Way back in 2014 (Ok, maybe not way back, it was only last year) I stumbled upon a little gem of a beer called Smuttynose Finest Kind  IPA. It’s a delicious malty-hoppy IPA and was one of the best new-to-me beers of 2014. So, you can imagine my excitement when Smuttynose announced Kindest Find Imperial Red Ale, a play on the name Finest Kind that promised the same explosive hop character of Finest Kind.

Although Smuttynose beers are sold in Georgia, I couldn’t find Kindest Find here. Instead, I snapped up a bomber bottle when I saw it at Bruisin Ales in Asheville, North Carolina.

From the website:

Kindest Find, our own little slice of heaven, is an Imperial Red Ale with a big malt backbone layered with loads of juicy hops. Its label is a nod to our flagship Finestkind IPA. And just like the winsome lass on the label, Kindest Find will always be there to welcome you home after a long day. Cheers!

Ingredients, also from the website:

Malt Bill: Pilsner Malt, Aromatic Malt, Caramel 60, CaraRed

Hops: Magnum, Zeus, Centennial, Falconer’s Flight

Smuttynose Kindest Find has an alcohol content of 9% by volume with 65 IBUs. I paid $7 for my bomber bottle of this Big Beer Series brew.

Smuttynose Kindest Find pours to a brilliant crimson color with a thick creamy head and a luscious big beautiful stewed malt nose. Taking a sip, the palate simply explodes with those nutty, ever so lightly chocolaty, fruity malt notes. The succulent malts lead into a massive herbal hop character and long dry grassy hop bitterness.

What a great beer, and it really was one of the kindest finds for me in some time. Here's hoping they bring it back again in some future year.



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