Shoals Pale Ale / IPA -- Smuttynose Brewing (Portsmouth, NH)
Two separate beers, but so close in overall impressions that I'm going to lump them into a single review. And as much as I like Smuttynose's other brews, I am not particularly excited by these beers. In other words, I need to stick to mostly malty beers.
Characteristics: Shoals has a rich reddish gold color, light-to-medium carbonation and body, and a taste that starts with an oyster cracker or stale biscuit taste that is quickly dominated by citrusy hops through the aftertaste. The IPA is yellow-gold and lighter-bodied, starting with a sharp carbonated moment but mellowing out into a flat bitterness.
Minor Gripes: The Shoals is almost like drinking a raw Arnie Palmer (lemon juice and unsweetened tea), while the IPA needs a little more malt for balance.
Bottom Line: When it's all about the hops, I just lose interest... and that's exactly what these two beers present -- two different, but equally dominant, hop experiences.
Rating: Shoals -- 4.5 / 10; IPA -- 5 / 10
Characteristics: Shoals has a rich reddish gold color, light-to-medium carbonation and body, and a taste that starts with an oyster cracker or stale biscuit taste that is quickly dominated by citrusy hops through the aftertaste. The IPA is yellow-gold and lighter-bodied, starting with a sharp carbonated moment but mellowing out into a flat bitterness.
Minor Gripes: The Shoals is almost like drinking a raw Arnie Palmer (lemon juice and unsweetened tea), while the IPA needs a little more malt for balance.
Bottom Line: When it's all about the hops, I just lose interest... and that's exactly what these two beers present -- two different, but equally dominant, hop experiences.
Rating: Shoals -- 4.5 / 10; IPA -- 5 / 10
Categories:
Ale
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