

Florida

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Cloudy amber body and a small off-white head (barely any head)

S- Sweet grapes, some sweet bready malts

T- Follows the nose; at first sweet dark fruits, sweet malts and there's some wheat body

M- Medium body with light carbonation and it's almost syrupy

O- I dig the style and this a good overall beer. I want more wheat wines to compare it to.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 22:10:04 | More by aepb1

Gushue3

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a copper orange out of the bomber into a snifter. The head is small and dissipates quickly while the body is hazy orange amber.

S- Sweet and malty with some orange zest and lighter citrus notes. subtle yeasty scent is in there too

T- lighter taster with an alcohol taste toward the end. Malty upfront with a tiny yeast taste. Sweetness is more prominent in the middle which follows till the finish. sweetness that turns lightly bitter finishes

M- Heavier mouthfeel with lower carbonation.

O- I wasnt sure what to expect with this one. althuogh it wasnt great, it wasnt horrible. I should let one sit in the basement for a littlewhile and give it a go.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2011 23:52:33 | More by Gushue3

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22

Pours a mostly clear reddish amber color, no head.

Smells of rich caramel and apple tartness with a hint of hop pine and honey.

Tastes sweet like honey and maple, with apple tartness, a bit of hop bitterness and wheat like malts, plus noticeable alcohol flavor.

Feel is moderate to thick, sticky, and warming. Slight carbonation on the tip of the tongue.

Pretty interesting and unique ale, enjoying it immensely but not sure it's something I would come back to. Glad to have it once though. But don't expect the same taste as a barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 21:16:42 | More by Cylinsier

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Just a note that this is the first time I have ever had a wheat wine, so i will be taking that fact in to consideration as I review this..

Poured from a 2009 bottle in to a large snifter.

A-opaque chestnut. there is no head except bubbbles around the glass surface. there seems to be a complete lack of carbonation...a fact i'm not liking.

S-a strong scent of booze. there is also a lot of caramel. to me, this smells a lot like an unbalanced barley wine. the more i smell it, the more i like it though. I must admit that i'm timid to take my first sip though, it smells quite intense.

T-comes in much smoother than expected. hits the tongue with booze and smooth caramel. then comes a boozey bitterness that leads in to an after-taste of cherries, grapes, and caramel. the after-taste is quite sweet and quite tasty. at all points, the caramel can be tasted. now this is my first wheat wine, so my question is...where is the wheat supposed to come in to play? if i had tasted this with out knowing the style, i would've guessed barely wine immediately.

M-low carbonation with a boozey, dry finish

O-This is meshing extremely well with the ham and turkey sandwich that i'm eating. I'm finding out though, that this is a bomber that is best shared with a friend. The tastes, though not extremely bad, just aren't something that I want a lot of right now, or ever. i think this beer needs a bit more carbonation, okay a lot more carbonation. it just isn't something i'll be getting again. i'll admit, i always though the whole wheat wine concept was a little weird, now i believe it even more.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2011 22:10:38 | More by AdamBear

daliandragon

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Okay, I've only had one wheat wine before so I'm not an expert but I'm getting wafting alcohol from halfway across the room. Is this normal? Pours a cloudy copper melange with a wispy cap in place of a head. Nose is the aforementioned sledgehammer of alcohol with backing caramel malt and plenty of mixed sugars and dark fruits.

This is well made stuff, so it isn't like the scraping nails on blackboard sensation of a malt liquor. but this is still a great deal of booze in a very small spot. Sweet malt in the extreme, swimming in a sea of ethyl. A slight attempt at balance but it mostly gets lost in the shuffle. A touch of smoke and peat in the finish adds some character.

Overall, pretty mellow and drinkable considering how many brain cells it is sending to an early grave. This is a reading poetry on a snowy evening in a mountain cabin kind of beer, but a pretty good one.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 03:04:53 | More by daliandragon

ngeunit1

California

4.22/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a slightly transparent amber-red color with a finger of frothy tan-brown head. The head fades slowly down to a thick ring leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is full of wheat and rich caramel malts. There is also dark fruit and some hops mixed in. The alcohol is definitely noticeable.

