
Also will be offline from now until the weekend. Will be traveling about four hours to attend a weekend wedding in Philadelphia. The good news (other than the wedding) is that I've discovered it's Beer Week in Philly. So with any luck will have some good brews, or establishments, or both, to report on.
Today we are looking at another offering from the Smuttynose variety pack, namely Finestkind IPA. As you can tell, even from this less than ideal shot, this is an unfiltered brew. Still it has a nice amber color, albeit cloudy.
The aroma was subtle. The smell of fruity hops you expect from an IPA was present, but not at all strong.
The first taste sensation is an earthy one accompanied with a prickly bitterness on the tip of the tongue. This is usual for an IPA in my experience. This is followed by a slight fruitiness when you swallow.
The difference between this and most other IPA's I've encountered is how subdued the citrus scent and taste are. They are present, but not as noticeable. The bitterness and prickly sensations stay with you during the entire swallow. But the citrus, fruity aroma and taste are too subtle to completely balance them.
Don't get me wrong. This is a very drinkeable beer. It is just not as balanced or enjoyable as other IPA's I've sampled recently.
I give Smuttynose Finestkind IPA 6 mugs out of 10.