Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale (2009)

Brewed by Smuttynose Brewing Company
Style: Old Ale
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

I had really high hopes for this beer; perhaps too high. and was disappointed. A 1.5 pt. big bottle bought a while that was "aging" in the back of the fridge; but perhaps the cold environ did not allow it to "mellow and age gracefully" as described. Malty enough for a brown, but the yeast made this as cloudy as a Wheat beer; but dark - like beef broth or unfiltered apple cider. More bitter than i would have thought for a big, aged, brown. (In fact the label has "bottle conditioned in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011" and none were marked in any way. Perhaps this one was missed!)

Brown on color with an off white head that provides some lacing. Scents of caramel and smokey wood. Medium mouthfeel with tastes of caramel, hints of chocolate, and a hint of smoked nuts. There is a pleasant finish with a hint of tobacco left in your mouth.

Brown pour with a thick tan head. The nose is loaded with woody oakiness. Vanilla, bourbon and a touch of sweet nutty malt character. There is a touch of light plumminess in the malts and there is also a little bit of light booziness. As it begins to warm up I get some flavour of dark honey and more peppery alcohol. Oak and figs and a fairly sweet finish. The hops in here are still contributing to the aroma and flavour, but they hide a little bit behind the oak. Lingering cooling finish. Pretty elegant stuff really.

Bottle from state line liquors in Elkton, MD. Clear brown pour with a thin off white head and spotty lace. I wasn’t expecting much from this beer until I got a whiff of all the subtle complexities. Toffee, toast, coffee, and fruits on the nose. Full bodied with a slick mouth-feel. Brown sugar, oak, espresso, caramel, and raisins. Dry alcoholic finish.

22oz bomber from The Lighthouse in Manchester, Maine. Pours a translucent copper body with virtually no head. Caramel, chocolate, toffee, and raisins dominate the aroma. Raisin and toffee are strong parts of the flavor, with some caramel, citrus, chocolate, maybe hints of a peat like flavor. Full bodied bordering on viscous with moderate carbonation. Definitely a sipper for sure. Overall, a tasty sipper great for a cold winter night like tonight. Good stuff.

Poured into a tasting glass from the tap. The color is a dark amber to a very dark brown with a offwhite head. The smell is fruity, deeply malty, a hint of caramel. The taste has brown suagr flavor, roasted malt, and a bit sweet. There also hints of hops and toast. This beer has a nice feel to it. Nicely carbinated and quite mellow

medium brown caramel colored ale it is slick and appears so with suspended bubbles. barley malt powered and fresh tasting it is more like a malt liquer with the palate. some rum and alcohol with little bit of light brown head. i suppose one could say it is a bit toasty with caramel touches to the flavor. satisfying.