Beer Tasting: Stoudt's Smooth Hoperator

The Beer: Stoudt's Smooth Hoperator
Style: A well-hopped Beer (because if you ask different people, you get different style opinions....so, we're sticking with "well-hopped beer")
Reviews: Beer Advocate Rate Beer
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Packaging & Date Stamping: 12 oz. brown bottle; "Best by 9/1/07"

From where & how stored: Purchased from brewpub and stored at 42F since then

Pricing: $8.00 per six-pack (thanks Dennis, for the pickup)

Availability: Possibly year-round, TBA

ABV, IBU, and Other Available Stats: 7.2% ABV; 50 IBU
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Bryan's Notes
The Look:
- Decent, off-white head that fades slowly
- Dark brownish-ale with hints of orange and red

The Aroma:
- Very fresh, hoppy nose

The Taste:
- Medium body and carbonation carries the hops easily from front to back
- The hops, while not crazy over-the-top, sure do obscure other malt and yeast flavors
- There is a touch of honey sweetness that I could pick up, but that's about it for other non-hop flavors

The Verdict: Ed Stoudt describes this as an American Doppelbock, though I sure had a hard time finding the goat in this very hop-forward beer. Still, this is a nice drinking beer that I could certainly have a few of....oh, in fact I did!

While you're at it, check out their recently redesigned website. Much improved!
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Adam's Notes
The Look:
- dark amber with no bugs ;-)

The Aroma:
- wonderfully hoppy fresh aroma...ah...crack one of these puppies open for a hop nose to die for

The Taste:
- round malty hoppy tangy bitter fun smellin' beer
- not too sweet, bitterness overides that

The Verdict: You might almost mistake this for a West Coast IPA. Maybe the yeast is what separates it?