Smuttynose Winter Ale - Smuttynose Brewing Company

SerialHiker

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a dark, deep mahogany…very dense…some head did form, but only a light layering remained…(4/5)

Smell: Sweet fig, brown sugar…think more sweet brown sugar smell than normal sweet cherry rock candy…apparent alcohol heat…mild malt, caramel, yeast and cream also…overall, a nice aroma…(3.5/5)

Taste: Fantastic taste! Very similar to the nose, candy sweetness, dark fruit, brown sugar, sweet malts and alcohol heat…there is subtle citrus flavor…smooth, rich, dark malt base…a hint of creaminess…warming spices come late, but finish brew nicely…(4/5)

Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium to full carbonation…really, great feel on my tongue…smooth with very little residual taste…(3.5/5)

Overall: This is definitely one of my favorite Christmas winter warmer seasonals I’ve had to date…outstanding flavor, mixed it just right and I have to say, I like the darker malts used here…nothing is overdone and everyone seems to know their roles…the nose could awaken a bit more and if it were a little heavier, this would be an unbeatable brew…as it is, it’s highly recommended for your next Christmas party and with it’s relatively low ABV, I certainly could drink this all night and be merry (and competent)…(4/5)

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 07:52:03 | More by SerialHiker

TimmyL

3.3/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a tulip
A- Nut brown in color, tan head, average lacing.
S- A little light, nothing spectacular.
T- Sweet malt taste. Honey, some brown sugar, caramel. Slight bitter finish.
M- Lighter than I would expect.
O- Decent. Would have again but wouldn't seek out.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 23:50:15 | More by TimmyL

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.55/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle served in a chalice.

L - deep chestnut brown color with a off-white head that thinned to a ring leaving minimal lacing.

S - tootsie roll and earthiness.

T - sweet dark fruit with a hint of chocolate finishing dry and prickly.

F - medium bodied with lively carbonation, it goes down easy.

O - a pleasant brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 01:00:20 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Best Before 04/11/13

A: Pours a ruby red color with a fingers worth of off-white head

S: Get the Trappsit yeast with plenty of dark fruits and maltiness. Has some sweetness from the candi syrup

T: Follows the nose, starts off with the fruitiness and the malts and goes into a light roasty character. Finishes dry

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth

O: A nice American-style dubbel with a nice Belgian flair. Nothing outstanding about this, but it is a nice winter beer. It is also readily available through the colder months, so that helps as well

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 01:04:50 | More by BEERMILER12

HarryPotHead

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first go round with this brewery and it wasn't a bad one....this is a decent but not great winter ale.

A - Pours dark brown / red around the edges into a traditional pint glass. A "not so soft" pour yielded a two finger off-white head that hung around for a few minutes...long enough for me to snap a photo with my phone and send it to a friend who was working late...you know, just to rub it in cause that's what friends do right?

S - Expected more of one. LOL! Nothing real pronounced with this one. Very subtle hints of caramel with an earthy scent. Not overpowering or in your face...nice, but lacking complexity.

T - Again not the most complex. Very "safe" for a winter seasonal. I expected more of a robust character...something that would "put hair on your chest"!

M - Smooth with just the right amount of carbonation....kind of thin though. Could stand to be a little heavier.

Overall - Not a bad beer AT ALL! I enjoyed this beer....as I do most (it is beer...duh!) and I'm ready for another. Very easy to drink albeit one dimensional, but I won't hold that against it. I did expect more for a winter brew but was not disappointed. Nice ABV for the price ($9.99 for six here in Maryland). BEER!!

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 23:12:53 | More by HarryPotHead

BenjaminBlondbeard

New York

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Smuttynose Winter Ale poured a dark brown from a bottle into my pint glass. A half inch ivory head shrank quickly. In the light the ale is a clean deep ruby brown with sparse but steady bubbles rising to the top.

It doesn't have a strong smell. Some sweet malty notes, caramel, and dark fruit.

Surprisingly it is on the light side of medium bodied beer. There is a nice even carbonation that livens up the intake. It coats the mouth, but is not syrupy. It leaves light lacing on the glass that doesn't stay around for too long.

First tastes are subtle plumb and fig like fruit flavors, and then some sweet roasted malts, with a light hop spice that wraps it all up. The hop spice cuts the sweet malt like a sly bitter ninja; not overpowering, but exacting. It fades away quickly, but lingers in the shadows to enjoy the well balanced finish. The hop and malt flavors linger with now toffee notes, along with the fruit, sweet malt, and very stealthy hop spice.

