Organic Apricot Ale | Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Brewed by:
Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
England, United Kingdom
samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk
Style: Fruit / Vegetable Beer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.10%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Handcrafted in Melbourne Bros' tiny brewery set in a time warp in Stamford using the old manually operated brewing equipment. Finest organically grown barley and wheat are used to create a complex ale which, having undergone primary and secondary fermentation with different yeasts and extended maturation, is taken to Samuel Smith's small, independent British brewery at Tadcaster. There it is blended with pure organic apricot fruit juice and a previously cellared organic brew -- creating an unparalleled fruit ale. The smooth distinctive character of the matured ale serves as the perfect counterpoint to the pure organic fruit juice.
Added by minterro on 03-19-2012
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 409 | Reviews: 109
4.06/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I am not too familiar with the taste of apricots, but I do like how this beer tastes. It's mild & light fruity type of taste. The water that they use in their beer is really tasty as well. This would go down the gullet great on a warm spring or summer day. Cheers! B (85-89) score range
286 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I am not too familiar with the taste of apricots, but I do like how this beer tastes. It's mild & light fruity type of taste. The water that they use in their beer is really tasty as well. This would go down the gullet great on a warm spring or summer day. Cheers! B (85-89) score range
286 characters
3.36/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
16oz. bottle into Night Shift stemware. Shared by schen9303.
Nose is sugary sweet apricot. Like sweetened, dried apricot. Beer opens dried sweet apricot, pit and overripe meat. Some cane sugar in there as well. Body is light with ample carbonation. Foamy on the palate and goes down aggressive. Pretty drinkable.
As a fruit beer, this is solid. I wish there was a touch of tartness to balance out the over-the-top sweetness but this is decent enough that I would recommend it for someone who really likes the style.
519 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
16oz. bottle into Night Shift stemware. Shared by schen9303.
Nose is sugary sweet apricot. Like sweetened, dried apricot. Beer opens dried sweet apricot, pit and overripe meat. Some cane sugar in there as well. Body is light with ample carbonation. Foamy on the palate and goes down aggressive. Pretty drinkable.
As a fruit beer, this is solid. I wish there was a touch of tartness to balance out the over-the-top sweetness but this is decent enough that I would recommend it for someone who really likes the style.
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4.53/5 rDev +16.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.81/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A hazy, golden orange in color like fruit juice with a 2 finger whitish head that leaves decent lacing.
The aroma is sour with a hint of apricot.
The taste kind of reminds me of apple cider, but with a light tart component. More sweet than tart, though. Fruity, but the apricot is not distinctive to me.
Medium bodied with light syrup. Somewhat astringent and drying. Low carbonation.
A very good fruit beer, but it's the least favorite of the three Samuel Smith fruit beers I've tried after the raspberry and the cherry. Sweet/tart and fruity, and very easy drinking.
577 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A hazy, golden orange in color like fruit juice with a 2 finger whitish head that leaves decent lacing.
The aroma is sour with a hint of apricot.
The taste kind of reminds me of apple cider, but with a light tart component. More sweet than tart, though. Fruity, but the apricot is not distinctive to me.
Medium bodied with light syrup. Somewhat astringent and drying. Low carbonation.
A very good fruit beer, but it's the least favorite of the three Samuel Smith fruit beers I've tried after the raspberry and the cherry. Sweet/tart and fruity, and very easy drinking.
577 characters
4.87/5 rDev +25.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Not much of a fruit beer guy, but once again, "Sam'l Smith" delivers the goods. Given as a Christmas gift, I just opened it up for a mid-afternoon snack. The smell is fantastic...like fresh apricots warmed by the sun. The taste is equally impressive...not too sweet, but definitely lets you know you're drinking an apricot fruit ale. Fuller mouth-feel than expected. Almost creamy. I wish I had another, to turn this snack into a meal. Yes, please!
