Smuttynose Homunculus (Big Beer Series) - Smuttynose Brewing Company

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

vandemonian

Maryland

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

I had the 2012 Smuttynose Homunculus and 2007 The Gnome side by side at churchkey. I considered it an experiment in aging! The score reflects my review of the 2012 version because I liked it better. This was an ok Belgian IPA... honestly I just craved more hops.

A: Cloudy yellow colour and a good head on the 2012 while the 2007 faded fast. The 2012 gets a 4 and the 2007 gets a 3.5.

S: Malty with Belgian yeast; some caramel aroma too. The 2012 has some nice vanilla notes as well as some off vegetable aroma. 4 for both.

T: The 2012 is malty with Belgian yeast and a little bitter lemon rind. A woody sawdust finish. 4
The 2007 is malty with belgian yeast and some sour plum and brown sugar. 4

M: Reasonably foamy. Appropriate for the abv. 4. The 2007 version.... less so.

O: 4

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2012 23:57:17 | More by vandemonian

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours with a solid but quickly dissipating head. Very cloudy with a yellowish brown color, rather unusual. In bright light I see a lot orange. Lots of webby lace on the glass.

This may be the closest I've ever smelled to pure alcohol (like vodka or moonshine). Beyond the alcohol is a small whisper of malt.

The taste is far more balanced. Moderately sweet toasted malt at the start and even in the swallow. Yet, the aftertaste has a healthy contribution of peppery and citrusy hop. The alcohol is almost undetectable. Shocking! Full bodied and highly carbonated make for a great combination.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2012 19:37:30 | More by smcolw

thain709

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Served with a semi-clear, golden-copper body...the head was small and white in color...it stayed small and presented a solid ring...some lacing was left

S - The nose is rather sweet...Belgian yeast and spices are the most dominate aromas...there is some citrus lingering around

T - A lot of Belgian spices are again present on the palate...there is some spicy pepper mixed in with some clove...the yeast is chewy and presents itself in the middle of the beer...there is an alcohol presence that is coming out and wasn't detected in the nose...the hops are pretty minimal, but do add a bit of citrus flavor...the finish is spicy sweet

M - Medium bodied...it's a little on the sweeter side, but there is a spicy backbone and a slight bitterness

O - I'd say this Belgian IPA lends its hand towards the Belgian side...the hops were brief with the Belgian spices and yeast coming through pretty strong...the alcohol really comes out on the palate

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2011 21:53:18 | More by thain709

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap 10/2/11 at Doherty’s East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep gold color, with a large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is contains Belgian yeast, floral hops, light caramelized malts and some fruit.

T: The taste starts out with a nice burst of hops bitterness. Then some flavors of Belgian yeast, bananas, spices and citrus come in. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy and creates a good balance. The after-taste is slightly bitter.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, well-disguised kick, good representation of style, this is a very nice beer to drink for a long time.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2011 02:38:16 | More by TheManiacalOne

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on 2011-09-03 at The Fridge in Lancaster, PA

A - Hazy, golden-orange with a one-finger white had and moderate lacing.

S - Yeast, some tropical fruit, bread, lemon and spice.

T - Very flavorful starting with some tropical fruit and yeast, earthy spice, lemon zest and some hop bitterness that lingers. Some sourness creeps in on the aftertaste that doesn't quite appeal to me. I didn't know the alcohol percentage when drinking it and was surprised to see it is 9.9%. I would've guessed 6.5%.

M - Light-medium body and medium carbonation. Half creamy and half crisp. Fairly refreshing.

O - I liked but didn't love this brew. This doesn't have the light, subtle and carbonated feel of Orval. It's got more tropical, citrus and spice. It sure disguises the alcohol well. Worth trying for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2011 19:09:02 | More by Tucquan

devinoconnor

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Huge Smuttynose fan, but more of a fair weather fan on this beer.

Pours a bright orange color, nice amount of head. Smell immediately hits you. Hoppy and sugary right on the nose.

