Notch 9
Smartmouth Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- IPA - Imperial
Ranked #3,196 - ABV:
- 9.1%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #12,060 - Avg:
- 3.97 | pDev: 9.57%
- Reviews:
- 21
- Ratings:
- From:
- Smartmouth Brewing Company
- Virginia, United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 6
- Gots
- 26
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Notes:
Reviews: 21
| Ratings: 100
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Reviews by BeerAdvocate:
BeerAdvocate from Massachusetts
3.61/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
From BeerAdvocate Magazine #80 (Sep 2013):
This brawny DIPA boasts 105 IBUs—whatever. It is really about the whole-hop character here, from bitterness to flavor and even the intense aroma; extremely hoppy all around, but still balanced. More than enough to sate any hophead’s fix.
STYLE: American Double IPA
ABV: 9.1%
AVAILABILITY: Rotating
LOOK: Thin lacing, clear bronze hue
SMELL: Citrus explosion, heavy rind, minty, piney, alcohol, nutty grain, yeast, sweet resin
TASTE: Biting hop bitterness, pomelo rind, pipe tobacco, big alcoholic warmth, peppery, Grape-Nuts, faint breadiness, smooth, semi-creamy, spicy; bitter, drying finish
Mar 26, 2015
3.61/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
From BeerAdvocate Magazine #80 (Sep 2013):
This brawny DIPA boasts 105 IBUs—whatever. It is really about the whole-hop character here, from bitterness to flavor and even the intense aroma; extremely hoppy all around, but still balanced. More than enough to sate any hophead’s fix.
STYLE: American Double IPA
ABV: 9.1%
AVAILABILITY: Rotating
LOOK: Thin lacing, clear bronze hue
SMELL: Citrus explosion, heavy rind, minty, piney, alcohol, nutty grain, yeast, sweet resin
TASTE: Biting hop bitterness, pomelo rind, pipe tobacco, big alcoholic warmth, peppery, Grape-Nuts, faint breadiness, smooth, semi-creamy, spicy; bitter, drying finish
Mar 26, 2015
More User Reviews:
JayQue from Virginia
3.78/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Good DIPA. Robust flavor and good balance. Pours a hazy honey-gold color with a small white head. Head retention is average and there is some spotty lacing. Good aroma of both piney and citrus hops and some sweet malt. Flavor includes citrus and piney hops, a good level of bitterness and some balancing sweet, caramel malt. Mouthfeel is crisp and rich. Nice level of bitterness and no hint of high abv, actually very smooth except for a hops bite. Hampton Roads VA now includes a number of impressive breweries!!!
Apr 26, 2016
3.78/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Good DIPA. Robust flavor and good balance. Pours a hazy honey-gold color with a small white head. Head retention is average and there is some spotty lacing. Good aroma of both piney and citrus hops and some sweet malt. Flavor includes citrus and piney hops, a good level of bitterness and some balancing sweet, caramel malt. Mouthfeel is crisp and rich. Nice level of bitterness and no hint of high abv, actually very smooth except for a hops bite. Hampton Roads VA now includes a number of impressive breweries!!!
Apr 26, 2016
argock from Virginia
3.91/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz can onto a clear glass tulip. Canned on 01/11/17 on bottom of can.
A: Hazy orange-gold with barely 1-finger off-white head with pretty abundant lacing.
S: Dank, earthy, herbal, pot, grassy, and honeysuckle hop aromas with slightly grainy malt and no yeast esters
T: Flavor is very resinous with the same dank, herbal, grassy and honeysuckle notes with some grapefruit in the end palate. There is a bit more maltiness and sweetness poking through. Highly bitter and no yeast component that I can pick up. Flavorful beer and very dank and resinous/herbal.
M: Slightly tacky with medium body and good dry finish. Carbonation low-medium.
O: I really liked this DIPA and I would love to try it fresher. I hope to get to the brewery in Norfolk and do a brewery crawl there sometime.
Apr 18, 2017
3.91/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz can onto a clear glass tulip. Canned on 01/11/17 on bottom of can.
A: Hazy orange-gold with barely 1-finger off-white head with pretty abundant lacing.
S: Dank, earthy, herbal, pot, grassy, and honeysuckle hop aromas with slightly grainy malt and no yeast esters
T: Flavor is very resinous with the same dank, herbal, grassy and honeysuckle notes with some grapefruit in the end palate. There is a bit more maltiness and sweetness poking through. Highly bitter and no yeast component that I can pick up. Flavorful beer and very dank and resinous/herbal.
M: Slightly tacky with medium body and good dry finish. Carbonation low-medium.
O: I really liked this DIPA and I would love to try it fresher. I hope to get to the brewery in Norfolk and do a brewery crawl there sometime.
Apr 18, 2017
AndrewMichael from Virginia
4/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can, canned on 12-30-15, and poured into a stemmed, tulip style glass. I live 15 minutes from the brewery and kept meaning to get over there and try this beer after all the good things I've heard. It does not disappoint, great DIPA. Coppery, orange color, white head, and lacey carbonation. Major bitterness at over 100+ IBUs, and some piney and grapefruit flavors when tasting. Great medium feeling body, and smooth for over 9% abv. An outstanding beer in my opinion.
