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

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

beerthulhu

New Jersey

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

A: Poured a dark, hazy Brazilian cherry with a foamy, sticky, khaki colored head that was well lasting. A nice splotchy lacing coats the glass on the way down. A moderatly strong carbonation makes its way to the surface beneath the dark, hazy color.

S: The aroma was light overall, with maltiness and some alcohol notes being the most dominant. A fresh wildflower hopping adds subtle highlights while an advertised soft smoked peat moss rounds things out. Overall the aroma was quite soft and wished to have experienced more of it.

T: The flavor opens up with some scotch and water upon first impressions. Some dry whiskey booziness with a thin scorched worty hints were also detected. Overall I think the flavor lacked the depth and body typically per style. The flavor seemed a tad thin at times with an overly aggressive carbonation that distracted. A nice smoked peat moss was perhaps its finest quality and strongest point here.

M: fizzy and left a dry boozy alcohol lacing on the tongue. The body was medium with a light creminess though I think still lacked depth and fullness per style.

D: only slightly above average at best. It takes awhile to warm up to this beer, thankfully it's a 22oz. Bomber. Think it falls short in comparison to others top in class (Founders' Dirty bastard) and was only moderatly good in overall enjoyability.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2008 13:43:16 | More by beerthulhu

Brad007

Vermont

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

Pours a dark red color with a one-finger head into my pint glass.

Aroma is sweet with peat smoked malt peeking through. Warm and inviting.

Taste is sweet at first with the peat smoked malt showing through in the middle, giving way to a bit of alcohol heat in the middle. Smooth. Warming. Just the right balance of malt sweetness.

Mouthfeel is compromised of the remnants of the peat smoked malt and alcohol heat. Throat is coated with warmth.

A rich and warm brew that works well on a cold day such as this one (gotta be at least 25-30 degrees out now). It's not the most complex at first but with some aging, this beer surely can only get better with time.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 17:43:12 | More by Brad007

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

ZAP

Minnesota

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

A favorite style of mine and this is a good one...pours a russett brown with little head...cola like in the glass but slightly lighter...nose includes some peat and a lot more HEAT!! You can smell the booze in this one. Sweet chewy malty flavor...not sticky sweet like a doppel...hints of vanilla bean...small peatiness on the taste...not very smoky though...body is medium to full...

Solid enjoyable Wee Heavy..

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2005 03:22:18 | More by ZAP

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Homebrewjunkie for sharing this. Poured cool into a snifter.
A - A mahogany golden brown w/ wispy light colored head

S - Peaty, creamy bready and slightly smokey w/ a nice alcoholic ester.

M - Creamy nuttiness fades into a dry smokey almost peppery smooth texture. There is a nice balance of yeast and malt in the texture.

T - A great blend of malt and dry scottish ale yeast as indicated in the aroma and mouthfeel. The roasted malts and smoke flavor of peat are noticeable, but not overpowering. Nice doughiness and spice w/ grainy flavor and the smooth yeast taste makes for a round and relaxed taste.

D - Very drinkable once it warms, another fine example of the quality brewing at Smuttynose. I enjoyed this as much as the other big beer series beers I have tasted. A nice Wee-heavy.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2007 16:21:24 | More by Slatetank

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

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I don't know if this beer has been released since, but this is the 2007 vintage that I picked up at Chevy Chase W&S a long time back, along with my first 6-pack of Expedition. Oh, the good ol' days.

Pouring a deep garnet with mahogany highlights, this beer is capped with a dense, beige head that rapidly recedes to a ring leaving little lace. The first thing that strikes my nostrils is peat. Not smoky, but peat. Briny, with a touch of toffee, burnt sugar, butterscotch and vanilla are all present. Pretty unique, I really like the nose.

The palate opens with a blend of brine and peat, both mellow, but both still the most dominant flavors in this rather mildly flavored brew. This is followed by toffee, burnt sugar and a mild yeasty fruitiness. Oxidation is unbelievably low here, this smells and tastes remarkably fresh (fresher than the 07 Speedway that preceded this it). Drying and mildly smoky on the finish, this beer is pretty excellent. Medium in body and a touch over-carbonated for my palate, this is rather stunningly good. Just a hair watery, but not enough to significantly detract from enjoyment. A *lot* better than I was expecting. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 03:51:03 | More by DefenCorps

tpd975

Florida

3.6/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a nice shade of brown with a small fizzy head. Looks pretty still in the glass, no real retention or lace.

S: Aroms of sweet malt, brown sugar, and toffee. Subtle hint of smoked malt as well.

