Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale (Big Beer Series) - Smuttynose Brewing Company

mindlucent2007

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a semi-hazy golden color, with a frothy, white head.
There's not much lacing and it looks to have medium carbonation. A funky, grassy, yeasty aroma, and a tad spicy to the nose. The taste is similar to the smell since there is a yeasty, Belgian, candy-like sweetness that dominates. This isn't heavy at all and there is no noticeable alcohol which is surprising at 9.3% abv. Low carbonation with a mild, barely bitter aftertaste. A nice pick up from Smuttynose, but it could be more crisp. This ale is a little rough around the edges, but a good job overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 21:28:48 | More by mindlucent2007

busterthecat

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A- Pours a nice hazy slightly golden hay hue. A white foamy head forms with leaves quickly.

S- Nice full banana, spike and yeast. A touch of boozy heat. Some subtle musk. Lemon and orange zest is present.

T- Orange and citrus zest with a slight sweetness upfront. Fades to the notes found in the aroma (spice & yeast). Gets a dirty bread/ earthy tone in end and finish. Hot alcohol is there.

M- Medium bodied and lingers well. The alc does sit on palate and stays in throat. Too hot.

O- The alcohol really detracts from this beer. It seem to ruin the delicate notes and makes drinking, what should be a refreshing beer, a tiresome chore. I would strongly suggest aging this beer to aid with the flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 03:16:21 | More by busterthecat

Manosbeeroffate

Maine

3.38/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Found this in my usual haunt in Belfast. Pours golden orange color with a thick head. Smells a bit like malt. Tastes quite sweet, almost a bit raisiny, malt and some spices, though the spices are not prevelant. Mouthfeel is good. But overall, it's just OK in my opinion. It's a little too sweet for me. I'd drink it again if it was given as a gift, but I won't be looking for it.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2006 23:01:52 | More by Manosbeeroffate

FirstBrewsoon

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into Brooklyn tulip for a live review.

A - Golden orange with onsiderable cloudiness. A finger of foam was the result of a fairly gentle pour. Little retention, but does leave moderate lacing.

S - Citrus rind, candy sugar and spice.

T - A remarkably bold first taste for the style, with orange, banana and cloves. The spiciness played a larger role than sweetness, which was subtly present. Very little bitterness, and the finish lacked length, but certainly a pleasant, drinkable beer.

M - Lots of carbonation, relatively light body. Nothing to write home about.

O - This would be perfect on a hot day when the air conditioner's broken. I enjoyed drinking this beer, and will again, especially at $3.00/bomber.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 02:30:07 | More by FirstBrewsoon

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at the Khyber, Philly, PA

Poured a honey color with a decent white head that retained fairly well and a bit of lacing. Toasted malts in the aroma, hay, and yeast, with some fruit and spice noticeable, but more just semi-stale funk that ends up taking over. Sweet pale malts and yeast in the taste at first, with some grass and hay moving in, and slight notes of citrus. Light-medium body, and pretty easily drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2011 17:52:58 | More by Rifugium

output01x

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle (Bottled In 2009) into a tulip glass.

A strong pour yields a 2-finger cream-colored head that slowly recedes to a decent dusting and thick foam ring. The body is a slightly hazy golden orange with a few small, slowly rising carbonation bubbles. Thick foam lacing clings to the sides of the glass in small, randomly placed clumps.

A sweet and rather tangy green apple is the dominant aroma in this beer. Lemon peel, pineapple and a little bready malt add character and backbone to the nose. While the aromas are not necessarily strong, they are pleasant and enjoyable.

A watery apple juice with a slight vinegar note sums up this beer pretty well. There is a graininess with the malt and a little citrus, but watery, vinegar apple juice is the long and short of it. A slight alcohol warmth lingers in the back of the throat but is not immediately noticeable.

Light to medium bodied with crazy carbonation, this beer fizzes like Pop Rocks in Mountain Dew. It is very easily drinkable (I could chug this beer like a glass of Strawberry Kiwi Juicy Juice) but of course is more enjoyable sipped.

