Smuttynose Smuttonator

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

Pours deep red with a two-finger, large-bubbled head. Big, sweet aroma of toffee, nuts, and smoke, with some very perceptible roastiness. A little whiff of alcohol, but less than I’ve found in some less hefty Doppel Bocks. The flavor starts out just like the aroma, but heavier on the toffee, then turns fairly alcoholic before a dry and nutty ending with a hint of grassy hops. The alcohol lingers a bit, too. Overcarbonation gives the sweetness an unpleasant edge, but overall a good beer. Maybe too much alcohol; it’s more like an Eisbock, really.

22 oz. Bottle: labeled "Bottle Conditioned in 2004." Rich dark amber color with a decent tan head on pouring. Mellow aroma- mainly molasses with sweet yeasty notes, very little spice or citrus. Big malty first impression shifts to quite hoppy finish with a lingering bitter charcoal stout-like aftertaste. Surprised by the hops at the end. Definitely coats the palate. I’d like it to finish more smoothly. My mouth feels like I just smoked a cigar.

10 oz glass on tap at Redbones, pre-EBF, in the company of MartinT, Rastacouere, tiggmtl and Olivier_MTL. I’d been looking forward to this for a year since the insane, instant sell-out around last year’s EBF....would it be worth the anticipation? It’s hazy copper-amber with a small bit of lasting, off-white head...lots of caramel and vanilla in the sweet, thick nose, also touches of blackberry and chalk....thickly malty, very sweet body, with light herbal (oregano, sage) hops, licorice....turns smoky, dry, and burnt-charcoal at the end....very rich, decadent caky mouthfeel, alcohol helps cut the thickness towards the finish. Lovely, and worth the wait.

Pours a brownish almost golden orange amber with a large off white foamy head. Aroma of sweet caramel malts, with hints of fruit, licorice and some vanilla. Smooth and almost creamy on the tongue. Not picking up much of the high ABV. Flavor of a sweet yet roasted malt, brown sugar, lighter smoke and maybe some of the fruits I was picking up in the aroma. Some slight alcohol tingle at the end.

From bottle. Pours a deep orange/brown with frothy head that settles down with minimal lacing. Nose has lots of sweet malts. Flavor has more sweet malts with an alcohol finish. Not the best in their BIg Beer series.

On tap at Milwaukee’s Landmark. Red brown color ,sweet malt aroma with hints of fruit and licorice, a pleasant malt, fruit and almost candy sugar taste,the kind of sweetness I’v always liked in a Doppel, yet I wouldn’t call this a complex brew, a least not compared to Celebrator. Alcohol is well hidden.

Bright copper color with a hugh creamy looking beige head. Clean aroma. Scents of baked caramel and only a mild herbal backdrop. A touch of over-ripe fruit, which I believe is derived from the alcohol, but in no way a deterrent. I have this in three different glasses and it is amazing the different component each emits. This is pure bock "goodness". Truly a dopplebock. Chewy, lush and lightly oily in feel. Malt oozes from the glass and coats the teeth, gums and tongue. Toffee, caramel, dark brown sugar and an earthy pipe tobacco backdrop. Spicy finish with a touch of citrus. A solid doppel, where flavors don’t quite mesh at times, but still one that would not hesitate to set down with. As I near the end of the bomber, this has more hops than needed and reminds be of another "imperial oktoberfest". Prosit!

Poured a dark garnet color with a fine full tan head. Aroma was of malt and a caramel/vanilla scent. Flavor was a sweet roasted malt with a nice alcohol warming.