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Smuttynose Imperial Stout

Percentile
99
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
6103.96/5.03.94/5.0Winter10.1%84.1Snifter
Commercial Description:
After a one year hiatus the Imperial Stout is back in action. We figured that after catching a bit of flack for its absence we’d have it return with a bang. We bumped up the starting gravity from 20° P to 24° P. This allowed the beer to finish just over 10% ABV. Like this year’s Barleywine, we’ve decided to play with the hop character, specifically the dry hop presence. Trying to avoid the fiasco of my previous attempt at adding pellets to the fermentor, I did what any good manager would do: I made Charlie add them. He had the advantage of being able to add the hops directly through a top manway and so his besting me in this challenge is not necessarily a sign of his superior brewing skills but more a reflection of my adventurous, try anything spirit (or at least that’s the story I’m stickin’ to). The Charles added 44 lbs of Cascade, split evenly between two batches, or about half a pound per barrel. We then transferred the beer onto seventy-eight pounds of an even mixture of Centennial and Columbus whole flowers, about one pound per barrel. The beer is a little top heavy in terms of the hopping but it seems to be smoothing out a bit as it’s aging. I’d give it six months or so, if you can wait that long. If not, hey, enjoy it anyway.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 cbeers21 (564), Miami, Florida, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/517/20
May 11, 2009  
Nice deep black pour with mocha head which lasts for a nice long while. Deep raisiny aromas emerge with casiss and toasted almonds with vanilla laced carmel. Bittering rooty-woody flavors come off at first but then flex some ill nasty deep roasted coffe-chocolate malted funk sauce slowly poured over a delicious but prominent bittering palate. mmmmm tastes like some well balanced flavors b*@$#%. well then pour me one more of these eloquently sculpted numbers and let the throat warmth begin, and the acohol induced face flush flourish with smiles and requests for more.


 kennydiaz (185), staten island, New York, USA
2.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/55/102/510/20
May 9, 2009  
POURS A DARK BLACK WITH A MILD HEAD. SMELLS VERY BITTER WITH SLIGHT FLORAL BACKNOTES. TASTE MORE LIKE A BAD IPA WITH A STRONG ALCOHOL TASTE. I WAS VERY DISAPIONTED FOR A SMUTTYNOSE PRODUCT. I ILL NEVER BUY THIS ONE AGAIN.


 bp (455), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/105/516/20
May 8, 2009  
Bottle: pours dark black with a dark tan head, aroma is surprisingly hoppy, some pine, I think there is some chocolate aroma as well, taste is minty chocolate, malt, coffee, nice mild bite in the finish. Very interesting and unique beer. Good recommendation by the guy at Oak Tree.


 mikalooch (163), , New Jersey, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/516/20
May 6, 2009  
Bomber. Pours pitch black with a bubbly tan head, thin lacing. Syrup, caramel, and somethink musky in there, cant quite get the last one. Very hoppy for an imperial, dark roasted coffee, caramel, and dark chocolate flavor. Very heavy on the palate, almost syrupy. Very good overall, something in there is a bit funky though, this might age well.


 mesperon (134), Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/518/20
May 5, 2009  
Dark as night, thick as oil, with a thick dark brown head. Heavy on dark chocolate and dark roasted malt in the aroma. Heavy mouthfeel, Opens bitter, follows with a little sweetness of dark chocolate, bitter bite on the finish. Great beer, couldn’t get enough, but hard to take more than one.


 GeneralGao (3051), Iowa City, Iowa, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/105/515/20
May 5, 2009  
Draft at Sunset Grill. Poured a dark dark brown color with thin ruddy highlights and a tan head. Attractive aroma of flowery hops, pine, citrus, and roasty malt. Medium to full bodied with mild roasty bitterness and a dash of salt. The combination of pine and alcohol create an almost gin-like note that is accompanied by chocolate, minimal soy, and flower blossom. Nice hoppy imperial stout.


 elihapa (1051), Honolulu, California, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/56/102/514/20
May 3, 2009  
Bomber, samples as part of BLIND tasting series. I offer this as an explanation for the carnage that follows. . . sits opaque black with a substantial tan head and lacing. Aroma hits with sharp dark chocolate covered cherries, dark fruit, dried apricot and peach (as it warmed, I began identifying these flavors as hop-contingent). Some of the sharpness of the nose must be due to high levels of alcohol. Upon sipping, initial mouthfeel is thick, syrupy and substantially oily. Flavor starts with bold sweetness, dark chocolate and fruit primarily. Soon after these flavors are joined by some roasts and licorice, maintaining sweetness overall. Lastly, ash and black coffee kick in on the finish in a way that is both jarring and heavy-handed. Without a label to refer back to for guidance (this was a blind tasting), I felt lost in describing how strange this beer was. Don’t get me wrong, there are aspects about it I love (the appearance, novelty, and even the rich finish), but its negatives are too painfully (oily, suffocating palate, rotten fruit elements) that gnaw away my overall standing with this beer.


 moejuck (1165), Ohio, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/516/20
May 2, 2009  
Deep brown body with a thick tan head. The aroma is lots of roasted malt and sweet cocoa scents, with a definite hop presence as well. The taste is much the same, with the hops coming through end the end. The best part of this beer is the mouthfeel. Great thick and sticky presence with great carbonation.



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