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John Smith's Extra Smooth
John Smith's Brewery (Heineken UK)
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- John Smith's Brewery (Heineken UK)
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Pale Ale
Ranked #200 - ABV:
- 3.6%
- Score:
- 73
Ranked #29,373 - Avg:
- 3.17 | pDev: 21.45%
- Reviews:
- 119
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 28, 2023
- Added:
- Jun 10, 2002
- Wants:
- 11
- Gots:
- 30
SCORE
73
Okay
73
Okay
Notes:
John Smith’s Extra Smooth was launched in 1993 and is now the nation’s No.1 ale. The boffins say it has a distinct cereal character, with malty, caramel notes being complemented by some fruitiness. But we just think it’s a right good pint.
Extra Smooth is available in draught or in cans to be enjoyed at home (Both 3.6% ABV). Plus – you can also get John Smith’s Extra Cold on draught: the same great taste, but colder. We don’t muck about with names see.
Extra Smooth is available in draught or in cans to be enjoyed at home (Both 3.6% ABV). Plus – you can also get John Smith’s Extra Cold on draught: the same great taste, but colder. We don’t muck about with names see.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.33/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.33/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Aug. 2007: A very smooth and drinkable ’bitter’, perhaps without too much character. Still, I openly admit enjoying it!
Rerate nitro-can: Delete the ’perhaps’ - it’s DEFINITELY without too much character. I over-rated this brew the first time. It’s still drinkable, but far from great!
May 28, 2023Rerate nitro-can: Delete the ’perhaps’ - it’s DEFINITELY without too much character. I over-rated this brew the first time. It’s still drinkable, but far from great!
Rated by NCSapiens from Indiana
3.71/5 rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Smooth cereal malt and caramel and a hint of bitterness.
May 28, 2023Rated by IanCT
3.11/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.11/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Easy drinker, a bit thin.
Not as good as I remember.
May 16, 2021Not as good as I remember.
Reviewed by Thisdrinkinglife from Switzerland
2.54/5 rDev -19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 2.5
2.54/5 rDev -19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 2.5
Review: 500ml can of John Smith’s Yorkshire Smooth Ale: 3.6% vol.
Comes in cans and on draught. Famous iconic logo, on green can, of the red magnet. Cans also come with the magical floating widget inside them.
So does the widget make any difference, lets see.
Yes, the appearance looks fantastic, very good creamy white head, with a copper colour. Looks as good as one can expect. Lacing present. 100% on the looks.
The aroma is very light on the nose, a real English ale style aroma for sure but not strong, not much of a whiff really, very faint and very disappointing. Sweet caramel and light malts on the nose.
Nice initial taste, getting the typical English ale type taste’s, nice creamy mouthfuls, lovely.
Immediate impression on drinking this was how light it was, definitely wasn’t as strong as I had remembered it. And sure enough I go and check and I see its 3.6 in Volume, a reduction. What the hell, “faffin about right there!”’
Could have a little more substance, but does the job, smooth, has a nice creamy texture and was very easy to drink. Getting the caramel, grains and hops, pale malts, all very light though.
Might be a little more adventurous in the general tastes and flavours, nothing really standouts but overall it was fulsome, well balanced in the tastes and I liked it, in terms of drinkability and how smooth it is to drink. But having had it from the tap, this is much weaker in the can in terms of not much in the taste, not much flavour, boring and all a bit plain. Perhaps the nitro carbonated it too much?
Feb 23, 2021Comes in cans and on draught. Famous iconic logo, on green can, of the red magnet. Cans also come with the magical floating widget inside them.
So does the widget make any difference, lets see.
Yes, the appearance looks fantastic, very good creamy white head, with a copper colour. Looks as good as one can expect. Lacing present. 100% on the looks.
The aroma is very light on the nose, a real English ale style aroma for sure but not strong, not much of a whiff really, very faint and very disappointing. Sweet caramel and light malts on the nose.
Nice initial taste, getting the typical English ale type taste’s, nice creamy mouthfuls, lovely.
Immediate impression on drinking this was how light it was, definitely wasn’t as strong as I had remembered it. And sure enough I go and check and I see its 3.6 in Volume, a reduction. What the hell, “faffin about right there!”’
Could have a little more substance, but does the job, smooth, has a nice creamy texture and was very easy to drink. Getting the caramel, grains and hops, pale malts, all very light though.
Might be a little more adventurous in the general tastes and flavours, nothing really standouts but overall it was fulsome, well balanced in the tastes and I liked it, in terms of drinkability and how smooth it is to drink. But having had it from the tap, this is much weaker in the can in terms of not much in the taste, not much flavour, boring and all a bit plain. Perhaps the nitro carbonated it too much?
Reviewed by Zapsincl from England
1.03/5 rDev -67.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
1.03/5 rDev -67.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
I think this beer is even worse than Watney's used to be. Leaves a terrible aftertaste in the mouth and is full of chemicals.
The only reason it's popular is that it keeps well and everyone stocks it.
If you go to a club and all they've got is John Smith's, Strongbow, Fosters and Guinness then you can be sure the quality will be poor and the pumps wouldn't have been cleaned for ages.
Jan 28, 2021The only reason it's popular is that it keeps well and everyone stocks it.
If you go to a club and all they've got is John Smith's, Strongbow, Fosters and Guinness then you can be sure the quality will be poor and the pumps wouldn't have been cleaned for ages.
