Smuttynose Maibock

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

Aroma was of a lot of fruitiness and a light maltiness. A little medicinal notes to this. Had a weird taste to it that threw me off a litle bit.

Nice haze orange in color. With a nice fluffy head on top that doesn’t fade away quickly. Looks VERY good. A not so pungent sweet malt aroma. Sugary aroma. Haven’t seen this in a heller bock before. If it was more pungent I would have given it a higher score. Nice sweet sugary taste. Nice bitter hop at the end that doesn’t last long but makes an impression. A very good beer indeed! Awesome flavor. Biggest thing about this beeer is the sweet flavor. Slight yeast flavor added in to compliment the sweet sugar flavor. Cheers!

Botte: Tart and somewhat hoppy (grassy, citric) for a bock; not overly smooth, and certainly not very flavorful for a big brew. Tingling alcoholic bite, though.

Aroma is floral and zesty, heavy on the malts, with corn and grainy notes. Appearance is golden-orange and pours with a quick fading fizzy head. A lot of bubbles surfacing but hardly any head at all remaining on top. Flavors are sweet and malty with apricot and peachy fruits, caramel, and a little zip in the finish. After just a few sips this became too sweet and sticky, almost to the point of being unpleasant and hard to drink. I love Smutty but I wasn’t a fan of this one

Pours hazy amber with lasting two finger beige head and great lacing. Nose of apricot, orange peel, lemon grass, overall citrus, caramel malt, and yeast. Flavor was much the same- with molasses and caramel evident from the residual sugar. Nice lingering spicy hop bite. mouthfeel was rich and smooth- surprisingly so for a beer this light. Lots of flavor packed into an excellently balanced package- definite winner.

A hazy light amber with gorgeous creamy head and lace. Big aroma of elegant sweet, fresh malt, hint of honey, subtle fruit and spicy hops. Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, tons of malty goodness, smooth, toasty (someone mentioned hints of smokiness and I did perceive that as well) with hints of fruit, clean as hell. Spicy/earthy hop and yeast bite. A treat!

Bottle acquired via trade with blipp. Pours a filtered copper color from the bomber with a malty off-white head and mild carbonation. Smells of yeast, juicy grapes, and gym sock. Features the flavors of underripe strawberries, white grapes, red apples, sourdough, and plenty of malt. Builds in character as you drink it, but I would not recommend handling a bottle on your lonesome, as there is an element of pumpkin pie spice that grows tiresome.

(From 8-3-08 sampling- thanks to whoever brought it!) Hazy orange in appearance, medium carbonation, aroma of oranges, bread, and musk. Hits the mouth with a medium body, malt seemed to be very slightly toasted, some mild sweetness in the middle, finish that lingers with a slight hop note. Good stuff maynard!