Big Nose IPA - Swamp Head Brewery & Tasting Room

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: pours a beautiful amber/orange/gold color with a 1 finger head and a layer that stays throughout the glass. Sticks to the sides, too.

S: piney hops, some sweet brown sugar notes, and malt.

T: bitter counterbalanced with some sweetness and a lot of malt. Pine flavors come through with a hint of fruity flavor.

M: medium body with medium but fine carbonation. It feels wonderful.

O: very good beer from Swamp head. It's on par with the best IPAs of the south (Hop Art, Jai Alai). Definitely something to try if you get a chance to grab a growler during your time in Gainesville.

Serving type: growler

02-10-2012 01:45:10 | More by Holland

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.83/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

32 oz. growler poured into a pint glass. Thanks to nmbr0ne for this growler!

Appearance - Amber bodied with a small white head. Not great retention, but lots of sticky lacing down the sides.

Smell - Pine hops predominantly, but there's a good deal of malt to the nose as well. It is aromatic, but not in the best way. I suppose there's an equal blend of citrus and pine to the nose, but it isn't as inviting as other IPAs.

Taste - Similar hop profile. Citrus and pine. Strong malt backbone, but it's secondary to the hops, which I enjoy. It's just enough to combat an intensely bitter finish, which is slight pervasive.

Mouthfeel - That bitter finish is overwhelming. Not uncharacteristic, but strong. Low carbonation makes it feel very smooth, almost like a cask IPA. I've had this in other forms and it was similar in consistency, so I don't think it's the growler that does it.

Overall - Solid, but unremarkable. I'd drink this regularly partially to support local breweries and partially because it's pretty tasty.

Serving type: growler

11-07-2011 03:04:21 | More by Alieniloquium

Kelly88

Kentucky

2.25/5  rDev -44.4%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2

Poured from a Growler a few times into my bells tulip.

A- dark orange brown, kind of mahogany. White head that is initially good that transforms into a wispy scattered cap with a strong encompassing ring of foam.

S- not very good. Very unpleasant metallic smell that reminds me of rust. Metallic smell is all I'm getting and its really off putting.

T- metallic flavors return but are also accompanied by a slight citrus hop profile. Soapy and rusty would be my best descriptors. Weird.

M- light crisp and nice carbonation. This is a great feel to bad the flavors don't make you want to drink more.

Overall I am very disappointed. One of the strangest tastes I've come across make this difficult to drink. Take this review with a grain of salt. This beer traveled a very long distance and I'm sure that has something to do with it. I just recorded what I tasted.

Serving type: growler

04-25-2011 01:27:14 | More by Kelly88

babaracas

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From growler picked up today. Pours a cloudy copper with one finger of off-white head, settles to a thin cap, leaves some big chunks of lace behind. Smell: fruity... not-quite-ripe mango, rindy grapefruit, a little pineapple, resiny pine, background sweet caramel. Taste: sweetened pulpy grapefruit, mandarin orange, a note of sugared dried tropical fruit, and a little milk caramel in the back. Light-medium bodied, creamy feel. Tasty IPA, especially off a fresh keg at the brewery.

Serving type: growler

04-23-2011 06:16:51 | More by babaracas

mkomalley

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

*We let the beer sit at room temperature for ~20 minutes before tasting*

Into the glass very little lacing, medium carbonation--may be due to the growler. Cloudy, gold/copper color. In the nose strong grapefruit and pine--very pronounced aroma. On the palate, bright grapefruit notes--strong hops with an appropriate malty backbone. A well balanced IPA.

Serving type: growler

04-18-2010 06:42:51 | More by mkomalley

breakingbland

Michigan

3.64/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Beautiful deep golden with a ring of foam.

Aroma: A slight malt can be detected. The hops contribute a piney, citrus component.

Taste: Hoppy without being over-the-top. Maltiness comes through and has a toasty component. There is an astringent grapefruit aftertaste. 

Mouthfeel: The carbonation is low to moderate with fine bubbles. This beer has a fairly light body.

