Short Batch #10 - Belgian Stout
Smuttynose Brewing Company

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From:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
8.3%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.83 | pDev: 15.4%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
20
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 23, 2014
Added:
Sep 20, 2010
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
50 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by AFrame88:
Photo of AFrame88
Reviewed by AFrame88 from New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +30.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is such a great all around beer.

Glad it's coming back out of retirement this year!!

Glad it's coming back out of retirement this year!!
Glad it's coming back out of retirement this year!!
Glad it's coming back out of retirement this year!!
Glad it's coming back out of retirement this year!!
Glad it's coming back out of retirement this year!!
Glad it's coming back out of retirement this year!!
Oct 23, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by Stinger80OH from Ohio

Feb 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Morey from Pennsylvania

Feb 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

Jul 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by smithj4 from New York

Dec 03, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by seplo from Connecticut

Jul 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by phingdong from New Hampshire

Jun 26, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by erlenmeyer from Maine

Jun 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Chrixsus from Illinois

Jun 13, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by TotallyHosed from Illinois

May 23, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Faina from Massachusetts

Jan 05, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by rkcrozier from New Jersey

Dec 22, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by bkny27 from Massachusetts

Dec 10, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by PEIhop from Massachusetts

Nov 24, 2011
Photo of JizackFH
Reviewed by JizackFH from New York

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I had this on-tap tonight at Sunswick 35/35 in Astoria, NY.
Review taken from notes.

This beer pours very dark brown in color. It has a nice 2-finger tan head on it. The head has good retention, and it leaves some scattered lace behind on the glass. The smell is of dark roasted malt, and there is a nice cherry fruitiness to it. There is some belgian yeast present, as well as some hops. The taste pretty much follows the nose. It starts off dark and roasty with some fruitiness, mostly cherry. I am also getting some yeastiness, as well as some hop bitterness. The finish leaves behind some lingering roasted malt flavor, fruitiness, and hop bitterness. The body is on the heavier side of medium, and it has good carbonation. It goes down easy and has a nice smooth feel to it. The drinkability was quite good. I could have easily had another glass. It was really smooth and the flavor was nice and intense. Overall, I thought this was a really nice beer that I recommend trying if you come across it.
Sep 23, 2011
Photo of Brad007
Reviewed by Brad007 from Vermont

4.26/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had at the Farmhouse in Burlington on 8/25/11.

Pours a color that's dark as night. How else would one describe it?

The aroma is sweet and roasty with just the right touch of bourbon.

Creamy with a very light roast. The bourbon minds itself at the back, which boosts the overall mouthfeel. After a year, the balance is more apparent here. Might I add that it's a bit peppery as well.

Lingering light roast, cream and bourbon flavors. Robust.

Wow, I'd love a bottle of this. I wonder if the flavors would come out more after another year in the barrel? Regardless, it is excellent at this stage.
Aug 29, 2011
Photo of Satchboogie
Reviewed by Satchboogie from Belgium

2.73/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
On tap at Three Penny Taproom

A: Black, practically no head, brown hues when held to the light.

S: Belgian yeast gives a typical fruity (mainly cherry) aroma and wood, lots of sugar, roasted malts, lots of fusel alcohol.

T: Sweet and boozy. I really like the all the dark fruit flavors (some vinous, lots of woody cherry from the Belgian yeast) and the roasted malt base is enjoyable, but it's too sweet and there's way too much booze. Right off the bat there's a little burn as it hits the tip of the tongue and the finish burns the back of the throat. Lots of fusel alcohol too, very solvent like. As is right now, it's just too much of a mess. With age it could get a lot better, but then again that sweetness isn't going anywhere.

M: A little bit on the thin side (medium I suppose), moderate carbonation, not sure how smooth this one is due to the heavy alcohol presence. It's very hard to drink.

O: In time this could be more enjoyable, but right now it's too sweet and boozy.
Jul 02, 2011
Photo of mondegreen
Reviewed by mondegreen from Georgia

2.81/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
22oz Bottle from CBX poured into a Russian River -tion glass.

Pours black with brownish red highlights. Not much head and even less lacing.

Nose is full of Belgian esters. Lots of dark fruits, and a touch hot.

Taste is more Belgian Strong Dark than Imperial Stout. Way too sweet with tons of esters. Not appealing at all.

Mouth is thin. Like most Belgian Stouts I've had, this one is a bit hot and over attenuated.

Overall, a disappointment. Smuttynose makes some of the best big beers I can get in wide distribution, so this peek into the short batch series was a letdown.
May 23, 2011
Photo of donkeyrunner
Reviewed by donkeyrunner from Massachusetts

3.19/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
@ Atwoods, Somerville MA

Pours dark brown, looks opaque black in the glass. A thin head quickly retreated to a thin collar and then faded completely. Looks like a fancy glass of cola.

Roast malt dominates the aroma but gives some leeway to steely caramel. Taste mimics the aroma but adds a few subtle fruity esters in back.

From the same brewery that produces Kate the Great and Smuttynose Imperial Stout I expect more. I haven't had much affection for any of the short batch series so for despite loving everything else Smuttynose does.
Oct 09, 2010
Photo of Gmann
Reviewed by Gmann from New York

3.72/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a near black color with a short tan head that quickly dissipated into a light ring. The aroma has a strong cocoa scent, with milk chocolate notes and a light alcohol, perhaps band aid presence. The taste has more of a dark chocolate flavor, roasted malt, a slight grape soda flavor to go along with some medicinal notes. I am thinking the Belgian yeast is bringing that medicinal flavor. The alcohol is noticable in the flavor, seems to be a bit raw. The stout has a moderate body and is quite fizzy so it feels even lighter. The beer is fairly sweet but does end with a roasted bitterness. The alcohol is hot and needs some mellowing. The potential for this beer is there, it is just raw and hot currently. Once the ABV mellows and the flavors come out more, this will be a fine stout.
Sep 20, 2010
Short Batch #10 - Belgian Stout from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 20 ratings