Smuttynose Scotch Style Ale (Big Beer Series) - Smuttynose Brewing Company

champ103

Texas

3.28/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Dublin O'Neil's in Champaign, IL

A: Pours a clear amber/orange color. A one finger white head forms and recedes after a minute. Light lace is left.
S: Pale malts in the nose. Crystal, light caramel, and a big cereal grainy aroma. The malts are there, but kind of the opposite of what I want my Wee Heavy's to be.
T: Again, crystal and pale malts. Caramel sweetness and big cereal/grain flavors. Warming alcohol is noticeable. I wish there was something else besides some sweetness and pale malts.
M/D: A medium body and ultra fine carbonation. Velvety soft. There is some noticeable warming alcohol present. Though not huge. Still not something I am really enjoying.

I completely get that not all "Scottish Ales" are the same. This just lacks character to me, and with a Wee Heavy specifically I want some deep toasted malts, chocolate, and smoke. This is a malty, slightly sweet pale strong amber ale. For me, not what I am looking for in the style.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2012 19:33:13 | More by champ103

Treebs

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Quality in Champaign. Served in a shaker pint.

A: Pours a dark ruby color with a thin tan head forming on the pour. It recedes to a thin film and leaves splotches of lace.

S: Nice peaty smoke with a touch of roasted malts. Nice sweetness as well with just a touch of hops.

T: Nice peat flavors with a little smokey malt. Some roasted malt notes with a little backend sweetness. Minimal hop flavors in the background as well.

M: Medium bodied with a creamy mouthfeel and a medium carbonation level.

O: This was a pretty straightforward scotch ale. Nice peat and smoke with a sweet malt profile.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2012 14:09:19 | More by Treebs

metter98

New York

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Pony Bar Upper East Side, New York, NY

A: The beer is hazy amber in color and has some brownish hues. It poured with a half finger high light beige head that has good retention properties and consistently left a thin head covering the surface.
S: There are light aromas of caramel malts and peat smoke in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell but the flavors are a little stronger and notes of peat smoke linger through the finish.
M: It feels a little more than medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I enjoyed the smoky nature of this beer because it helped to cut through the strong sweetness and syrupy nature that is usually associated with beers of this style, making it rather drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2012 19:49:47 | More by metter98

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Sierra Grille.

Pours into a Smuttynose tulip maroon and translucent. Big off-white head retains pretty well leaving some good lace as well.

A solid scent full of malt - toffee, toasty malts, dark fruit, light peat. Well-balanced.

Taste is solid as well, definitely malt city, but a good variety and balance. Toffee, butter and bread, caramel apple, dark fruit, sweet tea, toastiness, some brown sugar and light peat smoke. A good balance of smoky and sweet, wish it was a little more intense though, feels a bit tame.

Extremely smooth mouthfeel, velvety. Definitely one of the least harsh scotch ales I've had.

I wish the flavor was a bit stronger but I liked this alot. Great balance and pretty easy drinking, a bomber of this solo would be no problem which is rare for the style I'd say. Gotta hunt down a bottle or 2 of this.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2012 18:17:32 | More by Chico1985

KarlosT

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap in a tulip glass at the RiRa pub in Portsmouth (waiting in line for Kate the Great).

Given the dates on the other reviews, worried that I am evaluating a different brew. The menu simply mention it was part of the Big Beer Series, and had to rely on the waitress who called it a scotch ale.

None the less, it was quite good. Very sweet, malty flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2012 16:08:51 | More by KarlosT

glid02

Georgia

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Porter in Atlanta. 2009 vintage.

Pours a hazy golden-honey color with a half-finger slightly off-white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of sweet caramel malts with moderate amounts of light toffee and small amounts of vanilla. Also present are syrupy medium fruit aromas that intensify as the beer warms.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sticky caramel malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by solid amounts of smooth toffee. Midway through the sip hints of light toasted malts and vanilla make an appearance. Near the end of the sip hints of syrupy pears and ripe green apple flavors come into play, fading out into a mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with decent carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall this was a solid beer for the style but it's nothing something over which I'd clamor to have again. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2011 14:13:54 | More by glid02

airheadmtrcycle

Georgia

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

Just finished two at the Taco Mac at Prado in Atlanta. I was stunned to see it on the menu. Couldn't wait to have my first gulp. Both pours lacked much head. They were a hazy-brown color, but still transparent. Did get some lacing.

