Murphy's Law Amber Ale
Smartmouth Brewing Company
- From:
- Smartmouth Brewing Company
- Virginia, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #500 - ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 79
Ranked #37,004 - Avg:
- 3.44 | pDev: 14.53%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 18
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 19, 2025
- Added:
- Nov 15, 2012
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 18
SCORE
79
Okay
79
Okay
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by teromous from Virginia
2.3/5 rDev -33.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2.3/5 rDev -33.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
The can says "VIRGINIA BORN & RAISED" but there doesn't appear to be a "born on" date anywhere on the can.
Appearance: The body is a dark copper-brown color that allows light through but is both too hazy and too dark to see through. The head starts out medium sized, off-white, and fluffy but it fades quickly to a ring in the glass. Sparse spots of lacing.
Aroma: It has a raw pepper aroma with a bit of vegetal green coffee aroma that follows.
Taste: It tastes a bit like diluted burnt coffee. There is an odd medicinal flavor that follows. Some mint in the aftertaste. It's not a very appealing beer.
Mouthfeel: It is syrupy and a bit thick. Carbonation feels off. Bitterness is high and there is an oddly strong tannic quality to the beer. It feels very disjointed and difficult overall to drink.
Overall: It's a strange beer. The can has some writing on it that says "WITH COFFEE!" and an arrow, but it doesn't say much more than that. As a whole the odd mixture of flavors and aromas, with the unappealing mouthfeel, make this a beer I am very unlikely to drink again and one that I would not recommend.
Jan 14, 2021Appearance: The body is a dark copper-brown color that allows light through but is both too hazy and too dark to see through. The head starts out medium sized, off-white, and fluffy but it fades quickly to a ring in the glass. Sparse spots of lacing.
Aroma: It has a raw pepper aroma with a bit of vegetal green coffee aroma that follows.
Taste: It tastes a bit like diluted burnt coffee. There is an odd medicinal flavor that follows. Some mint in the aftertaste. It's not a very appealing beer.
Mouthfeel: It is syrupy and a bit thick. Carbonation feels off. Bitterness is high and there is an oddly strong tannic quality to the beer. It feels very disjointed and difficult overall to drink.
Overall: It's a strange beer. The can has some writing on it that says "WITH COFFEE!" and an arrow, but it doesn't say much more than that. As a whole the odd mixture of flavors and aromas, with the unappealing mouthfeel, make this a beer I am very unlikely to drink again and one that I would not recommend.
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia
3.56/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
From the can, it pours a slightly hazy darker amber with a really nice off white head that slowly reduces. Lacing. In the nose, it is lightly malty with a touch of caramel. In the mouth, it is pleasantly malty with a touch of caramel.
Jan 08, 2021
Reviewed by Proteus93 from Virginia
3.38/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a deep honey / dark amber colour topped with a semi-creamy white head. Retention is moderate, leaving a thin sheet behind.
S + T: Modest, sweet caramel, some bready notes, and a touch of floral aroma. The flavour is quite pleasant to begin, malt forward with a hint of toffee. However, a hint of tanginess along with a floral flavor throws it off toward the finish--this is an area where I hoped it would maintain the taste that was detected upon beginning each sip.
M + O: Medium carbonation, finishing off with a slightly slick finish. A fairly solid beer, with some areas that could do with some tweaking.
Jul 29, 2018S + T: Modest, sweet caramel, some bready notes, and a touch of floral aroma. The flavour is quite pleasant to begin, malt forward with a hint of toffee. However, a hint of tanginess along with a floral flavor throws it off toward the finish--this is an area where I hoped it would maintain the taste that was detected upon beginning each sip.
M + O: Medium carbonation, finishing off with a slightly slick finish. A fairly solid beer, with some areas that could do with some tweaking.
Reviewed by Dewsby from Kentucky
3.86/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.86/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L) Pours an amber/light copper hue with a lovely head. Surprisingly good lacing.
S) The smell is very malt forward, with lovely light caramels, with toasty grainy notes genuinely resembling caramel popcorn. It's actually quite a pleasurable amber to sniff.
