Smuttynose Big A IPA

Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

The look of this beer is a very cloudy dark gold color. It has a nice frothy head that leaves a nice lacy bit of residue on the sides of the glass. There is a tiny bit of carbonation. The smell is pure hops. There is almost zero malt scent to speak of. The hops burst out of the glass, and smell mild but sweet. There is a slight pinewood smell. The taste of this beer is a bold, delicious hop flavor, with a surprisingly bitter aftertaste. The hops don’t really hit until after the swallow. It’s got a soft, buttery flavor to it. There is a strong woodsy and citrus flavor, but it fits the hops perfectly. The malt is non-existent. The hops are so diverse and full of flavor. The feel is smooth and buttery, but with a sharp bitter ending. It’s very thick on the tongue. Has a dry finish. Considering this beer is all hops, it is incredibly drinkable. It’s strong, but doesn’t linger, which makes it possible to have several in a night.

Amber with a nice off white head. Aroma is pretty malty, solid background of chinook, alcohol, some citrus. Taste is pretty sweet with a citrus/floral mixture, background hoppiness is fairly light, alcohol is well meshed within this brew. Not as hoppy as I’d like, but a well made beer.

Has a big aroma of grapefruit, citrus and pine. Pours a thick amber orange haze. Nice medium soapy head. Big resin taste with a thick mouthfeel. This is a full, tasty 2IPA. Subtle sweetness on the finish.

Pours a nice copper tone with a medium head. Has a bit of a citrus smell to it, and a nice smooth hop flavor as well. Very nice taste!

Dark golden/copper with beautiful head. Looks perfect in the glass. Citrus hop aroma. Lots of hops on the glass, but sugary sweet malts are what I pick up on the most. This is either too old to let the hops shine like they should, or there it is just too malt-focused for my liking. Solid bitterness and the citrus actually comes back in the finish. Not bad, but just not enough flavor comes out from the hops in this bottle.

Aroma of citrus and alcohol, also somewhat floral. It pours a hazy orange with a frothy white head. This is a very bitter brew, not for the faint of heart, there’s also an underlying sweetness. Definitely full-bodied with lively, long finish.

Bomber from Uncle Sudsy’s. Pours hazy golden orange with off white, creamy head that pillowy and inviting. Nose is bubblegum, grapefruit, grass, and lemon-pepper. Great lacing. Nice mouth feel, almost flawless for an IPA. Flavor is hop dominant with a mild caramel backbone, grassy and citric with a moderate to heavy bitter throughout. Sticky after, with the bitter and hop flavor lingering well into the next quaff. Woah! 9.2%. Can’t tell a lick. Not good. Not good at all. Way to drinkable. A bit heavier than the likes of Hopslam, but I’d put it up there with the tops IIPA-wise

Pours a cloudy orange with massive head. Creamy and snow white. Stays forever. I actually had to wait several minutes for the head to recede. Moderate lacing. Nose is all citrus all the time. Wonderful hop aroma, but a bit 1 dimensional like most IPAs. Flavor is strong grapefruit. Fruity and slightly sweet malt backbone that is stronger then I expected. Strong bitter finish that lingers. Very smooth on the palate. Prickly finish from the hops and carbonation. Overall, a very good IPA. A little rough around the edges, but still very well done.