Homunculus (Big Beer Series)
Smuttynose Brewing Company

Homunculus (Big Beer Series)Homunculus (Big Beer Series)
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From:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Belgian IPA
Ranked #50
ABV:
9.37%
Score:
86
Ranked #18,315
Avg:
3.84 | pDev: 12.5%
Reviews:
181
Ratings:
475
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 14, 2023
Added:
Feb 11, 2007
Wants:
  24
Gots:
  46
This hoppy, Belgian-style golden ale first appeared in early 2007 as the first edition of our Short Batch Series. At that time, we called it the Gnome, an homage to Brasserie d'Achouffe.

45 IBU

2011 - 9.9%
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Luigi:
Photo of Luigi
Reviewed by Luigi from North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours an light orange and hazy. Large foamy white head with plenty of lacing around the glass. Head retention is good as a blanket of foam stays with the ale till the end.

The aroma can be judged in two ways: is this really a Belgium IPA? The bottle just says golden ale. This would imply a Belgium strong golden ale, like Duval. So I think I will judge it based of the aroma matched the description. The aroma is full of sweet fruit. White grapes and orange. Hops are more citrus than pine like. The yeast brings a distinctive Belgium character to the ale. Alcohol, certainly brings sweetness to the nose. Maybe should have been toned down a bit.

The flavor is full of sweet and sour fruit notes. Not a very bitter hop, because the booze is not masked as well as I would like. Full of citrus and almost white wine flavors. Again the booze taste just is not hidden as well.

Medium bodied with a semi-dry finish. Something you would want to take your time one because of Alc. %.

Overall, I do not know what to think of this Ale. The Belgium characteristics are all there. Just tone down the sweetness a little bit.
Feb 29, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by seakayak from Massachusetts

Nov 14, 2023
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a semi-hazy bronzed orange color with a slim little white head that dissipated pretty quickly. Lacing runs about lightly in a semi-filmy nice looking way. The smell had a sweet grassy to citrusy burst running into some light floral hops. A light breadiness shows with some Belgian sugars to balance out the aroma. The taste was moderately sweet with the Belgian sugars, grassiness, floral qualities and citrusy hops to run slightly into the flavor. The aftertaste is semi-floral with sweet grassiness and Belgian sugars. The finish is dry and semi-sweet. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium in body with a pretty good sessionability about it. Carbonation runs fairly light. There’s a nice dryness along my tongue. Overall, I’d say this was a nice Belgian Strong ale that I would have again.
Aug 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.83 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Jul 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.79 by h4ger from Connecticut

May 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.83 by LostHighway from Minnesota

May 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4.05 by 6thstreetbrewpub from District of Columbia

Dec 14, 2016
Photo of jeffdr123
Reviewed by jeffdr123 from Florida

4.3/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This honey colored beer has a complex flavor that includes sweet, and pepper and herbs and hops. They take turns dominating. The abv makes it a good late night sipper. Makes sense that it's part of a Big Beer series.
Jul 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.9 by glinnebur from Arizona

Jul 13, 2016
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

4.32/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: It is orange with a white head.

Smell: It has a high level of citrus aromas that include peach. There are also background aromas of pine and floral hops. There is a good malt backbone that features a bready aroma.

Taste: It has a high hop flavor that features citrus and pine flavors, along with a peach element. The bready malt backbone is well into the background as a complimentary flavor.

Feel: It has a moderate heavy feel to it. It has a bittersweet hop finish with alcohol warming.

Overall: This is a strong, hoppy beer that produce several hop elements and slight malt with a quality alcohol warmth to it.
Mar 31, 2016
Photo of FBGordon
Reviewed by FBGordon from Oregon

3.81/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bomber into a room temp tulip.

A: Pours a hazy apricot gold with an off-white head that settles down quickly but maintains well.

S: Yeasty pepper notes, dried fruit and light hops are out front. Very pleasant.

T: Balanced almost to the malt, with notes of sweet dried fruits, dates, raisins and lemon zest with a touch of candy sugar.

M: Medium body that's slim in all the right places, with an almost textbook carbonation for a Belgian beer.

O: A nicely made Belgian IPA. I haven't too many of these that I absolutely loved, but I'd drink this again. A good beer for most occasions.
Feb 24, 2016
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a bomber from the Craft Beer Hop Stop in late December for $5.99. "Bottled in 2015".

Beer poured golden orange with a nice white head initially.

Nose is belgian fruity esters forward.

Taste is very nice, hoppy citrus with some apple balanced nicely by the large but light malt base. Lemon-pepper finish.

Mouthfeel is light to medium and exceedingly smooth.

Overall this was a total surprise at the quality of this brew! It is pretty darn close to being the best North American Belgian brew that i have. And the price is quite nice - definitely try it if you are a Belgian strong golden ale fan!
Feb 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.27 by WickedBeer from Alabama

Feb 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.9 by That_Turtle from New Jersey

Jan 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.11 by mrdilone from Connecticut

Dec 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.81 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Dec 16, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by byronic from Canada (ON)

Dec 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.88 by bpmorrissey from Massachusetts

Nov 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.85 by polloenfuego from Canada (NB)

Nov 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.28 by hop_junkie from New Hampshire

Nov 14, 2015
Homunculus (Big Beer Series) from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 475 ratings