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

BamaWorKs

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Keeping in mind that I rate these beers only in comparison with other beers of their type.

With that being said, this beer poured beautifully into my mug from the classic "pint and change" bottle that Samuel Smith typically uses, maintains about a finger of frother head throughout, creates great rings down the class... the aromas were fairly complex, with hints of different types of nuts and at points, chocolate and coffee. But the taste is where this porter shines. By far one of the best porters I've had, this really combines all the different facets of a porter to make one of the best porters around. Surprisingly carbonated with a GREAT drinkability (in comparision with other porters), if you're a big fan of the Porter, this is the beer for you. Very tasty!

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2006 22:40:27 | More by BamaWorKs

pweis909

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The foamy head on this dark porter first greeted me with fruity aromas and a hint of cocoa. As the session with this brew progressed, and the foam faded to a thin creamy with residual lacings on the glass, the fruit was replaced by hop aromas and malt.

The malty flavor is perfect -- deliciously balanced with the hops to give the brew a definitive sweetness without cloying. Roasty notes are lurking in the depths of the sweetness.

The creamy texture satisfies, and despite looking heavy the beer was not filling. A 22 oz bottle was easy drinking. .

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2007 00:25:18 | More by pweis909

edskirk3

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Now this is a porter. Looks excellent in a Samuel Smith pint glass. Great looking head. Sticky, foamy; a dark mocha color. The beer itself is pitch black. And it smells like roasted coffee and chocolate. I think I'm drooling.

Drinking it is also a pleasure. Smooth dark malt flavors with a slight tanginess. Nice and creamy. So simple, yet so enjoyable.

If you want a great cheesesteak, go to Philadelphia. A great corned beef sandwich, New York. And if you're looking for a great glass of porter, look no further than the Old Brewery in Tadcaster.

I will definitely be picking this up again.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2007 02:26:48 | More by edskirk3

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I simply adore the old school label on this beer. Enjoyed in a plastic glass in a basic student resident. This is luxury! Classic black appearance with a ruby hue, and a thick tan head that provides generous sheets of lacing. The aroma has cocoa, caramel and figs. Great malty flavours at play, with a cocoa smoothness playing off a slight coffee bitterness, and a lot of depth similar to raisins. Fairly medium bodied and chewy mouthfeel with minimal carbonation. Huge drinkability. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2008 18:47:33 | More by bobsy

JoshuaJ

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is another great one from Sam Smith. It's pitch black with a good, creamy head. Chocolate, coffee, malty aroma. Taste and mouthfeel are both outstanding. Chocolate, molasses, malt comes through at the end, a little figgy, but finishes dry. Carbonation is excellent. I could definitely session this were I so inclined.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2009 13:44:23 | More by JoshuaJ

beerme626

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bottle from Big Cat Liquors in Lexington, poured into a porter/stout glass (oversized drinking glass)

A: Opaque near-black brown. Nice dark tan head, with decent lacing. Looks nice.
S: I, who can smell next to nothing, love the smell of this beer. It has a rich, chocolately nose with hints of easy malt. Lovely. Exquisite.
T: Thick, rich porter taste, though sweeter than some.
M: A little flat on the tongue, but still full and fantastic
O: An excellent beer. Wowza.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 23:15:00 | More by beerme626

MP72

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Very Dark, near black, rich thick tan head, nice lacing down to the end.

S - Very malty with a mild smell of alcohol, coffee and some a hints of dark chocolate.

T - Bitter yet malty sweet all in one. Malt and coffee flavors really shine.
M- Lightly carbonated. Silky smooth

D - This stuff is Stellar and could easily be sessioned, I would recommend trying this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2008 14:00:49 | More by MP72

stawn

California

4.78/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 18.2oz bottle into a pint glass.
Out cascades a THICK, black as night body with about a fingers worth of mocha colored head.
Smells of dark strong roast and alcohol.
First taste is silky and chocolately goodness!
Another whiff and my nose thinks its a Hershey bar melted into a fresh pot of delicious coffee. Slight bitterness hits the tongue first, quickly followed by a smokey wood flavor. I am left with bits of coco danging in my mouth. Hints of raisins sprint across the tongue. What a complex brew!
This beer departs your pallet as quickly as it got there, leaving only a relish of smoked chocolate in your mouth.
I will definitely get this one again!

