Portsmouth, NH — After a year-long hiatus from production, the team at Smuttynose is bringing Big A double IPA back to our line-up as a full-time beer on October 1, joining two other Big Beer Series graduates, Baltic Porter and Really Old Brown Dog, in four packs and kegs.
Smuttynose has brewed Big A IPA in the past and it’s done very well with critics and beer drinkers alike. Big A debuted in 2002 and was quickly recognized in a New York Times IPA tasting as one of the best IPAs in the country. It has since been recognized by Men’s Journal magazine and by the judges at the 2010 Great British Beer Festival where it won the Michael Jackson Award for “Best American Beer.” The Swedish government even censored the label the first time we sent cases over to our partners at Great Brands.
“I’m really excited to bring Big A back to our year-round line-up,” said David Yarrington, Smuttynose’s Director of Brewing Operations, “personally, it’s been really fun to brew, but this is the best version we’ve ever made, thanks to some new dry-hopping techniques.”
2015 Big A is a little bit different than previous versions. First off, it’s lower in alcohol, by about 1.25% to a target of about 8.5%, which is much more in line with current concepts of drinkability in the style. The hopping schedule has also changed, particularly the dry hopping schedule and blend, which is now a mix of Falconer’s Flight, Bravo, Saphir and Citra.
Last but not least, we’ll be producing Big A in limited amounts out of the gate, to make sure we’re supplying the freshest beer to beer stores, bars and restaurants. If beer drinkers can’t get four packs or kegs right away, Yarrington asks for some patience; “we want to meet everyone’s needs, not just for availability, but for freshness. Those beguiling hoppy aromas and flavors are delicate and we take a lot of care and extra work to infuse them into Big A. If the beer sits too long, then our beer drinkers won’t get the full effect.”
Year-round Big A goes on sale at the brewery on October 1, with shipments to our distributors beginning shortly after that. The Smuttynose sales team is planning launch events that will be broadcast through social media.
About Smuttynose Brewing Company
New Hampshire’s leading craft brewery has been producing beer in New Hampshire’s Seacoast since it was founded by craft brewing pioneers and siblings Peter and Janet Egelston in 1994. Smuttynose now consists of an energy efficient brewery on a historic 17 acre farm; Hayseed restaurant, which serves beer-friendly food and wide selection of Smuttynose beer, a nine-hole disc golf course scheduled to open in October 2015 and the innovative, creative beers of Smuttlabs. Please visit smuttynose.com to find out more.