Smuttynose Homunculus (Big Beer Series) - Smuttynose Brewing Company

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.18/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From the 22 oz. bottle marked Bottle conditioned in 2012. Sampled on October 22, 2012.

The pour is a cloudy golden yellow with a whole lot of foamy, milk shake-like head and a whirlwind of carbonation.

The nose is tickled with plenty of Belgian yeast, sweet malts, and a nice dose of citrus with an emphasis on grapefruit esters.

The body is about medium with a kind of astringent acidic character.

The taste compliments the aroma with its citrus zing, light pale malt character, yeasty note, clove, and a semi-lingering finish that in many respects reminds me of a Tripel. Easier to drink than I expected.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 22:02:31 | More by puboflyons

BrianJohnson

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured a nice golden color but with less head than I expected from a Belgian-style brew because these brews (Dubbels, Tripels, etc.) generally have a very thick head. No matter. Smelled like a Belgian beer - with a very fruity, sweet aroma. Tasted exactly like I expected. Really a very good beer. I was very impressed with this one. If I didn't know it came from Smuttynose, I would have guessed that some order of trappist monks had brewed it somewhere in Europe.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 19:35:29 | More by BrianJohnson

AnnArborJoe

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-10-2013 16:59:19 | More by AnnArborJoe

blknikon

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.9%

04-30-2013 19:08:18 | More by blknikon

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%

04-23-2013 05:28:03 | More by Kelp

jmilo64

Maine

3/5  rDev -22.1%

04-07-2013 17:53:34 | More by jmilo64

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

03-31-2013 04:43:27 | More by Zachtheporter

jderosia603

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

03-28-2013 14:48:32 | More by jderosia603

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-24-2013 21:15:44 | More by Sparky44

smallbatchbrewer

North Carolina

4.39/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Chose for a very stressful day. I have a hefty interview this evening. I needed to unwind in between, poured off 8oz from a bomber to keep me sane. i'll finish the rest later. Golden spice. I can taste candy and toffee. What a nice bubbly mouthfeel as well. Certainly packs a punch at 9.37% but even at room temperature right out of the conditioning closet, only on the last part of the finish does the warming quality of the booze mellow into the mix.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 19:56:20 | More by smallbatchbrewer

Willytee3

New York

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-18-2013 04:08:21 | More by Willytee3

chippo33

Vermont

2/5  rDev -48.1%

03-13-2013 23:21:43 | More by chippo33

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.86/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

We pour a brew of golden pumpkin orange. It holds a one and a half finger head of soapy white bubbles, leaving spotty lacing as it recedes at a quicker pace. An aggregate of fat leftover bubbles remains for the remainder of the tasting. A chill haze permeates the beverage, with no sediment noted. Carbonation appears light to moderate. The aroma pits bright lemony malts against metallic, sweeter pale malts with a brush of liquid caramel. Phenols are strong and medicinal, with hearty fusel booze, orange peel zest, ripe berry sweetness, light banana esters, and a mustiness of aged cheese. Our first impression is that the flavoring fit very well to the style, with big juiciness of flavoring, and boldness of Belgian components, just as was seen in the nose. As we sip, pale Belgian malts, banana esters, clovey and medicinal phenols, citric hops, lemon pulp, and the bright sweetness of raw honey start us off. The middle comes to a peak with enhanced phenolic pop, along with orangey juiciness, wet citric hops, mineral, and Belgian yeasty muskiness. We finish alongside a final pale malt wash, further sweetness of banana esters, peppery spice of alcohol, that continued vein of citric hops, and bittered puck of Belgian yeast, medicinals, and faint buttery diacetyls. The aftertaste breathes of cool malts, big banana esters, light vanillas, bittered citric hops, hop stem, mustiness, Belgian yeast and pale malts, and drying chalkiness. The body is medium, and the carbonation is medium, with contributory prickle. There is nice foaminess, cream, and froth to each sip, with decent slurp, smack, pop, and glug. The mouth is initially coated with soft bubbliness, but this gives way to light astringent dryness via those Belgian malts, yeast, and booziness. The abv is fine, and the beer drinks easily.

