Short Batch #3 - Smutt-a-Roni
Smuttynose Brewing Company

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From:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 13.03%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
18
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 21, 2013
Added:
Dec 12, 2007
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Wild rice ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by seplo from Connecticut

May 21, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by jophish17 from Georgia

Dec 24, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by nathanjohnson from Vermont

Nov 18, 2011
Photo of OddNotion
Reviewed by OddNotion from New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
22oz "growler" (counter pressure filled bomber) sent to me by mikesgroove... once again thanks for a great opportunity Mike, you are the man! Poured into my Victory Golden Monkey bulb pint glass.

Appearance: Huge four finger head, seems the counter pressure fill certainly put this pressure into this one! Pours a nice orange color with an off white head. Color is nice but the head is a bit ridiculous given the style.

Smell: Interesting smell, nothing like any pale ale I have smelled before, it reminds me of something else that I can not put my finger on. Alright I got it, very unexpected but I am catching soem funky bretty smells not unlike an Oud Bruin. Very odd.

Taste: Interesting. Not quite sure what to make of it. I can not get this idea out of my head that there is some Brett in the beer in some way shape or form. I get the citrus from the hops and some other flavors that are a mix between Brett and rye. I think I am more confused than anything with this one but it is certainly enjoyable. I think the Brett type character that is most noticable is the slight fruity hints alongside the funk which work well with the hop flavor. Maybe it is the rice as I am not too familiar with the flavor that rice imparts in a beer.

Mouthfeel: Nicely carbonated and very easy drinking. Certainly a great fit for the beer.

Overall: I really think this was a good beer. A little confusing on the combination of the flavors but as I move through the glass they do seem to work well together. A great opportunity to try this beer and certainly a big thanks goes out to Mike once again for hooking me up with this!
Aug 05, 2011
Photo of wchollif
Reviewed by wchollif from North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a counter-pressure filled bomber purchased at CBX in March, into my stone tulip. The appearance on this beer is great. The color is orange honey with about one-finger of head and great lacing throughout the glass. I was not loving the smell, could get a little citrus hops and some grass but nothing too exiting. The flavor was subtle hops and malt with some bitterness. I was actually thinking it had a little funk but finished with some candied notes. There was some sweetness to this, the funkiness wasn't sour but more earthly. I liked this beer, I had the whole bottle. The drink ability was there as the heavy carbonation was present throughout.
Jun 17, 2011
Photo of thagr81us
Reviewed by thagr81us from South Carolina

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Date filled 11/14/10. Served from CBX counter-pressure filled bomber growler into a Stone nonic. Poured a slightly hazy pale yellow-orange with a two finger off-white head. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, citrus, zest, and subtle funk. The flavor was of sweet malt, banana, citrus, orange zest, and slight funk. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was not that bad of a brew. This one might not be drinking as good as it was when first filled in the counter pressure bomber. To me it seems like it has developed a nice little Brett funk to it. This just seemed out of place in this brew as I usually enjoy this flavor. It was really easy drinking though. Really glad these were for sale at GBX! Really looking forward to GBX starting a rare bomber program up here as well!
Apr 06, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz growler courtesy of cbx and drank this xmas eve afternoon as the kids are sick and i have no where to go. poured into a hopslam pint glass.

very clear and very nice amber pour with lots of carbonation and just a huge foamy and rocky head that would not fade and leaves a ton of lacing all along the side of the glass. aroma is nice blend of piney citrus, hints of grains, rice, touches of lager and a kick of maybe rye. near perfect feel as it was a touch full, perfectly carbonated and simply an amazing feel it that let the flavor and really let the hops come through. nice touch of citrus up front that blends well into a full bready malt middle that really showed off quite well. nice chewey middle with a hint of grain leaves a very light, ry and nice touch to it in the end.

overall a very nice and very drinkable pale ale. this would make a nice sixer.
Dec 24, 2010
Photo of ShogoKawada
Reviewed by ShogoKawada from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Uploading some old reviews. On tap @ Track 84, Warwick, RI. From notes:

A- Served in a tulip. A pale ale, classic in presentation. Pale golden yellow, 2cm head that is pretty light and bubbly.

S- Aroma comes through as mild pine and earthy hops with a breadiness that gives it a yeasty/creamy note.

T- Follows the nose, earthy pine hops, but of a citrus kiss but very faint. The rice, I geuss, gives this a bready, flour/doughy taste and feel on the tongue. Unusual, but not out of place.

M- Full, doughy, which is something I was not expecting. Crisp, well balanced.

D- I liked it. If it came in bottles I'd think this to be a perfect APA to pick a sixer of. Really tasty. Enjoyable. If you see it, give it a try.
Mar 02, 2010
Photo of glid02
Reviewed by glid02 from Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at the Porter in Atlanta.

Pours a hazy golden-copper color with a one-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of biscuit-like malts with hop aromas that seem past their prime. There's just a hint of tartness that may be from the rice.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Pale malts with hints of biscuit-like flavors up front are joined quickly by sugary citrus hops. Midway through the sip the flavors even out a bit and carry through to a mildly bitter and slightly muddled ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a nice thickness with grainy carbonation.

Drinkability is OK. I finished my glass but I'm not sure about another.

