Smuttynose Maibock

Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Heller Bock
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Stein

Bottle. Pours clear dark gold with a large, frothy white head, long retention with good lacing. Aroma is heavy biscuit and honey malt with light hop notes and spicy, peppery alcohol at the end. There are some light vanilla and fruity notes as well, though these are faint. Flavor is moderate sweet malt with a balanced alcohol and hop bitterness. The beer is very clean, with no off-flavors or aromas. Palate is sweet and it dries out near the end. Full body, medium warmth and carbonation.

Bottle. Pours a golden body with a white head. Sweet bread y candy sweetness, a hint of cherry honey and caramel. My favorite Maibock at one time.

Bottle from Brother Tuckers. Pours an apricot color. Aroma is fruity and malty. I get tropical frutis all over the place and some yeasty notes. Flavor is yeasty, malty, not as fruity as the nose. I get some sweetness and light bitterness as well. Not bad at all.

UPDATED: JAN 26, 2009 Bottle 650 ml.
Appearance: clear amber lager with large, frisky, creamy-white top.3+
Aroma: sweet, fruity, berry like with slight peppery hop side.
Flavour/Palate: full bodied, slightly oily in texture. You will be welcomed by alcohol warmth right from first sip. Thick, malty body supports well its formula. Malt it self is candy sweet but with out crossing cloying point. Good bock.

Bomber from Oaktree for $4.99. Bottle conditioned with a nice thin yeast sludge on the bottom! Pours a chill-hazed dirty blonde/deep gold- lighter than ramstein. Thins whitish head and some nice cobwebby lace. Aroma is quite different than ramstein but still is very pleasant. Light tropical fruits, floral and lightly grassy hops, tea-like0 earthy and almsot a spicy saison-like aroma with some sweetish caramel malt hints. Nice thick sweet bready and caramel malt flavor- smooth, warm doughy malts as well with an underlying herbal and floral hop character. Very smooth mouthfeel and palate with a clean doughy malt finish. Really nice, and despite the high scores I was a bit hesitant to even buy this. Very good though, but still not quite on par with ramstein.

Near cloudy dark golden to amber colored liquid. Taller, somewhat fluffy vanilla milk colored head. Dried flower, biscuits, raisin scone and light cream caramel aromas. Maibock does not come to mind. Some apricot pits also seem to be present in the scent as I try to figure this one out. Light sweet flavors in the front with light caramel and lightly toasted malt and clover honey. Middle has a return of dried flower and wintergreen hops. Not as clean as I like my maibocks, but the flavors are malty with just enough hops to make things interesting.

Bottle (22oz). Shared with blankboy, biegaman and tupalev, my bottle. Hazy light amber, decent off-white head. Slightly vegetal and sweet malt aroma, light fruity floral hops. Taste - alcohol, cereal grain, sweet lightly fruity malt - nice. Average body, quick finish, passable carbonation. It’s okay, a little warming, ehhhh.

22 oz. bottle from Once Upon a Vine McArthur in Richmond. Slightly hazy reddish brown pour with a small head. Sweet grainy and slightly nutty aroma. Taste is grain, caramel and spice. I got some paper notes initially, but those faded. Thick texture.