Smuttynose Winter Ale - Smuttynose Brewing Company

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

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

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light brown color with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of caramel, brown sugar, chocolate, some Belgian yeast, a little spice and a touch of hops.

T: The taste is malty with flavors of Belgian yeast, caramel, spice, tart fruit and a little chocolate. The hops presence is mild but complimentary. The after-taste is bready and slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and very crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, clean and dry finish.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not very filling, decent representation of style, it might not be your prototypical winter seasonal, but it's still a pretty nice beer. I could certainly drink quite a few of these in an evening.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2007 03:13:42 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew poured out as a nice looking brown color. The head was very big and had a generous amount of lacing. The smell was a little spicy but nothing over the top. The other aroms were a little on the earthy side. The taste was a little like the smell spicey and earthy, not really picking up much blegian yeast though. The mouthfeel was pretty nice, it was medium bodied, it could have probably been a little thicker. overall This beer wasn't too bad. I wouldn't have guessed it was an Abbey Dubbel if I had been blindfolded.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 20:00:10 | More by Knapp85

Gavage

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a clear reddish copper color with a thick 2" head. Some spotty lacing develops.

Smell: the aroma is of dark fruits and some soft spices.

Taste: the flavor follows the nose, as dark fruits and spice like cinammon, clove, and pepper are clearly evident. Plenty of caramel and bitterness is quite up front too. Alcohol is slighty noticeable.

Mouthfeel: medium / heavy in body. Smooth with a light crispness at the start and finish. The flavors linger long on the tongue after swallowing.

Drinkability: nicely drinkable and overall a good winter beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2005 20:04:51 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

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

best before end of January 2007

Pours brown with a thin patch that just barely covers the top. Soon, it becomes a partial patch.

The smell is of roasted grains. Some alcohol. Coriander/clove hints add some spiciness. Enough to make aroma decent - but that's it.

The taste is of spiced, sweet malt. Caramel mixes with Belgian-style sweet candy-like spices.This tastes like a blend of an American Amber and a Belgian dubbel. (Not what I was expecting from a beer labeled as a Winter Ale, but....I went with it.) A burnt toast flavor interferes.

The body holds up nicely and has a nice, smooth feel.

It goes down pretty easily, but not what I, personally, would look for in a "winter ale", though the alcohol does leave a bit of a "warming" effect (though it seems to rely too much on the alcohol for this.) I do give Smuttynose credit for trying something different. But, it's a decent amber ale with a Belgian twist - interesting to try, and a decent effort...but, doesn't turn out to be anything special. Decent, but a burnt toast flavor keeps this one back...It seems like it can't decide between an amber and a Belgian and lurks somewhere in between. In the end, it's okay, but nothing great. I expected more from such a good brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2006 06:24:30 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

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

A 12 oz bottle from a mixed six pack at Al's of Hampden.

A: The dubbel is an auburn color, showing off orange and brown hues. Dark enough to be opaque, the ale is just light enough to allow for shadows. A thin off-white head left minimal patches of lace.

S: The nose is pleasant, mildly sweet with raisins appearing prominently. Light coffee notes are also present, surprising me.

T: The bready malt base really stands out in the first sip, followed by the dark sweetness of the dubbel. Coffee and carob mix with raisins and a subtle Belgian yeast strain. I like the English mild description that augustgarage used.

M: The mouthfeel is sweet and malty, a warming taste that fits nicely in the season. I'm not in love, but it's a good beer for a cold January night.

D: I like that this dubbel won't put me to sleep. A nice beer for tonight.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2010 01:20:59 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

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

On-tap at Clark's Ale House.

I nice mellow dark Belgian.The flavor isn't too rich or complex, but it's fairly spot on for the Belgian basics. Just sweet, fruit, candy and malt flavors. It's at least as good as Leffe Brune/Brown. If you can find it for a reasonable price, I recommend it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2007 06:22:58 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

WTF, is a 4.5% beer now a dubbel, somebody change that rediculous label on this brew. Best by June 2010 yeah fuckin' right, I had this during Christmas on tap at Sharp Edge in Washington County the Brasserie. Low abv beers are meant to move quick brewed in october or november this is dead by march or april I don't care what Trappist yeast you use. Pours a deep clouded amber mahogany brown hue with a light beige khaki head, nice head retention again another gusher as I cracked it open, WTF? Aroma has a creamy nut and fruit combo let's go with crushed almonds and raisins cooked in a cookie dough maybe an Italiano biscotti. Flavor has a creamy sweetness going on okay I will swallow my words it is a dubbel light slight tart apple raisin combo with a nutty yeast flavor going on it's really a nice session ale a bit of a dryness in finish more power to 'em I didn't enjoy the draft as much. Maybe a 4.5% brew was too young with the yeast in the bottle this brew is drinking nice, I bough this for 2 bucks a bottle. Mouthfeel is medium bodied dry finish on the palate carbonation is even during the drinking experience but was pretty much a volcanic explosion on the opening of the cap.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 01:07:06 | More by WVbeergeek

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.53/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tossed in as an extra from donkeyrunner..thanks
Poured a rich reddish brown color with a small head that disappears quickly.Nose has a nice malt and holiday spice aroma,not too overpowering.Taste is light and well balanced.The mixture of malt and spice flavors is much better than some winter ales.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2009 19:56:18 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nice off white head with some staying power, little lace. The color is reddish orange dark amber. Clear.

