Short Batch #12 - Noonan
Smuttynose Brewing Company

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From:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.99 | pDev: 10.03%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
19
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 26, 2016
Added:
Aug 03, 2011
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
What we've ended up with is a light-bodied, non-acrid, dark-colored 6.5% beer with plenty of hop flavor and aroma. Magnum hops contribute an elegant and refined bitterness that parallels the reduced astringency. The late boil additions of Bravo and Sterling contribute a spicy, piney flavors that stop just short of being out of proportion. Despite all the tasty hopping, Noonan's light IPA-style body makes this beer refreshing, something you don't normally find in a dark beer.

75 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by AD17 from New Jersey

Apr 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by MasterRigger from North Carolina

Dec 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Druss157 from New Jersey

Nov 17, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by GrindFatherBob from New York

Jun 12, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by seplo from Connecticut

May 21, 2013
Photo of SerialHiker
Reviewed by SerialHiker from Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours the darkest possible brown to black…head is a lightish khaki and maintains at a thin level…it does thicken up a bit with a couple swirls, but is meager…a very dark, dense beer, though I can see bubbles lining the bottom of the glass…(3.25/5)

Smell: Very malty with a roasted malt, brown malt and some nuttiness showing strongest…some malty earthiness and the lightest hint of citrus hops when I stick my nose in there…it’s really a mild smelling brew that doesn’t display too much complexity…there’s a touch of creaminess, caramel and maybe even some cocoa…overall though, it’s lacking…(3.25/5)

Taste: Very malty, roasted and brown malts with a mild citrus/piney lightness and mild bitterness…there is the tinniest touch of peppery bite and some light creaminess…the more I drink, the more I taste some coffee bitterness…it’s not strong, just becomes apparent as it warms…it’s a flavorful brew, but it’s not overly dynamic…the malt character is very strong, making it more like a hopped up brown/porter, than a brown IPA…with that said, the flavor is nice and has a freshness, which the hops do provide, so they’re not unnoticeable…it’s good, not great…(3.5/5)

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a very generous amount of carbonation…it fluffs up bringing a cloud of lightly roasted malt and lemon peel freshness and bitterness…malts lay heavy on the back of my tongue in the after taste, not overly bitter in the finish…flavor lasts a long time after swallowing…(3.75/5)

Overall: It’s not a bad brew by any stretch, it’s just not the brew for me…the flavor is drinkable, though I’m not sure how many of these I could have in one sitting before needing something else to lighten up my palate…from my experience, Smuttynose makes some solid ales and this is another in that long line…worth picking up and mixing in a six, I’d struggle drinking an entire sixer in a month…not bad though…(3.5/5)

brewreport.blogspot.com
Apr 19, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by phingdong from New Hampshire

Jun 26, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by jhb138 from Massachusetts

Apr 30, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by projektyle from Indiana

Mar 13, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by 11millsown113 from New Hampshire

Jan 20, 2012
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Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

4.27/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Review from notes, on tap at the White Birch fest this past Aug. Pours a solid dark brown bordering on black with a smallish tan head that shows moderate retention and minimal lace. Smells of earth and pine, with a chocolate and caramel maltiness that does a fair job standing up to the hop onslaught. Taste is sweet caramel and a bit roasty and chocolaty behind lots of earthy pine and citrus. Medium body and carbonation level with a resinous and slightly chalky mouthfeel. I went back to this several times that night, this is a great brew, it should be a full time beer!
Dec 18, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by joepais from Maine

Nov 23, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by nathanjohnson from Vermont

Nov 18, 2011
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Reviewed by bishopdc0 from Maine

3.92/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served ins a smutty tulip at Novare Res.

A tan head laces the glass and dissipates.

The aroma is sweet citrus with hops no roast at first, interesting

The taste is great starts citrus and sweet with hops the roast presents itself with the bitterness from the hops at the end, nice
Sep 20, 2011
Photo of indiapaleale
Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap in Burlington, left over from Smutty event a few weeks ago.

Pours dark brown to black with a good inch of head.

Aroma is bitter chocolate meets lemongrass and citrus. Very muted aroma as this was served very cold and I was too thirsty to wait.

Taste is cocoa powder, lemon, coffee grounds and oranges. I like that this finishes dry and not sweet. Some toasty notes and some nice pine flavors.

Very solid Black IPA which doesn't surprise me from Smutty. Good stuff.
Aug 31, 2011
Photo of Brad007
Reviewed by Brad007 from Vermont

4.16/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Had at the Farmhouse in Burlington on 8/25/11

Pours a pitch black color with a small, light brown head into my glass.

There's a whiff of grassy hops on the nose followed by what could count as a coffee-like roast. Hard to describe so let's taste it.

Lots of hops with some citrus/pine/grassy hop notes. It's not over-hopped. It mimics a porter due to the roasted textures.

Lingering hops and roasted malt dominate the mouthfeel.

There's just enough to keep this from being an actual porter. The hops are spot on since this is a tribute to Greg Noonan. It actually mimics Blackwatch by a bit. Otherwise, a decent example of the style! Check it out while it's still on tap!
Aug 29, 2011
Photo of lordofthewiens
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

3.65/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at The Lion's Pride.

In a pint glass the beer was a very dark brown, almost black, color. It had a medium-sized tan head yhat retained well. Nice lacing.

Roasted malt aroma. Herbal hops.

Burnt coffee/espresso taste. A hint of chocolate, just a hint. Pretty large hit of piney hops.

I thought this beer was on the unbalanced side, with the not entirely pleasant piney hops predominant.
Aug 10, 2011
Photo of donkeyrunner
Reviewed by donkeyrunner from Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Served in a big boy glass at Atwoods, Somerville MA

Black beer with a thin tan head. Good sticky retention left by a consistent film of retention. Kinda looks like when I mix chocolate whey protein with iced coffee.

Aroma is on par for the style but lacks chocolatey depth to take it to the next level. Pine hop aroma and wood char. There is some Nestle Quick chocolate there but not enough for my liking. Tastes like it smells.

A good, not great black IPA.
Aug 06, 2011
Photo of JizackFH
Reviewed by JizackFH from New York

4.35/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had at the Smuttynose Takes the Taps event at Rattle N Hum on 8/2/11.

Review taken from notes.

A - This beer pours a nearly opaque dark brown color. It has a small tan head on it. The head has pretty good retention, and it leaves behind a nice sheet of lace.

S - It smells mostly of roasted malt, but there is a nice piney hop smell to it as well. There is also a bit of sweetness and some chocolate notes.

T - The taste starts off with a nice roasted malt flavor. There is some sweetness and roasted bitterness. On top of that there is also a big piney hop flavor. The hops and dark malt really blend together well here, and there is a nice balance to it. I am also getting a little bit of coffee flavor. The finish leaves a mix of roasted malt bitterness and hop bitterness lingering on the palate.

M - This has a medium body and good carbonation. It goes down easy and has a real velvety smooth quality to it. It has a nice IPA body to it, which makes it nice and refreshing. There is a bit of sweetness here, but also a nice bitter bite that lingers.

O - This has good drinkability. I could easily have a few of this in an evening. It has a big roasted malt flavor, but the body of an IPA, which is exactly how I think it should be for this style. Overall, I really enjoyed this beer, and I think it is probably my favorite Black Ale that I have tried so far. I recommend trying it.
Aug 03, 2011
Short Batch #12 - Noonan from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 19 ratings