T: Malty sweetness mostly. Brown sugar and toffee up front. Like smoke, booze with some dark fruit. Sort of mild for the style to be honest.

M: Medium in body, still carbonation.

D: Not bad wish the beer was a bit more bold in flavor though. Being on the milder side it is drinkable though.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2009 03:51:36 | More by tpd975

bluejacket74

Ohio

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

22 ounce bottle, 2012 vintage. Served in a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass, the beer pours a mostly clear dark reddish/amber color with a half inch light tan head. Head retention is good, and there's a small amount of lacing. Aroma is nice and malty, it smells like caramel malt, peat/smoke, dark fruit, toffee, and a bit of tea. Taste is mostly like the aroma, but there's also some bitter herbs and some wood noticeable. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit creamy and coating with moderate carbonation. I think it's a good overall brew. Definitely worth a try at just $5.99 a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 22:27:56 | More by bluejacket74

blackie

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

a: into my piraat snifter, a pillowy khaki head is produced and a slow recession leaves a superbly retained cap atop the beer, which is itself a dark chestnut brown in color

s: dark toffee malts of a subdued sweetness with a pervasive current of delicate peat smoke, raisin, light toast, glimpses of chocolate or carob, earthy hop aroma, pleasant aroma of slightly above average complexity

m: delicate light-medium carbonation and a body that's extremely smooth, and full without being sticky or overbearing, nice

t: flavors of peat smoked malts on a body of dark toasted toffee, brief carob, earthy hop flavors, a roasted malt astringency precedes the finish, dries out quite well, hints of smoky roast and a mild bitterness linger long

d: a nice one to sip on a sub-32 degree night

bomber from whole foods, reston, va purchased a few months ago

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2009 06:02:33 | More by blackie

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

alexgash

Connecticut

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

Thanks to chaduvel for this. Dark ruby red body with an off-white head. Smells of big, toasted, caramelly malts, with smoky overtones. Taste: peaty, sweet, caramelly malts. Some smokiness. Finish is rich, carroty, and bittersweet. Oh, a touch of warming alcohol as well. A fine scotch ale, though not a standout.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2004 21:02:51 | More by alexgash

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

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

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Snagged a bottle for about 6 bucks at Giant Eagle. Always enjoy these Smuttynose big beers!

A - I really love the overall appearance. A well over 1/2 inch of sticky opaque colored head that clings to all sides of my glass and never really subsides. Tiny bubbles still floating to the top and just underneath is a clear deep chestnut brown colored goodness.

S - Mild but good. Smoked peat, touch of charcoal roast, and mostly caramel like malts make for a great beer. Also getting some hops so this might be better than expected.

T - Nothing mind blowing and thankfully the smoked peat flavor is minimal because I kind of hate excessive peat flavors (I am looking at you New Holland Chinook Rye!) Mild acidic hops, sweet balanced caramel malts, and mild Rauchbier goodness highlight.

M - Hides the ABV well and seems oily with a slick creamy body.

Overall it doesn't beat their imperial stout or even the Baltic porter but I really enjoyed this offering. Not my favorite style so I shall no revisit.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 03:05:17 | More by DrDemento456

merlin48

Kentucky

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

This "Biggun" poured a clear, dark, mahogany, with a small, tan head that quickly drops into patchy and collar lace. Aroma is very malty, as expected, with notes of toffee, molasses, and caramel. A faint whiff of floral hops is also apparent. Mouthfeel has a moderate hops bite and plenty of carbonation.
Tatse is very malty to start, with toffee and caramel sweetness. There is a nice funky, hops bitterness to keep things in check. Some vinous notes emerge midway through, and the taste develops a number of complexities. A fig/date fruitiness gives way to more dark fruits as the alcohol content becomes noticeable. Vinous notes try to reassert, but get knocked back by the bitter, floral hops and heavyduty malt character. I don't pick up any peat or smoke flavors here, but it's still a very tasty Scottish style ale. With some smokiness, this would earn some superlative scores from this reviewer.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2004 02:33:35 | More by merlin48

Vancer

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This great beer was sent via trade with MuenchenerKindl = MUCHO GRACIAS!

Let me cut to the chase, the oaken pour with tan head, nor the malty aroma would lead me to expect the smoked ham sandwich that this beer provided. And I luv it! This is a big beer that drinks smooth and easy – but ya gotta like the smoke!