Overall this beer seemed to be somewhat past its prime. I wouldn't turn this down if offered but I can't see myself choosing to order this again.
Jan 17, 2010
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

3.72/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On-tap 1/13/2010 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep gold color, with a short off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of tea, citrus, light caramelized malts and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts with an odd herbal tea-like flavor that is followed by a citrus and caramel sweetness and a touch of smokiness. The hops presence is mild but complementary and the malt character is hearty but not too heavy. Both help provide a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, light-to-medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, decent representation of style, this one has a slightly different twist on it but it's still a good beer overall.
Jan 14, 2010
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

3.53/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Blind Tiger. Pours orange with a thick white head. Aroma of sweet fruits and light spices. Flavor of pale malts, sweet fruits, and coffeecake. Pretty good, I didn't get any rice though. Easy drinking.
Aroma: 7/10
Appearance: 4/5
Flavor: 7/10
Palate: 4/5
Overall: 14/20
(3.6/5)
Apr 15, 2009
Photo of JohnQVegas
Reviewed by JohnQVegas from Tennessee

3.86/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours lightly hazy gold, creamy white head and fantastic lacing.

Nose is sweet citrus, bit grassy, light.

Taste is nicely balanced between lightly sweet pale malt and grassy, citrusy hops. Finish is crisp, snappy, and lightly bitter. Nicely drinkable.

Mouthfeel is light bodied, with moderate carbonation.
Apr 09, 2009
Photo of getalife2k5
Reviewed by getalife2k5 from New York

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
had a thick, creamy white head that may have been able to last all day. cloudy orange/peach colored. smelled of zesty orange peel and apricot. i was really anticipating a sweet fruit beer, but i was wrong. the taste was very light and crisp with slight hints of apple, peach, apricot and some kind of smelly cheese. it was much drier that expected and lightly carbonated which fit the beer well. at first i detected some slight hop bitterness and maybe a little anise... but with each sip the bitterness grew until it was quite bitter. "where the hell did that come from?" i wrote in my notebook. very confusing, but certainly unique. i'm really not sure how to rate it... at least i'll say that it's worth a try, for novelty's sake.
Jun 23, 2008
Photo of gregc
Reviewed by gregc from New York

4.35/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
tap at blind tiger.

Poured a hazy yellowish color.
Aromas of hops, apples, must, grass and some wet wood. Smelled amazing. Flavor was great too, tart apples, citrus, hops very nicely balanced. There is a small amout of musty funk in this beer, its barely noticeable but its there. A wonderful beer from smuttynose might be one of my favorites that they do.
Jun 18, 2008
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours hazed golden with a thin creamy white head that leaves lacing.

The smellis grassy with apple-like fruitiness.

The taste is of earthy, barnyardy mustiness with herbal/grainy bitterness and grainy sweetness. It has a bitterish, dry finish.

Light-bodied and pretty creamy. Refreshing.

An easy-drinking, "session" brew with a refreshing dryness and light complexities. Unique. Interesting use of wild rice. A bit "experimental" while staying light, tasty, refreshing and highly drinkable.
Jun 13, 2008
Photo of Med
Reviewed by Med from Pennsylvania

3.44/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
On tap at The Drafting Room

A - This beer looked almost exactly like an unfiltered apple cider. Completely opaque and tan, with little head or lacing. Noticeable particulates settling in the glass.

S - A little green apple here, but a noticeable hop aroma as well.

T - Slightly tart and funky, but not Brett sour. A very nice belgian pale ale but with some earth and an odd finish I can't quite place.

M - Thick. I hate to go back to the apple cider thing but it was cider left out too long (get's some carbonation). That sounds a lot worse than it is.

D - I'm glad I had the chance to try this beer, but won't rush out for another.
May 31, 2008
Photo of drseamus
Reviewed by drseamus from New York

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A brief synopsis of this beer taken from an email from the Head Brewer, Dave Yarrington:

Smutt-a-Roni is a wild rice beer. A decoction mash was performed because the rice needed a separate gelatinization from the barley malt. 125 pounds of 100% wild rice (Zizania palustris) was used comprising about 7% of the total mash. The bulk of the rest is Pilsener Malt. The base of this beer is meant to be a real pleasant and somewhat hoppy pale ale. We used Sterling for all the hop additions.

My review:

It has a light amber body with a thin white head. There is a light amount of hop aroma but not much in the way of malt. The flavor has a bunch of bitterness but not in a bad way. There is a light noble hop flavor as well. Very light body with decent drinkability.
Jan 02, 2008
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

3.97/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Described as a strong Belgian Ale, served on cask at Barcade in Brooklyn, NY.

A: The ale has a hazy golden color, looking like a midday sun's golden yellow color. The cask pour has imparted a thick white head that clings to the glass in rings with each successive sip.

S: The aroma is dominated by a funky Belgian yeast strain that is at once tart and extremely dry. Caramel malts and candi sugars sweeten things up a bit.

T: The flavor is dominated by the yeast, creating a somewhat funky flavor that has dry apricot and green raisin flavors. The Belgian body is remarkably strong, full of tartness without a significant alcohol kick. The finish is dry, making me want another sip (hence I knocked off the pint in a matter of minutes).

M: A nice Belgian Pale Ale, the abv is well hidden under the flavorful body. Served on cask, the flavors are softened but still enjoyable.

D: I don't know the abv, but this is a nice Belgian pale ale, full of the deliciousness of a Belgian ale without the higher alcohol punch.
Dec 12, 2007
Short Batch #3 - Smutt-a-Roni from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 18 ratings