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2008 22:37:53 | More by stawn

megatronstein

Ohio

4.78/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

550ml bottle poured into nonic.

Appearance: Dark. Almost black, with a bit of a ruby color. The head varies each time I have it, because I pour pretty cautiously at the end as the whole bottle barely fits in my 20oz. glass. But it usually has about an inch of head that dissipates fairly quickly.

Smell: The scent of this beer is like a mystery zone. There are some coffee smells, burnt bread, dark chocolate, and a bit of a wine or grape smell, but that's just me.

Taste: Each time I drink it, I try to pick out something different. I think I've been tasting coffee as of recently, but I also taste a bit of chocolate. The hop taste is minimal to me. Other beers of similar style (Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald, etc.) have a certain tasting note in them, and I really can't put my finger on it. I still love those beers, I don't particularly enjoy that one note. Taddy Porter lacks this note for me, and really makes it unique and a lot more enjoyable for me.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and a bit chewy. Not too carbonated, but not flat, either.

Drinkability: I could drink them all night. It's not so heavy that it fills you up after one pint, but it is satisfying for it's style in that it's a formidable dark brew.

As you can tell, I feel pretty good about this beer. In fact, it is my favorite beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2009 03:13:20 | More by megatronstein

Newmerator

California

4.78/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

i got a .5 liter bottle from the local spot

Pours a deep brown with a creamy cake like head that floats on top.

Rich creamy, chocolate, coffee. a brilliant porter over all. not too little carbonation (like some porters i have had). It's effing delicious. this is god damned delicious.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2009 03:51:54 | More by Newmerator

Arenbeer

Connecticut

4.78/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from 12 oz into glass

A- Black with dark reddish tones with a very small tan head.

S- Real sweet malty smell to it, not much hops in this one.

T- Delicious coffee, roasted malty flavor to it, but blended perfectly creating a extremely smooth and enjoyable porter. The only thing I'm not to happy about is that it has a pretty dry finish, reccomend a glass of water after you drink one haha

M- The mouth feel of this beer is amazing, it's what makes it for me. So smooth and clean tasting, and goes down like water.

Great Beer, Buy it!!!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2010 17:52:04 | More by Arenbeer

ncredible1

Arizona

4.78/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is my kind of Beer. One of the best.

A: Thick, Black beer, Dense tan Head with very good retention and nice lacing with a moderate to heavy pour. nice reddish tint when held up to light.

S: of toasted nuts with hints of chocolate and coffee. Excellent balance through the nose.

T: Amazing roasted malt flavor, chocolate in the fairly long finish. Very complex.

M: leaves a well coated feeling, the finish lasts and I notice a velvety butterlike finish as well. Truly amazing.

D: exceptional, could drink these all night. Highest quality that keeps me coming back for more.

Another perfect beer from Samuel Smith!! if you are looking for a english brown with more body, texture, and ABV. this is it.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2010 15:25:15 | More by ncredible1

JJKBeerLvr

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Sampled April 2012 from bottles in pint glass.

Appearance: Very dark brown color, with tan head. Nice appearance in a pint glass.

Smell: Some coffee aromas, with hints of toasted/burnt aromas. Smell is not over-powering.

Taste: Medium-bodied porter with great balance of malt and hops. Dominated by toasted coffee, but with some chocolate flavors as well.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied for a porter, but very smooth.

