Smuttynose Portsmouth Lager

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 5

Hmmm. Not sure how old this is but I see that it’s retired. It’s really not tasty at all, but it looks really nice in my glass. Aroma is some caramel combined with veggie/carrots, with a soft earth note. Flavor has some really light malty sweetness, maybe a little caramel with a light sour finish. Palate is light bodied, very smooth. Maybe when it was in it’s prime, but it’s well past it now.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

This beer was generally an ordinary lager - nothing real spectacular about it. The taste was slightly buttery but it isn't stand out enough to want to try it again. A very average beer, but then again, it is a Lager.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

What a wonderful surprsise. One of the tastiest lagers I have encountered. A great deal of lightly toasted malt in the nose and subtle spicy hop notes, peppers and earthy nutmeg-like notes. Pours a surprising middle amber color that is clear and with a glorious head and excellent lacing. Mouth is very full for a lager in a very nice way. Almost chewy and works the whole mouth. I loved the flavor (OK I like hop-head IPA's but I like otehr things TOO!), killer malt backbone with a touch of sweet carmel notes that finishes with subtle fruity hop notes and just a hint of bitter. A wonderful sense of balance and proportion with a depth of flavor that is rare in a lager. On top of all that this would be a killer session brew. Great job Smuttynose, hats off!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

This looked great in the glass with a rich head and awesome amber color. The nuances of this beer ditinguish it from some others recently on tap. A little citrus and hops make this a crisp beer - perfect with spicy food.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

From a bottle. Pours a clear copper with a nice white head. Aroma is light and malty. Flavor is typical for a lager. Slightly sweet with a better than average hop presence.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

This one poured a nice golden colro with a decent head. Had a very mild aroma. Nice full flavor with a good malt profile. It had a slight honey presence and a good finish.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours a clear amber colour with a tint of orange. Thin white head, that is only temporarily visible. It quickly leaves behind a small creamy top. Aroma is malty, slight pear and a bit nutty. Mouthfeel is very full, flavors are semi sweet and nutty as well. Finishes very smooth, but light and refreshing. Very clear in taste.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Beer pours a golden orange color, with very small head and no lacing. Aroma of lager malts. Flavor was full and rich with a decent bitter finish. Caramel, citrus sweet. Not bad.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

A Vienna/Amber Lager. Hmmm. Maybe the latter, because it was amber with an amber ale type flavor, but not a Vienna, lacking the malty and slight roasted character of many another good Vienna. The pour was urine yellow/orange (like that from a dehydrated individual) with a small head and ok lacing. Aroma was candy nut scented with some light herbal notes. The flavor was strongly hopped with a metallic, caramel, light grassy, light citrus backbone. After reading a review below (salt), seawater does come to mind, although not in an offensive sense. Moderate mouthfeel, significant carbonation. Not my cup of tea and not lager-crisp enough for me.

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 5

12oz bottle, 05.18.05 Pours dark amber; ample, brainy head, instant lacing even as head dissipates. Salted pretzel aroma, some light nuttiness. Flavors are vague, some nut, some cracker/biscuit, honey. Body is full and thick for a vienna (I think), not so refreshing. Salt on finish highlights the maltiness. Not my fav style, but decent beer.