While not unpleasant, this beer was still lacking in my opinion. The look and mouthfeel were both good, but a stronger nose and more complex flavor would have helped this beer significantly.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 22:56:42 | More by output01x

gosurfobx

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 22oz bottle. Pours with a large rocky head. Beer is a cloudy straw color. Smell has some spicy notes with noticeable malt sweetness. Taste is decent but not what I expected, does not have the spiceyness that I have come to expect from saisons. The sweet malty backbone of this beer prevails and any spice notes get pushed to the side. Mouthfeel is pretty good, the carbination feels good in the mouth. A drinkable beer, but not my favorite as far as saisons go.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2006 04:48:56 | More by gosurfobx

bum732

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

S: Spicy and phenolic, earthiness, some yeastiness, touch of fruitiness.

L: Cloudy orangish-yellow, white head that dissipates.

T: Fruity malt up front with some spiciness on the backbone. Pils-like sweetness with a medium spicy hoppiness. Finishes with some spicy alcohol drying slightly.

M: Medium bodied, crisp medium-high carbonation. Some alcohol present.

Quite sweet and big bodied for the style. Nice effort, but not my cup of tea.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 00:59:47 | More by bum732

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of JJPM74: Poured a deep orangey color ale with a big foamy head with good retention but minimal lacing. Aroma of fruity ester with some nice medium sweet Belgian malt. Taste is also dominated by some nice fruity ester probably coming from the yeast that was used with some nice medium sweet Belgian malt and a subtle dry hoppy ending. Body was quite full with a somewhat oily texture and some good carbonation. I thought this was a bit too sweet and somewhat cloying when compared to the staples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2007 18:02:20 | More by Phyl21ca

sisuspeed

New Hampshire

3.45/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottled in 2009

Poured into a red wine glass. Smuttynose's Farmhouse produces a huge, thick, foamy white head that sits upon an a hazy orange-apricot body. Tilting the glass leaves gentle lacing behind.

Bready, biscuity malt on the nose with Belgian spice, mainly coriander. A little earthy and musty. Somewhat sweet with a touch of light ripe fruit.

The taste contains sweet pears, earthiness, Belgian yeast and some bitterness. Alcohol comes through a bit. Oranges, orange peel and somewhat spicy. Malts are sweet and linger on the bready side. Overall, I find the flavor to be somewhat muddled and hard to pull apart.

Mouthfeel is decently thick and quite foamy with tiny, sharp carbonation. It would be nice to see the foaminess turned down a bit, but otherwise the mouthfeel is pretty good.

Drinkability is about average for me. A bit on the sweet side and a little too foamy. Alcohol is somewhat noticeable on the taste. Probably wouldn't want more than a pint of this.

Overall, this is a decent saison. Most of the general characteristics of the style are there, but this one is a bit too sweet and muddled for my taste. The body is a bit on the foamy side and I feel like the alcohol could be hidden from the taste a little better. If you see a bottle, give it a try, but there are much better examples out there.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2010 02:15:30 | More by sisuspeed

SilentSabre

Georgia

3.45/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Cloudy pale yellow with loads of assertive CO2 fueling an enormous head with even a deliberately gentle pour. So far, on par with its European counterpart.
Smell, too, is a bit impressive, with big sourness and wet basement aromas right up front.
Taste is a little disappointing after being spot on with appearance and smell. To be honest, it's a bit of a challenge to taste much of anything in this one. There are certainly some sour notes and a bit of barn animal funk, but rather muted and not even close to being as assertive as the appearance and smell would have suggested.
Still a tasty beer and a terrific attempt at the style.
I will say this, however. This drinks way, way below its 9,3%. I was stunned after 2 or 3 sips to look up and see the abv.
Overall, a good beer and glad I tried it.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2010 00:52:35 | More by SilentSabre

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured a bright, pale red-orange color with two fingers of white fluffy/bubbly head that remained for most of the beer.

The scent was of citrus, grain, notes of coriander and some alcohol.

