Robust Porter, Smuttynose Brewing Company, Portsmouth New Hampshire

Well, I once again crack open a beer which gives me great excitement and regret at the same time. I know it'll be awhile before I can indulge in a Smuttynose beer again, but alas - I'll relish the ones I have - and this one is their Robust Porter.

It pours opaque with a tight caramel colored head.

The smell is smoky and malty. There are hints of chocolate and a mildly sweet aroma.

It is a thick beer with deep malt. Very robust indeed. There is definitely a smoky taste, as well as chocolate tones that arrive just after the smokiness. It has a very full body - perfect to enjoy as the days grow colder.

The aftertaste is very chocolate - fairly thick and as it lingers, the smokiness is there as well.

As I've mentioned in prior posts, the Smuttynose is a MUST if near New Hampshire - check out the Portsmouth Brewery in Portsmouth!

From their website:

Pale 2-row, Carastan, Dark Crystal, special "b", chocolate malts

Hops: Cascade

5.7 % with 15 IBU's

Also, a little trivia.... From the website, they mention that porter was a favorite among dockworkers and warehousemen - thus the name "porter". I'm curious if this is really how the beer got it's name....

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%.