Smuttynose Big A IPA

Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

Sampled in a bottle at The Barley Pub in Dover, NH on 11/3/7. Aroma of slight pine with a dominant amount of citrus hops. Clear orange color with a white head. Good lacing. Thick start no to much bitterness in the finish. Strong palate.

Unbelievable pour. It wasn’t as hazy with my first pour. I had a 22 ounce and when I poured what was left ver it was the most unbelievable hazy amber pour I have ever seen. It was almost like an american pale ale. Not as hoppy as an IPA. Very well balance. Comparable to Acme pale ale. Very nice nondiminishing head. One of my favs!!!!!

Big aroma and a good balance with the high alcohol content on this one. As you’d expect, huge pine/citrus hops and a bitter finish, but not as biting as their IPA somehow.

Bottle from tap at NBD in NYC. Wow, aroma smells so fresh. Tons of hops, a little sweetness. Small white head, goes away quickly. Bright golden appearance. Kind of a mild sweet lemony flavor backed with lots of hops. Very bitter finish. Too sticky and syrupy in the mouthfeel for me. Great beer though, one of the best aromas.

22oz 2007 bottle. thanks to dickinsonbeer for this. pours hazy orange with fluffy white head. nose is very citrusy, lemon, and sort of a musty note to it. flavor is very tangerine, with slight medicinal note, piney, and citrusy. smooth finish. tasty, but i’d prefer a bigger malt base and more complex fruity hop notes. alcohol is really well hidden. it’s fun to drink and i give props to Smuttynose for vintage dating, bottle conditioning, and keeping their prices low.

Bigger better version of the IPA. I find it to have more sweet pine or distinguishable citrus characters. Nice body with a head that retains well. Malts of caramel with a hint of roasts or chocolate.

Bomber, from a trade months ago. But now I can’t remember who. Pours clear light amber with a fluffy, lacy white head. Aroma of grapefruit, pineapple, grass. Medium body. Citrus, fruite and caramel taste with a grapefruit zest finish.

Bottle Conditioned in 2006

9/24/2007: Smuttynose Big A IPA pours a clear coppery-orange color. There is a moderate amount of carbonation (small bubbles) and it has a dense, beige head that slowly collapses and leaves a lasting frothy crown and good lacing. The aroma is strong and pungent with lots of great juicy citrus (tangerine and grapefruit) and pine hoppiness. There is also a good honey/caramel maltiness underneath. The flavor is strong and starts malty. Then the smooth, moderately strong bitterness takes over and the deep citrus (oranges and grapefruit), grapefruit peel (slightly tart with a bite), and pine hop flavors last through the finish and linger on the palate. This beer has a medium body and is just a touch syrupy which complements the other characteristics of this beer very well. Quite simply put, this is an awesome IPA!

1 pint 6 fl. ozs. bottle from illinismitty (trade in Dec 2006). Thank you very much Sean! Rating #398 for this beer. Score: 8/4/8/3/17=4.
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Bottle Conditioned in 2008

9/04/2008: Smuttynose Big A IPA pours a deep copper color and has a thick beige head. The aroma includes floral and slightl pine hoppiness and some light toffee malt. There is a moderate amount of bitterness in this BIG floral and perfumy hopped-up beer. It has a medium to medium-full body and feels sticky. This is definitely a big IPA that is very good!

22 fl. oz. bottle. Total Score: 3.7