Not a typical "Winter" ale. I suppose it is more a "Dubbel," as noted in the description on this page. It is very nice for a cold winter night, but not one I would consider for the winter beer hall of fame.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 01:52:48 | More by BenjaminBlondbeard

danronian

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance -Dark beer with a small head that quickly goes away, some lingering foam, but little carbonation rising from the top.

Smell - Roasted smell and somewhat sweet. Not a lot of smell coming off of this beer.

Taste - Smooth, somewhat sweet, but strong. The burnt, malty taste is prominent and fruitiness is secondary. Sweet finish that is pleasant tasting.

Mouthfeel - Smooth, with a lot of taste, and little carbonation. The after-taste is burnt and lingering.

This is a good beer that is warming, tasty, but not something I could drink more than one of a night. Good winter beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 00:32:40 | More by danronian

claspada

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light brown color with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves some thin lacing on the glass.

Aromas begin with ligh caramel, brown sugar, and chocolate malt base with some Belgian yeast, a little spice and a touch of hops that emerge as it warms.

The tastes begin with malty flavors of caramel and a little chocolate. The yeast adds some spicy and some fruity ester notes. The after-taste is bready and slightly sweet.

The mouthfeel is medium to light bodied for the style with medium carbonation. There could be a bump in that for sure. Finish is fairly crisp, clean and dry.

Overall this is a decent representation of style but really is fairly one noted. It is definitely not your prototypical winter seasonal or Dubbel for that matter but I have definitely had worse. Kind of tastes like an American Amber fermented with a Belgian yeast. Decent but I'll stick to something else during the winter months.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 20:50:57 | More by claspada

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a tulip at cellar temperature.

L - Ruby brown with a 3-finger bubbly light tan head. Decent retention, but fades without much lacing.

S - A little bit of sweet caramel malt but mostly brown sugar and dark fruit aromas that give just a tiny bit of tartness to the smell. Possibly the tiniest hint of earthy or floral hops.

T - Sugar, cherry, and plum sweetness that just scratches the surface of sour. Finishes with a nice and smooth bitter taste with cocoa and floral hop notes. There’s a little bit of spice at the finish, as well.

F - Medium-bodied, pretty good carbonation, and a really nice dry finish. Sweetness and tartness from the fruits hangs around for a little while along with a pleasant mouth-drying sensation.

O - For the price, the convenience, and the ABV, this is a great Dubbel. It doesn’t look as good as real Trappist Dubbels or have the great aroma and taste nuances of Belgian yeast, but you really can’t go wrong with this one. Very tasty and drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 04:16:47 | More by BlackBelt5112203

pvsob

Pennsylvania

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

A- Dark brown color with ruby highlights. Large fluffy head (light tan) that has great retention and leaves nice lacing.

S- Figs, caramel, damp earth, bready malt, some clove, black pepper, and Belgian yeast.

T- Toasted malt, faint coffee/chocolate, cherries, hint of ripe banana, raisins, and a slight spiciness in the finish.

M- Medium feel with medium-high carbonation.

O- A rather tasty American version of a Dubbel. Worth a try if you haven't had it before. Recommended. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 20:29:18 | More by pvsob

mscudder

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I recently picked up a case of this beer and after downing a few I decided to sit down and give this Dubbel a proper review. Best before May 2012, poured into a Newcastle Schooner.

A - Hazy light brown poured with a large light tan head. Fair retention, leaving behind some lacing. Has a ruby like hue that really helps its cause.

S - Nothing strong going on in this department. Some malts showing through and some dark fruit, although less than I would like to see. I feel there is a a few spices lingering in the background, but they are far from prominent.

T - Shows up strong with some nice roasted malts up front followed by some sweetness dominated by cherries. The conclusion of the brew is ever so slightly bitter, which adds a bit of complexity. I must say for a Dubbel I purchased on sale for under $5 a sixer, I do not hesitate in saying this is the best taste per my dollar I have ever had.

M - My personal favorite part of the brew. The body is pretty thick for Dubbel, probably on the high medium end. The malts form a fine backbone for the tastes to permeate. Rich and smooth, with a nice little light kick near the end. Superb.

