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Big A IPA
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Smuttynose Brewing Company
- New Hampshire, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
- ABV:
- 9.7%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.96 | pDev: 10.86%
- Reviews:
- 896
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 12, 2019
- Added:
- Jun 16, 2002
- Wants:
- 100
- Gots:
- 161
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Notes:
Ever since Stash Wojciechowski, the “Killer Kielbasa,” created this Imperial IPA for our Big Beer Series, Big A IPA has gotten a lot of attention. Lauded by the New York Times and Men's Journal Magazine, it’s been one of the most talked-about beers around. Brewed in very small quantities, it has also been one of the hardest-to-find. Until now.
Big A IPA has everything you’d want in an India Pale Ale, only more: more hops, more malt & more flavor. Na zdrowie!
120 IBU
Big A IPA has everything you’d want in an India Pale Ale, only more: more hops, more malt & more flavor. Na zdrowie!
120 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain
5/5 rDev +26.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +26.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
From Miguel. In Teku glass. Playing Broken Sword 5. Superb mixing of tropical fruits sweetness with high bitterness and very well hidden ABV (in taste/nose, but you stand up...)
Nov 17, 2016
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania
3.8/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Bottle says 8.2% ABV. Slightly hazy golden color with off-white head. Aroma is quite malty but I also get oranges, sweet orange peel, overripe tangerines and also some booze. Taste is quite balanced. Malty but not sweet, earthy, citrusy, piney hops, medium to harsh bitterness on the finish and lingers on the aftertaste with grapefruit flavor. Medium body and carbonation, feels quite smooth. Overall it's a classic double IPA with a solid malt backbone and a good amount of bitterness.
Sep 27, 2016
Reviewed by richj1970 from Alabama
4.1/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12 oz bottle dated 6/22/2016.
A: Clear sunshine yellow with one finger dense white head with lasting retention and leaving some moderate lacing.
S: Fresh pine, grapefruit, tangerine, and pineapple combined with lightly sweet pale malts.
T: Tropical citrus with grapefruit, pineapple, mango, and peaches offset with just the right amount of pale cracker malt.
M: Medium body with average carbonation. Slightly creamy but crisp at the same time. Alcohol is extremely well hidden here.
O: Very nice DIPA with a nice range of aromas and flavors. Definitely something I would revisit anytime I can find fresh.
Jul 17, 2016A: Clear sunshine yellow with one finger dense white head with lasting retention and leaving some moderate lacing.
S: Fresh pine, grapefruit, tangerine, and pineapple combined with lightly sweet pale malts.
T: Tropical citrus with grapefruit, pineapple, mango, and peaches offset with just the right amount of pale cracker malt.
M: Medium body with average carbonation. Slightly creamy but crisp at the same time. Alcohol is extremely well hidden here.
O: Very nice DIPA with a nice range of aromas and flavors. Definitely something I would revisit anytime I can find fresh.
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
3.34/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.34/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Yellow with a medium, soft white head.
Primarily limey hops takeover the nose.
Taste is spicey pine, lime, and fresh hops.
Soft but thin and refreshing.
Jun 29, 2016Primarily limey hops takeover the nose.
Taste is spicey pine, lime, and fresh hops.
Soft but thin and refreshing.
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia
4.03/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From the bottle, it pours a hazy amber with a small head, which lasts a while and leaves a bit of lacing. Nose detects citrus and some malt. Mouth revels in the malty hoppiness. Enjoyable but dangerous.
May 16, 2016Reviewed by Pip_Count_167 from Maine
2.88/5 rDev -27.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
2.88/5 rDev -27.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
I'm spoiled on IPAs and DIPAs that I absolutely love, and this one did not deliver. It's maltier than many IPAs I've had, and I did not enjoy that flavor combination; it muddies the bright hop flavor I want in an IPA. More towards the bitter west coast IPA spectrum than the citrusy Maine IPA spectrum. It didn't help that I tried this in between days that I was drinking Swish... everything's relative, right?
Mar 18, 2016
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
4/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Picked up a single at TW Arrowhead in early January for $3.49. Best by 3/14/16.
Beer poured golden with a soap bubble head that dissipated quickly.
Nose is tropical and citrus forward.
Taste is citrus, pine, with a hint of hop flowers.
Mouthfeel is full and smooth. Very satisfying.
Overall this is a very nice brew. Would love to try one fresher as i suspect the best by date is 6 months.
Mar 06, 2016Beer poured golden with a soap bubble head that dissipated quickly.
Nose is tropical and citrus forward.
Taste is citrus, pine, with a hint of hop flowers.
Mouthfeel is full and smooth. Very satisfying.
Overall this is a very nice brew. Would love to try one fresher as i suspect the best by date is 6 months.
Big A IPA from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
1724 ratings
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