Pure Brewed Organic Lager Beer
Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Lager - European Pale
Ranked #1 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #21,261 - Avg:
- 3.85 | pDev: 12.73%
- Reviews:
- 618
- Ratings:
- From:
- Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
- England, United Kingdom
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 118
- Gots
- 131
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Notes:
Brewed with great care using only organic malted barley, organic hops, medium-soft water and a bottom-fermenting yeast; matured at low temperatures to bring out its delicate flavour and soft hop-character finish.
The cold maturation period allows the bottom-fermenting yeasts to secondary ferment and improve this lager’s flavour, purity and condition.
The cold maturation period allows the bottom-fermenting yeasts to secondary ferment and improve this lager’s flavour, purity and condition.
Reviews: 618
| Ratings: 1,164
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Reviews by harrymel:
harrymel from Washington
4/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled: unk
Pours a light straw color with a solid sheet of white foam. Brilliant clarity. Standard grainy, slightly fruity nose with a hint of corn. Flavor is clean and subtle with straw, a bit of soil and some lemon. Light bodied with soft carb and an off dry finish. Nice beer.
Dec 09, 2012
4/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled: unk
Pours a light straw color with a solid sheet of white foam. Brilliant clarity. Standard grainy, slightly fruity nose with a hint of corn. Flavor is clean and subtle with straw, a bit of soil and some lemon. Light bodied with soft carb and an off dry finish. Nice beer.
Dec 09, 2012
More User Reviews:
woodychandler from Pennsylvania
3.9/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Someone in a recent thread (http://beeradvocate.com/forum/read/3853486) inspired me to get busy on the Samuel Smith's oeuvre and after a stop at the local bottle shop today, I am ready to do just that! I do not mind making the occasional pit stop on The CANQuest (TM) highway, but the extended breaks bother me.
I am probably greener than most, never having had a driver's license and a frequent user of public trans, but somehow "organic" has not held the cachet for me that it has for others.
From the bottle: "The malted barley & hops used to brew this lager have been organically grown without the use of chemical sprays or artificial fertilizers."; "A full-bodied lager with lots of malty character, a touch hoppier than many lagers yet perfectly balanced. Brewed using lightly-kilned organic lager malt from barley grown in the UK, organic hops, yeast and water."; Picture depicting: "Samuel Smith's Shire Horses taking out deliveries in Tadcaster. The horses deliver five days a week."
My pour netted me a big, foamy cap of a dense finger of bone-white head with very good retention. Color was a light golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose had the characteristic lager-malt sweetness with grassy undertones. Fantastiche, especially after all of those AALs! Mouthfeel was soft, not overly carbonated, but I am unsure of their claim about it being a hoppier lager. Instead, I got a good bit of clean lager sweetness and by clean, I mean adjunct free. If you really want to understand the impact adjuncts have on lager beers, have and afternoon of AALs followed the next day by one of these. Finish was dry and refreshing, just the way lager should be. "Organic" usually = more expensive, but this bottle was the same price as the other beers from Sam. Smith's and it was very pleasant to drink. I would have it again.
Jun 17, 2011
3.9/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Someone in a recent thread (http://beeradvocate.com/forum/read/3853486) inspired me to get busy on the Samuel Smith's oeuvre and after a stop at the local bottle shop today, I am ready to do just that! I do not mind making the occasional pit stop on The CANQuest (TM) highway, but the extended breaks bother me.
I am probably greener than most, never having had a driver's license and a frequent user of public trans, but somehow "organic" has not held the cachet for me that it has for others.
From the bottle: "The malted barley & hops used to brew this lager have been organically grown without the use of chemical sprays or artificial fertilizers."; "A full-bodied lager with lots of malty character, a touch hoppier than many lagers yet perfectly balanced. Brewed using lightly-kilned organic lager malt from barley grown in the UK, organic hops, yeast and water."; Picture depicting: "Samuel Smith's Shire Horses taking out deliveries in Tadcaster. The horses deliver five days a week."
My pour netted me a big, foamy cap of a dense finger of bone-white head with very good retention. Color was a light golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose had the characteristic lager-malt sweetness with grassy undertones. Fantastiche, especially after all of those AALs! Mouthfeel was soft, not overly carbonated, but I am unsure of their claim about it being a hoppier lager. Instead, I got a good bit of clean lager sweetness and by clean, I mean adjunct free. If you really want to understand the impact adjuncts have on lager beers, have and afternoon of AALs followed the next day by one of these. Finish was dry and refreshing, just the way lager should be. "Organic" usually = more expensive, but this bottle was the same price as the other beers from Sam. Smith's and it was very pleasant to drink. I would have it again.