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't get a real strong sense of Belgian in this Belgian IPA. It was more barleywine-esque than Belgian in my opinion. There was a lot of sugar and yeast flavors, and at 9.9% ABV, it seemed too much yeast/sugar for the content.

A little bit of a letdown. But everything else Smutty does is right.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 15:01:51 | More by devinoconnor

nezelrac

New York

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

A - poured a slightly hazy golden color with a creamy white head that fades quickly leaving some little lacing

S - yeasty, bread-y, funky, hints of apple and pear; warm pale malt, and a hint of spice

T - sweet maltiness on the palate - seems a little heavy-going, but still quite good; good flavor set - bready, yeasty, very subtle tropical esters, some white pepper spiciness; fairly complex palate

M - creamy on the palate; CO2 is lively and a little prickly;

O - a good, complex, and well-crafted beer; a little rough in spots, and a little hot, but quite good

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2011 17:29:23 | More by nezelrac

DaveBlack

Virginia

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

Notes from 8/20/2011.

A: Amber, maybe a finger's width of fluffy white head that recedes into a thin, spotty layer over the surface. A decent ring of lacing remains.

S: Belgian candy sugar, yeast, banana and alcohol. Smells like a Belgian, and a pretty good, well balanced one at that.

T: Plenty of Belgian yeast up front, followed by banana and then a hop punch at the end. The alcohol comes through across the flavors in a very pleasant way. Nicely balanced, and generally tasty.

M: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation.

O: A solid beer. Nice combination of a Belgian beer and an IPA. The flavors and aroma are predominantly Belgian, but the strong hop finish sets it apart. Well balanced and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2011 00:03:22 | More by DaveBlack

JizackFH

New York

4.65/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap at the Smuttynose Takes the Taps event at Rattle N Hum on 8/2/11.

Review taken from notes.

A - This beer pours a nice golden yellow color. It has a nice sized white head on it. the head has decent retention, and it leaves some specs of lace behind on the glass.

S - The smell is great. I am getting a big banana smell right away. There are spices and other tropical fruit smells there too. Also, There is a nice hop presence and some yeastiness.

T - The taste starts off with some clove spiciness and a nice hop presence. There is a big banana flavor here that sort of floats between the background and the foreground. There is some yeastiness here, as well as some tropical fruit flavors. The finish has a dryness to it.

M - This has a medium body and nice carbonation. It has a nice smooth feel to it. There is some hop bitterness, as well as some spiciness and a touch of dryness in the finish.

O - There is good drinkability here. I could easily drink a few of these in a sitting. It goes down smooth and has a nice big bold flavor. I really enjoyed this one, and it is probably one of my favorite belgian style IPAs so far. I recommend trying it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 16:56:14 | More by JizackFH

mdfb79

New York

3.73/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap tonight at the Rustico in Ballston in Arlington, VA at their Smuttynose Rare Beer night. 13 oz. goblet.

a - Poura a hazy bright orange brown color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident. Some spotty lacing and no head retention.

s - Smells of Belgian yeast, bananas, spices, and cloves. A lot of spices in the nose.

t - Tastes of spices, bananas, Belgian yeast, and fruit. More bananas than the nose, but a lot of spice again.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation, smooth and easy to drink.

o - Overall a pretty good Belgian style beer that is heavy on the spices. Nice bananas in the taste as well. Would give it another shot.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2011 01:43:58 | More by mdfb79

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.38/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed on 4/9/09. On tap at Blind Tiger. Pours a cloudy orange with a small white head. Aroma of tangerine jelly candies. Flavor of sweet citrus, candi sugar, and some yeast. Ok, not great.
Aroma: 7/10
Appearance: 4/5
Flavor: 7/10
Palate: 3/5
Overall: 14/20
(3.5/5)

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2009 21:11:39 | More by LilBeerDoctor

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

'07 vintage into tulip.

Pours a cloudy, warm apricot, with a fluffy white head that settles quickly into a thin creamy cap.