The taste was interesting, it began as sweet citrus but with each sip became more and more like sour grapefruit. Toasted grain was noticeable, coriander, and mild earthy hops, alcohol was noticeable but not overbearing.

Light bodied, very crisp and dry, very high carbonation.

I'm kind of split on this beer, I though it was excellent at first but began to enjoy it less and less. I may revisit this another time.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2010 16:45:29 | More by BeerCon5

July2Nov

Hawaii

3.45/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Orange-gold with a mostly clear, with some opaqueness look. Good amount of carbonation which helps with the continual lacing that glazes the top of the beer.

Smell: Sweet, malty and buttery with a bit of spice.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Some dryness upfront and frankly last the entirety of the beer. Very clean, big mouthfeel of alcohol at the end lingers a bit too long. The beginning has some sweetness, fruit and grass-like flavors...tends to acquire a buttery bent as it progresses.

Overall: Very good and simple beer and my first from Smuttynose Brewing Co. Really like the down home vibe of this working man's beer and the connotations that are adherent with it. The higher abv is very well-hidden for the most part. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 05:25:34 | More by July2Nov

Matt1516

Quebec (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the BIG bottle--2009 vintage.

Not my favourite style but good example of it.

Hazy golden orange appearance. Tons of head and lacing throughout. Smells of yeast, bananas and cloves. Medium mouthfeel.

Very malty with yeast and strong carbonation. Peppery notes, lots of fruit, like lemon zest. Some earthiness and bread notes too.

A heavy beer with a hot ABV. If the origins of this style are true, I don't know how the farm workers would get anything done after drinking this.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 20:35:18 | More by Matt1516

jsh420

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

pours cloudy golden orange with a 1 finger head that left some spotted lacing

smells of bananas and some citrus

taste is solid - very bright and clean flavors lemon bananas touch of spice and bready malt

mouthfeel light medium body low carbonation - adds nothing to the beer

overall - drinkability is crazy good for a 9.3% abv i thought i was drinking something around 5-6% however the flavor drinks like a beer with less abv

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 04:03:16 | More by jsh420

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2007 Vintage. Served from tap into a shaker. Poured a hazy golden yellow-orange with a half finger of white head that subsided to a minimal amount upon sitting. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, bananas, and spices. The flavor was of sweet malt, bitter malt, orange juice, and subtle spices. It had a light feel on the palate with low-mid carbonation. Overall this one wasn't that bad, nor was it that great either. I was just glad that the spices weren't overwhelming in this one. Started out to be pretty harsh as far as flavor, but definitely is much better upon warming up some.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2010 12:24:18 | More by thagr81us

snpub540

California

3.48/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy pale golden hue with a small white head. Delicate lacing is left on the glass the entire drink down.

Smells of hay, pears, ripe apples, and spice.

Pears come through in the flavor as well as a slight sweetness but it becomes extremely crisp and dry. Not a lot of alcohol flavor. Some spice in the finish. Fruity esthers as it warms.

Dry and crisp on the palate but slightly feels thin. A nice interpretation of a saison.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 09:39:11 | More by snpub540

champ103

Texas

3.48/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a cloudy and vibrant golden/orange color. A two finger white head forms with good retention. Lots of sticky lace is left behind.
S: Earthy, fruity, spicy yeast aromas up front that I really enjoy. Some soapy hops come in next that kind of take over. Like dish detergent.
T: Follows the nose. That great funky, earthy, fruity character. Though almost taken over by soapy detergent like hops.
M/D: A medium body with crisp carbonation. I wish this much more dry and less soapy/oily. Not hard to drink. There is some significant alcohol that is present. Overall, a nice slow sipper.

I get to much soapy hops for some reason. Which detracts a bit for me. Not bad at all, but not what I am looking for in a Saison.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 02:00:44 | More by champ103

cbl2

New York

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

No best by date. 22 oz. bottle.

Appearance:

Pours a hazy brownish orange with an inch of foamy head on top that is slow to settle.

