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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?  
 RichJ7 (1175), Cullman, Alabama, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Nov 20, 2007  
Dark pour, tan head, etc. Nice aroma of chocolate, some dark fruitiness, maybe a brandy or port wine note or two. Flavor is full and rich, massively malty. Nice little dryness on the end. Fairly well balanced and smooth, despite the high gravity. Excellent.


 bboeckl (133), Grafton, Wisconsin, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/104/514/20
Nov 15, 2007  
Thick dark beer with tan head. urgent bitter notes strike the palate and are followed by a thick bitter java. There is some sweetness, some oatmeal, but this is tempered by an acidic bite. Tastes like an IPA on steriods with the profile of a Stout. I can see how ratebeerians have given this beer a high rating because of the overwhelming bias towards the darker stouts. I did not find the incredible balance or complexity in this stout that would be necessary to rate it more highly. Nevertheless, a good beer. Just a bit overrated on this site. Chocolate, Carmel and other flavors present... just dwarfed by the bitterness and hoppiness. I don’t think I’d buy this one again.


 Lubiere (4462), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
Nov 4, 2007  
A deep dark stout with a thin moka head. Pleasant chocolate aroma, with vinous notes, alcohol, prunes, very noice and complex. In mouth, a good coffee moka with bitter chocolate, prunes, alcohol in finale, very warming. This can be described as chewy. A quality beer from Smuttynose!


 Dubbercody (214), Vancouver, Washington, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/103/514/20
Nov 4, 2007  
Bomber bottle that’s been in my cellar that’s been there for almost a year, and wow, tasty, what a difference a year can make. It was great before, but a year of fine handling, yowza. I’m sitting here, with 40 degree weather outside, savoring a dark, chewy, nice RIS. I’m glad I put two of these away in my cellar, and I’m glad the weather has turned and I can enjoy this style again.


 StompBrockmore (300), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/518/20
Nov 1, 2007  
650ml bomber - Pours blaaaaaack with a big, dark mocha head on top. Left a tonne of beautiful lacing all over the glass. Appearance is totally flawless. Aroma is big and strong, full of powerful espresso, chocolate, huge roasted malts, some licorice. Flavour is quite hoppy right off the bat, which then subsides to allow for the cascade of massive chocolate and coffee flavours that follow. Hardly a trace of alcohol at all. Medium bitterness in the finish, getting a little more intense at the very end. A hop forward and powerful Imperial stout. Loved this one. Like drinking dessert for sure. Awesome.


 marcus (1821), Sacramento, California, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/105/518/20
Oct 30, 2007  
This dark brown ale poured with a nice tan head, eliciting a strong malt/alcohol aroma. There is an intense chocolate and coffee flavor, making this a great dessert drink. There is a lingering hop taste at the finish that invites another sip. I really like this one. Thanks, Kan.


 LooseCannon (914), Norfolk, Virginia, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Oct 27, 2007  
22oz bottle, 2007 bottled. Pours jet black in color with small brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, coffee and sweet chocolate. Taste of bitter dark chocolate and roasted coffee with bitter finsih.


 EithCubes (2139), Indiana, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/58/104/517/20
Oct 26, 2007  
Bomber from 46er3498 - thanks, Tom! This one bottled in 2007. Big salty licorice and roast aroma, less so coffee when compared to that big, meaty roast. Almost candyish, with lots of malt and sweet IPA hops - grapefruity Cascade overload, maybe some other C-hops. Pitch pour with a gorgeous light brown head that’s as firm as can be and creeps up the sides. Lingers for minutes. Earthy, dark, caramel, hop-drenched, lightly bitter and sticky notes fighting the strong dry roast coffee overtones, chocolate and light figgy molasses. Grapefruit and noticeable alcohol round things out. Very, very dry roast coffee aftertaste with just a touch of hoppy prickling. Otherwise smooth, soft and creamy feel. Has some notes in common with FFF’s Black Sun (that’s a compliment) and Smutty’s own robust porter, but this is a bit richer and fuller. This is just way too young and combative, but with some mellowing and melding, I could score this through the roof! I love this, a real stiff drink.



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