Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale

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

12oz Bottle Best by: 8/08 There is a noseful of spicy hoppiness that hits right away. A solid toasted malt presence is met with a touch of caramel and lays down a nice foundation. The hops are more prominent than I expected. A spicy hoppiness leads the way but is followed by grassy and floral notes. Every now and then I pick up hints of orange peel which adds another dimension to an already good smelling brew. The flavor follows the nose closely. A good spiciness kicks things off and leads from beginning to end with the floral and orange qualities showing up mid palate. The grassiness comes about here and there but never in the same spot. All this over is shown over the top of a respectable toasted maltiness with a drizzling of caramel. This is a good beer from Smutty. The mouthfeel is right where it should be with this beer. Medium bodied with a solid enough carbonation to keep things moving but does show a little stick on the swallow. Finishes a bit dry which accentuates the bitterness which is right down my alley. This glass is going down very easily and I actually wish I had a few more in the fridge. A solid example of a pale ale on the hoppy side of the spectrum. Very nicely done! Shoal’s Pale Ale is a high quality beer. To be perfectly honest I didn’t expect a whole lot from this beer and I am pleasantly surprised. I enjoy my pale ales on the hoppier side of the spectrum and this one hits the spot. Thanks again Israel! 6/18/08

Had this a million times, but I guess I’ve never rated it somehow! Pours a light fizzy yellow/amber. Nose is very basic hints of lighter malts and a little bit of hops. This isn’t a huge strange beer, or overly powerful, but it does what a good pale sets out to do and that’s be drinkable, smooth, and easy to sit down and drink a bunch of.

Overall not bad. Nicely complex. Sweet and a bit tangy yet still with a slight bitter bite. Color is very rich amber. The extensive, malty aftertaste doesn’t do a lot for me, but I can appreciate it.

12 oz bottle purchased from Bertelli’s in Clifton. As I started to pour it started out as a light brown color, but quickly turned a few shades darker. I enjoyed the nice smell, but a little too bitter for my taste (although well within the style).

I tried this and other beers from smuttynose due to family living in NH and the high marks in Mens Journal. Its okay. Nothing extraordinary.

Bottle, thanks to Ty5592! Pours clear coppery amber with a thick and lacy beige head. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Lightly sweet aroma of nuts, toast, fruit and floral hops.The taste starts with a little toffee sweetness. Dry earthy finish with lingering bitterness.

Pours a copper orange with a one finger creamy light yellow head. The nose is sweet, very malty, caramel, light herbal hop, some sweet candy. The flavor is malty, mild piny earthy hops, some sweetness, spicy, bready/earthy malt. Definitely an English style. The palate is mildly bitter and a bit thin?

12 ounce bottle from Downtown Wine & Gourmet in Harrisonburg, VA, dated sometime in 2009. Pours a slightly hazy copper color with a thin head, poor head retention but very nice lacing. Aroma of toasted malts and caramel. Taste is primarily bitter hops with some almost roasty malt notes. Medium bodied.