Smuttynose Maibock

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

Bomber bottled in 09. Clear golden color with super head. Thick and rich on the tongue. With my eyes closed, I probably would guess a darker color. Very big malt, with sweetness and phenols. It pushes almost into doppelbock territory. Hops dry it out on the back end. Peppery and a bit boozy as well. Right now this is the top ranked Maibock at RB, but I might have preferred a slightly lighter touch.

Pours slightly cloudy honey with thin white head (looks terribly similar to the IPA). Smells of a refreshing apricot, passion fruit nectar with some acorn on the side. A hint of zesty phenol activity, some interesting yeast must have been involved. Tastes a bit belgian with a mild refreshing aftertaste of fruit salad juice and mild lagerish hops. bit of syrup feel. Overall: Interesting, but not amazing, I wouldn’t get it again, at least not for a while

Pours hazy dark golden color with white head. Aromas of bread dough and caramel. Moderately sweet caramel flavor with bready malts. Alcohol is slightly noticeable. Medium body with average carbonation.

Bottle 65 cl. Courtesy of TheCheeseMan. Pours a clear deep golden with an off-white head. Aroma of sweet clean malts. Medium body, sweet clean and malty with a somewhat tired mouthfeel. Dry, lightly bitter finish. 130809

Clear brown, nice white head. Nutty, toasty aroma, and the flavor is pretty much the same. Fairly simple, but well made and pretty darn tasty. Nicely dry finish.

Pours clear orange with a small off-white head. The aroma has lightly toasted malt, doughiness, esters and medicinal licorice like notes. Medium / full somewhat slick body with lots of gentle carbonation. The flavor begins with lightly toasted doughy malt, spicy hops and peppery notes. the finish is very hoppy for the style with spicy and earth traits and some dirtiness and and abv heat. A nice and interesting take on the style. I’d love to try this a bit fresher.

22oz bomber purchased at McKinnon’s in Salem, NH - split with BA CheckMate. Pours a light amber slightly hazy body with a good inch of off-white head that slowly dissipates. Smells malty and biscuity, with a fair bit of noble hops (I’m guessing hallertau?) put there to balance it out. Definitely a bit hop forward for the style IMO, noble hops giving a citrussy bite to it, with a fair bit of malt, expressing itself as toffee, caramel, biscuit, and a bit of chocolate toward the finish. Fairly clean finish, though not as clean or dry as some lagers. Medium in both mouthfeel and carbonation. Not the quickest drinker around, but the pleasant flavors, the balance of the flavors, and the medium body definitely make one sip invite another. Overall, a very solid beer - not quite what I was expecting but more drinkable than many in the series, not to mention much much better balanced. Nice.

Bottle at Papsø. Clear golden coloured with a medium sized white head. Sweet and fruity aroma of caramel and dried fruits with notes of vandies. Sweet and fruity flavour of caramel, candies, hops and pine needles. Dry hoppy finish.