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Big A IPA
Smuttynose Brewing Company
- 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:
- Nov 14, 2023
- Added:
- Jun 16, 2002
- Wants:
- 100
- Gots:
- 161
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.
Ratings by CharlatanSin:
Reviewed by CharlatanSin from Connecticut
4.05/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Smuttynose makes probably my favorite IPA, so needless to say, I'm looking forward to the double in a big way. Poured from a bomber into the rockin' Hold Steady pint glass.
Appearance: Pours an amber color, which is a little more clear and yellow tinged than I like in my double IPAs. On the plus side, it's got a strong, white, bubbly head that sticks around for the ride and leaves monster lacing.
Smell: Big pine hops dominate, with a fair amount of sweet citrus.
Taste: A giant, piney hop profile. There's a fair amount of tropical citrus, more orange or tangerine than the grapefruit I'm used to tasting recently. It's bitter and hot. Also, to be honest, I taste more than a tiny bit of marijuana in there (not that I would know what that tastes like...I smelled the cool kids smoking it. I mean...I was holding it for a friend). It all combines to make a massive hop bomb. I'd expect nothing less from Smutty.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a pretty high level of carbonation, which combines with the hot hops to beat your tongue up.
Drinkability/Overall: Their normal IPA dominates its class, which I can't say about this double IPA. Still, it's a very good beer for a hophead like me. When I need my giant hop fix, I will reach for this one again.
Dec 09, 2009Appearance: Pours an amber color, which is a little more clear and yellow tinged than I like in my double IPAs. On the plus side, it's got a strong, white, bubbly head that sticks around for the ride and leaves monster lacing.
Smell: Big pine hops dominate, with a fair amount of sweet citrus.
Taste: A giant, piney hop profile. There's a fair amount of tropical citrus, more orange or tangerine than the grapefruit I'm used to tasting recently. It's bitter and hot. Also, to be honest, I taste more than a tiny bit of marijuana in there (not that I would know what that tastes like...I smelled the cool kids smoking it. I mean...I was holding it for a friend). It all combines to make a massive hop bomb. I'd expect nothing less from Smutty.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a pretty high level of carbonation, which combines with the hot hops to beat your tongue up.
Drinkability/Overall: Their normal IPA dominates its class, which I can't say about this double IPA. Still, it's a very good beer for a hophead like me. When I need my giant hop fix, I will reach for this one again.
More User Ratings:
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, 2016Reviewed 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, 2016Reviewed 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.
Big A IPA from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
1725 ratings
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