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East Coast Common

New Hampshire
United States
Smuttynose Beer East Coast Common
Judges Ratings 
1 Review
92
Aroma:
22 / 24
Flavor:
36 / 40
Appearance:
6 / 6
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Description 

East Coast Common is a nod to those uniquely American lager beers – fermented warm, in the San Franciscan-style. One sniff of the heady aroma tells you this isn’t a utilitarian, washing machine-variety beer. Our brewers infuse significant quantities of late-in-the-boil and post-fermentation dry hops to make sure you know East Coast Common is a New England original.
We originally brewed East Coast Common at Smuttlabs with our friends and neighbors Stoneface Brewing Company and Great Rhythm Brewing Company, to commemorate 2015’s Portsmouth Beer Week. We’re pleased to bring it back for a wider, hop-hungry audience.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
7.4%
IBUs: 
81.5
Hops: 
Bravo, Hull Mellon, Sorachi Ace, Citra
Malts: 
North American 2-Row, Pilsner Malt, C-15, Carahell, Acidulated Malt
Judges Review 
Dan Preston's picture
Judges Rating:
92
Aroma:
22 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
36 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

California commons are a unique beer. It’s an American lager, but fermented at ale temperatures. It’s synonymous with Anchor Steam and is typically a showcase for Northern Brewer hops, which are woody and minty. While this beer may call itself a California Common, it’s much more like an IPA. It pours a deep golden color approaching an orange hue, with brilliant clarity and a medium-white head that lingers. In the aroma, fruity notes explode from the glass with citrus and tropical fruits – mango, passion fruit, melon and grapefruit – leading the charge. There’s mild toasty malt and light caramel sweetness underneath the hops. The flavor is similar, but with more of a malt presence.  A graham-crackery grain bill with light honey-like sweetness and a touch of toast can be found beneath the waves of fruit – grapefruit, passionfruit, mango, honeydew melon, pear, and lemon. It has a medium body and carbonation that finishes fairly dry with lingering hops and a medium bitterness and no astringency. Perhaps some of the esters are from a steam ferment and the appearance is spot-on, but otherwise the California Common label is confusing. Despite the nomenclature snafu, this is an otherwise great beer by any name.