Smuttynose Zinneke

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

Serve in Snifter

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

Bottle purchased at Healthy Living in Burlington, Vermont. Diggity-dark color with the faintest trace of a light brown hint of a head circling the edge. Earthy, yeasty aroma accompanied by a moderate alcoholy tune with a quiet burbony harmony. Once in the mouth, it is quite fluid (not quite at "watery" but it still has a refreshing quality to it), and hefts an active effervescence - not overpowering, but it definitely stands up and makes its presence known. While it’s making its way across the tongue, a woody, toasty, choco-mel combo stops by and says hi before heading warmly downstairs. Another winner from Smuttynose. Have I ever lamented before how I dearly wish that li’l Smuttynose seal would work hard making these big beers year-round instead of once a year (if that)? Maybe his flippers are too short or something.

Appearance: Pours black with a creamy tan cap.

Aroma: Chocolate covered banana, vanilla, cereal.

Taste: Roasted malt, bourbon, wood, banana esters. Finishes roasty and woody.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Aversge carbonation.

Overall: A very flavorful, balanced Stout. Keeping this under 9% probably played a role in this beers wonderful complexity. Not a booze/bourbon bomb, yet not one of those bourbon barrel beers where you barely get any spirit/barrel character.

Good stout base. Interesting Belgian notes. My first of this style -- not sure if its the best thereof, but I enjoyed it. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Pours a solid dark brown/black color with a smallish tan head that shows good retention and spotty lace. Smells of roast, caramel, chocolate, brown sugar, dark dried fruits, a bit of lactose like sweetness, spicy Belgian yeasty esters, and a mild bit of vanilla. The flavor is actually quite complex. Mild chocolate and dark sugary sweetness up front that is almost immediately pushed aside for some peppery yeastiness. Juicy and lightly tart dark fruits come around next and meld with a bit of chocolate and roast before a touch of vanilla, oak, and ethanol show up. Long lingering sweet tart fruit sugar and chocolate finish last long after every sip. Medium to thick body with a light to moderate level of carbonation and a sweet sugary mouthfeel. Wow this one impressed me. It might be a hair on the sweet side, but I enjoyed the hell out of this brew.

My valentines day present! Thanks Brie! This stanks like it’s straight out of Belgium with a little funk and tons of raisins in the nose. The first sip is very chocolaty with soft carbonation and a nice (not too heavy) mouth-feel. The bourbon and vanilla flavors slowly creep up as it warms. The last few sips are like a chocolate bourbon... there is a nice spicy warmth from the alcohol. Yummy.

The aroma is chocolate, fruity, molasses, licorice. the appearance is deep black, tan head. The flavor is chocolate, sweet fruit, molasses. The finish is sweet, boozy, pine needles. Medium/thick in body. Nicely done. Hard to pick up any belgian yeast though.

Bottle. Heavy toasted grain for the malt, moderate herbs and dried grass for the hops, earth for the yeast, with aromas of wood and charcoal in the background. Head is small, frothy, light brown with fair and thin lacing with good legs and is mostly diminishing. Color is dark brown. Flavor starts lightly sweet and lightly to moderately acidic, the the long finish is moderately bitter. Palate is medium to full, creamy, with a lively carbonation and a sticky and chewy finish. Excellent representation of a Belgian style Imperial Stout. Every bit of rich, full, bold, etc. and all in perfect balance.

22 oz. Pours dark brown, almost black, with some reddish highlights and a 1 finger creamy mocha head. Head recedes to a ring leaving random sticky lace. Nice funky aroma with wood, some sour notes, dark fruits and candy. Flavor has a funky sourness as well as lots of roastiness. Some candied sugar sweetness, tempered by the Belgian yeast. Full palate with an odd tartness. There’s a lot going on here and it works very well.

From the 2012 big bottle. The pour is a deep ebony brown with a moderate short lasting head. An array of aromas fill my nose including sweet dark malts, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, smoke, cherry, and a dash of hops. The body is medium to full. The taste is malty up front with a wooden hard liquor character volleying with the sweetness followed by a moderate, lingering bitterness. Very nice beer indeed.

Tallahassee, Fl - Market Square Liquors - 22 oz bomber. Dark ruby red fading to black pour with a medium thick but persistent khaki colored head that leaves some lacing. Aroma has some light vanilla accents, some fresh potting soil, a bit of day old coffee. Full bodied flavor with some light licorice notes, a bit of fresh potting soil, a touch of vanilla and some back end black end coffee notes. Mouthfeel has a nice dryness to it. Superb and not overdone - nice one to bring in the New Year!