Jun 17, 2011
josanguapo from Spain
3.25/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
From Latiendadelacerveza. In Teku glass. Playing Avernum 2. I suppose this is as good as euro pale lagers can be. Clean and refreshing maltyness with plenty of grassy bitterness but still dull and watery
May 04, 2018
3.25/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
From Latiendadelacerveza. In Teku glass. Playing Avernum 2. I suppose this is as good as euro pale lagers can be. Clean and refreshing maltyness with plenty of grassy bitterness but still dull and watery
May 04, 2018
JoEBoBpr from Missouri
4.08/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a Pilsner glass
A - Very pal golden starw yellow. White head that is very dense and 1 inch thick. Reduces slowly into a film with nice lacing retention.
S - Malty and earthy tones. Very little hop character. Smells refreshing and crisp with hints of straw.
T - Malty all around, limited hops but still some bitterness there at the end. Very tasty and refreshing a bit of freshly baked bread taste with some earthy tones as well. Very very good. Faint citrusy taste as well with some black pepper.
M - Very light bodied but flavorful and satisfying. Well balanced carbonation with the malt and slight hops.
D - Refreshing. Extremely drinkable beer could have many of these without being overwhelmed by ABV or taste.
May 16, 2009
4.08/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a Pilsner glass
A - Very pal golden starw yellow. White head that is very dense and 1 inch thick. Reduces slowly into a film with nice lacing retention.
S - Malty and earthy tones. Very little hop character. Smells refreshing and crisp with hints of straw.
T - Malty all around, limited hops but still some bitterness there at the end. Very tasty and refreshing a bit of freshly baked bread taste with some earthy tones as well. Very very good. Faint citrusy taste as well with some black pepper.
M - Very light bodied but flavorful and satisfying. Well balanced carbonation with the malt and slight hops.
D - Refreshing. Extremely drinkable beer could have many of these without being overwhelmed by ABV or taste.
May 16, 2009
tobelerone from New Jersey
3.53/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A simple, classic lager. Not the most complex beer going, obviously, or one of my favorite styles, but I enjoyed this nonetheless. Everything this brewery does is classy and well-made.
Clear and light yellow in color with a nice fluffy head. Retention and lacing are solid. Aroma is mostly bready malt, cereal, a touch of grassy hops. Plain and to the point. Taste is very much the same, straightforward pale lager, mostly a clean malty flavor with light hoppiness, faint bitterness, very crisp and easy to drink. Very moderately sweet. Solid carbonation, short finish. Decent session choice, although I feel it’s the least interesting beer I’ve had from Sam Smith’s and I generally prefer the German lagers to begin with.
Dec 08, 2011
3.53/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A simple, classic lager. Not the most complex beer going, obviously, or one of my favorite styles, but I enjoyed this nonetheless. Everything this brewery does is classy and well-made.
Clear and light yellow in color with a nice fluffy head. Retention and lacing are solid. Aroma is mostly bready malt, cereal, a touch of grassy hops. Plain and to the point. Taste is very much the same, straightforward pale lager, mostly a clean malty flavor with light hoppiness, faint bitterness, very crisp and easy to drink. Very moderately sweet. Solid carbonation, short finish. Decent session choice, although I feel it’s the least interesting beer I’ve had from Sam Smith’s and I generally prefer the German lagers to begin with.
Dec 08, 2011
auntfloyd from New York
3.73/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served from a 550 ml bottle into a Samuel Smith tulip glass.
Pours a bright, clear, light golden color with a small amount of head. The nose is sort of sweet, floral, and grainy. The taste is sweet at first, with malty and then, surprisingly, sour apple notes, followed by a bitter finish. The taste is very clean, and the mouthfeel is very crisp and light, and drinkability is high.
This is an interesting lager... the flavor is definitely not what you'd expect, and this is anything but a generic beer. Plus it helps the planet, so bonus points there :) This is the first time I've approached this beer, but it's definitely something I'll be picking up again. Another great beer from Sam Smith's.
Nov 28, 2006
3.73/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served from a 550 ml bottle into a Samuel Smith tulip glass.