448 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Not much of a fruit beer guy, but once again, "Sam'l Smith" delivers the goods. Given as a Christmas gift, I just opened it up for a mid-afternoon snack. The smell is fantastic...like fresh apricots warmed by the sun. The taste is equally impressive...not too sweet, but definitely lets you know you're drinking an apricot fruit ale. Fuller mouth-feel than expected. Almost creamy. I wish I had another, to turn this snack into a meal. Yes, please!
448 characters
4.74/5 rDev +21.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not sure what more you'd want from a fruit beer- smells and tastes exactly like the fruit yet not too sweet, fairly cheap, etc. Seems like what a fruit beer should be.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not sure what more you'd want from a fruit beer- smells and tastes exactly like the fruit yet not too sweet, fairly cheap, etc. Seems like what a fruit beer should be.
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3.72/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nice apricot flavor, but a little sweet
39 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nice apricot flavor, but a little sweet
39 characters
4.72/5 rDev +21.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
Pours a very yellowish clear colour with plenty carbonation giving it that fizzy texture. The smell was of clear apricots and slight lime biscuit. The flavour was apricot and reminded me of apricot yogurt leaving the same but strong aftertaste. Will have again.
261 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
Pours a very yellowish clear colour with plenty carbonation giving it that fizzy texture. The smell was of clear apricots and slight lime biscuit. The flavour was apricot and reminded me of apricot yogurt leaving the same but strong aftertaste. Will have again.
261 characters
4.74/5 rDev +21.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.5/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: hazy gold permeated by streams of rapidly rising bubbles under a 1.5" off-white to cream foam collar with good retention
S: Apricot is the big aroma followed by light biscuit, and traces of citrus and fruit
T: Apricot, sweet biscuit, honey, orange, citrus and very mild hop flavors and bitterness
F: very creamy beer with medium to medium low carbonation
O: the malt flavors from the British malts are exactly what you want with apricot
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: hazy gold permeated by streams of rapidly rising bubbles under a 1.5" off-white to cream foam collar with good retention
S: Apricot is the big aroma followed by light biscuit, and traces of citrus and fruit
T: Apricot, sweet biscuit, honey, orange, citrus and very mild hop flavors and bitterness
F: very creamy beer with medium to medium low carbonation
O: the malt flavors from the British malts are exactly what you want with apricot
443 characters
4.31/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.63/5 rDev +19%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
3.99/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance was a light somewhat hazy yet transparent golden yellow to almost orange color. There is a one finger white foamy head that steadies itself for a good minute and a half before slowing concaving into the body and ends up leaving a nice clingy foamy lacing. The smell is basically a good authentic smelling apricot, exactly as Samuel Smith calls for. There isn’t much else going on in the smell. The taste was basically sweet through the apricot notes but ends up giving a tad of a decent sour flavoring in it. The aftertaste is basically sweet apricot and ends up leading to a sweet dry finish. On the palate, it sits very light on the body and shows an extremely nice sessionable aspect well worth consuming on a mid May day. The carbonation is smooth and tends to hit the spot refreshing-like. Overall, I say this is a good apricot beer as it does everything one asks for from Samuel Smith, well worthy of having again and well worthy of having as a dessert beer on a nice Summer’s evening.
1,010 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance was a light somewhat hazy yet transparent golden yellow to almost orange color. There is a one finger white foamy head that steadies itself for a good minute and a half before slowing concaving into the body and ends up leaving a nice clingy foamy lacing. The smell is basically a good authentic smelling apricot, exactly as Samuel Smith calls for. There isn’t much else going on in the smell. The taste was basically sweet through the apricot notes but ends up giving a tad of a decent sour flavoring in it. The aftertaste is basically sweet apricot and ends up leading to a sweet dry finish. On the palate, it sits very light on the body and shows an extremely nice sessionable aspect well worth consuming on a mid May day. The carbonation is smooth and tends to hit the spot refreshing-like. Overall, I say this is a good apricot beer as it does everything one asks for from Samuel Smith, well worthy of having again and well worthy of having as a dessert beer on a nice Summer’s evening.