A great way to start my ol’ b-day off!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2007 20:51:23 | More by Vancer

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a cloudy deep mahogony color with boisterous tannish creamy head. nice coating of lace on the glass. smell is a fine mixture of caramel and toffee. Taste brings a stong malt note without being overly sweet. Very enjoyable creamy mouthfeel. A bit of bitterness presents itself at the finish to cap off a nice well-rounded beer. Great (almost scary) drinkability in a 7.8% beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2006 01:20:19 | More by tgbljb

Gmann

New York

4.18/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy brown color with a creamy tan head that settles into a light cap. The aroma is of brown bread, malty, hint of peat and smoke. Nice aroma, though not very strong. A bigger smoked peat presence in the flavor, along with a bready malt backbone, carob, and a hint of hops. The feel is thick and chewy, fizzy carbonation makes for easier drinking. There is some belly burn from the ABV. I like my scotch ales with some smoke flavor and this delivered nicely. I didn't pick up on the heather, which would have been nice but this is still a great brew. Another great Smutty.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2009 00:32:09 | More by Gmann

Bierman9

New Hampshire

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

Ever wonder why this is called Scotch "Style" Ale? Because our "friends" in Washington think we're too dumb to differentiate between this and some distilled beverage from Scotland. Thanks a lot!
Well, this years (2002) version has a dark, mahogany-chestnut hue, with a little ruby, too. Head, I'm afraid, was just a miniscule little layer. Nose presented itself well, with malty sweetness co-mingling with a nice smokiness. They are using some German rauch malt this year as opposed to peat smoked malt (read the Brewers comments at www.smuttynose.com). Body was medium-plus, and the brew slid easily and smoothly over the tongue. Quite an enjoyable mix of flavors...great maltiness partnered with a fair dose of sweetness (without being cloying). Smokiness lingers throughout, and the finish is a bit dry, like a good rauchbier, with an ever-so-subtle hint of hop fruitiness. This years version ( at 7%, btw) seems to be head and shoulders above past-years offerings. Zum Wohl!

overall: 4.3
appearance: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4.5 | drinkability: 4.5

392

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2002 12:48:14 | More by Bierman9

Durge

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at the first Warwick Drinking Society's Beer Tasting Session of the year at Ohoove's last night, this donation from Ben the Pull Up King, pours a murky grey-tan color with a full and lasting light oatmeal colored head and similar lacing. The aroma is not nearly so meaty as the appearance but hints weakly at malty smoke, but it's hard to pick up the subtleties here. The flavor comes charging back with a bready/earthy malt blended into a smooth, somewhat resinous brew that goes down quite nicely. I like how this captures that "Scotch" quality, a touch of burnt peat and alcohol while holding the neutralizing sweetness in grainy overtones to make for a drinkable pint, or two, or three. This is the side of Scotch Ales that I like, although perhaps it is not everyone's definition of the style. Put this one on your shopping list.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2009 02:17:30 | More by Durge

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured clear brown/amber with an off-white head that rose slowly and fell slowly and laced the glass.

The aroma was malty with chocolate and caramel and a slight smoke.

The flavor was chocolate and malty caramel with a slight smokiness. There was also a hop bitterness and hop flavors that may be a bit overdone.

The finish was off dry with lingering caramel and chocolate into the aftertaste. The body was medium full.

22 ounce bottle. There is no real alcohol present in the aroma, flavor or finish, so at 8%, this one is a sleeper.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2004 00:37:13 | More by GCBrewingCo

lordofthewiens

Maine

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

A wonderful beer. It's a nice brown color with a fairly substantial head that dissipated quickly. It had a predominately malty aroma. The taste was more complex. My crummy taste buds could pick out fruit and malt, with a hoppy backtaste. It felt very smooth, with a moderate amount of carbonation. A very drinkable beer; the 25oz bottle was just the right amount.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2006 19:58:24 | More by lordofthewiens

Metalmonk

North Carolina

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

Big thick head from an average pour, and there's lace stickage happening with a quickness, while the color is a deep burgundy-brown.

Aroma is quite smoky, even for the style...there's a pungent dark fruit sweetness lurking underneath, but by and large there's little to glean from the aroma other than smoke.

Smoke is unsurprisingly the main feature of this beer, while a juicy fruit sweetness makes it way through better than in the aroma. Vinous and succulent, with a mild hint of flowery spice and cinnamon. Smoked cotton candy (?) in the finish. This is not only the smokiest scotch ale I've ever had, but also one of the most complex.

Texture is near-perfect, uber-rounded, creamy, just enough carbonation to pep it up and not bring it down.

Probably an acquired taste...I'm not the biggest fan of smoked beers, despite having a great liking for this style...I find most of them to have a subtler, milder smokiness. But sitting with this, acclimating to it, and taking it for what it is, it grew on me quickly. Yet another impressive brew from Smuttynose.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2008 20:31:38 | More by Metalmonk