O - Overall this is a fine brew that I relish for the price I got them at. Not the best Dubbel by a long stretch, but I do not think I would be disappointed if a friend offered me one, particularly on a nice winter afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 07:41:08 | More by mscudder

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into Belgian flute

A - Pours a ruby-brown with a finger of tan head. Decent retention.

S - Sweet dark fruit -- raisin, brown sugar. Not much else. Cherry cola.

T - Cocoa is introduced to the mix. A bit of nutmeg, brown sugar, and raisin. Not bad. Very pleasant on a cold winter day.

M - Medium body, a bit sticky sweet. Average carbonation. A bit drying in the finish.

O - Overall a good, drinkable beer. Nice for winter. A drinkable, available, and flavorful beer that would satisfy anyone on a cold night.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 23:12:49 | More by greenmonstah

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Single bottle from my fridge. Poured into a stemmed beer glass. Light leather brown color. Slight head, but that faded quickly. Not much lacing, which was surprising. Smell had a nice aroma of dark fruit and raisins. Taste was a combination of caramel, fig, and brown sugar. Very light though; would have liked a more upfront flavor. And the mouthfeel was on the thin side. This is a nice winter ale brewed like a dubbel. A solid local winter offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 06:39:22 | More by morebeergood

damndirtyape

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle (best by April 2012) poured into a Tulip glass.

Appearance: Dark brown with a light tan persistent thin (1/16") head across the top. Plenty of persistent lacing in strands, sheets, and islands. When held up to the light, cloudy brown with some orange and coppery notes.

Smell: Mild fruit (raisin) with maybe some mild herbal hops in there. Not a lot going on in the aroma dept even with a good swirl.

Taste: Roasted malt, hints of coffee, raisin, caramel, barest hint of pine hops towards the end. Sweet, but balanced by the bitterness at the end.

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, but borderline fizzy and a bit to spicy on the tongue, although it cleanses the palate. Nice thickness with a bit of a lingering on the teeth but not for long. Bit of a dry finish.

Overall / Drinkability: Nice beer - not a lot going on in the aroma department but good appearance and taste. Interesting combination of flavors and not quite like any Dubbel I've had before, but I will say it works as a winter beer - warming and enjoyable even though the alcohol is just a hair above 5%. Glad I picked one up on sale but not sure if I would buy a six pack of it. That being said, if another one was available I would probably have it again, so good drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 23:38:53 | More by damndirtyape

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into tulip.

A - Dark brown-black with a 1" tan head.

S - Roasted malt, brown sugar, allspice. A hint of toffee.

T - Toffee roasted malt up front, followed by dark fruit and Belgian yeast. Very sweet throughout, although not cloying. A slight hop bite towards the end.

M - Lots of carbonation, medium-thick in body. Creamy and slick.

O - I enjoyed this beer. It has a nice Belgian yeast/dark fruit character that is balanced nicely with the roasted malt and spices. Very drinkable brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 20:02:48 | More by mooseo

Yoda22

North Carolina

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

A- Pours a clear dark amber/light brown. 1 finger of head that quickly dissipates. Some light lacing.

S- Sweet brown sugar scent, dark fruits, not too overpowering. No real hop presence.

T- Toffee / roasted malt up front with lingering sweetness reminiscent of the smell. Good combo.

M- Medium to full body with medium carbonation.

O- Very good all around. A nice winter beer with good balance between the malts and flavors, light hopping that is barely noticeable but must be present to balance things out.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 01:07:09 | More by Yoda22

Immortale25

Florida

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Sierra Nevada pint glass. Notches on the label indicate best before April 2012.

A- Pours a dark brown color with a 1/2 inch head that's not one to retain long before reducing to a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a mound of surface foam in the center. Above average lacing.

S- Has that glassy smell that I find in most dark Belgians. Also a touch of nutmeg-like spice.

T- Nice, toasty notes along with suggestions of dark fruit and raisin. Pretty much your standard dubbel but done quite well. Hints of caramel.

M- Lush and full but not necessarily thick. Medium carbonation.