Nose is tropical fruit, bit of a citrusy hop bite. Beautiful candied pineapple note.

taste is very crisp, citrusy hop bite up front. Bit astringent, with more of the candied pineapple note from the nose. Finish is more citrus, bitter, drying.Very similar (obviously) to Houblon Chouffe, but hard to compare due to the age. Very much in the "Tripel + cascade" vein of Belgian IPA, rather than a strong pale ale or using grassier, noble hops.

Mouthfeel is crisply carbonated, sticky, moderate to full bodied.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2009 23:02:41 | More by JohnQVegas

whitehouse50

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

had this on tap at Andy's Corner Bar (twice), pours a rich golden hazy color with a thin off white head, it smelled of grape fruits, semi bitter hops but overall tangy fruits. taste is of nothing i have even had before as there is a lot going on here, very complex, there is lots of citrousy notes along with some pleasant hops and the taste differs slightly as it warms up, this one is very different, its unlike any other belgian ipa i have drank before, the mouthfeel is very nice with a slight bite on it as you sometimes get from eating grape fruits, this is for me is pretty drinkable, if you can find it drink it!

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2009 16:46:26 | More by whitehouse50

jwc215

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Blind Tiger, NYC, poured into a tulip glass:

Pours hazed golden with a thin white creamy head that lasts and leaves a bit of lacing.

The smell is of pink grapefruit rind, citric and spicy with some pepper, coriander and pale maltiness.

The taste is of pink grapefruit and herbal/floral bitterness. A sturdy malt backbone balances bitterness. Black pepper overrides some potential complexities. Leafy, drying finish.

The feel is a bit shallow from mild carbonation. Still, it's a bit creamy.

A nice, interesting American interpretation of the style. A good sipper with a great America meets Belgium aroma.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2008 01:22:22 | More by jwc215

DavidSeanNJ

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-Tap at Andys...

Poured into a nice Smuttynose big beer series tulip. Gotta get my hands on one of these!

A- Light pale straw golden liquid- thin white head- decent lace.

S- Smell was of bubblegum and fruits- faint citrus (lemon?).

T- Very interesting. Surely qualities of an IPA, hops were faint but nothing strong and bold like an American IPA. Lots of chewy fruity flavors, citrus some mint.

M- To me, this beer should have had a little more carbonation, lacked in this department. Thin, juicy mouthfeel, but appropriate for the beer.

D- This one will creep up on you- at 9% ABV, this one is a nice tasty big beer.

Good stuff Smutty! Look forward to more short batch beers.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2008 18:07:32 | More by DavidSeanNJ

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Max's during American Craft Brew week. Smuttynose makes so many good beers, but this just may be the best I've ever had from them. It's certainly the most unique.

The beer pours a solid gold color with good head retention and lacing. I've never smelled anything like the nose on this beer. I guess I get some straw, honey, pumpkin and orange cough drop. On the palate the flavors somehow replicate the nose, except there is some underlying hoppiness that is quite interesting and impressive. I also get some apricot on the palate that I'm not sure I got on the nose. There is moderate sweetness that the hops keep at bay and keep from becoming tiring. The beer is medium bodied and fairly smooth. It finishes well, with the abv. pretty well disguised. The sweetness wears me out a bit at the end, but it's still pretty drinkable for its abv.

An extremely unusual and impressive beer from Smuttynose. I've had good beers from Smuttynose in the past, but never anything like this.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2008 23:42:24 | More by johnmichaelsen

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours nicely. No head. Mild nose. Nice tangy profile mixed with a mild dough edge. Full and consistent ride. Smooth feel. A very good American interpretation of this style. Had this and many others at Mugs Belgian shindig and this was clearly the winner for me.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2008 13:23:10 | More by RblWthACoz

NEhophead

Massachusetts

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

Served in a tulip at The Publick House; 08.27.2007.