Overall: This is my favorite porter, and the standard I compare all other porters to.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 19:43:33 | More by JJKBeerLvr

wcudwight

North Carolina

4.78/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Opaque in color with a nice mahogany colored head that last until the glass is empty and leaves sticky lace draped on the sides. Smells like bakers chocolate with vanilla. Very dry and roasted in flavor with hints of chocolate, coffee, nuts, and vanilla. Bitter acidic taste in the middle. Again reminds me of bakers chocolate. The flavors are subtle but blend real well for perfect balance. The dry finish and mouthfeel is what makes this beer stand out above other outstanding porters. Excellent session porter and I don't really see how you could do better.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 01:53:05 | More by wcudwight

Lupe

New York

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a dark ruby brown with a fluffy brown head and nice lace. Coffee and chocalote aromas with some licorice. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel with just enough carbonation. Tastes of coffee, chocolate, toffee and a roasted flavor. Even smoother after warming a little and not too heavy. Delicious and very easy to drink. A must try...A+

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2002 19:20:55 | More by Lupe

steinlifter

Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured black as night good head that diminished fairly quickly, but left a good collar all the way through, smell was complex, coffee predominant, with chocolate notes, taste was opposite of smell, chocolate predominant with coffee notes, some alcohol presence also, reminded me a bit of those chocolate covered cherries, with the liquour in them, excellent! mouthfeel was fairly light and crisp,Drinkability is Fucking BRILLIANT! excellent stuff! That I will have again, and again, and again, etc.. highly recomennded!

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2005 02:51:59 | More by steinlifter

hustlesworth

Ohio

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- 1in dense creamy tawny brown head with decent retention over a black brew with golden amber highlights. waves of lace form spiderwebs on the inside of my glass.

S- cocoa butter or a faint chocolate coconut, coffee, well water, aromatic wood, cigar tobacco, meaty mushroom, burnt cookie, vanilla, hazelnut, roasted barley, and some earthy hops way in the back

T- very complex, dark ripe fruit (currant, date, fig, prune) tart roasted malt, cocoa-coffee grounds, dark nuts, oak, cedar, plum, black pepper, and the dude below hit it on the head when he said burnt hot dogs on the grill. i've been tryin for days to describe that flavor to myself and there it is. miraculous. a deep shiraz like aftertaste that matures and mellows into a coffee earthy hops resin fading slowly and gently into the distance.

MF- creamy and full bodied low carbonation creates a crushed velvet feel and coats the palate with mocha coffee residue imparting a dry feeling and the desire for another sip.

D- this has definitely increased my fondness for porters and the like and for a hophead such as myself, the perfect balance that i always find coming from the tadcaster is a welcome in my fridge anytime.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2007 17:50:23 | More by hustlesworth

Hoagie1973

New York

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours deep black with thin red edges. Nice thick tan head with small and large bubbles. Retention is less than stellar, but decent. Nice sheet lacing that reduces to a stringy sticky film.

Aroma is awesome. Sweet roasted chocolate malt & coffee.

Taste is sweet up front, which dissolves into a momentary hop bitterness, then more sweet caramel that lingers in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is creamy with light carbonation. Medium body.

Overall a deliciously drinkable porter, definitely on the sweet side, but pretty well balanced. Just like I like 'em. If you haven't tried it, do yourself a favor. It's pricey, but worth the cash.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2008 23:50:35 | More by Hoagie1973

rkinsella

Minnesota

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a stemmed pub glass.

Appearance - Near pitch, slight brown/red hue. Beautiful tan colored head, fluffy and thick. Great lacing the whole way down.

Smell - Fruit cake, dark plum, ginger, brown sugar, maple syrup, baked bread, chocolate, coffee...pretty much a symphony!

Taste - Bold, brilliant! Hearty mocha/carmel sweetness held in check with touches of tangy dried fruit and bitter sweet chocolate. Fine roasted coffee bitterness on finish and aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Perfect carbonation, good weight, smoothed out like single malt scotch.

Drinkability- I could drink this beer everyday from fall till spring. Could also be a dessert beer. But it's not overly heavy. Leaves you looking forward to another soon.

