Yorkshire Stingo
Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)

Samuel Smith Oak Barrel Aged Yorkshire Stingo English Strong Ale, 8% ABV. Pours deep red, with a three-finger foamy beige head that settled into a foam cup. Aroma is light fruit, toffee, and malt. Taste follows, plus butterscotch, slightly sweet, quite bitter. Dry mouthfeel, slightly over-carbonated. Overall very good.

 

Pours gem clear and reddish copper (SRM 13-15). A brief half inch of almond head forms a fine foam and leaves spotty lace on a Pretentious Glass Company Aromatic snifter. A thin film quickly glides down the glass, and no visible carbonation can be noticed in suspension.

The aroma opens with sweet malt, quickly followed by bright raspberry and cherry. Warmth brings out toffee, plums, and orange marmalade.

The bitterness is higher than expected, leaving sweetness well behind. Bitter berries and mild oak tannins lead to raisins and leave plums behind. Warmth brings out some spiced cake flavors before a long finish and astringency settle in.

The sharp smooth texture contrasts with a medium body and light carbonation. Alcohol is as expected.

The astringency and bitterness are a bit difficult to overcome. Otherwise, this is a pleasant beer that can be enjoyed while relaxing on a very cold and sunny afternoon.

550ml bottle best by 30SEP28
Not what i was expecting, not much flavor, slightly sour note. Fairly smooth, Somehow the alcohol is very well hidden. Tastes better after it warms and breaths. I did not read the reviews before purchasing or tasting this beer. It's ok but I don't see the need to drink it again.
But really i will give it a 3.71/5

Bottle poured into a goblet.
Look: Clear copper color with minimal white head that dissipates quickly.
Smell: More sour than I expected. Sour cherries, a touch of dark fruit sweetness.
Taste: More sour and less sweet than I expected! Sour cherries. Some oak in the middle. Maybe unripe figs? Tart raspberries? Bitter sourness in the finish.
Feel: Medium body. small carbonation.
Overall: This was not at all what I expected, although reading the reviews here should have warned me. I am not at all a fan of sour beers, so I didn't even finish mine. It's hard for me to review, as I didn't appreciate this at all. If you want a sour, this is good? If you don't like sours, stay away from this!

 

Bottle shared. Cherry brown color, small head. Kinda of a sour aroma? Yeah. This is almost Flemish sour like. Cherries, tart? Some vinegar. Not what I expected, but not terrible.

 

 

I like this beer. I'm also aware many have reported it as being infected. Question is, is it what Samuel Smith intended it to be? This is a wild ale IMHO. Their description doesn't say so. It mentions dark fruits and toffee but this beer is not sweet like that. The sourness that comes through at the beginning contradicts that. Despite that, I enjoyed this because I happen to like wild ales (although I rarely seek them out) and the 8% abv makes it hit right. Mind you, the carbonation is out of control which I haven't seen in a strong ale, so it would be great if someone with real expertise or from the brewery can make sense of this. Or not... because I would have it again.

 

This magnificent Yorkshire Stingo made it all the way out to Melbourne Australia, where it eventually found a home here in Perth
I'm shaking my head in disbelief, reading one or two recent comments here
This English ale is absolutely outstanding.

I've sat on my apartment balcony with a few favourite tunes of mine in the background, quietly reflecting on the year 2025
I couldn't have selected a better beer . It's dark , fruity , strong , warming and indulgent

Very pleased I have one more , which I'll drink on a suitable occasion

Slightly hazy copper color with a modest but lasting off white head and some lacing.
The aroma is fruity -figs, cherries, plums and a hint of raspberry, also notes of toffee, rum and vinegar.
The taste is The same, somewhat sweet at first then sour, additional notes of dark bread and caramel, oak and a bit of spiciness come in. Dries out a bit in the finish with mild bitterness.
The body is medium, moderate carbonation, fairly smooth, well hidden ABV, but still basically an after dinner sipper.
Altogether, this is an interesting brew, fruity, somewhat sour flavor is a bit unusual but pleasant. At the same time it has some aspects of a winter warmer, very well done.

I wouldn't say infected as others mentioned, that doesn't make sense. Samuel Smith is a reputable brewery, they wouldn't let out something not meeting their expectations. I do agree though that it tasted more like a sour then an English ale. The bottle I have does not say what kind of beer this is other than barreled aged. Regardless, I thought that was interesting and pleasant. I did enjoy it. Nice somewhat opaque copper/, light brown color. Prominently fruity flavor, can't say which though. Easy to drink. Unusually low alcohol despite being barreled aged. Fun to drink for Christmas!

Pours a dark golden amber color with a thick white head on top. Gives off smells of raspberries and other fruits. Starts off sour and yeasty then as it warm you get whatever barrel it hung out in.

 

Smell was fruity but funky, and the funk dominated on the tongue. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but this wasn’t it. I’m glad I only bought one bottle.

A: crystal clear; mahogany in color; with a fairly aggressive pour, a 1+ finely pored light tan head that receded to a moderate tight collar; no lacing;

S: earthy and mildly sweet first, then friut gets added in;

T: fruitcake; a little earthy up front; wood comes in at the middle and is balanced with the fruit by the finish; mild bitterness at the end;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; dry finish; ABV is well hidden;

O: complex aromas and flavors;

Very interesting beer. A little surprised at first taste. I didn't expect the funkinesss, but it works. Just wasn't expecting it for the style. Almost has a barrel aged flanders quality to it. Will need to revisit sometime in the future. Glad I finally got to try one.

Dropping a review in to agree with jeburgdo -- at least some of the 2025 Stingo is infected. What I've got here tastes like a Flanders, not like a treacley, toffeeish rich English ale. I've never had a good year's to compare to, but what I've got here is unquestionably a sour.

(Mind you, it's a perfectly drinkable sour, just not what I signed up for.)