Thursday, November 24, 2011

Smuttynose Humunculus

What a name on this one, huh? Going through the latest Wisconsin haul, with notes from last night:


Smuttynose Humunculous, A Belgian-style Golden Ale. From The Smuttynose BIG BEER Series. Brewed and bottled by Smuttynose Brewing Company, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. "After years of gestation our highly regarded hoppy Belgian style ale, "The Gnome" has been reborn as Homunculus. Impregnated with loads of hop character, balanced with malt sweetness & fruit esters derived from the Belgian yeast, this Golden colored ale is ripe for the picking. Share some responsibly with your gnomes."

No, I'm a big boy, I'm taking this one down by itself. Weird label image, little sperms with human faces (brewery employees, I assume), all headed to one big nucleus. What is it supposed to say? Who can tell us? Does anyone really know?


Clear, bright golden hue, beautiful white head. 

Soft and spicy aromatics, citrus notes, fruit, lemon, orange, pear, even. A little hit of pepper 

Taste: Outsized fruit at the start, juicy malt, small hops. Bright, buoyant, and lively. And then along comes the booze. Rises high, Gets all up in there. Bright and boozy, but flush with flavor, to boot.

Nothing on the label spells out the alcohol quotient, but it  feels big. And it dwarfs the other flavors. Not as balanced as I'd like, not something I'd really reach for again and again. 

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