Smuttynose Big A IPA - Smuttynose Brewing Company

Knuckles

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This bottle was hand delivered to me at Bukowski's by one of the world's greatest BA's, BeerPanther. I understand that polskapanda's grandfather (or great-grandfather or some damn thing) was a bare-knuckled Polish pugilist of sorts back in the day, so I hoist this bigass Big A to you and yours, Amanda.

Appearance: Poured easily into the Firehouse Brewing Co. pint glass that I picked up late one night in Rapid City, SD. Nice, generous white head, and the beer itself is a perfect clove honey color. And by perfect, I mean that I've got that goddam bear honey deal sitting right next to the pint glass, and the motherfucker is a dead match. So you can be sure that, in the future, I'll be using the shit out of "clove honey colored". Just so's you know. Oddly, it's a bit lighter than I expected. I am accustomed to IIPAs having a much deeper amber, or burnt orange color to them. This one is a wee bit of a paleface.

Nose: So, yeah, um, it's hoppy. Like a lot. Just one citrusy, floral blast up my ample, ample nose. I've got sinuses the size of the Sea Lion Cave, and this bitch fills all of them. Tagging along behind and just under that floral nose. like an annoying kid brother, is just the faintest hint of malt.

Taste: Let's just say that this kid brother gets his ass beat on a regular basis. This sumbitch is all hop, all the time. Drink it cold, it is one brightass beer. Drink it warm... Well, expecting Big Brother hop to slow down and take a break is just way out of line. He's still kicking his little bro's ass. The malt is there, but it is fourth chair, second section trombone compared to the first chair, first section trumpet that is the hops (I suppose, for accuracy's sake I should make clear that the Warrior and Cascade hops are occupying sort of a joint first chair, the Horizon hops are second chair, the Sterling aroma hops are that annoying kid in the second row that keeps farting, and those dry hops are the kids waiting outside the bandroom to give you a wedgie and steal your milk money).

Mouthfeel: You know, it's a bit thicker than the muted malt presence would lead you to expect. It's got a nice, velvety texture to it, but the malt flavor just isn't there. It's kind of strange, really.

Drinkability: This beer is drinkable, very drinkable even, but just a bit too bright for me. I could do a couple of these bombers, but the overpowering hop presence and lack of malt balance would make it difficult. I like this beer, but I'd really like to see Dave Yarrington bring up the malts to balance out the insane hop quality of the beer. Insane hop levels alone don't make great IIPAs, and right now that is the dominant characteristic. This needs a malt presence to balance out those hops. However, I'm no freaking GABF judge, so what the fuck do I know.

To sum this review up: Try this beer, it's a damn good one. And if you love hop bombs, this mofo will be just your cup of...beer.

(Music: Lee Fields, "Problems")

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2005 02:38:02 | More by Knuckles

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev 0%

05-23-2013 15:36:03 | More by InspectorBob

scottyu27

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-22-2013 13:15:49 | More by scottyu27

Gkitt

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-20-2013 14:45:10 | More by Gkitt

hopley

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +25%

05-18-2013 21:06:20 | More by hopley

HawkIPA

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -18.8%

05-17-2013 02:12:57 | More by HawkIPA

HarmonMW

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-15-2013 19:53:46 | More by HarmonMW

Rec5194

New York

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-15-2013 02:04:54 | More by Rec5194

jkane101

New Jersey

4/5  rDev 0%

05-15-2013 00:43:08 | More by jkane101

andrewschirmer

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +18.8%

05-14-2013 00:50:54 | More by andrewschirmer

Snellgg5

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-11-2013 22:19:12 | More by Snellgg5

TLA

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev 0%

05-11-2013 01:06:09 | More by TLA

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-10-2013 22:55:17 | More by mikeburd1128

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-10-2013 19:18:07 | More by ShanePB

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-08-2013 13:49:09 | More by ncstateplaya

blknikon

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -18.8%

05-07-2013 23:41:05 | More by blknikon

mendvicdog

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-01-2013 22:49:47 | More by mendvicdog

Travcofarms

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -25%

04-30-2013 08:23:01 | More by Travcofarms

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a dollar store wine glass. Appears bright copper with lots of various sediment particles in the glass. Wasn't sure if this one is bottle conditioned or not, as it did not say so on this bottle. Nice firm lacing of white foamy head. Seems to last quite awhile.

Smells of faint citrus hops. Pretty tame, yet I'm not sure how old the bottle was. Didn't see a born on or best by date. After some warming up, I get lemon meringue.

Tastes initially sweet with waves of lemon and sweet pale malt. Hop nectar rings true to the tongue. Hops aren't overwhelming and seem balanced by the malt. I also get some orange peel and a little resiney hops. Decently bitter.

Seems a little sweet, maybe due to the hop resins. Even still, wish it were a little more dry. Feels medium as I could see myself switching up to another offering after a few.

Overall, an okay IPA. There's so many IPAs out there these days that this one just doesn't stand out for me. It's pretty solid, but I think it could use some fine polishing.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 21:57:09 | More by jwhancher

Ryan_Shannon388

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

04-28-2013 21:47:52 | More by Ryan_Shannon388

nheinzie57

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

04-27-2013 18:55:45 | More by nheinzie57

whiterapid

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

04-26-2013 04:18:34 | More by whiterapid

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

04-22-2013 10:28:44 | More by browniewithnuts

DavidBart

New York

4/5  rDev 0%

04-22-2013 02:55:45 | More by DavidBart

HollyHops

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

04-18-2013 01:15:09 | More by HollyHops