Smelled malty with some dark fruit essence. Taste was on the earthy side. Smokey malts and some fruit with an alcohol presence. Not too sweet, the alcohol seemed to help.

Mouthfeel was good. A higher carbonation gave it a more refreshing effect than I expected from a Scotch ale.

Very drinkable. I wanted a third but I had to drive home.

A solid beer that I would order again. Alcohol was listed in the menu as over 8%. Not what I expected from a Scotch ale. Much lighter in body and color than others of the style I've tried. Let's face it, Smuttynose does not make a bad beer and I really enjoyed these.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2010 01:02:46 | More by airheadmtrcycle

soccerman7

Vermont

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Holy Smoke

Appearance - Really nice deep brown with a minimal head.
Nose - nice malt and toastiness. can pick up the sweetness and smoke faintly.
Taste - Great malt and and warmth from the alcohol. The smokiness is there and flavors linger.
Mouth - Tasted fairly smooth but had a slight sharpness on the end (possibly from the alcohol or maybe an older keg?) still very good.
Drinkability - Very good. Definitely a Fall brew to brush the chill off.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2008 15:28:40 | More by soccerman7

onthefarside

New York

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Had this at Mahars in Albany NY the other night, when I tried to order someting originally, the bartender who is always a hoot, mentioned they only had a small keg of this and better go for it. So it took little convincing since I'm a fan of smuttynose. So i then sat down with friends who had ordered the same, and dug in.

there was little head left on the beer but enough to leave a respectable lacing, a nice copper colour, like a darker scotch, it looked like it wanted me to drink it.

the smell was what first surpised me, I wasn't expecting the really awesome smokey peaty flavour, which is the best part of this beer. Many sweet malts, and not too much in the way of hops hits the nose.

The taste was nothing too in your face and extreme, a very nice malt at first leading to what i think are some easy going english hops. The smokey flavour really comes through again as well.

Mouthfeel was average, nothing too heavy or thin, good amount of carbonation that was small.

Drinkability...oy i must be the worst person in the world at telling the abvs of beers because i thought this was around a 5 or less, but i came here to find almost 8! I drank a 20oz of this very easily and i would definately pick it up again if i saw it.

thanks again to mahars for another great brew on the tap.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2008 03:08:09 | More by onthefarside

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

pretty damned good beer! pours with a nice frothy textured head. dark mahagoney reddish brown. really good traditional smokey peaty malty flavor. bit thin in body, but not bad. drinkable, maybe a session beer. Decent finish. The alcohol is definitely present in a boozey, warming sensation. Good cool weather ale.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2007 02:30:46 | More by drpimento

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Max's the other day.

The beer pours an amber orange color, with a soft, creamy looking head and very good lacing. The beer smells pretty malty, though I get a whiff of some underlying butterscotch and spice as well. The beer has some pleasant flavors of sweet malt and butterscotch on the palate, but I was hoping for a bit more peatiness/smokiness. Can't speak for others, but I just wasn't picking up all that much flavor complexity, though the flavors were pleasant enough. The beer has a medium bodied mouthfeel and has a fairly light, sweetish finish. Abv. is pretty well disguised, but for all that, I had no interest in drinking more then one of these.

Nice beer. It didn't blow my socks off, and I'm not sure I'd order it again, but still a solid effort from Smuttynose.

Edit from 10/6/12. Well, Max's had the wine barrel aged version of this beer on tap, so mea culpa, I ordered it again after. Frankly, I don't get a whole lot of wine barrel aroma or flavor (there's some, but's pretty subtle), so I can see no reason to enter this as a separate entry.
The beer menu at Max's lists this as a 7.8% abv. beer, but otherwise, it's pretty much the same as sampled previously.l

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2007 14:43:35 | More by johnmichaelsen

