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Smuttynose Big A IPA

Smuttynose Big A IPA - Imperial/Double IPA

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 Percentile 
98
overall
Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA

Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

bottled
common

on tap
available

Regional Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
5063.86/5.03.85/5.09.2%90.3Snifter, Tulip
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Commercial Description:
For our hopping regime we went with Cascade and Nuggets in the boiling addition. Centennials were added every 5 minutes for the last 30 minutes of the boil. We added Crystals into the whirlpool. Dry hopping was done in both the fermentor after primary fermentation and the bright tank. We used a mixture of Chinook, Nuggets, and Sterlings in the fermentors and whole leaf Centennials in the bright tank.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Zeswaft (1000), Seattle, Washington, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Feb 12, 2006  
Poured from a bomber. The aroma and taste are quite good but but quite unimpressive for a double IPA. Sure it’s pretty bitter, but not as citrusy as I wanted. There is some earthy dirt flavor that you have to get used for the first third of the beer. For some reasone I thought the strong points of this beer were the quality of its manufacturing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bottle conditioned beer more appetizing than this. The first half of the bomber was crystal dark gold color with a lush head of fine bubbles. Then I poured out the rest of the bottle in it’s entirety and the yeast was not in chunks but effortlessly in solution with the rest of the bottle. Making the experience no less attractive. The texture was quite smooth and delicious.


 ChillCoat (1029), Concord, California, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Feb 9, 2006  
Bottled. 22oz. via trade w/zathrus13. Pours a soft pale copper color with a white head that leaves heavy lacing. Oranges dominate the aroma but there’s also some pine, malt and even a little alcohol. OOOH... That’s BITTER. More oranges, honey, some flowers, pine, lemon grass. Big on malt as well but overly sweet. A little hot. Long bitter finish.


tsgrayson (15), Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/518/20
Feb 3, 2006  
Light pour. Clean color. Sweet smell. Good clean taste. Smooth. Great aftertaste


 ryan (1774), Beltsville, Maryland, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/515/20
Feb 2, 2006  
Pours pale with a medium sized white head. The aroma is loaded with caramel and pine. The flavor is a nice balance of caramel, toffee, and grapefruit. The mouthfeel is smooth and slightly chewy.


 Boutip (2333), Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/103/517/20
Jan 27, 2006  
Bottle: Poured a slightly hazy yellow color ale with a quite big foamy head with excellent retention. Aroma of citrus and floral hops is dominant and quite enjoyable. Lots of semi-sweet malt is distinguishable at first when tasted and then the citrus and bitter hops do a good job to the aftertaste. Body is above average without being too full and alcohol is well hidden. This is probably one the best IIPA I’ve had the chance to try and the only fault I can find is a little peak of metallic / ester hops which is not something I usually love in a beer.


 RAYBOY01 (1813), Chicago, Illinois, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/517/20
Jan 22, 2006  
Now that’s what I’m talking about...Huge grapefruit and pine assualt on my tonsils...but restrained somewhat by a very substantial malty caramel backbone that seems pretty well balanced. Very much a sessionable brew.


 porterhouse (1148), Alna, Maine, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/516/20
Jan 20, 2006  
(22 oz., 2005 bottle) Hazy light golden with a white head that holds pretty well. Powerful hop aroma. Some fine lacing. Mouthfeel smooth. Well-balanced, smooth taste. Pretty mellow, not overly sweet at all. Alcohol well-hidden. I like how the bitterness keeps the perfumy, sweeter hops from overwhelming the beer. Much prefer this to DFH 90 or 120.


 frankenkitty (1900), Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/516/20
Jan 14, 2006  
A creamy white head held over a well-hazed golden body and left an attractive lace-trail. As mentioned, aromas of grapefruit and pine dominate and that hop profile is strong in its flavor. Sweet malts eventually reveal en force with huge, chunky caramel. This beer had an awesome swing from hops to malts... I wouldn’t call it "balance" as each seemed disproportionate at times. Very good, though!

<font size=-4>Enjoyed with <a href=http://www.workinlate.com/LoSBD.html>the LoSBD 01/07/06<font size=-1>



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