Portsmouth Lager (Smuttynose Brewing Company)

I'm not sure if all the rumors are true, but if they are you won't be seeing this beer around for too much longer. I've been hearing that Smutty is doing away with their lager and will be replacing it with an abbey-style ale. Lagering is an expensive process and its likely that the cost plus the challenge of a local lager competing with the big boys might have limited the Portsmouth Lager's life. If you have any inside information on this please let me know, I don't like to contribute to the rumor mill.

From the Smuttynose site:

Named in honor of our hometown's 375th anniversary, Smuttynose Portsmouth Lager is a full-flavored, medium bodied continental-style beer - deep golden in color, featuring a mouth-pleasing maltiness subtly balanced with spicy imported Saaz hops. One taste of this fine lager tells you this is no ordinary beer: From its mellow, velvety body to its lingering, fresh hop finish, Portsmouth Lager is smooth, complex and satisfying.

Pours a nice, sparkling golden color that very much looks like a golden ale or an IPA. Its definitely not a light, pale lager. The head was thin from the beginning and there is a white ring left that clings tightly to the top of the glass. Lots of nice bubbles round out the pour.

Smell is sweet honey, a little wheat or grass, some yeast and that is about it. I don't expect a whole lot from the nose of a lager so I'm not surprised. 

Tastes very crisp with some honey sweetness. The after taste is a bit dry and a bit acidic but it goes well with the initial maltiness. The carbonation is spot on with this lager and it really makes it refreshing. I'm not a big lager person and I am definitely no expert on lagers but I really am enjoying this one. 

Its always sad to see a beer "retired" but such is the life of craft beers. With Smuttynose I'm sure whatever takes the place of their Portsmouth Lager will certainly be just as good.

BEER FACTS

Name: Portsmouth Lager

Style: Lager

Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Company

Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA

Container: 22 oz. bottle

Malts: Two-row US pale malt, carastan, special "B."

Hops: Czech Saaz

ABV: 4.5%

IBUs: 15