Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale

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

Pours a fluffy, off-white head with a golden body. Aromas of lemongrass, zest, malt, clean. Flavor is citrus zest, grassy hops, some malt, little bit of a sour bite. Flavorful and refreshing.

A Mes rate. Gravicask at GBBF.
Orange body with a slight haze and a thin off white head. A really interesting and rather funky saison. Nice earthy malt and a pleasnt hit of sourness. Possibly not 100% true to style but a jolly good beer all the same.

22oz bomber. Bottle was a gusher - foaming over as soon as I cracked it open. Poured into two brandy glasses - both of which foamed up immensely. The foam is thick and rocky, leaving small legs of lace on the glass as it fades. The beer itself pours orange and very cloudy - but glowing, not muddy. The aroma is fruity, spicy, and Belgian-y. Bready slightly grainy malts, a soft grassy and earthy hop aroma, light note of doughy yeast, and a fruity aroma of cooked plantains with light spice (nutmeg, cardomom). There is a light note of alcohol, too. The graininess of the malt aroma and the strength of the spiciness increase as you keep sniffing. The flavor is an interesting and complex combo of earthy must, grainy pilsner malt, strong grassy hops, light acidity, and light fruitiness - all presented with a very strong tingle of carbon dioxide all over (impressed that it is so carbonated - I would have otherwise guessed they would need to bottle in thicker glass w/ cage&cork). Finishes spicy, yeasty, earthy/grassy bitter, slightly malty, and funky - and very, very dry with a little warmth from very well-hidden alcohol. The mouthfeel is extremely highly carbonated - almost too much. Even after a strong pour to release it and swirling in the glass to release even more, it is intensely bubbly and stingy all over the mouth - almost like a sparkling wine. Swishing in the mouth releases tons of carbon dioxide, exposes the bitter taste of ethanol, and results in a very frothy and creamy texture. Through the thick creaminess one finds a light-to-medium body. As it warms, the alcohol becomes less and less well-hidden. At first the flavor of alcohol blends well with the spicy and fruity fermentation character, but it doesn’t long before the taste of alcohol grows a little too strong. Overall, an interesting and authentic-tasting Saison. It is exceptionally dry - which is crisp and refreshing, but I think a little less dry would give it a slightly fuller body and slightly less alcohol flavor (especially if it were less dry due to slightly lower attenuation/fermentability of otherwise same wort). A nice brew. These guys make some pretty good beer.

@Freaktoberfest, pours yellow to orange shiny hazy liquid with a small head, weak aroma of lemon, cheese, white wine and some spices, powerful clove-like aroma with some malt, yeast and a bitter dry finish, nice complex flavor, almost full-bodied. Could be better if the aroma was more powerful

At GBBF 2009. Hazy orange gold colour, thin lasting white head. Bit estery/Belgian saisony. Not a bad stab as a Belgian strong. Pretty good to be honest. NIce rose petal fruit.

Straw yellow in appearance with a massive head, more bubbly than champagne. The flavor is basc, lager-like, with a honey note. I detected neither the spiciness nor the fruitiness of the commercial description.

Source:22 oz bottle at home.
Glass:Chouffe tulip.
Appearance:Hazy gold pour with a one finger white head.
Aroma:Spices and grass.
Flavor:Malty with a spicy finish and a hint of lemon rind.
Palate:Light body with solid carbonation.
Overall:Excellent saison. Love most everything that smuttynose does.

Appearance is golden, slightly cloudy with a large white head. Aroma is spices, clove and some yeast. Taste is spices, fairly light on the tongue. Finish is some yeast and a little cloying sweetness. Overall, light and refreshing while remaining fairly lively and interesting.