Pearlike sweetness in the aroma...can also detect higher levels of alcohol.

I like the prickly tartness behind the sweetness I expected. It makes this beer a little more complex, just like the slight hop in the background. Good full body.

While Dubbels are not my favorite style, I do like this one because it stays interesting for me. I wouldn't drink it all night but I would certainly enjoy as a change of pace from my typically hoppy ales.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2006 23:49:11 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

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

Thanks goes out to NJpadreFan for this one.

Poured into a SA glass a nice brownish color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger plus creamy tan head, nice sticky lacing remains. The nose is malty, slightly yeasty, slight hints of dark fruits, and caramel. The taste is slightly sweet, malty/yeasty, dark fruits, and some caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, a some what different Dubbel, but very tasty, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2008 23:49:38 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.65/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a one-finger cream head that fades quickly, leaving little lace. Nice clear red/amber color. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Nose has a malty/yeasty overtone. Starts with sort of sweet flavor but is complex with a little spice. You notice the yeast in the finish. $7.49 for a 6-pak 12oz bottles from Hannaford's Concord, NH.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2005 23:21:11 | More by jdhilt

Billolick

New York

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

12 ouncer, best before date (March, 07) notched on the label. Pours dark honey amber, pretty clear, sporting a dark tan head, that leaves scattered slippery lacing, nose on this one is of smokey raisins and some malts. Smokey, oily offering, I dont get too many "Dubbel" feelings here, this hits my taste buds and other senses as a smoked up, wintery brew. Dry finish, cant say I'm in love with this stuff, perhaps as a cold weather nightcapper

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2006 22:35:33 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.59/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Tap at Texas bbq in Northborough, MA.

Light creamy head with touch of lacing, hazy mahogany dark brown colored.

Nose slight sweet malty aromas, toasty brown malts, light brown sugar, caramel, sweet molasses and hint of toffee, fairly nutty too almost hazelnut.

Taste starts slightly creamy, toasty brown malts, light caramel brown sugar sweet molasses and toffee but all very light, fairly nutty and toasty as well. Light grassy earthy hops in the back end with some mild bitterness. The hops start to turn herbal and not so tasty as it goes. Finish is syrupy with lingering candy syrup, nutty, toffee, caramel brown sugar and mild bitterness lingering.

Mouth is med bodied, bit syrupy, decent carb.

Overall decent, not great. I wouldn't call this remotely a dubbel, more like a winter brown, some interesting flavors,but a bit too syrupy and too much of the not so great hops.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2013 17:58:10 | More by jlindros

mdfb79

New York

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From 11/22/11 notes. Had on cask at FireWorks in Arlington, VA. Served in a pint glass.

a - Pours a mahogany brown color with one inch of tan head and light carbonation evident. Had a little bit of a reddish tint to it.

s - Smells of bananas, wheat, cloves, bready malts, light spices. Pretty decent.

t - Tastes of bananas, bready malts, wheat, roasted malts, light yeast and spices. A little bit of a step up from the nose.

m - Medium body and no carbonation, super smooth and creamy. Very easy to drink.

o - Overall a very easy to drink dubbel. Lots of bananas, bread/wheat, and cloves. Would definitely order this one again.

Serving type: cask

11-28-2011 22:02:09 | More by mdfb79

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Woody_Obeer for this...
Appears a light orange/amber with small white lacing.
Smell is of light flowers mixed into a red ale that's been brewed with a Belgian yeast strain. Light amounts of banana are detected as well.
Taste is about the same as the aromas.
Mouthfeel is sweet and lightly malty.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2006 04:20:16 | More by weeare138

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a cloudy dark amber with a finger width of medium tan head that retains into a smooth, creamy looking layer that left moderate lacing. The aroma is thick with heavy malt, sweetness, spices, and just a touch of alcohol.

The taste is rich malts and sweetness, spices, and a dark fruit element that allows things to end with a combo of tartness and hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied wiht a thick, creamy feel.

This wasn't bad. I liked the full, rich tastes of the malt and spices that leant themselves well to Winter imbibing and that nearly 7% ABV was very well hidden and kept things fairly drinkable. A solid effort from Smutty!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2008 17:21:17 | More by Kegatron

Zorro

California

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

Clear reddish brown beer with a good light brown colored head.

