Stoneface

Great beer, solid food, awesome vibe at the taproom. They always have plenty of beer for takeaway available as well. They do a great job with both the hazy New England-style IPA thing and more traditional IPAs. They have also been making some solid fruity berliners if that's more your speed. If you're lucky, they'll have their Russian Imperial Stout available, which is top-notch.

It's also worth checking out Great Rhythm which is nearby in Portsmouth. They're all-aboard the hazy IPA train, but have mixed reviews recently. I have not personally had a negative experience at either brewery.

 

I have not been to the brewery so others will have to chime in on that, but they do make some solid brews. I had their regular IPA the other day after not having had it in probably a year, and it still was surprisingly good. I wouldn't say they are New England style though. Just really solid hop forward IPA's. Mozaccalypse and Hopulization are their doubles that I've enjoyed, but are rotating so I do not know what the availability will be when you go.

 

100% worth checking out. I think they're the best brewery in that area

 

If Smuttynose is your favorite NH brewer then definitely check out the their brewery - it's very impressive. The tasting room is limited to 4 - 3 oz pours. Next door at the restaurant Hayseed they'll have good selection of Smutty on tap along with a couple vintage kegs. If you're wondering whether you can do Stoneface as well, not a problem it's maybe 20 minutes away. Nice size taproom with lots of seating and I'd eat there over Hayseed. Stoneface IPA's are solid, my fave regular rotation is probably Full Clip.

 

Never been to the brewery, but Full Clip is one of my go-tos.

The Smuttynose 'taproom' is a teeny bar with (I think) about 8 taps, and their tour takes less than half an hour. There is no food at the bar, but they do have a little restaurant on site. You could easily do Smutty, Stoneface, and multiple other small breweries in the Portsmouth area in a single day with a sober driver.

 

Stoneface has a cool tap room now. Keep in mind parking can be tight and will be with the snow added to the mess (if any then) Just be mindful of this mid-day on a weekend. If you get to try Hopulization or Double Clip then you are in luck. They will usually have quite a few few options draft. The food is pretty good. There will be plenty of cans to go and none of that line BS.

Check them out.

 

There is additional parking behind the brewery, so they actually have plenty of parking. If parking behind, they have a paved path that leads out front. No worries.

 

Their Porter is very underrated, definitely give it a try.

 

Stoneface's beers took a huge step in the right direction in 2017. In 2014-15 I'd enjoy their beers but now I'm actively seeking them out when fresh.

 

You may as well complete the great bay trifecta and hit Stoneface, then Deciduous in Newmarket, then out to Smutty. Deciduous has excellent IPAs and tart fruited berliners often.

Skip the Smutty tour (unless you really love tours). You can have small samples of any of their beers at Hayseed. You can still do the tasting in the brewery for a couple $ without the tour.

 

One added note. I'm sure this varies based on how busy the day is (and maybe who is behind the bar) but both times I've been up to Smutty the "tasting" after the tour has been ridiculously generous.

Another thing to possibly consider is stopping at Whym which is directly on the way from Smuttynose to Portsmouth. It's a bar, not a brewery, but it's a cool space and they'll have a bunch of area breweries all on tap.

 

Fresh Stoneface Beer >

 

I've only had a couple of their beers but Full Clip is a great offering that i'm seeing at local packys in MA

 

Stoneface is very good. Not great, very good. Nothing wrong with that.

 

Smuttynose to Deciduous to Stoneface to Great Rhythm to Portsmouth Brewery to Tributary. All within ten to twenty minutes of each other. Make a day of it.

 

If you hit Great Rhythm, swing in to Liars Bench right down the street.

 

I’ve always preferred Stoneface products on draft, I find them far superior to their packed offerings. Plus,I always thought their half-liter bottles & more current 4 packs of 12 oz to be somewhat of a ripoff.

Also I’ve always thought their Pale Ale > IPA. Yeah I know, lots of “hot beer takes” in 1 post

 

I can see where you are coming from but have you had the DIPA 16oz offerings of late (Double Clip and Hopulization specifically)? I found those to be outstanding beers and a real step forward for Stoneface over the past year..