Overall, the thing we liked best about this beer was how well it represented the style. This was noticed at just about every turn throughout the tasting. The aroma possesses every required component for the style, but remains on the mild side, even with warmth. The flavoring, on the other hand, gave juiciness and depth through its Belgian base, while giving nice balancing sweetness and pucker of the hop bill. The flavoring gives equally to the experience, and this beer fits well among the other delicious beers in the Smuttynose “BIG BEER” series.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 02:22:08 | More by TheBrewo

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

03-11-2013 05:59:41 | More by spycow

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The Belgian have traditionally found their beers to be complex enough without the exertion of hops. American microbrewed hoppy ales have generally celebrated a yeast-neutral taste. But the imperial Belgian-style IPA can't have it both ways. Sure the fusion of both becomes a total train wreck... but so does cubism art- and does so in the most beautiful of ways.

As the beer pours a bright and slightly clouded, amber-orange hue, the abundance of carbonation erupts to build a creamy eggshell-white head that retains stubbornly and decorates the tulip with intricate patterns of lace. With a classic look of Belgian pale ales and trippels, the beer suits is Belgian influences well.

Strong and zesty aromas spring to the nose with a plethora of citrus and tropical fruits that are lead by apples, lemons, and apricots. But there's the foundation of bready and honey malts that support the sweetness and welcomes a peppery wine-like note heading into taste.

Its racy taste starts with malt sweetness that's somewhat cracker-like but is trailed by honey and thinned caramel. Fruit components come from a few different directions- first the esters set in with apple, pear, and apricot but then the more acidic lemon, grapefruit, and orange fruits from hop contributions come in to solidify the middle palate. Thereafter, the beer merges with a quivering sweetness, fusion of fruit vibrancy, and deeply resinous bitterness to close the taste in its extended finish.

Medium-full in body, the beer's ample carbonation gives rise to the fruit acidity and lightness of malt to give a somewhat "airy" feel to the semi-malty ale. But as the carbonation subsides, its sweetness recedes and paves the way for spicy alcohol, pepper, and light astringency to merge with alcohol warmth for a long spicy pang in the beer's lasting memory.

This is a wonderful Belgian-style IPA that rivals the likes of Flying Dog Raging Bitch and Stone Brewing Company's Cali-Belgique. But the brewer's notes hop that it falls in the conversation of Achouffe. For that to happen, the beer has to better explore its more complex, earthy, and rustic roots. But its a fantastic beer even with its simplified taste and texture.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 07:13:24 | More by BEERchitect

jaminjohnson

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-26-2013 10:49:58 | More by jaminjohnson

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-18-2013 21:02:19 | More by DIPAFAN

Florida9

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

02-17-2013 22:55:56 | More by Florida9

tdm168

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - cloudy, hazy orange with a huge, pure white head that has fantastic retention

S - apricots, rind, Belgian yeast, spicy alcohol

T - apricot, orange juice concentrate, orange rind, yeast, alcohol in the finish

M - medium to full bodied, warm, dry, juicy

This is a pretty decent BIPA. It's incredibly fruity and juicy. The alcohol is ever present but it doesn't take away from the drinkability. The yeast is present but seems to work well with the intense, complex fruitiness. This is worth a try for sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 00:05:33 | More by tdm168

ackbarleywine

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +23.4%

02-15-2013 18:59:48 | More by ackbarleywine

JohnK17

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-12-2013 17:56:36 | More by JohnK17

MikeRoni

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +23.4%

02-03-2013 18:31:48 | More by MikeRoni

DmanGTR

New York

4/5  rDev +3.9%

01-30-2013 13:43:51 | More by DmanGTR

Heathbrook

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

01-26-2013 12:38:28 | More by Heathbrook

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a hazed lemon amber. Bright finely-composed head sits atop in thick cap format. Had good height immediately after the pour. Laces in tiers.

Heavy citrus hopping with an orange and pink grapefruit character. Sweet cake malts balance the aroma. A little dank, with hints of exotic fruit. Nearly Belgian in the yeast presence.

Wait, I thought I knew the style... now I don't (thought it was a double IPA). Tastes like a well-made Belgian IPA. Belgian pale yeastiness and a creamy, almost caramelized, malty sweetness. All of this swashbuckled by lemony citrus hops and a dose of booze. Almost tastes of Sorachi Ace. A little pepper, a little dill, a wee bit of pine sap. Resinous and oily for a Belgian IPA, but damn tasty that way.

Wet feel with a crisp carbonation. Drinks okay, as it is pretty strong.

A lovely surprise. A beer that's really easy to get along with. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 03:56:04 | More by thecheapies