Aroma:

Fresh citrus notes, with hints of coriander spice, and an odd mustyness.

Taste/Mouthfeel:

Has that odd "natural" flavor to it that all saisons do: tart and funky due to uncontrolled fermentation with fresh herbaceousness (anise, rosemary, tarragon). Mouthfeel is smooth and slightly viscouse. Finish is citric tart and drying.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2006 22:30:41 | More by cbl2

taez555

Massachusetts

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

This beer poured a crystal clear orange/amber body with a small, almost non existant off-white head.

Nose was dominated by a nice ripe fruit smell, golden raisins, bananas, passion fruit, fresh cut grain, some wood, a mild leafy hop, a touch of Belgian funk, yeast and little garbage.

Taste is medium/full bodied with an immediate german/belgian hop snap to the senses followed a fruity wheat/golden/farmhouse taste. Surprisingly bitter right off the bat with, again, a lot of up front earthy leafy hops that attack you at first, but then subside and just linger into the finish. Crisp caramel and a strong biscuit grain taste. Yeast, banana, ripe golden fruits, some mild bubble gum and a mild touch of chalkiness. Ends with a lingering ripe fruit and earthy hop bitterness.

Definitely one of the better American Belgian attempts. Seems a little over hoppy for me, or maybe it just needs some age, but I'd prefer a bit more of the funk kick, but still another great solid beer from Smuttynose.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2008 21:47:49 | More by taez555

dirtylou

Washington

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle from Steve's -University Ave

happy new years and such

appearance: pours a bright apricot-orange tone into my bells tulip...frothy beige head and bubbly lace

smell: fairly muted aroma on this one, sweet pear and other fruit, fair amount of yeast, clove and other spice

taste: lots of citrus sweetness, pear, white grape...heavy clove and white pepper components. tame yeast and a heavy sweetness dominate this decent saison

mouthfeel: syrupy and sweet

drinkability: ok

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2008 00:04:57 | More by dirtylou

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed on 9/17/08. Bottle. Pours a deep orange with a small, fading white head. Aroma of melon rind, Flavor is light and fruity (melon, apple, pear) with lots of spices (pepper, clove). Not very exciting although certainly drinkable. I would have liked a little funk, seeing as this is supposed to be a saison.
7/4/7/4/14 (3.6/5)

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 17:47:06 | More by LilBeerDoctor

Thur123

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ok so, this brew pours a golden color with three fingers of think white head and little carbonation. The smell is notably creamy, with the spices taking a backseat while still making their presence known. A slight funk pervades the smell and I don't detect any boozy kind of smell.

Glug glug glug

Ok up front is smooth, sweet and creamy before rushing into the spice flavor, a slight bitter underlies the whole profile and the end and aftertaste contain more of the funk then before. I have to commend this brew for hiding the booze flavor while still retaining some of the heat. Overall this isn't bad but it seems to be lacking in complexity and also any kind sour apple taste I usually expect with this style.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2009 22:05:26 | More by Thur123

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle courtesy of gsisk, I think. Pours a very hazed orange color with a small, off-white head. Not so much on retention and lacing is quite good.

Honey, ripe melon yeastiness and faint grassy hop aroma. Smells good, but a bit on the sweet side.

Yea, its a bit sweet and the yeast isnt as prominent as I would like to see. It is not as dry, crisp and refreshing like I like my saisons. It kinda tastes like a melon-ball salad with honey and sugar drizzled on top. It does have a nice little hop bite on the end. Not bad, about on par with most of decent American-made saisons. Fun to try, and I wouldnt mind having it again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 01:34:53 | More by twiggamortis420

rlee1390

Indiana

3.55/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Cloudy golden yellow with a one finger head

S-Some spices and lemon

T-Spices are there but they should be more present. Some lemon and wheat round it out.

M-Light to medium bodied with some carbonation.

O-Not a great Saison. Although it has the spice, lemon and wheat flavors they do not blend together perfectly or have strong presence.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 17:06:34 | More by rlee1390