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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?  
 Skeegle (485), Maryland, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/59/105/517/20
May 10, 2008  
This beer met and exceeded my expectations. It poured a thick oily black of the likes of world class brews such as Ten Fidy and Expedition, and while the beer had a full body and complex flavours, it had better drinkability than the big stouts I have tried. I am suprised this is not world class rated. Chunks of brown goo float around the bottle and the beer stains your glass dark brown after every sip you take. This was one heck of a pleasant surprise, and that’s coming in with super high expectations.


 pantanap (1336), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
May 10, 2008  
22oz bottle given to me by BrianK at DLD08. thank you sir..... pours pretty much how an imperial stout should. black or very clost to it with a moderate tan head that seemed to leave a little too soon.... nose of chocolate and roasty malts. nothing too suprising in this regard..... flavor was very smooth with evenness spread out between the chocolate, roast, coggee, and even some hops. carbonation level wasn’t too high, just about right. good mouthfeel. warming.....this def. holds up to some of the higher profile impy stouts. solid all-around.


lightning9191 (82), Christiansburg, Virginia, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/104/518/20
Apr 30, 2008  
This beer pours syrupy with about a quarter inch of head that quickly disappears. The aroma of this is surprisingly very hoppy. I didn’t read the bottle other then the name so this was a good surprise. The aroma is Cascade with some malt in the background. The flavor is similar to this. The first flavors you get are the Cascade hops and then the beer charges into your typical imperial stout flavors (chocolate, coffee, syrupy, delicious). The beer has a heavy body with low carbonation, which is perfect. I really enjoy this beer and will have to move it into my rotation more often.


 decaturstevo (1980), decatur, Tennessee, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Apr 28, 2008  
Btl shared by Springslicker. Very dark brown black pour with a huge head. Aroma of toaste malt and chocolate with hints of coffee. Very smooth choco flavor with hints of coffee as well. Solid mouthfeel and good carbonation. Very nice IS with all the atributes. thanks Jay


IvoR (30), New Jersey, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/104/516/20
Apr 24, 2008  
Bottle. Pours black with medium brown head. Aroma is of hops. Flavor starts out sweet then turns coffee and finally hops. Good, warm finish.


newplanet7 (3), New Hampshire, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Smuttynose Imperial Stout does not count
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Apr 24, 2008  
I’ll be quick with this one. It rocks my casbah. One of NH’s finest. Everyone else summed this up perfectly. Not sure what size bottle you got wetherel but it’s the smuttynose big beer series which are 22oz. They go for $4.99


 wetherel (1590), Encinitas, California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/517/20
Apr 20, 2008  
I wish I remembered who sent this. I write it on every bottle, but I forgot to write it down in my notes. I remember it being expensive, like $20. Possibly puzzl? Brought to Dr Bills. It was my first visit there. What an incredible beer sanctuary. A huge wall of incredibly rare beer, which I thought was just for show, but it turns out many of them were opened later that night. I missed out. No biggie. It was just completely awesome to be there at the beginning. Anyway, enough rambling and onto the rating. Pours black with a small tan head. Chocolate aroma. Lots of bitterness, a bit tannic. Delicious.


 craftbeerdesign (745), Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/517/20
Apr 19, 2008  
shared bomber on 4/6/08, rating from notes taken. pours a dark black with a tan head. bitter up front, medium body, slight coffee notes.... great finish. Overall, not a bad Imperial Stout, but a bit to thin for me.



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