Beer 100! Belgian White, Portsmouth Brewery, Portsmouth New Hampshire

Beer 100! But really, who's counting....

So another from the brewery I cannot get enough of - but unfortunately can't get any more of! It's a wonderful brewery in Portsmouth, NH and with their sister brewery, Smuttynose - they are my favorite new find of the past few years. A perfect way to celebrate 100 - let's drink.

It pours a bright glowing straw with a tight head.

The aroma is a complex bouquet of orange peel, coriander, deep spices and citrus. Mild honey is also present, but not too sweet.

The flavor is equally complex. It starts with the orange peel. In the medium body, the deep spices are revealed. It ends with a crisp sweetness. Some milder flavors in the body are white pepper and coriander. The citrus and white pepper play on the tongue in the finish along with a mild yeast.

The aftertaste is quite mild and the crispness gives way to a nice creamy citrus. It resets quickly, but the white pepper lingers for a bit longer. A wonderful flavor is left in the mouth.

Okay, I might just be a Portsmouth/Smuttynose fanatic, but another wonderful beer from the New Hampshire duo. It is available seasonally in 22oz bottles at or very near the brewery and on tap at their brewpub in Portsmouth.

Cheers!

Finestkind IPA, Smuttynose Brewing Company, Portsmouth New Hampshire

The bold and the beautiful - my name for our next beer, Finestkind IPA from one of my favorite breweries, Smuttynose in Portsmouth, NH. This brewery makes several fine ales and they are available all over the Northeast. I HIGHLY recommend sampling ANY of their beers. I don't think it will be something you'll regret!

Although I try to be impartial about the beers I drink, it is hard to suppress that this is tied for number 1 in my list of IPA's. What's the other one? Another time, another post...

It pours a glowing amber with a big foamy head.

The smell has a full hop aroma. It is flowery, with a slight citrus. There is also a very subtle yeast aroma, as well.

The taste is all big hop flavor. It is quite bold and hop front. There is both a coppery and a flowery flavor to the hops. It isn't overly bitter, but there is bitterness there. For being so hoppy, I feel it still has a smoothness to it. It is crisp and refreshing.

The aftertaste is all hop with bitterness. It is full strong hop.

The Smuttynose website states that this is a beer for Hopheads, and I agree. It slakes my need for the hop! It has 65 IBU's and is unfiltered, so don't be afraid if there is some sediment floating around in your pint. It is dry hopped (hops added late in the brewing process).

If you like hops and have the chance to sample this beer, please do and let me know your thoughts!

Cheers!

Scotch Ale, Smuttynose Brewing Company, Portsmouth NH

And now to one of my very favorite breweries...ever, the Smuttynose Brewery in New Hampshire. I strongly recommend enjoying any of their beers if you get a chance. They are all over the Northeast. Let's see how their Scotch Ale holds up - it's a beer I haven't yet had from their line-up.

It pours a deep hue, brownish/caramel and has a light head.

The smell is all malt, a little on the sweet side. There is a mild chocolate and subtle alcohol aroma.

The taste is malty, but with a distinct smokiness. It doesn't taste as sweet as it smells, though there is a caramel flavor. It is a full body beer, a little on the heavy side for sure. If you let it warm up a little, it gets thicker with a fuller body and the flavors are pulled out and more distinct.

The aftertaste is smokey and malty. A great cold weather sipper!

From the bottle I learned that the peat smoked malt provides the smoky flavor in the beer. It is 8.2%.