Smuttynose Finest Kind IPA
No ratings yet — be the first to log it.
Tasting Notes
Finest Kind leads with a pronounced hop aroma — piney resin, citrus rind, and a touch of tropical fruit layered over a light biscuit malt backbone. On the palate, the bitterness is assertive but not harsh, with grapefruit peel and pine needle flavors carrying through to a dry, moderately long finish. The body sits squarely in the medium range, giving the hops room to shine without the malt becoming a distraction. It's a well-integrated example of the East Coast take on the American IPA format.
About the Brewery
Smuttynose is based in Hampton, New Hampshire, and has been one of the anchor craft breweries in New England since its founding in 1994. They built their reputation on consistent, approachable interpretations of classic styles — English ales, porters, and IPAs — before the regional scene got crowded. Finest Kind IPA has long been their flagship and remains one of the more recognized IPAs produced in the Northeast. They're known for reliability and a no-nonsense approach to brewing.
Food Pairings
The firm bitterness and citrus-pine character here do real work alongside spicy foods — something like fish tacos with a chile-lime slaw lets the hop oils cut the heat. A sharp aged cheddar pairs naturally because the bitterness balances the fat and salt without fighting the cheese's funk. Grilled chicken with a lemon-herb marinade echoes the citrus notes in the hop profile. Burgers work well too, particularly with caramelized onions, since the malt sweetness in the beer answers the savory char on the meat.
Style Guide
The American IPA built on the English India Pale Ale tradition but diverged sharply through the U.S. craft movement of the 1980s and 90s, most visibly in the hands of West Coast breweries like Sierra Nevada and Anchor. The defining characteristics are aggressive hop bitterness, measured in IBUs typically between 40 and 70, and an aroma dominated by American hop varieties — Cascade, Centennial, Chinook — that produce citrus, pine, and resinous qualities absent from their English counterparts. Malt presence is intentionally restrained, serving mainly as a platform rather than a flavor statement. It sits lighter and drier than a Double IPA, and more bitter and hop-forward than a Pale Ale.