Smuttynose Dunkel
Lager
Review Date 6/18/2000
Try?
Re-buy?
Very few beers are packaged in 22 ounce bottles these days
here in New England. The Smuttynose Big Beer series is the exception, and a
successful one. These beers are not only hard to find, they have become
harder to find. Only about 400 cases are made of each brew, and distribution
is very limited: it in fact had to be pulled back from Rhode Island and
parts of Massachusetts. Fortunately, I found a supply of the dunkel in
Newburyport, Massachusetts while on the way home from a trip to Portland,
Maine about a month or so ago. Ordinarily I would drink a Smuttynose beer
out of my pint glass of the same logo, but this dark German style lager
demands a German glass, I'm using a big half liter Landsberger Bier mug that
allows room for the 22 ounces of beer and the head of the beer. Germans tend
to do everything in a big way, if a glass is marked .5L you can be sure it
holds a little more than that.
The beer has a light brown color, light head formation, and a sweet nutty-malty nose. Palate is smooth and malty with a rich mouthfeel, nutty-chocolatey flavors, reminiscent of chewing a fresh handful of Munich malt. The soft malt character reminds me of bock lite if you will. Pale 2-row, carastan, Munich, and chocolate malts are used. Finish is slightly sweet, a touch of grassy Hallertau hoppiness comes through, Tettnangers and Galenas are also used. Very nice dunkel lager here, a very drinkable and flavorful beer. I'd recommend it with game dishes and red meats, it's drinkability would lend it to pairing with a great many dishes.
The beer has a light brown color, light head formation, and a sweet nutty-malty nose. Palate is smooth and malty with a rich mouthfeel, nutty-chocolatey flavors, reminiscent of chewing a fresh handful of Munich malt. The soft malt character reminds me of bock lite if you will. Pale 2-row, carastan, Munich, and chocolate malts are used. Finish is slightly sweet, a touch of grassy Hallertau hoppiness comes through, Tettnangers and Galenas are also used. Very nice dunkel lager here, a very drinkable and flavorful beer. I'd recommend it with game dishes and red meats, it's drinkability would lend it to pairing with a great many dishes.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
