Organic Apricot Ale | Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Brewed by:
Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
England, United Kingdom
samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk
Style: Fruit and Field 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: 416 | Reviews: 112
4.18/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.92/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle. Hazy yellow. Thin head.
A rather sour aroma of composting fruit.
A rich almost overwhelming hit of apricot. The sweetness overwhelms any sourness that it's smell indicated. However the light tart finish is thirst quenching.
Medium body. Well carbonated.
A distinct brew for summer drinking.
298 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle. Hazy yellow. Thin head.
A rather sour aroma of composting fruit.
A rich almost overwhelming hit of apricot. The sweetness overwhelms any sourness that it's smell indicated. However the light tart finish is thirst quenching.
Medium body. Well carbonated.
A distinct brew for summer drinking.
298 characters
4.09/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Has a very strong aroma of dried apricots, apricot jelly and juice. Theres also a perfume like candy smell but it didn't smell artificial.
Taste is very similar, sweet but not sugary sickening sweet. Apricot all the way, dried, candied, jellied, and juiced. There isn't any tartness to balance out the sweetness but it still works out well. There is a mild bitter,dry finish that lingers awhile
Overall it's an excellent fruit beer that worked really well served with dessert.
485 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Has a very strong aroma of dried apricots, apricot jelly and juice. Theres also a perfume like candy smell but it didn't smell artificial.
Taste is very similar, sweet but not sugary sickening sweet. Apricot all the way, dried, candied, jellied, and juiced. There isn't any tartness to balance out the sweetness but it still works out well. There is a mild bitter,dry finish that lingers awhile
Overall it's an excellent fruit beer that worked really well served with dessert.
485 characters
3.1/5 rDev -20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
4.21/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
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
3.96/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I am not too familiar with the taste of apricots, but I do like how this Apricot Ale tastes. I would describe this flavor as 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 summer day. Cheers! B
290 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I am not too familiar with the taste of apricots, but I do like how this Apricot Ale tastes. I would describe this flavor as 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 summer day. Cheers! B
290 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.
519 characters
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.
167 characters
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.
167 characters
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
443 characters
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
Organic Apricot Ale from Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Beer rating:
3.89 out of
5 with
416 ratings
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