Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale

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

bottled, amber color w/ small head. the aroma is mainly hops, the flavor is hoppy but balanced w/ adequate amount of maltiness.

Crystal malt offers a strong caramel aroma with some mild, citrus, floral, earthy hop notes. Very clear copper coloured body is topped by a finger of off-white, large-bubbled head that recedes to a partial cover. Fruity esters up front blend with floral and earthy hops and a fair bitterness with some caramel maltiness. Medium light body with moderate carbonation. Bottle (trade, May-2005) marked as brewed and bottled in February (I assume 2005). Thanks, jah noth!

Definatly can tell the difference from an APA. This has a lot of earthy tones. Mild dry hopped aroma. Light brown color with an orange tint. No real head. Nice hoppy bite. Very different taste. Grassy. Drinkable pale ale.

Bottle. Brewed and bottled: 01/05. Red-copper pour with smallish light-tan head that leaves some lacing. Aroma of citrusy hops, sweet malts and hints of spices. A serious lack of body in this one. It’s all very dry, bitter hops. Distinct absence of sweetness. The bitterness is apparent immediately and lingers forever. This isn’t the good, tasty bitterness either. I’ll definitely need a glass of water after drinking this. This is very dirty-tasting. Like licking dirt or grass.

Pours a hazy light brown with a thick lacy tan head. Smells of light hops, a bit spicy and sour malt. Taste is surprisingly good. It’s hoppy, not overly so but assertive. Well balanced with a strong grainy malt taste. Apple-like yeasty flavors. Medium bodied with a persistent hoppy aftertaste. Crisp and smooth. Damn drinkable. as others have said, very good session beer. A very solid offering and a nice surprise. Does Smuttynose ever miss?

Mildly hazy amber/rosewood pour supporting a small dusky white head (which needed some urging to generate). Fruity aroma with a toasty background. Well balanced flavors of dried apricot, vanilla, a little toffee, malt and even a porter-like milk chocolate all backed up by a solid hop bitterness. Flinty, clean and bitter finish. This is a nice Pale which shares some of the flavor profiles with other Smuttynose ales (probably due to their house yeast).

bottle. tarnished copper in color with a head that disappeared so quick I almost missed it. a tangey, carbonated bite on the front end that fades to some malt and a bit of hops on the finish. not quite as thirst quenching as I had hoped.

Most pale ales seem to come across too sweet for my palate, not this one. Poured a deep amber with a beautiful dirty white head that refused to quit that thickly laced the glass. The aroma was hoppy and the taste was Gr Apple sweet to citrus pine hops quickly transitioning to dry and bitter. The finish was definitely dry with just enough hop bitters. Well done Smuttynose.