T - Starts off with dark fruit sweetness and wheat flavor. There is also some pine hop flavor right at the start. Through the middle, some more fruity flavors and some more hops come through. More rich caramel malt flavor. The finish is a mix of dark fruit and malt flavors with some hops and booze in the background.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate-low carbonation. Really syrupy through still pretty slick. Pretty sweet with a resiny finish. Touch of alcohol warming.

D - Heavy, but still pretty drinkable. The 10.7% abv shows here, but not in a bad way. The flavors are interesting and well balanced. The flavors are strong so this is pretty much a sipping beer but very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 00:58:31 | More by ngeunit1

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a snifter)

A- This beer pours a deep copper body that is slightly hazy with a reddish hue to it and a creamy beige head on top. There is a gentle carbonation of tiny bubbles that glide to the surface.

S- The dry spicy hop note has a slight sweet malt note to follow and a finish of floral esters that smell a bit like shampoo.

T- This beer has a sweet malt flavor that is slightly syrupy and a pine hop bite with some alcohol bite that finish the dry finish. As the beer opens up there is an aged penny brassy flavor that sometimes come with lots of wheat and some caramel notes that are dry.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a creamy texture that really thins out as the beer warms. The alcohol is present but warming in the finish.

D- This beer has some nice wheat wine flavors but it is a bit thin without much depth. Perhaps a little age will help bring things together but that may make it even thinner. The brassy flavor was a bit off putting and soon became stronger than the other malt flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 21:39:34 | More by rhoadsrage

jmerloni

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Raw light brown color, very little head or lacing. Looks more like wine than beer.

S - Wheat! Haha. Also caramel malts and alcohol.

T - Tastes like caramel and bread with a lot of alcohol. I'd drink this with desert after a big meal.

M - Very little carbonation, form of the sip is the same when it's swalllowed as when it enters the mouth. Almost buttery. Actually, very buttery.

D - A slow sipper. Pretty delicious in a desert kind of way. I don't know if I've ever consumed a beer with more malt and sweetness in it. It's kind of like drinking butterscotch. Interesting.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 01:27:29 | More by jmerloni

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Felt this was too similar to a normal barley wine. I thought that this would have been a little bit different. Expected it to be lighter I guess. To me not much really stood out and made much of a difference. It was a brownish colored brew with a little head that survived for a little while. The flavors in this beer was strong for sure. I would try this again in hopes of enjoying this a little more the second time around.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 00:07:39 | More by Knapp85

CHADMC3

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky amber body with copper hues and only the faintest of off white heads that leaves almost no lacing to speak of even after a vigorous pour.

The aromas are quite impressive with sweet vinous aromas backed by herbal hops with sweet malt and additional dark fruits playing along as well.

The flavor is where the wheat presence really kicks in. There is an immediate dark wheat presence, followed by the sweet malt, vinous flavors, additional fruits, and herbal hops mid-palate.

The mouthfeel is medium, yet lighter than the appearance and aroma had led on with very little carbonation and a diverse coating on the palate which as at times sweet, at times drying, and ultimately smooth.

I am impressed with this beer. As a relatively new style, I have not had much to sample just yet, however based on the description, this appears to be a winner.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2011 01:50:13 | More by CHADMC3

foogerd

New York

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2010 Vintage.

A- Pale copper body some yellow highlights hardly any head.

S- Sweet and bitter almost like an American IPA, theres citric sweetness in there namely orange and some pineapples.

T- Bitter hops, sweet malts lots of fluffy bready wheat character, this would do better with age to dull the hops and have the sweet character more pronounced.

M- Full foamy and fluffy, definitely a strong point to this brew.

D- A decent brew overall not something to quaff but tasty nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2011 02:12:32 | More by foogerd

ElGallo

New Hampshire

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

2009 vintage. 22 oz. bomber poured into a large tulip. Took an agressive pour to produce a two-finger head.

Nose is thick caramel sweetness and some booziness. I love that.

With a year on it, the taste is pretty much all caramel malt and sweet booze. The wheat is there, but this is a malt bomb. Definitely more barleywine-esque.

Mouthfeel is smooth but some booziness remains. Good thing I like that too.

Overall this is a beer to age only if you crave caramel malt sweetness between your teeth. Not the best of the Smutty Big Beer series, but it's pretty darn good.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 03:13:02 | More by ElGallo