T) The taste is quite nice. A bit weaker than the aroma, but the light caramels and a smidge of toffee are there, as well as a light toastiness. Quite pleasant.
F) Medium/High carbonation with a lovely medium body. A pleasure to sip.
O) Thank heavens for the smell. Smartmouth sure knows how to make a beer inviting. Just drank with a pot-roast, would pair well with just about any comfort food.
Jan 29, 2018S) The smell is very malt forward, with lovely light caramels, with toasty grainy notes genuinely resembling caramel popcorn. It's actually quite a pleasurable amber to sniff.
T) The taste is quite nice. A bit weaker than the aroma, but the light caramels and a smidge of toffee are there, as well as a light toastiness. Quite pleasant.
F) Medium/High carbonation with a lovely medium body. A pleasure to sip.
O) Thank heavens for the smell. Smartmouth sure knows how to make a beer inviting. Just drank with a pot-roast, would pair well with just about any comfort food.
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
3.79/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I tried this at the Brick Anchor Pub in Norfolk with my boss. It poured a slightly clear amber with white head that left a spotty lace. The scent had hints of caramel. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink. The mouthfeel was medium in body with good carbonation. Overall it was a solid beer.
May 19, 2017
Reviewed by Lingenbrau from Oregon
3.66/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.66/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a beautiful and clear amber red with a just off white head. Doesn't lace at all. Smells like caramel, sweet bread, a hint of earthiness, and a touch of vanilla, but you have to search for them. Flavor follows almost to a T, and is quite pleasantly smooth and inviting. Medium carbonation and a tasty toasted bread aftertaste make this beer inviting to consume quickly. Cheers!
Mar 08, 2017
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland
3.6/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured from the can into a nonic pint glass. Oldy… Nov 23rd 2015. drum roll…
Bright yet dark copper bodied, with quite a bit of clarity. Head creation makes a basic two finger tan head, but settles to a simple thin pick and good three millimeter collar.
Simple caramel malt, with a light bready sweetness on the nose. A hint of bitter grain, possibly small acridity kicking in. Manages a bit of warm sweet bakery tones, faint maple syrup but with much less toned sugar sensations. Pretty decent aroma.
Palate goes for a bit more simple tones. Slightly muted caramel, with some hint of wet but not totally washed out mouthfeel on first sip. Mild sensing toast and hint of crackly character. Pith like bitterness of grapefruit on the finish, even slightly steely and ferrous particularly on the aftertaste. An almost dry lingering bitterness like rye catches in as well.
A drinkable decent brew, but the hop angle seems to be a hint of just a little harsh astringency which is surprising at this age, and could use a bit of malt sweetness and depth to counter.
May 31, 2016Bright yet dark copper bodied, with quite a bit of clarity. Head creation makes a basic two finger tan head, but settles to a simple thin pick and good three millimeter collar.
Simple caramel malt, with a light bready sweetness on the nose. A hint of bitter grain, possibly small acridity kicking in. Manages a bit of warm sweet bakery tones, faint maple syrup but with much less toned sugar sensations. Pretty decent aroma.
Palate goes for a bit more simple tones. Slightly muted caramel, with some hint of wet but not totally washed out mouthfeel on first sip. Mild sensing toast and hint of crackly character. Pith like bitterness of grapefruit on the finish, even slightly steely and ferrous particularly on the aftertaste. An almost dry lingering bitterness like rye catches in as well.
A drinkable decent brew, but the hop angle seems to be a hint of just a little harsh astringency which is surprising at this age, and could use a bit of malt sweetness and depth to counter.
Rated by jimpyle48 from Virginia
3.52/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Sampled draft
Mar 01, 2016
Reviewed by delta490 from Virginia
3.22/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.22/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Pours a deep and clear amber red with a light tan head that settles into a slight covering and leaves small soapy lacing. The aroma is mild, almost nonexistent, with just a slight cracker aroma. The taste is even blander. It's not bad but just not much to it. The body has a decent weight with a good amount of carbonation
Jan 12, 2016
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