UnionMade

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Murky mahogany brown. Full, thick ivory head, lacing all the way down, keeping strong all the way through. Leaves a dollop of head at the bottom of the glass. Malty, malty. malty aroma. Did i say malty? Quite caramelly and fruity, with a hint of peat smoke and roasted barley. Packed with flavor, this beer just gushes caramel. Very fruity, right up front, fresh plum and pear, melting into sugary sweetness. Very mildy hopped finish, nore peaty, tangy and roasty, some charred malt quality, still sweetly laden with caramel. Vague smokiness. Quite light. Very sweet, but not nearly cloying. Alcohol becomes more and more apparent as it warms. Medium to full bodied. Milder carbonation, with a silky mouthfeel. This one's a deliciously sweet, full-on caramel malt bomb.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2005 05:41:15 | More by UnionMade

OldFrothingSlosh

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Once again, the power of beer karma smiles upon me. Enjoying a few pints with some friends and fellow BA altctrlsdelete at Capital Ale House last night, I noticed Matt had ordered this beer. Again, this was not listed on the tap list...it looked good....I ordered one. As the old knight guarding the Holy Grail (of the non-Monty Python variety) in Indians Jones and the Last Crusade would say: "You have chosen....wisely."

Served in the commerative CAH St. Patty's day glass, the scotch ale is deep brownish-caramel in color. Miniscule lace quickly died away (though my glass was filled to the brim) to just a fine layer at the edges. Aromas are an interesting mix of caramel malts and a chalky-smoky character. Flavor is full of malt. Great level of hoppy bitterness balances. Finishes with an ABV kick and a spicy, zesty aftertaste. Very drinkable with a medium-bodied smoothness.

Notes: I've never really gotten into Scotch ales, but this was a real eye-opening experience for me. I will definitely seek out some more of this style. Kudos to Matt for this one.

Edited 4/1/04: Apparently, this was a very rare and very special "oak-aged" version of the regular beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2004 02:47:37 | More by OldFrothingSlosh

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Oak-aged, on tap, Extreme Beer Fest 2004...

Dark chestnut appearance, clear. Good 1/2 inch head with dripping lace. Aroma is subdued but lingering, some distant smokiness. Heavy mouthfeel, cinnamon tones and prickly hop up front and early. Some carob and vanilla sweetened cream inthe mid mouth impression. Finishes with a distinct bite for a Scotch Ale. While equally alcoholic as more traditional "heavies", this one has more of a hoppy bite to it than many.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2004 18:30:20 | More by ADR

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It pours a dark leathery brown with a solid beige head and a fair amount of lacing. The aroma is largely of smoky malt, with some molasses and a bit of hops in the background. The malt is thick, lightly smoky and sweet, and a little too chalky for my liking. The hops are sort of lost within malt body. A mild tea-like bitterness fails to make a note worthy impact. This brew lacks a peaty and Scotch-like quality normally associated with the style. The presence of alcohol is barely noticeable, though the results of a pint are undeniable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2003 17:00:33 | More by BeerResearcher

Etan

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage.

A. Pours a very dark woody amber with a nice egg shell-colored head.

S. Smells of toffee, caramelized grain, light earthiness, leather, brown sugar, mild hop note.

T. Light peatiness, dark bread, caramel, earthy bitterness, some dryish dark fruits (plums, raisins), a bit of estery spice on the end.

M. Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation.

O. Really nice scotch ale. The peated malt is not overpowering at all.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 04:56:53 | More by Etan

gueuzeonhigh

Maine

3.48/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

I may be warped by what I expect out of a scotch ale-- probably from quaffing too many McEwans Scotch Ales.

This is a hearty beer.
It fell somewhat flat in my glass-- I had wished for a more vibrant presentation-- but it lay silent and non-descript in the confines of my glass..

Nose too was rather plain.

The flavor was the great redeemer-- a strong bold flavor stance. Notes of peat, malt supported on a foundation of hops bitterness. Malt created a balance of the hops-- I'd declare I tasted caramel and other things not really related to the ingredients-- clover maybe?

Mouthfeel is quite cordial- nice balance of flavor, carbonization and finish.

I think that the SmuttyNose "Big Beer Series" have been eminently enjoyable.. So far they have all been satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 02:34:38 | More by gueuzeonhigh

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clean orange-ish to brown in color with an off white head. In the aroma, a sweet caramel roast, with notes of peat. In the taste, Alcohol stands up, a sweet roast, small caramel roast, and a hint of smoke. A smooth and medium to bigger bodied mouthfeel, with a dry smoke and sweet caramel and peat in the aftertaste. A really nice balance, dry to sweet, nice presence of smoke, caramel and peat.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 15:12:17 | More by OWSLEY069

Lawl3ss

Texas

4.31/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage. Lightly chilled 22 oz. bomber into a stemless tulip.

