Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Smuttynose Brewing Company - Smuttynose IPA "FinestKind"

Located in the historic shipping town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Smuttynose has been brewing award-winning beer since 1994. Smuttynose has grown into a nationally appreciated brewery and is now distributed in seventeen east coast states and three midwest states. Within New England, Smuttynose Brewing Company has become one of the leading breweries, producing an outstanding craft beer portfolio. This portfolio is full of year-round options for any palate: Old Brown Dog for malt lovers, Robust Porter for the coffee lovers, and and Shoals Pale Ale for those who love belgian influenced ales. To compliment this well-rounded line-up, Smuttynose brewers have a seasonal Big Beer Series for those brave enough to try more adventurous and bold styles.  If you are fortunate enough to live in one of the beautiful states that stocks Smuttynose, reach for a Smuttynose IPA and bring a little of the Granite State home.
The Smuttynose IPA is copper-orange in color with a bubbly, one-finger head. As this head dissipates, icicle-like lacing sticks to the outside of the glass. Due to dry-hopping and being an unfiltered IPA, this beer is hazy with noticeable sediment.
The smell of this beer is very intoxicating, especially to hop-heads (a fair assumption). The nose is full of pine and grapefruit notes, leaving one salivating for a sip.
If every IPA tasted like this pint, "I would definitely make mine a Smutty." The taste matches the nose with pine and grapefruit dominating over other flavors. The taste is very reminiscent of a west-coast IPA (Green Flash West Coast IPA), however, instead of the hops providing astringent bitterness they cause the Smuttynose IPA to become nicely resinous. As the beer warms, a third player enters into taste - a welcome floral bite that adds complexity to every drink.
The mouthfeel is light to medium in body and has the right amount tingle that leads to a crisp, clean finish. At 6.9% ABV and with excellent hop characteristics, Smuttynose IPA is great example of an American IPA. From the facial expressions of two gentlemen that grace its label, you too will think its the "FinestKind."

Cheers,
PandaMack

1 comment:

  1. Saw this finally come into one of my local stores. I was picking up too many other things to get it, but reading this, I NEED to go back. This sounds wonderful. I had Green Flash at a bar a week ago, and it was okay. But this sounds like it fixes that IPA's short comings.

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