Smuttynose Brewing Company

 

En route to Pils & Love Portland pre-game and generally there’d be a stop somewhere(s) along the way and I’m talking about beer, here. Stopping in New Haven for that pie(s) at Modern doesn’t count. That’s just a given. I mean, Modern, right? Mid-afternoon making good time, and oh, I know, Smutty’s so looooong overdue. I mean, hell, I’ve been drinking that brown ale since the 90’s, how have I never come on out and seen their new digs? Exit here. Over the hills and through the woods, to Smutty we will go…

Big beautiful brewery building here, restaurant over there. We were just dropping in for a few beers so the restaurant seemed the play but we went for the brewery instead for no good reason. Entered in, and through the swag store to the tasting room. Small corner counter there with an 8 tap tower and cans & bottles for the pour. Blackboard on the back wall lists tap selections (beer, ABV, & style). The 4 beer sampler ran (like) $5, so yes, please. Filled out the card for Rocky Road American Stout, Smuttlabs The Stallion Imperial Stout, Old Brown Dog Ale, & Robust Porter (those latter 2 I’ve had many times before but never the sauce at the source), and was fed a bonus Tangerine Tango IPA by Super Sarah. A few tables off the bar housing a cast of brewery characters (Oh, hey Steve, and that was before they sent their Love), we drank beer, talked some shop, and I got some what what.

And now across the parking over to the restaurant for a bit more. The place still smells of new wood. White wall uppers over deep red lowers with framed windows over the front & side. Diagonal wood plank floor tilings, and a white ceiling save a center plastic run with sunken lighting along the edges. Conical hat 3 bulb lamps tracing the bar. A half dozen hightop square tables angled down center, plus another 4 along the wall, and shorty roundies in the front and side nooks. Cool ‘Pioneers of New England Craft Brewing’ poster with Phil, Tod, Rob, and the gang. There's a 5 seat bar counter below it so you can sit and study Alan Pugley's face (so you'll know him if you pass him on the street and feel the need to have the Ringwood conversation).

Long straight pint stained stainless steel topped bar, with a wood panel base & a foot bar. Seating for 18 on metal framed wood chairs. Wood plank ceiling over the bar with 6 rows of ceramic mug club mugs a-dangling. Barback is gray subway tiled with 3 flats showing golf & sport, over a center tap tower row of 20 taps on stainless, mostly logo handled but there are a few guests, cold brewed coffee, and wine maybe and/or unused. More mugs shelved & countered + booze & wines to both sides, and glassware shelved below. A pair of handpumps to one side seemingly unused just now, another row of 16 taps further down, and a glassware shelving unit on the end.

23 house beers up, including some Smuttlabs & cellar series stuff (Finest Kind IPA, American IPA, 6.9%; Shoals Pale Ale, EPA, 5.3%; Vunderbar, German Pilsner, 4.9%; Old Brown Dog, American Brown Ale, 6.5%; Robust Porter, American Porter, 6.2%; Really Old Brown Dog, Old Ale, 9.8%; Whole Lota Lupulin, DIPA, 8.6%; Mysterious Haze IPA, NEIPA, 6.7%; Common Man Ale, APA, 5.9%; New Hampshire Pale Ale, APA, 5.3%; Summer IPA, American IPA, 5.5%; Blueberry Thrill Sour, Berliner, 4.5%; Blackberry Sour, Berliner, 5.2%; Plum Cinnamon Sour, Berliner, 4.8%; Raspberry Lime Rickey Sour, Berliner, 4.8%; Wheat Wine Ale, 11.9%; S’muttonator 2018, German Dopplebock, 8.2%; Rocky Road, American Stout, 7.8%; The Stallion, Imperial Stout, 11%; Siamese Gorilla, Irish Red Ale, 5.5%; Baja Hoodie, American Amber, 7.7%; Chupa Mexican Stout, 6.6%; Tangerine Tango IPA, American IPA, 6.5%) and 3 guest taps (Narragansett Lager, Lagunitas Lager, Downeast Original Cider). Started with the Raspberry Lime Rickey Sour (good balance between the evil raspberry and lime) and then had the Blueberry Thrill Sour (pleasantly tart, light, refreshing); Raspberry Lime Rickey Sour for the win.

