Smuttynose Maibock

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

650mL Bottle 5/03, 04.23.04. Pours an orangey gold, clouded, minimal head, tons of lacing. Aromas are fascinatingly unusual - heaps of malt, caramel, milk, a pile of pulled weeds, and salt air? Flavors...Wow!...all kinds of sweet, sweet malted layers: milky sweetness, some malted milk candy, potato. There is a touch of bitterness in the finish, then (and this is unusual to me) there is a second finish that is not bitter, but earth, applesauce, butter. This beer is ridiculously good, much better than I expected. The texture, like the flavor, is creamy and sugary (not cloying) at first, but finishes lighter and a bit dry. My only complaint is that the finish may be too dry, but I'm not too familiar with the style.

The pour reveals a clear orange amber color with a thin white head. Very nice aroma of fruits, malt and some sweetness. The flavor has a great fruity, malty presence with some hops and restrained sweetness. The body is medium with an oily texture and gentle carbonation. This is easily the best maibock I’ve had so far.

Pours copper with a nice white sustained head. Smells of biscuits, citrus, lemons, a nice caramelly malty backdrop and some rosey hints. Tastes of caramel, mellow malt, light peppery splashes, hints of citrus, some earthiness and honey. Mouthfeel is sugary with a light hoppy finish. This is an excellent interpretation of the style.

22oz bottle. dark gold/orange under a small white head. a great pleasantly sweet, sugary, malty, yeasty, aroma. flavors of honey, butter, lightly toasted malt, and bit of hoppy bitterness for a clean refreshing finish. malt dominated. medium-full bodied. excellent.

Old gold pour with a tight healthy foam. Spicy nose of ripe peach, malt, and hops. Very smooth palate feel, nice bock flavor. All malt with no signs of canned sweetness. Tobbaco laden hops dominate for complexity. Finishes with a clean hop bitterness that exudes the European dryness that seeems to define the brewery’s style.

Very thin white head which fades rapidly. Clear orange/golden body with a very slight haziness. Sweet malty, sugary, caramel aroma with a bit of floral character. Flavors were very malty and sweet with brown sugar, caramel, and some spiciness. A very slight hint of hops. Palate was slightly sticky and sweet, but well-carbonated and with a very abrupt finish. Very good stuff.

pours a hazey yellow. aroma of a yeast and fruit. taste a banana and some fruit the lager stands out with warming. very yummy.

Tap at Blind Tiger. Pours darkish yellow with a nice white cap. Floral nose with a wonderfully balanced flavor, between crisp refreshing hops and a wonderful, thick but refreshing body. Good bready malts and a touch of sweetness. Very nice beer.