Samuel Smith's The Famous Taddy Porter - Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

550 ml bottle poured into a Sprecher nonic.
No date or info listed on the bottle.

A - Crystal clear and light oak during the pour, it becomes more of a burgundy brown in the pint. A crown of three-fingers of foam rests gently on top and lowers slowly. It's just missing lace.

S - Dusty cocoa and flaky dirt give the aroma a classic English nose with lots of chocolate malt, a little hint of being burnt, with bready characteristics and mild hops.

T - Very dusty and dry, this English porter has nuances of bread toasted just a bit too long and bitter-sweet chocolate. Flavorful and rich!

M - A creamy and smooth entry leads to a soft feel on the palette and a mellow, not distracting dry finish. Medium-bodied and delightful.

O - Taddy packs a wallop of flavor without the necessity of pesky heavy alcohol our American versions have. Highly drinkable, it's a session porter if there ever was one. God bless the English brews.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 12:14:22 | More by BeerFMAndy

francisweizen

Australia

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This was a decent porter from Sam Smiths. It poured a dark brown, almost black, colour with a nice brown head. The aromas were of chocolate and coffee and the taste was more of the same. There were some hops present in the flavor of this porter as well. The mouthfeel was a bit thin, spirtzy and soda-like for a porter but the drinkability was very high, none-the-less!
Cheers!
-F

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2003 13:37:47 | More by francisweizen

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass, the beer pours dark brown with a small off-white head. It smells like chocolate, roasted malt and some dark fruit. It tastes the same way to me, but in addition to the initial malty sweetness, there's a bitter coffee-like finish. The mouthfeel is light/medium, and it's a bit creamy and smooth. The drinkability is good, but not great. Overall it's a good beer, but I've had better porters.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2006 02:02:30 | More by bluejacket74

smakawhat

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured out of the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A nice solid foamy three finger head off the pour that is a very light brown. Body looks classic dark walnut black with red hues. Very nice looking but the head doesn't seem to have much staying power, but is at least there. No lacing at all.

The nose on this is malty medicinal a little, perhaps sour and yeast. But there's something very roasty as well. It's very odd, it's a mix between a very good smell, and something off and odd.

Taste though is a dramatic improvement. Malt and light bodied roast with banana. Refreshing feeling of grain chew on the swallow, but brings some Marzen quality with the classic good porter roast. Complex, varied, very unique I would say and distinct, nothing like I've had before in this style.

Overall still impressive, but I think there's a few others I prefer than this. But this could do anytime for sure.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 20:43:16 | More by smakawhat

FosterJM

California

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

601st Review on BA
Bottle to Mug
550 ml

App- Amazing in my clear mug. Dark roasted brown with some lighter highlights. A two finger khaki/tan head that just falls as you drink. No lace on this one.

Smell- Roasted malts with a grainy, bitter chocolate and slight hoppy nose.

Taste- Its a well crafted classic beer. Very balanced, smooth and flavorful. The roasted bitter hits first with the softness from the yeast and in the end that hop kick finishes it.

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonated with that duality of bitter chocolate and hops.

Drink- To think I never had this, to me was a crime against beer. This should be on a list for noob beer drinkers. Introduces layering to the palate and just very well done. I'd have this again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 05:50:12 | More by FosterJM

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.15/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle. Pours a dark brown with a thick light tan head. Aroma of sweet malt, some vegetal notes, and bready malt. Flavor is predominantly bready malt and some roasted notes, but this really isn't like your typical porter. Weak palate. Meh, I'm not digging this.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2009 19:39:43 | More by LilBeerDoctor

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.46/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

this beer is divine, an English porter cannot get any better than this. it pours a luxuriously textured dark brown color with very little light coming in. the head is about two inches tall, and super creamy, light mocha in color. the nose is fantastically enticing, with a lot of milk chocolate notes from the malt, a bitterness from the roasted barley, and a hint of tartness to it as well from the hopping. the flavor is packed full with roasted malts, and is heavy on both the sweet and bitter chocolate components. this is even better than their acclaimed oatmeal stout, something about those stone fermenters really lets the yeast shine in all of their beers, and its an excellent complement to the dark bittersweet complexion of this porter. very little sweetness in the finish though, as the hops and burnt grains bitter it right up. full bodied and smooth as anything, I love the feel of this beer too. my only complaint is that its sold in four packs instead of six packs, I always seem to be wanting another one or two at the end of a session. wow this is just a splendid porter, an example to be followed on both sides of the atlantic!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 00:29:31 | More by StonedTrippin

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

550ml bottle poured into pint glass jan16 2010

A dark cola, clear enough too see lots of bubbles that feed a thumbs width of light beige head that has great retention and leaves a few patches of lace