Pours a bright, clear, light golden color with a small amount of head. The nose is sort of sweet, floral, and grainy. The taste is sweet at first, with malty and then, surprisingly, sour apple notes, followed by a bitter finish. The taste is very clean, and the mouthfeel is very crisp and light, and drinkability is high.
This is an interesting lager... the flavor is definitely not what you'd expect, and this is anything but a generic beer. Plus it helps the planet, so bonus points there :) This is the first time I've approached this beer, but it's definitely something I'll be picking up again. Another great beer from Sam Smith's.
Nov 28, 2006
philbe311 from Pennsylvania
3.24/5 rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Pale gold color... Slight head quickly dissappears and leaves no discernable lacing... Nothing memorable...
S - Malt and grains... Buttery biscuit... Maybe some european hops... A nice scent for a lager...
T - Mild hops... Oats... Stale biscuit...
M - Medium bodied and dry...
D - I've recently become a big fan of the Samuel Smith family of beers, but this was a big dissappointment... Not much substance other then a nice aroma...
Jun 10, 2008
3.24/5 rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Pale gold color... Slight head quickly dissappears and leaves no discernable lacing... Nothing memorable...
S - Malt and grains... Buttery biscuit... Maybe some european hops... A nice scent for a lager...
T - Mild hops... Oats... Stale biscuit...
M - Medium bodied and dry...
D - I've recently become a big fan of the Samuel Smith family of beers, but this was a big dissappointment... Not much substance other then a nice aroma...
Jun 10, 2008
jmc44 from Pennsylvania
3.8/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear pale straw color with white head, decent retention and nice lacing.
Fairly light aroma composed mainly of hops, spicy and citrus being prominent. A slightly husky note is present as well.
Clean, crisp tasting, surprisingly bitter, a bit grassy. Nice backbone of light malts is present and provides a nice lingering sweetness. Well balanced and flavorful; a great warm-weather beer.
Light bodied, slick, easy drinking. Low alcohol makes it a great summer night session beer.
Apr 20, 2007
3.8/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear pale straw color with white head, decent retention and nice lacing.
Fairly light aroma composed mainly of hops, spicy and citrus being prominent. A slightly husky note is present as well.
Clean, crisp tasting, surprisingly bitter, a bit grassy. Nice backbone of light malts is present and provides a nice lingering sweetness. Well balanced and flavorful; a great warm-weather beer.
Light bodied, slick, easy drinking. Low alcohol makes it a great summer night session beer.
Apr 20, 2007
nasty15108 from New York
4.27/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip glass.
A - Poured a crystal clear golden color. The pour produced a thick head of white foam that quickly dissapated into a thin bubbly film. Good carbonation and minimal lacing throughout.
S - Malty with hints of fruit(citrus?)and grass. Typical Euro Pilsner aroma.
T - A smooth almost creamy taste. Malty up front followed by a slightly hoppy bitterness. Very light hints of citrus and grains also detected.
MF&D - Very crisp and clean tasting. Thin bodied and extremely drinkable. If you like pilsner you have to try this lager.
Jun 28, 2008
4.27/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip glass.
A - Poured a crystal clear golden color. The pour produced a thick head of white foam that quickly dissapated into a thin bubbly film. Good carbonation and minimal lacing throughout.
S - Malty with hints of fruit(citrus?)and grass. Typical Euro Pilsner aroma.
T - A smooth almost creamy taste. Malty up front followed by a slightly hoppy bitterness. Very light hints of citrus and grains also detected.
MF&D - Very crisp and clean tasting. Thin bodied and extremely drinkable. If you like pilsner you have to try this lager.
Jun 28, 2008
twelvsies from Maine
4/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Haven't had a Sammy Smith in quite a while, but I've been digging the English beers lately, so it's about time. Man, how did they get this beer so clear? Perfect clarity in this straw colored beer, with a decent white head, which fades slowly. Sweet malt in the nose, with plenty of grains and a dry English hoppyness. Very sweet in the taste too, as the malt takes over up front. Grainy too, and even slightly fruity, and ripe. Hops take a backseat here, but they are actually there, dry, dusty, and spicy. Very smooth and drinkable, and not at all light. Not as crisp as some lagers, but it's more well rounded. Perfect for and early spring day, with just a bit of warm weather starting to speak up on us.
