Taddy Porter
Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)

Taddy PorterTaddy Porter
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From:
Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Porter
Ranked #2
ABV:
5%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,644
Avg:
4.17 | pDev: 11.27%
Reviews:
1,441
Ratings:
3,397
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 11, 2024
Added:
Nov 28, 2000
Wants:
  276
Gots:
  540
Brewed with well water (the original well at the Old Brewery, sunk in 1758, is still in use, with the hard well water being drawn from 85 feet underground), malted barley, roasted malt, yeast and hops. Fermented in ‘stone Yorkshire squares’.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DerekP:
Photo of DerekP
Reviewed by DerekP from Pennsylvania

4.27/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I'm staring at a 550 ml bottle that I bought at my local mammoth grocery store for $3.99 out the door. The neck is wrapped in fancy gold foil. The bottle is fancy as well with the brewery name embossed above the stomach, say the chest of the bottle. It's been 20 minutes. This beer is calling me...

Almost pitch black with translucent mahogany-brown shades near the bottom. A cola-beige head sits atop, fluffy and incredible. Smells of deeply rich malts, dark chocolate, prunes, figs, burnt brown sugar, moist raw cane sugar, and butter (baby). LATE ADDITION UPDATE: as it warms, a friendly boozy note.

Taste is so approachable it makes me want to ask every bartender in town to serve this on-tap. Who am I kidding? Back to reality (and oh my am I enjoying it)...bittering hops afloat a hefty dark malt bill. Creamy, but more than enough hops to shake things up; I'd say the ideal amount.

The body is medium to heavy or somewhere between an early Roy Jones, Jr. and a Larry Holmes in his prime (my pops will like that one, that is if he reads this blog).

I'm relishing the fact that I've still got another 8 ozs or so left to enjoy. I need time alone with this one. Cheers!

Notes: this one is reminiscent of Guinness Extra Stout, and that is certainly a good thing.
Jul 26, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.21 by Satsuma from Florida

Mar 11, 2024
Photo of JimKochFan
Rated by JimKochFan from New Jersey

3.84/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Total winter beer. Strong chocolate nose but a little underwhelming taste. Good beer but not great
Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 4.3 by mikehadd from Virginia

Feb 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.12 by Allurex from Kansas

Feb 04, 2024
 
Rated: 4.24 by gongfu from Connecticut

Jan 31, 2024
 
Rated: 4.06 by craigbelly from Iowa

Jan 02, 2024
Photo of Carl_Brisson
Reviewed by Carl_Brisson from Texas

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bought as part of the a Samuel Smith tasting six pack offered by Trader Joe’s for the 2023 Holidays. Pleasant mouthfeel, notes of chocolate and coffee.
Dec 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by AbeO

Dec 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.12 by emiliobaratta from Venezuela

Dec 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.79 by KeithGreatNorth from Canada (BC)

Dec 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by arini10 from Oregon

Dec 03, 2023
Photo of mvanaskie13
Reviewed by mvanaskie13 from Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a wide mouth grip shaped goblet: color is brown, head is light tan with fine bubbles, head presents 1/2 inch thick and then dissipates to thin top with a ring along glass sides, some spotty lacing.

Smell is sweet chocolate and light roast, light roast coffee, some earthiness.

Taste is mroe sweet chocolate, light roast, earthy coffee, definitely unique and like lightly sweetened coffee/or heavy black tea.

Mouthfeel is lower carbonation, moderate sweetness, lower bitterness; some see this as a sweeter beer but feel the bitterness is just very light.

Overall uniquely English Porter - lighter perceived bitterness allows for sweeter presence at this abv - want this on cask.
Dec 03, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
 
 
Rated: 4.73 by sensualSenpai69 from Minnesota

Nov 09, 2023
Photo of Ernald_Elbertson
Reviewed by Ernald_Elbertson from Delaware

3.41/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
English Porters aren't the most common style in the States, and I guess I'm not that surprised based on this.

While it looks very pretty with a big creamy head and dark ruby coloration, it doesn't impress so much with the aroma and flavor. Mild coffee aroma with a hint of sweet chocolate. Slightly roasty, but not dominating. Generally just pretty light on flavor, dry and a bit watery. I've had plenty of better Porters in the same ABV range that brought a lot more flavor and intrigue to the table. I'd even prefer a Dark Mild at this point, the flavors are similar but those are made for sessions.

Feel saves it a bit, pretty nice mouthfeel, creamy and soft, especially right after pouring. Overall I really expected more based on the ratings here. It's nothing offensive, but I would probably never buy again.
Oct 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by cabsandking from Ohio

Oct 12, 2023
 
Rated: 3.67 by Extrajoker00 from Ohio

Oct 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.46 by Mickeyharris from Alabama

Sep 30, 2023
Taddy Porter from Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 3397 ratings