Review – Smuttynose Shoal's Pale Ale

From SmuttyNose Brewing Co. – Our interpretation of a classic English beer style is copper-colored, medium-bodied and highly hopped. Its flavor is delightfully complex: tangy fruit at the start, with an assertive hop crispness and a long malty palate that one well-known beer writer has compared to the flavor of freshly-baked bread.

SmuttyNose Brewing – Shoal’s Pale Ale – 12 oz. bottle, part of the SmuttyNose Sampler Pack – 4.7% abv. Purchased at Dawson’s Liquor – Servena Park, MD.

Appearance: Similar to the Old Dog, but more copper and rust than brown. 1/2″ of frothy, cream-colored head that dissipated a bit slower than it did with the Old Dog.

Aroma: The hops come through more and the sweetness has cut back from the Old Dog. Some floral notes come through and faint whiffs of soap.

Taste: Very pale ale-ish but more heavy on the pine, light on the citrus than most I’ve had. The bitterness pleasantly lingers on the roof of your mouth for quite some time.

Mouthfeel: Less carbonation and slightly thicker than the Old Dog, yet finishes just as clean.

Overall: At only 4.7%, this is a fantastic session beer. It won’t hurt you yet satisfies just as much as many bigger beers.