Mar 29, 2006
4/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Haven't had a Sammy Smith in quite a while, but I've been digging the English beers lately, so it's about time. Man, how did they get this beer so clear? Perfect clarity in this straw colored beer, with a decent white head, which fades slowly. Sweet malt in the nose, with plenty of grains and a dry English hoppyness. Very sweet in the taste too, as the malt takes over up front. Grainy too, and even slightly fruity, and ripe. Hops take a backseat here, but they are actually there, dry, dusty, and spicy. Very smooth and drinkable, and not at all light. Not as crisp as some lagers, but it's more well rounded. Perfect for and early spring day, with just a bit of warm weather starting to speak up on us.
Mar 29, 2006
chiapete from Wisconsin
3.8/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a typical lager color , clear , pale yellow. Has a nice white head with little carbonation that fades rather quickly.
Aroma was faint, but did pick out some straw , grassy hints.
Had a nice clean , crisp lager taste. With a sweet malty taste , finished with a little hop flavor . Very well balanced , no smell or flavor to over powering.
This is a very good lager , very drinkable , nice and refreshing.
will keep this one in mind as one of the better lagers.
Jan 26, 2009
3.8/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a typical lager color , clear , pale yellow. Has a nice white head with little carbonation that fades rather quickly.
Aroma was faint, but did pick out some straw , grassy hints.
Had a nice clean , crisp lager taste. With a sweet malty taste , finished with a little hop flavor . Very well balanced , no smell or flavor to over powering.
This is a very good lager , very drinkable , nice and refreshing.
will keep this one in mind as one of the better lagers.
Jan 26, 2009
chossboss from Oregon
3.76/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Sep 20, 2017
3.76/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Sep 20, 2017
misteil from Ireland
3.97/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look : Golden, honey , rather clear , frothy head at pour with thin layer of bubbles remaining throughout
Smell : Grains , grass , bread , honey , vanilla , lemon
Taste : Sweet , honey again , golden syrup , grassy , buscuity , malty , slight metallic finish but overall delicious
Mouthfeel : Light and crisp , lightly carbonated and refreshing
Overall : Achieves to be a refreshing easy to drink larger while maintaining an intriguing level of complexity , and the uniqueness of this is represented in its reviews
Aug 14, 2019
3.97/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look : Golden, honey , rather clear , frothy head at pour with thin layer of bubbles remaining throughout
Smell : Grains , grass , bread , honey , vanilla , lemon
Taste : Sweet , honey again , golden syrup , grassy , buscuity , malty , slight metallic finish but overall delicious
Mouthfeel : Light and crisp , lightly carbonated and refreshing
Overall : Achieves to be a refreshing easy to drink larger while maintaining an intriguing level of complexity , and the uniqueness of this is represented in its reviews
Aug 14, 2019
Internatbrewlove from Michigan
4.2/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This lager pours crystal blond in color with a generous fine bubbled head that lasts fairly well. It has a nice balance of hops and malt. It is what most lagers aspire to be. Lovely taste, that one does not tire of. Definitely worth trying. It is a bit expensive in the USA for regular consumption.
Jul 23, 2011
4.2/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This lager pours crystal blond in color with a generous fine bubbled head that lasts fairly well. It has a nice balance of hops and malt. It is what most lagers aspire to be. Lovely taste, that one does not tire of. Definitely worth trying. It is a bit expensive in the USA for regular consumption.
Jul 23, 2011
Fettpopps from Massachusetts
2/5 rDev -48.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Jun 30, 2017
2/5 rDev -48.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Jun 30, 2017
horndecker from New Jersey
4.17/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It pours clear, the color of straw with a nice, though short-lived, head. There are decent remnants of lace.
Smells like grass, hay, hints of cabbage and honey. Smells clean.
The taste is juicy malt, subtly fruity, and a lingering gentle hop finish. Occasionally there is the impression of melted butter in the nose and the taste. As it warms there are hints of grapefruit and/or riesling in the aroma.
It's very smooth and refreshing, and surprisingly complex for a lager.
Mar 19, 2005
4.17/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It pours clear, the color of straw with a nice, though short-lived, head. There are decent remnants of lace.
Smells like grass, hay, hints of cabbage and honey. Smells clean.
The taste is juicy malt, subtly fruity, and a lingering gentle hop finish. Occasionally there is the impression of melted butter in the nose and the taste. As it warms there are hints of grapefruit and/or riesling in the aroma.
It's very smooth and refreshing, and surprisingly complex for a lager.
Mar 19, 2005
Pure Brewed Organic Lager Beer from Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
1164 ratings
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