United Nations of Beer

Smuttynose Robust Porter

by Kevin Ronkko
(Beer Delegate, NH, USA)

Smuttynose Robust Porter
Smuttynose Brewery, Portsmouth, NH, USA

Recently I visited the Press Room, in Downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I was there for the 2007 RPM listening party of which I was a participant. I was looking for a beer that would go well with the music I was about to listen to.

They had some nice selections on tap. I almost went with a Boddingtons, a wonderful English beer, but instead, I decided to go with a New Hampshire brew... the Smuttynose Robust Porter.

The Smuttynose website boasts: "2005 - ROBUST PORTER named Grand Champion (Best Porter in the Nation) at the USBTC."

I have had some great Porters in my day. One that comes to mind is from Maine, brewed by a club in Lewiston Maine, called The Cellar Door.

I used to play there and drink lots of beer. That's when I used to drink while playing, which I don't do anymore. If you are ever at this club, if it is still there, I do recommend the porter.

Also, if you are drinking multiple beers, Porter is a safe bet, as it builds a buzz more slowly than, say, an IPA. Darker beers have less alcohol in them.

Anyway, the Smuttynose Robust Porter lives up to its reputation. It is a rich tasting beer that goes down rather smoothly. And I had the avacado dip at The Press Room as well. This could be the best avacodo dip I have tasted. Though a seeming odd combination, porter and avacodo go together quite well.

So, thanks to The Press Room for hosting the RPM Challenge and for serving excellent munchies with, among others, Smuttynose Robust Porter, a standout among some of the best beer brewed in the great State of New Hampshire.