1,010 characters
3.53/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Decanted from an 18.7 oz (550 ml) bottle into a tulip pint glass; no production information.
A: Pours a hazy golden, orange tinged color with a foamy, one inch white head.
S: Slightly sour fragrance with apricot, peach, and orange notes predominating.
T: Pitted fruit (apricot and peach) dominant; sourness extending beyond flavors to the finish.
M: Feels full bodied; pleasantly effervescent.
O: Fruit beer not really my style, but enjoyable.
443 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Decanted from an 18.7 oz (550 ml) bottle into a tulip pint glass; no production information.
A: Pours a hazy golden, orange tinged color with a foamy, one inch white head.
S: Slightly sour fragrance with apricot, peach, and orange notes predominating.
T: Pitted fruit (apricot and peach) dominant; sourness extending beyond flavors to the finish.
M: Feels full bodied; pleasantly effervescent.
O: Fruit beer not really my style, but enjoyable.
443 characters
4.35/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.29/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours a hazy amber color. The head was 2 finger, and fairly long lasting with lots of carbonation bubbles rising in the glass. The nose is very strong with the apricot. The taste of this beer is well, a carbonated apricot juice. There's a slight hops bite on the backside, but the fruit is front and center. Very light and refreshing feeling. It's a very delicious beer, and I'm glad I bought it.
407 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours a hazy amber color. The head was 2 finger, and fairly long lasting with lots of carbonation bubbles rising in the glass. The nose is very strong with the apricot. The taste of this beer is well, a carbonated apricot juice. There's a slight hops bite on the backside, but the fruit is front and center. Very light and refreshing feeling. It's a very delicious beer, and I'm glad I bought it.
407 characters
4/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
500 (?) ml bottle.
Hazy golden body with a durable white head, Decent lacing.
Nice aroma of ripe apricots and baked bread.
Flavor; sweet up front, then tart-sweet through the finish; tart and mildly bitter in the aftertaste, Plenty fruity wih very ripe apricot flavor,
Excellent mouthfeel; smooth, medium body with near perfect, lively carbonation.
352 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
500 (?) ml bottle.
Hazy golden body with a durable white head, Decent lacing.
Nice aroma of ripe apricots and baked bread.
Flavor; sweet up front, then tart-sweet through the finish; tart and mildly bitter in the aftertaste, Plenty fruity wih very ripe apricot flavor,
Excellent mouthfeel; smooth, medium body with near perfect, lively carbonation.
352 characters
2.92/5 rDev -24.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
I'm honestly not the type to rate a beer on its appearance or smell or feel. I've had a lot of fruit beers in my lifetime; many miss the mark, many play it safe, and some hit the nail on the head for the perfect balance of fruit and beer.
This one missed the mark. The flavor was fine, but the sweetness of this beer overpowered me about halfway through my glass, which was only about 1/4 of the full bottle. It didn't take long for my enjoyment of this to turn into disappointment as I slowly came to the conclusion that I didn't want to finish even the glass I had in front of me. The aftertaste was even sweeter and reminiscent of the aftertaste of ice wine.
I give the taste a solid 2.5 to account for both my initial enjoyment and, soon thereafter, my inability to finish the glass.
790 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
I'm honestly not the type to rate a beer on its appearance or smell or feel. I've had a lot of fruit beers in my lifetime; many miss the mark, many play it safe, and some hit the nail on the head for the perfect balance of fruit and beer.
This one missed the mark. The flavor was fine, but the sweetness of this beer overpowered me about halfway through my glass, which was only about 1/4 of the full bottle. It didn't take long for my enjoyment of this to turn into disappointment as I slowly came to the conclusion that I didn't want to finish even the glass I had in front of me. The aftertaste was even sweeter and reminiscent of the aftertaste of ice wine.
I give the taste a solid 2.5 to account for both my initial enjoyment and, soon thereafter, my inability to finish the glass.
790 characters
Organic Apricot Ale from Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Beer rating:
3.89 out of
5 with
409 ratings
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