S raisins and chocolate with a hint off coffee and a slight fruity aspect I can't quite place

T what I smell but with less chocolate more dried fruit and some molasses

M silky upon entry and the bubbles cream it up a bit before it hits you stomach and the flavors linger

D great session brew and ever so close to a few 4.5's so I can't help but drop one here

a solid classic brew that everybody should drink every now and then, not my favorite from this brewer but a great porter nonetheless

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 00:31:01 | More by wordemupg

Brent

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I know this is considered one of the touchstones against which other porters are judged, and maybe that is why it seems to fall short of my expectations. Very nice, but not outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2001 09:58:46 | More by Brent

champ103

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a black color with some deep brown around the edges. A nice head forms and sticks around. This leaves some pretty good lace down the glass. A very good looking porter.
S: Some malt, chocolete. Pretty thin though, not all that impressed here.
T: Lots of sweet malt with some nice chocolate and coffee flavors. A nice wood/earthy taste that I think works well here.
M/D: Kind of thin and watery for my tastes. Drinkibility is good though. Smooth and easy going.

A good quafable porter that is recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2008 01:47:34 | More by champ103

alexgash

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark, muddy brown body with dark amber edges in the light. Nice, big, light brown head that laces well. Smells of semi-sweet chocolate, brandy, caramel syrup, underlaid by soft roasted notes. Light chocolate to cola sweetness up front. Some marshmallows, and then roasted coffee bitterness sneaks in. Finish is sweetish, with cocoa powder and a background bitterness. Medium bodied, with a slightly syrupy finish. Pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2005 21:22:26 | More by alexgash

GClarkage

California

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12/14/06- Purchased at Dart Liquors in Stateline, NV.

Presentation- 16.9oz bottle with a freshness code imprinted on the neck. Poured into my St. Bernardus chalice.

Appearance- Medium black with an auburn hue, Full 3/4 inch and rather creamy looking head. Nice rim remains throughout. Light streaks of lace remain.

Smell- Smoky and sweet at the same time. Very earthy and woody scented. Nice bittersweet chocolate notes.

Taste- Sharp chocolate notes mix and mingle between dark and bittersweet. A tad salty from the smoky rauch-like flavor.

Mouthfeel- Chewy with mid-low carbonation. Lightly mouthcoating.

Drinkability- Good flavor and texture. One of the better traditional porters out there.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2007 18:43:54 | More by GClarkage

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a black body that's clear and dark-brown around the edges when backlit. Nice looking two-finger head of creamy tan foam with average retention and a good amount of delicate lacing. Great looking beer.

S: Simultaneously mild and pungent aroma of chocolate malt, vanilla yogurt, and a touch of sulphur. Interesting, and appropriate for the English porter style - but not quite my cup of tea.

T: Starts out with mild malt sweetness, followed by a pleasantly smooth lactic yogurty sourness (along with plenty of vanilla). Finishes with a bit of roasted malt bitterness. Again, not a style I'm particularly fond of, but this is pretty spot on.

M: Very smooth, fairly thin body with only light carbonation. A little on the weak side.

D: Very smooth, with a good balance of sweetness and sourness. This one definitely goes down easily.

Notes: I was a little put off at first by the yogurt sourness, but after a bit I warmed up to it (both in terms of personal taste and out of respect for the traditional style). It paired especially well with one of my wife's wonderful peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 02:56:52 | More by woosterbill

tdm168

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep, dark brownish black with 1/2" of brown head that's loose and thin. The nose has some wine-like alcohol esters as well as some faint roasted malt. The taste is roasted malt, faint coffee, and a very slight hint of chocolate in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with the perfect amount of carbonation.

This is a great porter. Subtleties make this one complex and it's well blended nature make it an easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 22:44:41 | More by tdm168

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.65/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

550ml bottle served in an English (20oz) pint glass.

L - deep brown color with a creamy tan head that left nice globs of lacing behind.

S - roasted malt and molases sweet aroma.

T - sweet molases, toffee and fig flavors all make up for a delghtful tasting brew.

F - smooth and creamy all the way through.

D - extremely easy to drink and delicious to boot.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2008 01:28:29 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

merlin48

Kentucky

4.68/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours an opaque, deep dark brown with a modest tan head. Lacing had a smooth, silky appearance as it left sheets down the glass. Aroma and taste surprised me with a complexity that was somewhat unique. Roasted coffee and chocolate were dominant, with earthiness, smokiness, and black walnut on the nose. Mouthfeel was creamy and smooth, carbonation just barely adequate. Taste was much like the nose, but with some interesting twists that made for one of the best tasting dark beers I've ever tried. There's definitely a hint of cherries in this, and the twang of those funky English hops. I can't decide if it's licorice or cinamon, or some other bittersweet spice, but there's something here that melds perfectly with the chocolately malts, cherry fruitiness, and buttery walnut to produce an exceptional flavor profile. Just enough bittering hops to balance the many other flavors going on in this fine porter. Finishes smooth, and goes down so fine. High drinkability with the low abv. Finest porter that I've sampled to date.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2004 11:48:29 | More by merlin48

Vancer

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A pretty darn good porter. Black pour with lacey tan head, yeah! A rich, chocolaty malt aroma. The taste takes a person somewhat aback, same tastes as the aroma, but finishes with a pop of sour ale – kinda reminiscent of a sour mash bourbon.

