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Smuttynose Imperial Stout

Smuttynose Imperial Stout - Imperial Stout

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 Percentile 
99
overall
Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout

Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
6073.96/5.03.94/5.0Winter10.1%84.2Snifter
View Statistics  P 

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?  
 decaturstevo (1971), 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 (1565), 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 (731), 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.


 phiconners (122), Massachusetts, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/104/516/20
Apr 5, 2008  
On tap at the Horseshoe Pub. Pours a dark black, nice tan head. Strong flavor, but not overpowering, excellent stout.


 SpringsLicker (2041), Tennessee, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Apr 1, 2008  
Bottle 2006. Opaque black at the pour with a long lasting tan head. Rich, sweet malt aroma. The flavor is rich chocolate, coffee. Big and roasty. Nice brew.


 EricE (446), Fairfax, Virginia, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/105/57/105/517/20
Mar 29, 2008  
Perfect looking pour - thick and opaque with a dark tan head that lasts. Aroma - one word - HOPS. All hops. Very interesting flavor. Like a black tan made from an imperial IPA and an imperial stout. Could be a bit sweeter, but the hops don’t dominate as much as on the aroma. Good, perhaps even better after some aging.



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