Smuttlabs Herbaceous
Smuttynose Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listed as the 2014 version of a wet hop india pale ale. Looks and tastes almost like a hoppy bock. Appears very dark, and smells malty, with some hop presence. Taste is very chocolatey and malty, with some, but not a ton, of hop presence near the back end.

If it weren't for the label, I'd think this was a bock. I almost wonder if it was mislabeled. If not, this is an interesting take on a wet hop IPA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dark, dark red brown pour. Stubborn soap scum retention and lace. Looks like a very impressive brown ale.

Juicy fruit and sharp citrus aroma. Flavor follows up where the aroma left off with citrus aplenty. Very light body, but impressive for 4.35%. There's unmistakably caramel in there too but not as much as the color would indicate. Lots of caramunich I guess?

A good beer but $18 is just silly. I hadn't heard of this before and I'll buy anything Smutty. I had assumed it was a wild barrel aged, obscure ingredient something. I understand it costs a lot to brew a fresh hop ale in NH due to overnighting 150 lbs. of citra but they have breweries on the West Coast too.