Overall: As one who prefers malty beers, I enjoyed this IPA as it had an interesting and not overpowering hops profile that let the maltiness come through. I'll look for this beer again while we're in Florida.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2013 02:34:24 | More by breakingbland

chinchill

South Carolina

3.81/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery.
The pour was clear and dark amber, with a very durable off-white head that left a moderate amount of sticky lacing on the glass. The nose features piney and, to a lesser extent, citrus hop notes. Given this, the flavor is less harsh than expected, with a solid if subtle malt base. Relatively full bodied for an IPA, with near medium carbonation. ABV partially hidden.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2013 22:19:36 | More by chinchill

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at the Cabana Bar (Disney) in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

A: Pours a crystal clear dark amber to copper in color with some light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall dense off-white head that slowly reduces to a thick layer covering the entire surface of the beer. Significant lacing is observed.

S: A light aroma of caramel malt sweetness that is then dominated by intense citrus hop aromas - both orange and grapefruit.

T: This starts out with some sweet malt flavors, caramel and molasses but then the hop flavors take over. There is a lot of citrus hop flavor in this beer - orange and grapefruit are both big. There is alight underlying tropical hop flavor as well, almost pineapple but not quite. Light lingering bitterness but not as aggressive as one might have thought.

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth with a touch of dryness in the finish.

O: Best beer that I have had so far on this trip to FL. I found the beer to have a great smell and wonderful taste, it was easy to drink but might be a little strong to be sessionable in the heat down here. Definitely one to have again on this trip.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 11:45:17 | More by dbrauneis

GallowsThief

Florida

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the House of Brews.

A – Poured out a slightly cloudy amber/orange. A finger of white foamy head was produced that settled fairly quickly. Good lacing left down the glass.

S – Nice aroma with citrus, hope and pine.

T – Started with an almost sweet taste of caramel and molasses but quickly makes its way to the citrus with grapefruit and orange. Pineapple as well. Bitter but not overly.

M – Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Touch drying but very smooth.

O – Very nice and drinkable brew. Goes down easy and is well balanced. Well worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2011 15:08:55 | More by GallowsThief

kylehay2004

Florida

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: single finger head, clear amber golden color

S: light grapefruit, pine. I definitely was thinking the name alluded to a strong aroma but that was not the case.

T: more piney than sweet, nice mildly complex hop character and caramel notes.

M: full bodied, peppery and moderate carbonation.

Overall: a solid IPA. Pretty drinkable. Not too bad.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2011 03:41:17 | More by kylehay2004

Jerone

Florida

4.8/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Cloudy orange and amber with a nice fairly creamy head, awesome lacing, gorgeous beer.

S - Smells of citrusey grapefruit and hops, smells great.

T - Very tasty, citrus grapefruit and a bitter hop bite. A taste of bitter hops and some citrus stick in your mouth. A small malt backbone is there to provide a touch of balance but this beer is about the hops and they are fantastic.

M - medium bodied, coats your mouth with delicious hoppy goodness, medium carbonation.

O - Great beer, exactly what I want out of this type of beer. If I ever see this on tap I get it.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 18:55:27 | More by Jerone

cjgator3

Florida

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on-tap at BJ's Restaraunt & Brewhouse. Pours a nice copper color with an off-white head. The aroma is a lot of citrusy hops and some malty notes as well. The taste like the aroma is dominated by the hoppy bitterness in the finish but has a nice amount of malt as well. Overall, Big Nose is a solid IPA that I will definitely purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 04:32:52 | More by cjgator3

jgagne

Kentucky

4.45/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I enjoyed this beer from tap at tasty Buddha in Gainesville

A-Great appearance with a nice medium deep amber color and a nice prominent white head

S- The smell is a wonderful combination of citrus and hops. In my opinion how a IPA should smell like.

T-The taste is not your average IPA taste, this beer dosent attack like most IPAs. Instead it lulls you in with a wonderful citrusy taste and then effortlessly moves into hopes galore that should make any IPA fan happy

O-I first had this beer a couple months ago and just got to reviewing after my lunch at tasty buddha. This beer is possibly my favorite IPA so far and i will keep on enjoying it every time i can. Great Beer!