Feb 14, 2016
4/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can, canned on 12-30-15, and poured into a stemmed, tulip style glass. I live 15 minutes from the brewery and kept meaning to get over there and try this beer after all the good things I've heard. It does not disappoint, great DIPA. Coppery, orange color, white head, and lacey carbonation. Major bitterness at over 100+ IBUs, and some piney and grapefruit flavors when tasting. Great medium feeling body, and smooth for over 9% abv. An outstanding beer in my opinion.
Feb 14, 2016
clayrock81 from Florida
3.66/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A cloudy orange body with small head and lace on top of a strong citric and spicy aroma but not much else going on in the aroma. The beer is light to medium bodied which is hard for a DIPA, smooth, some noticeable citric hop flavors with a touch of peppery, crispy spice. Hops are not overpowering and provide a dry, snapping b ackbite but for a DIPA one would expect more a hop profile than citric notes. I did get a touch of sweet fruit tastes as well but any sweet and/or caramel malts thrown in to balance are simply overpowered. Reminded me more of a Belgian ale, possibly a Belgian IPA, than what hopheads would consider a DIPA (although has the ABV that DIPAs do, making this a sipper).
Jun 10, 2013
3.66/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A cloudy orange body with small head and lace on top of a strong citric and spicy aroma but not much else going on in the aroma. The beer is light to medium bodied which is hard for a DIPA, smooth, some noticeable citric hop flavors with a touch of peppery, crispy spice. Hops are not overpowering and provide a dry, snapping b ackbite but for a DIPA one would expect more a hop profile than citric notes. I did get a touch of sweet fruit tastes as well but any sweet and/or caramel malts thrown in to balance are simply overpowered. Reminded me more of a Belgian ale, possibly a Belgian IPA, than what hopheads would consider a DIPA (although has the ABV that DIPAs do, making this a sipper).
Jun 10, 2013
ChrisMon02 from Ohio
4.11/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Thanks to Will for the can. Poured into a tulip glad.
Yellow-Orange in color with a smallish white head the exits quickly. Slightly cloudy with little lacing.
Smell is floral, minty hops and cereal malt. Not strong but nice.
Taste is where this one excels. A great change of pace from the "juice bombs" that are now all the rage. Super tasty flowers, cereal malt and a touch of minty tea in the finish. Very enjoyable.
Smooth with light carbonation. Goes down easy.
I like this a lot. If I had this available to me I would enjoy on a regular basis. Recommended.
Apr 09, 2016
4.11/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Thanks to Will for the can. Poured into a tulip glad.
Yellow-Orange in color with a smallish white head the exits quickly. Slightly cloudy with little lacing.
Smell is floral, minty hops and cereal malt. Not strong but nice.
Taste is where this one excels. A great change of pace from the "juice bombs" that are now all the rage. Super tasty flowers, cereal malt and a touch of minty tea in the finish. Very enjoyable.
Smooth with light carbonation. Goes down easy.
I like this a lot. If I had this available to me I would enjoy on a regular basis. Recommended.
Apr 09, 2016
GarthDanielson from Virginia
4.19/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured on tap in a shaker pint, the beer is a slightly hazed, lemon-gold color with a filmy, clingy, bright white head. Aromas of tart grapefruit, bitter grass, candi sugar, pine pitch, lemon zest, and subtle pepper and basil spice. Flavors are bitter forward, heavy on resin and vinous notes, with a follow of grapefruit and lemon tart and sweet, toasted notes, and a sugary sweet highlight. Very balanced, but very resinous and hoppy. The body is smooth, slick, and dry. The aftertaste is more dank hoppy notes, with tart and sweet citrus notes. The finish is smooth and dry, with a solid citrus and vegetal hops linger. Very solid, balanced, drinkable beer.
Sep 29, 2015
4.19/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured on tap in a shaker pint, the beer is a slightly hazed, lemon-gold color with a filmy, clingy, bright white head. Aromas of tart grapefruit, bitter grass, candi sugar, pine pitch, lemon zest, and subtle pepper and basil spice. Flavors are bitter forward, heavy on resin and vinous notes, with a follow of grapefruit and lemon tart and sweet, toasted notes, and a sugary sweet highlight. Very balanced, but very resinous and hoppy. The body is smooth, slick, and dry. The aftertaste is more dank hoppy notes, with tart and sweet citrus notes. The finish is smooth and dry, with a solid citrus and vegetal hops linger. Very solid, balanced, drinkable beer.
Sep 29, 2015
cambabeer from New York
3.95/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Really good DIPA. The hop character is truly dominant. In the nose, middle, and finish, it's what comes out strong. This is a good thing, as it's not overbearing either. The malt is there, somewhat bready. Lots of grapefruit, and spiced hop flavors and some warming alcohol in the finish. Great beer.
