Smuttynose Big A IPA - Smuttynose Brewing Company

Jason

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mildly hazed orange amber with a caked on head that sticks very well. Pungent earthy and floral hop aroma, very English in a big way. Bit of malt sweetness in the nose. Fruity esters and a faint fusel alcohol show that the brew has some strength both in the aroma and taste. Solid medium body, creamy mouth feel. Hops thrash all over with a pungent bitterness and a sizeable earthy, herbal and floral flavour that does not let go. Malt sweetness lays underneath the hops with a raw honey and fruit flavour. Faint diacetyl and fusel alcohol are a draw toward complexity. Big hop oily flavour are almost a deluge upon the taste buds for a moment and even then seem to linger forever.

An interpretation of what an IPA used to be? Nice to see a big English style IPA with a truck load of hops on the palate. A great change up if you have been saturated with hops that have a citric tone to them but still want a brew with a huge hop presence.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2002 16:28:02 | More by Jason

Todd

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Presentation: 1 pint 6 fl ozs. bomber bottle. No freshness date.

Appearance: Cloudy, murky, unfiltered orange / amber coloured beer with a magnificent off-white creamy, fluffy, frothy, sticky and lasting head.

Smell: Mega citrus, floral, sweet pale malt and fruity aromas.

Taste: A rather dry brew. Smooth, creamy, chewy, juicy mouthfeel that turns coarse with grain and a semi-astringent hop character, that then explodes into an aggressive raw leafy bitterness; rind, salt and a palate stinging character. Notes of wood line the one-dimensional malt character, which is fruity with faintly sweet. Alcohol is apparent. Finish is ruled by strong hop residual falvours.

Notes: As far as big IPA's go, this one is about average. Malt characters are a bit bland. A well-made IPA, but it's lacking balance and uniqueness. Still a good brew, but nothing I'd frequent.

Note: the "A" stands of "Ass" ... but they weren't allowed to put the word on the label.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2002 11:04:05 | More by Todd

Caudalie

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

06-17-2013 20:21:20 | More by Caudalie

GoGators

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

06-17-2013 14:43:29 | More by GoGators

doremite

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

06-13-2013 21:15:44 | More by doremite

EricDu

New Hampshire

3/5  rDev -25%

06-13-2013 04:11:01 | More by EricDu

Wrigfen

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

06-12-2013 19:06:28 | More by Wrigfen

JMUbrewz

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

06-12-2013 17:29:51 | More by JMUbrewz

GrindFatherBob

New York

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

06-12-2013 08:49:26 | More by GrindFatherBob

UncleRandy

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%

06-09-2013 11:40:10 | More by UncleRandy

Camjmorton

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

06-04-2013 23:57:50 | More by Camjmorton

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

4/5  rDev 0%

06-04-2013 04:59:17 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

woodchip

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%

05-30-2013 01:09:01 | More by woodchip

BRLockwood

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%

05-27-2013 11:32:13 | More by BRLockwood

jaxon53

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-27-2013 00:47:16 | More by jaxon53

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

05-26-2013 19:59:06 | More by mikeincharleston

Mikecap

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev 0%

05-25-2013 14:29:59 | More by Mikecap

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