Reviewed by WillDaniell
3.55/5 rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Look: Huge creamy head above a murky brown colour
Smell: Fairly dull, slightly metallic with a little malt
Taste: fairly plain, but with clear cereal notes
Feel: smooth and watery with hardly any carbonation but not at all bad
Overall: Enjoyable ale but not mind blowing
Sep 16, 2019Smell: Fairly dull, slightly metallic with a little malt
Taste: fairly plain, but with clear cereal notes
Feel: smooth and watery with hardly any carbonation but not at all bad
Overall: Enjoyable ale but not mind blowing
Reviewed by misteil from Ireland
3.12/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.12/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Look : Big creamy flat head , dark murky brown/orange colour
Smell : Not much going on here , some sweet caramel scents , coffee , little malt , metal.
Taste : Very mild , so little taste but somehow not bad. The taste that is there is pleasant , some bitterness there , not as sweet as it smells , but still a little caramel on the aftertaste.
Feel : Watery , smooth , virtually no carbonation.
Overall : This was from a can , i've had it on tap once before and it was much much better - far more flavour. Out of the can however it was a let down , but still not too bad , drinkable enough.
Jul 01, 2019Smell : Not much going on here , some sweet caramel scents , coffee , little malt , metal.
Taste : Very mild , so little taste but somehow not bad. The taste that is there is pleasant , some bitterness there , not as sweet as it smells , but still a little caramel on the aftertaste.
Feel : Watery , smooth , virtually no carbonation.
Overall : This was from a can , i've had it on tap once before and it was much much better - far more flavour. Out of the can however it was a let down , but still not too bad , drinkable enough.
Reviewed by Scottish_Lad_48 from Scotland
2.7/5 rDev -14.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.7/5 rDev -14.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
440 ml can. Aroma is digestive biscuits and light toffee. Flavour is cereal w/elements of biscuit & toffee. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Finish was clean lingering bitterness.
Dec 20, 2018
Rated by Dennis-King from England
1/5 rDev -68.5%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
1/5 rDev -68.5%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Possibly the worst beer ever brewed
Jun 10, 2018Rated by Archibald_N from Wales
1/5 rDev -68.5%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
1/5 rDev -68.5%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Just as bad as the 'original' John Smith's, but it appears to have washing up liquid in it to make it 'feel' different. Awful stuff.
Apr 26, 2018
Reviewed by schavuytje from Netherlands
1.36/5 rDev -57.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
1.36/5 rDev -57.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Ordered in a pub at the holiday address;Scented to milky mites, fake foam head and malt taste soft and smooth and no sense of co2 and then the price is special but the taste dredger
Jul 21, 2017Reviewed by TopherBreski from New Jersey
1/5 rDev -68.5%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
1/5 rDev -68.5%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
I seriously don't know how anyone could enjoy this beer. It's so frothy it's like a beer - ice cream float. There's a weird ball in the can to make it frothier, and is basically malt liquor. I gave it the lowest rating I could; wish I could give it a negative.
Apr 05, 2016
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain
3.01/5 rDev -5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.01/5 rDev -5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Can From Carrefour. In Ikea's pint glass. Watching 8 Apellidos Catalanes. BB date this month. Very drinkable and smooth. Not much aroma nor taste.Its low ABV allow to drink it in huge quantities and isnt unpleasant
Mar 25, 2016Reviewed by I_like_beer_31 from Japan
1.52/5 rDev -52.1%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
1.52/5 rDev -52.1%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
I wanted to like this beer. We don't get too many new beers here often and I really, really, wanted to like it.
Look: Amber, like a pretty she's gonna be real good amber.
Smell: Carbonated water; actually carbonated would be insulted to smell like this.
Taste: Funky medicinal tatste going on, someone may have bottled this before it was done; or maybe this is an experiment to see who can tell that this use to be Whisky, before they drowned it.
Feel: Well it felt like beer, just not a very good one that anyone should drink, ever.
Conclusion: If someone brings this to you house don't let them in, they aren't your real friend. If they just picked it up on the whim, smack them for not reading my review. I'm just hoping the in laws come over and drink this, then leave, never to return again.
Nov 16, 2015Look: Amber, like a pretty she's gonna be real good amber.
Smell: Carbonated water; actually carbonated would be insulted to smell like this.
Taste: Funky medicinal tatste going on, someone may have bottled this before it was done; or maybe this is an experiment to see who can tell that this use to be Whisky, before they drowned it.
Feel: Well it felt like beer, just not a very good one that anyone should drink, ever.
Conclusion: If someone brings this to you house don't let them in, they aren't your real friend. If they just picked it up on the whim, smack them for not reading my review. I'm just hoping the in laws come over and drink this, then leave, never to return again.
Rated by HankC from Sweden
3.19/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.19/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I like this one.. but even better if you can get it on draught for real
Nov 14, 2015
Reviewed by mdfb79 from New York
3.52/5 rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
From 10/07/15 notes. Had a few of these in the Fanzone before the USA-RSA rugby world cup match.
Pours a reddish brown, super smooth as advertised. Not a lot to the nose
Oct 19, 2015Pours a reddish brown, super smooth as advertised. Not a lot to the nose
John Smith's Extra Smooth from John Smith's Brewery (Heineken UK)
Beer rating:
73 out of
100 with
285 ratings
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