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2011 02:29:10 | More by jgagne

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed during my long weekend in Tampa. I had the chance to meet some great people and try some new and some amazing new things. Had a lot of fun, but glad to be home. Enjoyed on 4/11/2011.

Another guest tap at CCB, this was the first time I had gotten a chance to try an offering from them. Nice amber color with a light haze to it that seemed to settle out nicely as you went on. A decent head then formed, two inches at the most before coming down into a broken pillow of white that cratered out and left rocky lacing along the glass. Nice orange and tangerine aroma is well represented and produced a much needed light IPA that night. Each sip was clean, refreshing and dry, offering me some very nice touches of citrus hops and balanced bready malts. Finishing with a smooth and light aftertaste, I get hints of pineapple and soft orange on the final notes off the palate.

Overall very solid and very drinkable. I would have no problem at all with having this one again. Great choice to have on.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2011 01:50:10 | More by mikesgroove

Lerxst

Florida

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Brewers Pizza

A-Pours a clear amber/copper with a sizable head that has good retention and left lace all the way down.

S-Not as prominent as I would like, especially since it is called Big Nose, but what I can pick up is pleasant enough. Citrus and pine hops with a slightly sweet maltiness. Pleasant, but understated.

T-Hops are more prominent here than in the nose. Citrus and pine hops bite the tongue and there is a nice balance here with the caramel malt coming in the middle rounding things out. Its good. Not outstanding, but good.

M-Medium body, slightly oily yet with a dry finish.

O-A nice beer from a young brewery. Shows promise.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2011 00:08:50 | More by Lerxst

Deadheadbill

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an golden color with amber tint, nice strong white head with good lacing. Aromas of citrus and hops followed by the same flavors. This beer has a great balance to it with the malt playing off the hops very nicely. Medium bodied with a nice lingering finish. It is 7.3 abv, but very drinkable. A very good offering from Swamp Head.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2011 16:36:07 | More by Deadheadbill

CampusCrew

Florida

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance: golden with a solid head retention

smell: very bold and assertive hop presence. pine and citrus

taste: nicely balanced IPA

mouthfeel: medium bodied to full bodied IPA,

drinkability: I tried this at the kickbacks Swamphead dinner among many others. This brewery in new and going in the right direction. Solid beer from a solid brewery. I would love to have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2011 22:58:36 | More by CampusCrew

unclejimbay

Florida

3.98/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap @ Kickbacks
Appearance was golden copper with fluffy head and enduring lace.
Mild aromas of hop citrus and a hint of pine.
Tastes as it smells on a solid malt/caramel backbone. Citrus hop flavors are less than I expected, perhaps this is not the freshest batch?
Mouthfeel was medium-full for an IPA, appropraitte carbonation.
Drinkable IPA for sure, but I seemed to prefer the Stumpknocker APA much more. The Stumpknocker has a big huge citrus aroma and flavor that was lacking in this offering. I am willing to bet this IPA is just as awesome as the APA when it is fresh. Overall a great brew, just not the best offering in my experience to date.

Additional info;
I ttended a Swamphead Beer dinner at Kickbacks here in Jacksonville Florida 12/13/2010. The lineup overall impressed me, brews were appropriatte to style and well done across the board. I most notably enjoyed the Hoe Hoe Hoe Wit, Tupelo Cream Ale, Stumpknocker APA, and 10-10-10 Whiskey Barrel Aged as standouts for the evening. Overall a very talented brewery across the entire lineup. I had chance to meet Luke the owner who was a great guy, and Craig the brewer who was passionate and open to share his processes. Both were knowlegdable and I am very excited about this new Florida Brewery.

