Whole Lotta Citra
Smuttynose Brewing Company

From a 16 oz. can dated 12/31/20. Sampled Feb 6, 2021.

The appearance is a slightly cloudy olive-yellow with a modest, lasting white foamy head.

The aroma emits a citrus feast of pineapple, orange, and lemon with a lower profile white breadiness.

Light-medium mouthfeel.

The taste is slightly sweet but the citrus characters are fairly abundant. It finishes light and refreshing.

Pours a nice hazy vibrant golden color with a generous head and lacing
Aroma had citrus and tropical hints
The taste follows the nose with a well balanced citrus and tropical flavor
A medium bodied moderately carbonated beer
A good IIPA

 

A: Golden pineapple-gold pour has a clean clarity, Finest kind it is not, upon the first pour. A feverish pitch of effervesce erupts in the vessel, macro-bubbles that quickly move within. Soapy bright white head that was two inches, leaving a soapy build of lace adherence on the vessel walls.

S: Sweet peaches, fruity melon and passion fruit are fresh and bold on the nose. Sweet and juicy with secondary notes of pineapple. Fresh whirlpool showcases the vase extreme versatility of the citra hops. Sugary sweet grain juices round out.

T: Pineapple fresh wet citrus burst and thrive for the flavor. Mango-peaches are slightly dry with some toasted grain backing. Grapefruit-melon flowery hopping has a strong and aggressive bite and edge to it with some semi-dry oranges that is tart and tangy. Some herbal hop fruitiness and toasted grain sweetness is followed by a nice dry hopping of and dank awareness of grapefruit on the finish.

M: Bubbly texture on the mouthful, sweet caramel coating on tongue. Powdery hop flowers leaves a fine silt coating along with a soft feel and a solid medium fullness.

O: Seems like forever that I have had a Smutty. I remember their unfiltered "Finest Kind" which was a palate wrecker back in the day and old time favorite. I love the contrast shown here between the whirlpool wet nose and dry hop flavor that really showcases the true versatility of the Citra hop. A whole lotta citra, and whole lotta hopping that does not disappoint and is worthy of high regards and a recommendation.

A: Poured from the can into a Tree House tulip. Body is clear-ish - that is, it's nothing like the NE IPAs I've been drinking of late, but it's not perfectly clear, either. Half-finger bubbly bright-white head on top that dissipates fairly quickly.

S: Sweet citrus - think oranges - and a bready/doughy foundation.

T: Follows the nose, with a bread dough/sugar cookie dough malt foundation. It's then followed by some green, raw hops - think pine or grass - up front, and then more sweet citrus: oranges, orange peel, some lemons. Slight heat from the alcohol noted on the back end of the palate, and felt as warmth in the belly.

M: Good feel to this one for a DIPA (albeit one on the lighter side): call it medium in heft. A modest chalkiness lingers, causing me to knock this one down from 4.25 on the feel score. That also detracts from the taste - it becomes more noticeable the longer I drink this one. . . .

O: A solid DIPA that's more in the traditional style than the NE style. I like the Citra hop, so I'm not surprised that I like this beer. A cleaner finish and this one would be bumped up a bit in the score, but it's still a solid beer.