Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale (Big Beer Series) - Smuttynose Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
88
good
-
423 Ratings

rAvg: 3.91
pDev: 11%
Reviews: 286
Hads: 137

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Brewed by:
Smuttynose Brewing Company

New Hampshire, United States

Style | ABV
Old Ale | 10.10% ABV

Availability: Spring. bottle (267), on-tap (18), cask (1).

Notes:
Olive, iconic mascot & spirit guide of our brewery, first appeared on our Old Brown Dog label in 1994 & returned, thirteen years later, to pose for our Really Old Brown Dog, a luscious, malt-rich, full bodied “old ale” featuring deep notes of complex fruit. Much like our beloved Olive, this beer will mellow & age gracefully.

20 IBU

2007 - 7.0%
2008 - 9.3%
2010 - 10.9%

View: Beers (39) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by saintwarrick:

saintwarrick

South Carolina

3.75/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2008 vintage.
This brew pours amber with some light brown highlights and a fluffy off-white head. Aroma is sweet and boozy, lots of maltiness with hints of brown sugar, fresh cookies and brownies, with some rum raisin thrown in for good measure. Taste follows most of those flavors, heavy on the sweet brown sugar; definitely old-ale style although Imperial Brown wouldn't be too far off either. Booze is apparent but not distracting. Very smooth and tasty.

A tad too sweet for the style but still a great brew. Highly recommend for old ale lovers.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2009 05:39:30 | More by saintwarrick

More User Reviews:

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5 rDev -4.1%

05-17-2013 14:45:42 | More by twenty5

Falcone

North Carolina

4/5 rDev +2.3%

05-17-2013 05:19:35 | More by Falcone

gdub

Massachusetts

4/5 rDev +2.3%

05-16-2013 14:22:27 | More by gdub

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.35/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Poured in a snifter)
Bottled in 2012
A- The dense glowing garnet body is slightly hazy with a thick carbonation of sticky deep beige cream that clings to the glass with each sip.

S- The cream and toasted malt flavors are pleasant but a bit soft. There is a nutty note that grows a bit and the finish has a sherry hint and some old ale esters come through.

T- The brown candy sugar blends with a raw grain flavor and the finish is slightly dry with an alcohol spice to it. There is a woody hop hint in the finish and the brown malt flavor lingers nicely at the end.

M- The medium mouthfeel has a tight little fizz and a nice alcohol heat that has just a spice heat to it.

O- The spicy and wood is well balanced with nice malt characters that compliment each other. I don’t get any dried fruit character but it has a nice flavor and I think it would age well.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 20:16:45 | More by rhoadsrage

andrewschirmer

Massachusetts

4.25/5 rDev +8.7%

05-14-2013 00:52:05 | More by andrewschirmer

Wamba

Illinois

4/5 rDev +2.3%

05-12-2013 23:11:07 | More by Wamba

Odysseyalien

New Jersey

3.75/5 rDev -4.1%

05-09-2013 21:32:12 | More by Odysseyalien

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

3.75/5 rDev -4.1%

05-05-2013 09:46:44 | More by RedneckBeerz

Paul68

New Jersey

3.75/5 rDev -4.1%

05-03-2013 23:17:58 | More by Paul68

Elfastball7

New Jersey

4/5 rDev +2.3%

04-29-2013 03:54:11 | More by Elfastball7

danwho

California

3.75/5 rDev -4.1%

04-28-2013 21:57:10 | More by danwho

Ryan_Shannon388

New Hampshire

4/5 rDev +2.3%

04-28-2013 21:46:19 | More by Ryan_Shannon388

Thickfreakness

New York

4.31/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a somewhat murky dark chestnut/mahogany with a nice fluffy tinted head that lasts for a bit, fades gently, and leaves skulls, ribbons, islands and lava flows of thick, chewy lacing.
Caramel, toasted filberts/cashews/almonds, a fun blend of root beer/cream soda, little notes of licorice and marshmallow. I'm picking up Bourbon/vanilla/oak for some reason but I don't believe this is oak aged. Definately grabbing a bit of the alcohol, but it's sweet and understated, not punching you in the nose.
Lots of caramel and a wonderful roasted nut blend. Subtle hints of grapes, butterscotch, raisins, figs, marshmallow, bourbon, vanilla, toasted oak barrels.
Really silky, creamy and smooth just like a great single malt scotch. Not much carbonation, but I don't expect any from an Old Ale. I love the way it envelopes the tongue and gets a bit chewy. Tons of flavor that keeps changing and developing after the swallow.
I couldn't believe this was just sitting on the shelf when I walked in yesterday. This is really deep and complex. Lots of caramel/honey/vanilla/oak/marshmallow sweetness, but a really nice bit of roasted malts and dark fruit. I NEED to grab a few more of these before they dissapear.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 23:06:11 | More by Thickfreakness