Look- Pours a deep amber with a generous frothy beige head. Good retention, sparse lace.

Smell- Interesting. Sweet, light smokiness that comes off as more of a spicy accent than anything. Toasted caramel, apple, licorice, brown sugar, spice. Very nice.

Taste- Similar to the aroma, assertively malty, sweetness is there but inoffensive, works well with an interesting candied apple/heather/honey-doused biscuit/floral melange. Finishes with toasted crusty bread, light spice and a faint touch of booziness. There's a bit of a sharper edge and lingering flavor that makes me wonder if there's rye in there somewhere. Aftertaste is more toast and a light tealike bitterness.

Mouthfeel- Full, rich, creamy, smooth, light warming, hefty but not sluggish. Spot-on.

Overall- Smuttynose is always good, and this offering's no exception. Robust, well-rounded flavors without going overboard in any area. Exceptionally well constructed and executed, I would certainly pick it up again if I could.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 05:43:29 | More by Lawl3ss

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber courtesy of SmuttyJim, enjoyed at a recent bottle share at NEBCO. From notes.

A: Clear russet body under some fine tan froth. Ok retention, spotty lace. Not bad.

S: Sweet malt, some cotton candy, and lots of vinous dark fruits. Quite good.

T: Opens with figs and grapes, followed by toffee, vanilla, and some chocolate. Tasty.

M: Lively medium body. Nice.

O: Solid brew. The wine barrel notes add some welcome complexity.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 02:39:16 | More by woosterbill

Tone

Missouri

4.3/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, brown color. 1/3 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and slight lacing. Smells of sweet malt, hops, hint of spruce, all spice, hint of roasted malt, and a hint of smoke. Fits the style of a Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, hops, hint of smoke, hint of alcohol, all spice, and slight roasted malt. Overall, good aroma, feel, blend, body, and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 15:08:51 | More by Tone

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.05/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From the big bottle, 2012 edition. Sampled on December 28, 2012.

It pours a nice looking amber brown with red hues and great clarity. The off-white head is small but it lasts.

The aroma is vibrant with sweet malts and red grapes, perhaps due to the wine-barrel aging. Scotch ales tend to be very malty and this one has this added dash of character.

The body is medium but doesn't hold its consistency too long. Still, it is not problematic.

The taste is a bit different from the aroma because while it brings out the sweet malty character and this wine-like thingy, it also evolves into a moderately bitter finish. Not your typical Scotch ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 02:53:06 | More by puboflyons

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle with Bottle Conditioned 2012 notched on the label. Pours a semi translucent dark chestnutty brown with an inch of frothy brown head. Good amount of lacing. Aroma is malts and earth with floral hints. A bit bready and sweet. Boozey. The taste is malts and earth with some warming alcohol. Hints of smoke, cherries and flowers. This Scotch Ale has a bit more floralness and a bit less alcohol flavor than I'd like but it is still good. Slightly reminiscent of cough medicine. Creamy, heavy mouthfeel. Overall, its decent but is lacking a bit.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 02:28:29 | More by PicoPapa

keithmurray

Louisiana

3.53/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz poured into a chalice

Appearance - translucent copper color with khaki head

Smell - Cherry, cinnamon, spice from some toasted malts, caramel

taste - caramel, cherries, peat, cinnamon

mouthfeel - high carbonation, medium bodied, slightly sweet in the beginning, the finish is unrefined

Overall - This was a decent beer, but does not stand up as well against some of the other Scotch ales that I've had. This tastes closer to an imperial amber ale versus a scotch ale.

Price Point - $6.99/22oz bottle

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 23:01:17 | More by keithmurray

rlee1390

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Brown in the glass, clear amber in the light, one finger tan head.

S-Lots of malt, roasted and caramel with a little smoke rounding out

T-Good balance, malty, peat, caramel and some chocolate, even some darker fruits.

M-Medium bodied, creamy with nice carbonation

O-A solid scotch ale, good all around with solid balance.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 20:20:14 | More by rlee1390