Smuttynose Spank

Review Date 2/16/2026  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Saison   Brewery: Smuttynose   Country: USA   State: New Hampshire   $ Per OZ: $.41 (B)   ABV: 7.8%

What were you thinking, Smuttynose Brewing Company of Hampton, New Hampshire? I mean specifically, what were you thinking when you named your 21^st Anniversary beer Spank. The label calls it a Butt Smackingly Delicious Hoppy Saison Ale, but I wanted to know more. So, I pulled up Bing in my web browser and searched for “Smuttynose Spank.”

Let’s just say, you probably don’t want to do that. Or maybe you do, I don’t know, but the search engine seems to have focused on “smut” and “spank” and, ummm the results were about what you might expect. Luckily, Bing masked the results.

Anyway, I did get some hits for the beer itself, though nothing on the brewery website. Untappd did have the following description which I am sure they got from Smuttynose.

Smuttynose is turning 21 on July 14, 2015, which seems like the perfect time to brew our first birthday beer. Since we’ve got a summer birthday and a beautiful farm where we can celebrate and enjoy beers in the sun; We’ve brewed Spank to fit that bill! Gold in color, light in body and refreshingly dry thanks to our spicy, farmhouse ale yeast it’s perfect
for summertime sipping.

Notice the date here, 2015. That’s when I bought my bomber bottle, I believe during a trip to New England that year. I brought it all the way back to Georgia if memory serves. I do not recall where I bought it (might have been Haxton’s Liquors in Warwick, RI as I know I bought beer there, but I also bought some at a small liquor store in Andover, Massachusetts). I do know I paid $9 for my bottle as the price sticker is still on it. My bottle is stamped BOTTLED IN 2015 and ABV 7.8%.

So, what motivated me to drink this beer after sitting on it for 11 years? First off, I drank one beer for each of the New England states Superbowl Sunday. Smuttynose Spank was my New Hampshire choice and the following beers represented the remaining five states.

Maine-Allagash White

Vermont-Lawson’s Epic Sip

Massachusetts-Harpoon Flannel Friday

Rhode Island-Narragansett Lager

Connecticut-Two Roads Roadsmary’s Baby

Truth be told, I had other New Hampshire beers I could have imbibed, but this one really seemed perfect. It was brewed 11 years ago on 2015, the same year the Patriots beat the Seahawks in Superbowl 49. We spanked them then. Surely, we could spank them again!

When all was said and done, we were the one getting spanked, 29 to 13. Ah well, I am still so glad my Patriots made it to the big dance and hey, we are the AFC Champions.

Smuttynose Spank pours to a bright ruby color with a thick fluffy white head and a nose of soft spice and wood. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in  body and pops with fruity cherry, woody oak, spicey coriander notes. Finishes dry. There is just a hint of oxidation from the age but the spice has I believe, preserved this one well.

If they release it again, I will be all over it.