Smell is sweet malt and lightly spiced. Dark bread scents with cinnamon and ginger.

The taste starts out malty and a little sweet but not as much as I might have thought from the smell. Dark bread and lightly spiced this is sort of like toned down German Christmas cake. Mildly bitter this is more or less spiced Brown Ale.

Mouthfeel is good.

A good drinkable ale that I could see drinking next holiday season.

Sampled through the effortsBentkentk56 and Secret Bunny 09 BIF.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2009 21:53:57 | More by Zorro

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Clear burgandy. Nice looking thin beads of carbonation surface at a good clip. Thin beige head leaves some sporadic lace. Nice aroma of cherry juice, raisins, prune, belgian yeastiness and breadiness. Yes, very nice. First impressions are of bread pudding, poundcake and rum. A little raisin. A little chocolate. All in all, a pleasant blend. Mouthfeel is very agreeable. Light carbonation and light body. Easy drinking, tasty beverage.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2006 01:44:15 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark cloudy amber with some lighter golden amber hues when held to a light source and a one finger beige head that settles into a lasting ring. Minimal lacing.

Malty aroma with some peppery spice and dark fruit notes especially dark cherries.

Spicy peppery flavor up front that lingers over the medium malty body into a medicinal cough syrup flavor with some dark fruit notes, mostly cherries, raisin and plum. Nice subtle dry hops in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2009 23:48:21 | More by corby112

glid02

Georgia

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

On-tap at the Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta.

Pours a hazy purplish-amber color with a half-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of sweet dark malts with hints of raisins and figs.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Dark malt flavors kick things off and are not quite as sweet as the nose would intimate. Coming in shortly thereafter are moderate amounts of dark fruits - raisins mostly with hints of crisp figs - and slight amounts of spices. The spices fade out quickly, allowing the malt and fruits to carry through to a mildly bitter ending.

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

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

Overall this beer just didn't have much of an identity, it just was. Not a terrible beer by any stretch but not worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2010 13:01:34 | More by glid02

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a dark red with a slight head that faded quickly.

S: sweet malty caramel and winter spicing (cinnamon, caradamon).

T: The flavor had some fresh dark fruit, sweet maltiness and dry spices. There was a slight alcohol and woodiness on the finish.

M: creamy finishing with a dry bitterness in the end.

D: Decent drinkability and a nice winter warmer treat.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2008 19:12:04 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear auburn with some reddish highlights topped by a very light brown head. The foam receded to a thin cap and left behind just a bit of lace. Malty caramel aroma with a light, bready yeast quality and a hint of fruit. There was a bit of spice in the nose at first, but this disappeared quickly. Low bitterness with not a lot of hop character - malt is dominant in this brew. It has an earthy, nutty, caramel and cocoa flavour with mild fruit rounding it out in the finish. Moderately low, well-integrated carbonation with a body that's lightish, but far from thin. Mild alcohol warmth with a bit of dryness. Quite tasty. Definitely a step above a lot of other winter brews.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2006 02:08:59 | More by DrJay

plaid75

New York

3.4/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured a hazy deep amber hue with a half finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and good sticky lacing.

The smell featured a candied aroma with an earthy grain.

The taste was upfront candy sweet with earthy hop and yeast undertones. There was a slightly medicinal dark fruit element as well. Some metallic flavors came through.

The mouthfeel was of average fullness.

Overall a decent dubbel and a good winter brew. The drinkability is average based on some of the off flavors.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2007 03:18:37 | More by plaid75

Brad007

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Color: Dark red/ruby red color with a one-finger head of foam.

Aroma: Sweet and malty on the nose. A small, faint hint of chocolate.

Taste: Thick and rich upfront. Sweet but feels balanced. Smooth in the middle and fades to a mildly sweet aftertaste. Smooth. A hint of raisin in the middle as well.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, sweet and malty. Not too dry at the back of the throat.

Verdict: Nice and drinkable! Has the hallmarks of the style as well. I think it's solid. Drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2008 23:52:59 | More by Brad007

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A nicly crafted beer, if a little safe. If its a dubbel, its apretty mild version, but still firly satisfying and a nice chngeo pace from some o the other winter brews. Pour a very dark brown with a reddih glow to it and fairly good clarity, but you can't relly see through i unlss you hold it up to the light. Some light aroma of Belgian yeast with a slight bit of toasted grain come throuh on the nose. Similar inthe taste- sort of like a classic brown ale bu with light Belgian yest notesand the barest touc of sweetness. Very restrained earthy an citrusy hops. I like it as a basic winter sipper.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2009 23:48:47 | More by Georgiabeer