On walkabout… there's a staircase to somewhere at the end of the bar. Normally, I'd just trot on up the stairs like I own the place, but I'm old and tired (I'm thinking additional seating or event space or both). And out the side door there (me, pointing), a large brick face porch holding some 2 dozen tables, mostly shortys, but there are some hightops pushed together for larger groups. Raised area stand up for the guitar playing people on the far end, cornhole off to one side, and a trailer to the rear serving Smuttys. It’s a well done exterior space out amongst the tree line. Had I known this was out here, I wouldn't have put up inside this whole while.

Didn’t eat as we’re midway between the pizza in New Haven behind us and a lobster roll(s) in my imminent future but what I saw go by looked good. Great Smutty selection! Nearly 2 dozen house taps, I mean, daaamn. Really wish they’d bring back the Portsmouth Lager. Good house, and I'm damn glad to beer here.

Decent place. A bit more of a "dive" than I expected. Still, the beer is good and the selection is about as good as it gets. Plenty of hops, lagers and dark beers to satisfy anyone's tastes.

The service is decent, could be better. Not at all busy but the bartender is preoccupied with whatever. Not a big deal to me.

Solid place to go during the week between 4-6 where everything is half-price.

Visited here as part of a trip to Maine and New Hampshire in 2018. It was a large, very nice facility. The beers I tried were also very good, especially the Belgian Quad which I really enjoyed. The tasting area was basically a small bar set off in the corner of what looked like the fermentation area of the brewery which wasn't the best location. Although they did have a foosball table which was fun, and gave my kids something to do while I tasted beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing number of beers on tap including two cask.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The brewery is in location that makes feel like you are in the woods of NH not near Hampton Beach.
The brewery has a very nice outdoor area which had a laid back vibe. I had a Belgian Style ale outside which was very good. Also, the Hayseed Restaurant was very nice. We had the Buffalo and BBQ wings which were great. I had the Old Brown Dog which was good on tap. I will be back again when they open the beer hall.

 

 

 

This is quite possibly one of the most beautiful brewery properties I've been to. That being said, the brewery building experience itself, if you're not going on a tour, is bare bones.

There are a lot of brews on retail that are impossible to come by in my area, as well as a lot of swag to buy. While you're buying you can see the bottling/canning lines running not even a few feet away--probably the closest I've been to the action. Better yet, it's behind glass so you don't need to worry about waterproof shoes.

Free draft samples are a bonus, but the real draw is the restaurant next door. See my review for Hayseed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This brewery easily places in my Top 3 Craft Breweries in the U.S. Located in a beautiful part of Hampton, NH, this brewery not only offers a great selection of their craft beers and merch for purchase, but also allows you to try a number of their beers that they have on draft for no cost!

In addition, immediately across from the brewery is the Hayseed Restaurant, a great cafe-style restaurant with an array of food designed to pair well with their world-class beers. I highly recommend you visit this brewery if you're in the area!

 

 

Fantastic building and brewery tour. Nice gift shop. I was there in August of 2014. Easy going. Very nice facility. I'd go again. I loved the beer sampled.

Have been here maaannny times since their opening... Great place; modern and green... Through the front doors, brewery is visible beyond the glass... Smutt store is to the right... Coolers hold some 12 and 22oz bottles of Smutty and odd sizes of various Smuttlabs offerings. Also have shirts, coasters, glasses, etc available... Tours are very informative, and their new brewery is state of the art. Beyond their store, in the back right, is their tasting room... $4 gets you a card for 4x 4oz tasters.... they usually have 8-9 different offerings available. Staff has always been very informative, friendly and helpful. Love this place!

Prosit!!

4.54/5 rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | $$

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