Here is are most of the Swamphead brews that were offered at the dinner;
Hoe Hoe Hoe Winter Seasonal - a Belgian style specialty ale with cranberries, ginger and orange blossom honey
Wild Night Tupelo Honey Cream Ale
Cottonmouth Belgian Style Wheatbier
Stumpknocker American Pale Ale
Big Nose IPA
Saison du Swamp - Florida Style Saison with rye
10-10-10 Imperial IPA
10-10-10 Imperial IPA aged in Palm Ridge Whiskey barrels
Midnight Oil Oatmeal Stout with locally roasted organic fair trade coffee
Alderwood Smoked Porter
Chipotle Smoked Porter
Stumpknocker infused with Chipotle peppers
Catherine's Inspiration - Russian Imperial Stout
Catherine's Passion - Russian Imperial Stout infused with organic cocoa nibs and Midnight Oil coffee

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2010 16:02:00 | More by unclejimbay

brentk56

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with an amber color and a creamy head that leaves a bunch of lace behind

Smell: Tropical fruit, grapefruit pith and toffee

Taste: Toffee and tropical fruit (mango and tangerine, primarily) up front, with a well-balanced finish that perfectly blends the sweeter malt elements with the hops

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A really fine IPA in, dare I call it, the Florida style (tropical fruit hop elements)

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2010 01:23:11 | More by brentk56

nickfl

Florida

4.13/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with a big head of white foam on top of a clear, copper colored body. The foam settles slowly and leaves thick lace.

S - A strong aroma of fruity hops with some candied orange and mango. significant malt character with toasted notes and light toffee.

T - light, sweet caramel up front with a bit of toast. Fruity hop flavors appear in the middle and combine nicely with the sweet malt to produce some candied orange and mango notes. Finishes with more malt and hop flavor as well as moderate bitterness.

M - medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a sweet finish.

D - A nice Ipa, the aroma is the best quality. There is a nice balance of hop character and malt richness in the nose, but the flavor is full of much stronger, sweeter malt. The sugar works well with the fruity hop flavor, up to a point. However, it eventually becomes a bit too powerfull and seems like it is subduing the hop essence. This is a very nice ipa, though it seems like it could be better if it was a bit dryer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2010 02:24:00 | More by nickfl

Portertime

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this beer fresh at Joe's Place in Gainesville. Came out with a bright, bubbly amber hue. Smell was nice and floral and piney from the hops. Taste was very well balanced with nice citrus and floral hops up front with a firm malt backbone to even it out and a clean finish with a mild bitterness. Very nice.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2010 01:45:16 | More by Portertime

aepb1

Florida

4.18/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Amber brown with a frothy white head and nice lacing

S- Some piney/floral hops up front and a nice malty body

T- A nice caramel malt up front creating a good body and finishing with a hoppy bite

M- Medium bodied, almost cream. Smooth with good carbonation

D- Very impressed with this, a nice complex IPA and local!

I've had this before and was certainly not as impressed. This time it was very fresh as the keg was tapped two days ago.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2010 04:05:51 | More by aepb1

Triples

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Long time coming but worth the wait. We got the first beer from the first keg at World of Beer in Viera, Fl.

Delightful citrusy hop aroma. Nicely balanced fresh hops with enough malt. Slightly astringent. Poor head retention - no lace. (new keg?)

Second one is even better - nice head and some lace. Very drinkable beer. Glad to see Swamphead get it's distribution going. New fav.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2010 22:07:12 | More by Triples

ktrillionaire

Florida

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Copper-amber hue, with a good frothy white head.

S - The smell is herbal and piney at first, but it seems to then meld with the sweetness of the malt to elicit a fruit punch impression. Really. I was thinking Tahitian Treat or perhaps Hawaiian Punch. The suggestion was subtle, but it was more than enough to pique my interest.

T - The flavor diverges from the aroma, especially in terms of the fruit punch fruitiness. But that is probably a good thing. It is more of a straightforward IPA, well-balanced, with a rich malt offset by significant amounts of bitter hops. A suggestion of pineapple is apparent on the finish. Very enjoyable beer, impressive.

M - Fairly full-bodied, well-carbonated, substantial.

D - I am impressed. A lot of IPAs are made these days; this one is really interesting and good.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2010 07:28:12 | More by ktrillionaire

tpd975

Florida

3.85/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Cigar City.

A: Pours an amberish shade of brown with a nice solid white head. Nice retention and some lace.

S: Aromas of caramel malt, light citrus, and a big blast of herbal hops.

T: Nice sweet caramel and hints of bread. Mild citrus rind, and a bitter herbal grassy hoppy finish.

M: Medium in body, smooth, tasty.

D: Good, a steal at $3 a pint.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2010 16:46:19 | More by tpd975