Has become one of my top three beers of all time!

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2008 17:26:01 | More by rkinsella

SacredBeverage

Florida

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a 1 pint bottle.

A: Black, very dark, almost expresso-like in appearance with a great brown head with moderate lacing.

S: It has a strong molasses, malt and coffee aroma with a little bitter chocolate but not much.

T: Molasses and coffee dominate this Beer along with dark malt and a little bitter hops. It has a slight tangy sourness that might not sound good in a review but tastes good when your drinking it. Great full-bodied richness with a creamy texture.

M: A nice malty creamy texture that really complements the Beer. I love the way this feels on the tongue.

D: The ONLY reason I do not give this a 5 on drinkability is that this is a Beer to savor, not to chug down. I would not drink 3 or 4 of these, they are very rich beers. 2 at most.

Notes: I definitely recommend this porter, awesome flavor with a dark creamy feel to it. It lives up to the hype.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 23:44:34 | More by SacredBeverage

chrisdenny

Texas

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - a lovely deep shade of brown to almost black, with thick and creamy tan head.

S - Smells of roasted malts, coffee and hints of chocolate.

T - I think the taste is exceptional. I am a big fan of porter's and this is one of the best I have had. Tastes of roasted malts and has a slight bitterness to it from finishing hops. Thick and creamy just like its appearance.

M - The carbonation for my taste is right on. This beer has a nice feel on the tongue with a slight dry finish to it.

D - As I have found with most porter's, one or two of these would be sufficient. It sets pretty heavy, but it's perfect for a desert beer or with a hearty meal.

Overall I was very pleased with this brew as I am with all the Samuel Smith's brews. Definitely will have more of these in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 00:12:39 | More by chrisdenny

barleywinebrewer

New Hampshire

4.83/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I made this a sam smith's weekend thanks to the brown bottles! 460 reviews as of this posting. I won't pontificate to extremes about how good this beer really is. I will say this is one of my favorites of this style, if not the favorite of the style. Enjoy it if you see one, it's worth trying!

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2007 00:39:41 | More by barleywinebrewer

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a Nonic at 45 degrees
A - Deep Chocolate brown with a cream colored head that exhibits excellent retention and lace in a smooth coat all around the glass' sides.

S - Smooth candy and anise aromas with an herbal hint. Strong tinges of smoke and coffee with a light toasted marshmallow note. the woody peat smoke aroma really draws you in.

M - A tingling buzz of carbonation followed by roasty nutty and creamy smooth full body with a dry finish.

T - This is a beautiful beer-Malty and smooth, but bold and smoky simultaneously with a nutty dry quality. Creamy smoothness and spicy vanilla with a dash of bourbon like woodiness are apparent in later sips. A mild strength, but deeply flavored porter.

D - Traditional porter taste that sets the bar high with a complexity and drinkability that can hardly be touched. As the beer warms the fruity English ale character comes out and smokiness nestles under the great porter sweetness. An all around great ale.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2007 04:51:31 | More by Slatetank

EnojysAnyBeer

Colorado

4.83/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- Complex dark brown with a ruby toned body and a tan head with a tint of green. Big bubbles on top and a ring of lace

S- Subdued roasted flavors and a slightly sweet chocolate aroma

T- Wow. Give it up for the greatest roasted flavor I have ever tasted in a beer. Sweet on the tongue with some bitter to prevent it from being cloying. Roasted, grainy, sweet and complex all in one sip.

M- Good, thick/creamy/silky feeling

D- Session Porter?

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2009 22:46:29 | More by EnojysAnyBeer

mirish72

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours jet black with an impressive head. Smells of coffee & chocolate. Impressive malty aroma.

Very smooth and drinkable. At 5% ABV it is a real session beer that you could drink all night. At $2.99 for a 550ML bottle you could also probably afford to also.

This is a great beer and I am just mad that I haven't sampled it before now.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2010 00:58:34 | More by mirish72