Smuttynose Wheat Wine

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

It was good for it’s price. Nice color, descent taste, and nice aroma. Nothing over the top, just a descent beer to enjoy on a regular basis.

Bottle; Poured a hazy orange-amber with smallish off white head. Strong, interesting aroma; fruit, dark fruit, yeast, caramel, brown sugar, and honey. Flavor did not match the quality of the aroma. Alcohol was present, with some alcohol warming. Palate was fine. Flavor of caramel malt, fruit, a light sweetness, and some hop bitterness. All in all it was slightly above average.

Strong fruity aroma; apple, pear, white grapes. Hazy, almost cloudy color with a medium brown head. Smooth start to this one. Palate is thick and creamy. Mild alcohol bitterness to the finish.

22oz bottle from MrBendo. Aroma: Sweet malted barley with a big caramel note. Apples and oranges, light raisin, resin and bread. Alcohol is noticeable and just short of being too much. Appearance: Dark amber in color and lightly hazed. Light beige head was full and creamy with good retention. Good lacing. Flavor: Wheat-y breadiness, malted barley, and light yeastiness. Apples and grapes. Big, sweet caramel note. Citrus, resin, and light pine hoppiness. Some spice right into the finish. Alcohol is noticeable here, too. Bitterness builds over the course of the tasting and sticks on the tongue. Sweet finish. Palate: Full bodied. Moderate carbonation. Medium-high alcohol warmth in back of mouth. Overall: Not bad, but the flavors just didn’t seem to gel. Bitterness was sticky, and required some water to cleanse the palate.

on tap - philadelphia - tasted like a powerful barleywine that went wrong. maybe it’s not my cup of ale, but I didn’t enjoy this. Reddish copper color, big bubble carbonation with very little head around the edges. Flavor was sour to start and finished with an aftertaste that just wouldn’t go away.

Bottle sampled. Pours amber/copper with a thin white head. Aroma of caramel, fruit, and floral hops. the flavor is sweet, alcohol is well hidden, caramel, citrus, fruit, and mild/moderate traces of bitterness. Nicely done!

22-oz, ’07. Thanks, BitBucket! Pours crystal clear dark amber. No head or lace. Big burning-leaves hop and dark toast nose; hits you at arm’s length. Poor little bubbles have to struggle and gasp to get to the top of this beer, but they persevere. Slick and oily attack with only the slightest carb. Sharp forward flavors right off--wheat sour, toast and roast grain on the attack, giving way to a thick and chewy mid-palate full of black bread, leather, and tobacco. Oddly, this whole symphony crosses a line when it’s time for the finish, and gives you a big green olive blast before giving way to a quite subdued little tip over the cliff.

Bomber. Pours hazy apricot with a thin white head. Medium body and subdued carbonation. Honey and fruit aroma. Taste of fruit, apricot, bread and citrus with a dry citrus taste. Very minimal hop participation, but still a nice exploration of malt!