May 21, 2015
3.95/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Really good DIPA. The hop character is truly dominant. In the nose, middle, and finish, it's what comes out strong. This is a good thing, as it's not overbearing either. The malt is there, somewhat bready. Lots of grapefruit, and spiced hop flavors and some warming alcohol in the finish. Great beer.
May 21, 2015
BltByKrmn from New York
3.75/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Canned 11/22/16, consumed on 12/21/16
This drinks like a hoppy pale ale, was shocked to see it at 9.1% DIPA after crushing the first half of the can. Hides the alcohol very well.
Dec 22, 2016
3.75/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Canned 11/22/16, consumed on 12/21/16
This drinks like a hoppy pale ale, was shocked to see it at 9.1% DIPA after crushing the first half of the can. Hides the alcohol very well.
Dec 22, 2016
samEBC from Belgium
4.06/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 17, 2019
4.06/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 17, 2019
wilfonzo from Florida
3.75/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
May 18, 2019
3.75/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
May 18, 2019
desint from Belgium
3.89/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Aug 17, 2019
3.89/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Aug 17, 2019
RBorsato from Virginia
4.5/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Apr 12, 2017
4.5/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Apr 12, 2017
brentk56 from North Carolina
3.82/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden color with a massive head; great retention and a nice draping of lace
Smell: Pith and pine with intense bitterness; rather dank
Taste; Dank, from the outset, with just a touch of melon and caramel to offset the massive hop blast that arrives, bringing, pine and pomelo pith; assertively bitter through the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation
Overall: There was a time when a beer like this would have been a stunner and, while that time has passed, they are sticking with a recipe that will certainly appeal to the palate of the hophead who wants the taste buds assaulted from the get go; I could see myself ranking this higher back in 2013 but my palate has changed and I am looking for more dimensions to my IPAs
Aug 12, 2018
3.82/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden color with a massive head; great retention and a nice draping of lace
Smell: Pith and pine with intense bitterness; rather dank
Taste; Dank, from the outset, with just a touch of melon and caramel to offset the massive hop blast that arrives, bringing, pine and pomelo pith; assertively bitter through the finish
Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation
Overall: There was a time when a beer like this would have been a stunner and, while that time has passed, they are sticking with a recipe that will certainly appeal to the palate of the hophead who wants the taste buds assaulted from the get go; I could see myself ranking this higher back in 2013 but my palate has changed and I am looking for more dimensions to my IPAs
Aug 12, 2018
jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
3.79/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Mar 12, 2015
3.79/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Mar 12, 2015
bacher468 from Pennsylvania
3.5/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jun 22, 2017
3.5/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jun 22, 2017
DevilHawk from Virginia
3.91/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 10, 2016
3.91/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 10, 2016
mtnwesdew from New York
4.21/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jun 01, 2016
4.21/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jun 01, 2016
damndirtyape from Ohio
4.04/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12oz can, served in a tulip glass. Canned on 03/23/18.
Appearance: Translucent orange-amber. Rocky 1/4" thick off-white head that slowly died back to a thin skin across the top. Lots of lacing all over the glass.
Smell: Grapefruit, orange, tropical fruit, hint of pine. Nicely hoppy.
Taste: The initial taste is a strong mix of malt and hops, and then it separates to give plenty of hop flavors (grapefruit, pine bitterness) balanced by some bready malt and a sharp bitter finish that is mostly pine and citrus rind.
Mouthfeel: Light carbonation, smooth and nicely thick - approaching creamy. A bit sticky on the teeth with a dry finish.
Overall / Drinkability: A very good DIPA - a pleasure to sip and savor while having with a meal (mustard pork chops + gnocchi). I picked this up at Total Wine in VA when I visited last month, and now I'm wishing I had picked up more than one. I would not mind a 16oz version of this at all and I'll have to revisit it again.
Aug 12, 2018
4.04/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12oz can, served in a tulip glass. Canned on 03/23/18.
Appearance: Translucent orange-amber. Rocky 1/4" thick off-white head that slowly died back to a thin skin across the top. Lots of lacing all over the glass.
Smell: Grapefruit, orange, tropical fruit, hint of pine. Nicely hoppy.
Taste: The initial taste is a strong mix of malt and hops, and then it separates to give plenty of hop flavors (grapefruit, pine bitterness) balanced by some bready malt and a sharp bitter finish that is mostly pine and citrus rind.
Mouthfeel: Light carbonation, smooth and nicely thick - approaching creamy. A bit sticky on the teeth with a dry finish.
Overall / Drinkability: A very good DIPA - a pleasure to sip and savor while having with a meal (mustard pork chops + gnocchi). I picked this up at Total Wine in VA when I visited last month, and now I'm wishing I had picked up more than one. I would not mind a 16oz version of this at all and I'll have to revisit it again.
Aug 12, 2018
SonOfKyuss from Virginia
4.06/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jan 19, 2019
4.06/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jan 19, 2019
dwoolley1 from New York
3.87/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Mar 01, 2016
3.87/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Mar 01, 2016
Notch 9 from Smartmouth Brewing Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
100 ratings
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