Glowing, slightly hazy tanned-amber in color. Thin coating of creamy, bright white head that holds throughout the entire tulip leaving thin lacing. Bright, almost tart fruity esters: green apple, pineapple, and banana. Underlying candied sweetness. The taste begins with a mellow candied sweetness that is soon met with a ripe citric tartness. A lingering yeast-mustiness with a faint spicy profile. The alcohol presence is subtle but warming on the back of the palate. A light medium in body; mellow and smooth. Surprisingly drinkable at 9% abv. Very similar to La Chouffe's hop offering; however, The Gnome's flavors seem more rounded and balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2007 23:02:53 | More by NEhophead

Damian

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Drank on-tap at the Publick House, Brookline, MA

Poured a cloudy yet bright, golden amber with a tight, one-finger, khaki-colored head that quickly faded to a ring of lace. Sporadic streaks of lacing clung to the sides of the glass.

The aroma was very faint initially, with only a slight indication of citrusy hops. It was not until almost the end of the drink that the aroma really came forth. Citrusy hops became quite apparent along with solvent-like alcohol and a hint of spice.

The taste was similar to the nose in its later stage. A touch of sweet malts and Belgian candi sugar came through up front before the hops and alcohol took over. The hops were quite strong and citrusy with obvious notes of orange peel and grapefruit. The spiciness was also quite intense (yet more akin to that which is usually found in a traditional IPA rather than a Belgian-style beer). At 9% ABV, I definitely expected a noticeable alcohol presence but it seemed quite overpowering in this beer. The alcohol flavor was rather potent up front and it intensified as it moved along the palate. As the beer warmed, the alcohol became progressively stronger and toward the end of the drink, it was astringent, solvent-like and practically intolerable.

Mouthfeel was medium/light with a lively and intense carbonation.

All in all, it seems that "intense" is a good word choice when describing this beer. This is definitely an American take on a style known for its smoothness and subtle nuances. In my opinion, it has nothing on the "real" gnome.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2007 02:11:57 | More by Damian

Billolick

New York

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled several of these and even took notes (!) at the Blind Tiger in NYC, p0ured kind of flat unfortunatly, cloudy dark apricot, leaving just a smidge of lacing, nose is Belgian yeastyness, and fruits and flavor notes were of more fruits, bananas, yeast and the expected crisp and spicy and resiny hops. Alot of interest here, respectable take on a style I love, looking foward to more of this from Smutty and hopefully lots of other American and Belgian brewers.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2007 17:16:37 | More by Billolick

Bierman9

New Hampshire

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

26JUL11 - Bottled version of the Big Beer Series...

Hazy and medium-golden colored, with steady, very fine carbo. Thin, wispy off-white head, mostly at the edges with a few trails across the surface. Biscuity malt aroma with light fruit. Medium to medium-plus in body, and quite smooth.
Light sweetness hit the palate, with some apricot, orange, and orange rind, plus some green apple. Dry and pithy, with a touch of a spicy yeast bite at the end. Good overall, and rated the same as the original. Prosit!!

*** *** ***

17MAR07 - Was able to score a growler of The Gnome at EBF, courtesy of JayT and the sales crew from Smutty.... Is the name a poke at Chouffes offering? Hmmmm??? ;-)

The growler has been stirred a bit, so it poured a cloudy, dull golden hue. Head was thin, fine and wispy, mostly clinging to the edge of the glass. A little lacing, though nothing to write home about. Aroma is replete with banana and clove. Thought I had a good Bavarian Hefeweizen after a few whiffs. Hoppy action does show through, too. Body is medium, and the feel on the tongue is a solid medium as well.

Flavor is heavy on the banana and hoppiness; an odd combo, though considering this is a hybrid, "let's wing it" style from the Smutty gang, why worry...? I also pick up a little bit of bready malt with mild sweetness at the outset. Tropical fruit notes swirl about, with some mango hitting the spot, along with a bit of pear and green apple. A little yeasty spiciness hits home near the end. Banana action is quite pronounced, with a pleasant hoppy finish tiddying things up.This is really quite tasty... more like a souped-up Hefeweizen as opposed to a Belgian IPA, but why quibble over semantics. It's a good bier, why bother with categorizing!?!

Zum Wohl!!

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

975

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2007 22:09:44 | More by Bierman9

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

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

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