Full bodied and rich throughout, it’s a darn same its on the expensive side – it would make a good session brew if better priced.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2005 13:13:46 | More by Vancer

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into pint glass.
Nice dark brown color, tints of red/orange. Good head, laced.
Not a strong aroma--roated malt, smoked wood, hops
Tastes about the same; roasted malt, smoke, hops, with some hints of chocolate. Not a fantastic taste, but it will grow on you and want more. Good feel, not too thick, not to light, just the right amount of bitterness/sweetness.
Could pound a few more.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2006 18:22:19 | More by Mebuzzard

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep reedish-brown color with massive tannish head. Minmal lacing.
Smell is dark fruity(raisins, plums) with somewhat of a wine or sherry character also present.
Taste is more fruitiness, being swett enough to be enjoyable without going too far.
Finishes with more sweetness, but also has a firm dry bitterness at the end.
Great drinkabilty. Nice session beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2006 00:16:02 | More by tgbljb

flagmantho

Washington

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 550mL bottle into a pint glass; I'm looking forward to reviewing this beer.

Appearance: very dark amber with a very thick head on pouring which subsided quickly. Quite appetizing.

Smell: roasted malts with some caramel sweetness. Not overpowering, but not so subtle that it can't be appreciated.

Taste: very nice flavor; there is a subtle coffee flavor and the hops seem almost floral. It is nicely bitter throughout.

Mouthfeel: a nice medium body overall, it seems a little more substantial than the average porter. Very satisfying.

Drinkability: it's a little thick to swill pint after pint of it, but a few of these in a long session would be quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2009 01:59:16 | More by flagmantho

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.95/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

550ml bottle served in a standard pint glass. Poured the color of cola with ruby red highlights when backlit and a float-like, two inch, tan-colored head. Head eventually recedes into a solid quarter inch cap; no lacing on this one. Nose suggests chocolate malt, dark fruit, molasses and brown sugar. Taste consistent with nose, but flavors are considerably more subdued. Mouthfeel falls between light- and medium-bodied with a mild, consistent background carbonation; a little too light-bodied and carbonated for my general liking. Easy drinking and flavorful - a nice session porter.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2009 23:51:19 | More by Jwale73

Gmann

New York

3.4/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured an almost black color, moderate tan head that left little lacing. The smell is of caramel & roasted malts, buttery toffee. The taste is of light toffee, caramel, hint of coffee, a bit sour. Lightly carbonated with a full body nice and smooth. Very good overall though I not a huge fan of the style. I could knock back a few.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2007 02:35:12 | More by Gmann

mynie

Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours perfect black. Completely opaque. Big, brown head that stays and stays. Excellent.

Smells of deep chocolate and coffee with hints of raisins with some vanilla extract. Wonderfully complex and rich.

Big on the bitterness, a very earthy taste all around. Coffee upfront, moving into some raw molasses and finishing with a wonderful spurt of roasted hops and some vanilla extract. Very nice.

This beer is rough where it should be. Not rough like a bad neighborhood in Detriot, rough like a wooden rollercoaster. A fun, carefully designed kind of roughness.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2005 04:39:17 | More by mynie

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a black color with a 1 inch head. Smell has som e choco;ate, roasted malts. Taste is the same, roasted malts with chocolate, maybe a hint of coffee. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a high quality beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 13:56:16 | More by tone77

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours an opaque dark brown to black in color with some hints of brown and garnet red when held up to the light. The beer has a two finger tall foamy tan head that reduces to a thick layer covering the entire surface of the beer. Significant lacing is observed.

S: Light aromas of roasted malts, sweet malts, and nuttiness.

T: Moderate flavors of roasted malts, nuttiness, and a light amount of caramel malt sweetness upfront. The finish has a light presence of bitterness but it does not linger.

M: Medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and creamy.

O: Extremely easy to drink, sessionable, and enjoyable. This is one of the first British beers that I ever tried, early in my craft beer drinking experience and I fell in love with it. Well, I have to say this really stood the test of time because I still think it is pretty amazing.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 21:07:06 | More by dbrauneis