O- Not too high in alcohol for a dubbel, but that's OK. It's great if you just want a dark Belgian that's easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 02:42:24 | More by Immortale25

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've passed this over for years thinking it was a spiced winter ale, well today I fixed that and bought a bottle. Pours a deep clear shade of orange garnet with a bubbly beige head that displays remarkable retention but spotty lace. Smells of spice, pepper, and caramel with hints of dark dried fruits. Sweet sugary flavor is highlighted by caramel and sweet reduced fruit syrup. Hints of spice, and Belgian esters, but not to much for my palette. Medium body with a light to moderate level of carbonation and a sweet creamy mouthfeel. Decent brew, surely not the best dubbel in the world, but very respectable. Time to check out some more brews I've been avoiding.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 22:12:41 | More by johnnnniee

brureview

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is a good everyday winter beer. The most prominent features of the beer are its tangy mouthfeel, and its finish: hints of chocolate with a slight bitterness. The notes in this beer are better brought out when served warmer. Overall, a good daily beer, but not with a distinctive character.

Update 4-6-12: I had a few bottles stored in the fridge for the about two months. Within the last few weeks, I drank both bottles- and there is quite a difference in the taste. The first bottle had an excellent chocolate finish, and the second bottle had a pleasant lemon finish mixed with chocolate.

I also drank both bottles warmer, and the temperature along with sitting in the fridge for two months made a big difference.

I am upgrading my rating of the beer to 4.0 overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 00:30:40 | More by brureview

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy orange-ish to brown color with a tan head. In the aroma, vanilla, oaky(?), and a nice spice blend. In the taste, vanilla, cinnamon, oaky, and almost creamy. A small spice bite and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry cinnamon and almost bourbon like aftertaste. Almost feels bourbon barreled, quite nice.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 15:17:58 | More by OWSLEY069

JerseyKirk

New Jersey

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

A: amber, red color. 1 finger khaki head, thick lacing all over glass.

S: fest lager yeast, milk chocolate, toasty and bready.

T: bitterness, oktoberfest, sweetness chocolate, toastiness.

M: rich, full bodied. Sweet finish.

O: nice fest style winter warmer. No spiciness, smooth, malty like a typical brown ale. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 20:05:45 | More by JerseyKirk

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.79/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Into a pint glass (also had in a chalice, nothing changed):

A: dark brown colored body with a tan head which quickly dissolved, the lacing doesn't last either

S: some toasted malt and nuts, super light hops only after a bit of warming, subdued "Belgian yeast"

T: aggressive malty sweetness, not as balanced ....hmmm?

M: medium with some slight harshness of carbonation on the tongue, smooth clean aftertaste and finish

O: good dubbel for me, but unsure how true "dubbel" fans feel about this ... hmmm?

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 19:02:44 | More by kangarooAdam59

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Did not realize this was a dubbel until I saw it on BA- doesn't taste like it. Not particularly active head but it is visibly effervescent. What little head exists is off-white. There is very minimal retention and only a few spots of lacing. Pours a dark brown color almost like cola (opaque but can see light through the edges). Smells of ginger and dark malt. Taste is not overly convincing- weak dark malt flavor almost like a dunkel and a hint of the ginger. The mouthfeel was the most disappointing part to me- watery, weakly carbonated; not the kind of things I want in a beer. Overall this is an OK session beer- definitely not one I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 00:09:32 | More by Hopdaemon39

GardenWaters

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a dark plum-like color with a tan head which quickly dissolved. Some lacing present.

S: Toasted malt and dried fruit. Hop presence nearly undetectable.

T: Big notes of malty sweetness with fruity/nutty accents. Moderate carbonation/bitterness compliment the sweetness of this beer very nicely. Nicely balanced and would make a good session-beer.

M: Light-bodied and well rounded. Goes down smooth and finishes clean.

O: Overall, this is a pretty tasty beer and is very drinkable. I've been looking for a good winter ale all season, and this one didn't disappoint. Though there's nothing particulary memorable about this brew, I would definitely drink it again, no doubt.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 07:17:39 | More by GardenWaters

rodney45

New York

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

A: Dark hazy brown with an off white thick head that laces the glass rather nicely.

S: Heavy malt and canned peaches.

T: Big malt notes, with hints of vanilla and toffee. Slight resin flavored hops come through secondarily, but get overwhelmed by the Belgian yeast profile (pizza dough and cloves).

M: Moderate body, and moderate carbonation. Slightly bitter.

O: This is a perfect beer to be drunk sitting by a warm fire, or on a leather chair watching the night snow fall outside, warm, cozy and everything being just quite right. Malt character is the name of the game here, not as balanced or adequately hopped as I would have liked, but it will do nicely.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 10:27:54 | More by rodney45