Smuttynose Big A IPA

2005 bottle. Orange copper color with a medium white head. Big aroma of pine, orange, honeydew melon, plenty of hops here. For a beer of its size, flavor is extremely well balanced. Bitter but backed up but a firm malty body. Similar to their regular IPA, but of course stronger, and smoother around the edges. A supremely complex IPA meant to be enjoyed at warmer temperatures; approaching true greatness here.

This is an excellent IPA. Orange with a very large, but quickly fading white head. For flavor there is a combination of floral and fruity hops; it is rare to have both. The aroma is floral. This beer is full bodied, very thick and heavy for an IPA. As the beer warms to room temperature it becomes more of a sipper, and takes some time to finish. I wish I could get this where I live.

Pours a deep golden color, I couldn’t get much more than a fizzle of head out of it, but then again since it’s bottle conditioned I didn’t want to pour it rough. This is a great beer, It’s well balanced with a great malt back and enough hops to keep things fresh.

Pours an orange sort of color with a nice fluffy white head. Strong hop aroma, tons of bitter citrus. Quite tasty with a piney and citrus thing going on. Strong malty background. Very enjoyable.

Bomber. 1st glass - Clear golden pour, small white head. 2nd glass - Very cloudy yellow. Citrus and caramel nose. First sip has a serious hop bite with accompanying bitterness. Once that subsides, the flavor is distinctly grapefruit-like. Bitter hop surging up the sides of the tongue throughout, but does ease a bit from the halfway point of the bottle, as a orange flavor peeks through. Decidedly dry finish. A solid Smutty.

Strong hops, yet not to the extent that you are beaten over the head. So, I guess, strong yet subtle. Golden damp hay in color, clear and bright. Citrus notes galore. Again, they hide the alcohol well. Lovely IPA.

I think my thanks goes to Secret Santa (summer 2005) for this one. I’ve been eyeing this for a while and finally could not resist. The label is great. Looked like a cream sherry in my glass. Golden and clear with a very light white head. Just a few carbonated bubbles in there. Sweet aroma of caramel and ruby red grapefruit hops. Big pine hops hit you at first and continue throughout while they merge with some grapefruit. Some sweet malt, fresh/green grain, and a bit of caramel. A bit of alcohol in the taste as well. But heavy on the Bitter. Body is adequate. Not bad overall. Great smelling and has a good taste (if a bit heavy on the bitter side).

Cloudy, dark brown, thick caramel color with thin offwhite head. Hop, orange, citrus aroma with strong hop and a hint of light orange flavor. Bitter hop finish.