Samuel Smith's India Ale - Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.79/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a cloudy orange with a small white head, dissipates very quickly. Smells of grassy and floral hops, very nice. Tastes of earthy hops and nice grain that adds a little sweetness. Beer is slightly overcarbonated, but for its light body goes down really well. Overall, an above average beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 23:49:45 | More by cyclonece09

magictacosinus

California

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured out of a 550ml bottle into a nonic pint glass. No freshness date.

The appearance is nothing more than a deep, amber classic English bitter appearance, complete with 3 fingers worth of head that eventually dies down to about a half finger. The head never really goes away, as with all other Samuel Smith beers. Carbonation is livelier than usual in this beer - no matter how much I drank there was still tons of carbonation jet-streaming to the top of the glass. Lacing is terrific on this, leaving behind glossy, splattered stickiness everywhere. Pretty much looks like a top English bitter appearance, except with several aspects automatically jacked up given the style.

Smells like any great bitter does, complete with cracked barley breadiness, several toasted biscuit notes, and yeasty fruitiness, except this time there's far more floral and grassy character imparted by the extra hops. To me, it's far less grating than many malty bitters tend to be to my palate, and either I'm desensitized with the exaggerated character of American beers by now, or I simply view this as a beer that reaches for more balance overall. Of course, compared to other English bitters, it most definitely *isn't* (obviously with the hop amount, but more so with the high ABV - above an ESB in this case), but it still is enjoyable here. Those nice, robust yeasty phenols I love Samuel Smith's beers for are in full throttle here. Apples, peaches, and apricots, for starters. Very refreshing.

The flavor is not quite as balanced, however, and in fact alternates in between the biscuit toasted character and the extra bittered hoppiness. At the beginning, there's a grain forward juiciness, filled with a cider-y, fruit forward flavor, yet afterwards it is taken over by orange peel flavors, grassiness, and a light floral texture. It goes, sadly, from thickened to slightly thinned and acidic as the hops arrive, and does not quite reach a proper melding of ingredients. It's relatively easy to drink, although the alcohol does get more noticeable as it warms up, but it does get progressively syrupy as well, sweetened, and mutes the yeasty and barley notes I love these beers for.

Not bad by Samuel Smith standards, yet not nearly as balanced or drinkable as their standard bitter offerings as well. In terms of setting the historical recipe of British IPAs, this is a very nice tribute and recreation of the now highly pepped up and competitive beer style. I would imagine this is better fresh, what with all these alpha acids falling apart at this point. This paired very well with Chinese food, and at this point, I couldn't imagine not pairing it with something international given the context. Worth a try, but not as essential as their other beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 04:34:58 | More by magictacosinus

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.89/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

29 March 2013. Having spent the day on Huatulco beach with only Modelo products and the sea to keep me cool I needed a proper beer. On entering my stateroom a 550ml bottle of this called out to me from the fridge, it had accompanied me from Southampton and was there for such a time as this.

Poured into a tumbler (twice) while the wife showered it did the trick. Light amber in colour, it's white head sat proudly on top and it looked very inviting indeed.

The nose was hops first and foremost although the malt content doesn't hide away either. The taste is very simular to what the aroma hints at: a hop fronted malt laden brew with a good depth of flavours. Fairly dry at times but a very good brew and ideal for the moment when I opened this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 07:04:05 | More by BlackHaddock

JamesQuaff

California

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Purchased at Total Wine as part of a 3 bottle Samuel Smith's gift pack with a brewery monogrammed Becker pint glass. Was actually priced a couple bucks lower than buying the bottles separately, and since I'm a huge nit, my decision was easy.

Poured into the Samuel Smith's glass (natch).

Pours a lovely deep copper with a thick, rustic looking 2 finger head that just stays and stays and leaves mad lacing.

Smell is slightly sour, big malts, and a hop profile worlds apart from the citric-pine-dank blast of an American IPA. I'm admittedly not yet knowledgeable enough to differentiate between hop varieties by smell, give me a year of homebrewing and get back to me. I'm at least reasonably sure there's no Centennial, Simcoe or Citra in here.

Taste is also worlds apart from an American IPA. Big, round flavor. Very malt-forward, still plenty of hops but they take on more of a supporting role here. Delicious bready finish. Well balanced.

Mouthfeel is good, the carbonation was a little soft and could have used a bit more bite, medium body.

Overall I enjoyed this traditional English IPA very much. If I had gone into it expecting a West Coast-style hop blast I would have been disappointed, but I didn't, and I wasn't. I'll drink this beer again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 15:56:48 | More by JamesQuaff

adamwn

South Carolina

2.88/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

poured from bottle into a pint glass. very small amount head disappeared quickly and left no lacing. much darker than expected with a dark amber color. doesn't look like most ipas. not very bitter or fruity like the label suggests. the heavy malt flavor/aroma jumps out immediately and remains. i prefer the american version, but this is still a solid offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 23:08:42 | More by adamwn

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.36/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

the first thing from sam smiths that hasn't wowed me. in fact, I didn't even really like this brew and think it flawed in some ways. it pours a fine shade of amber, like light maple syrup, and has a decent head about an inch and a half tall, but it doesn't last. the nose is sort of drab. stale hops and sweeter English malts that don't taste particularly fresh themselves. is smells like wort not beer honestly, sort of weird. the flavor is also sort of dull, I was hoping for a lot more hops here, but they just never come. its like a movie without a climax. there is also some dusty flavor that is out of place. it just doesn't come together for me the way the other sam smith beers do. the yeast stands out more than it probably should in this style too. its lacking carbonation, being pretty close to flat, and that makes it a bit heavy and filling to drink. maybe I got a bad bottle or something, because I expect much higher quality from sam smiths now. I also had this after a couple of pretty mean American india pale ales, so perhaps my palate didn't do justice to this beer as it otherwise might have. I will have to revisit this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 19:59:12 | More by StonedTrippin

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - bubbly clear copper, thumb of head, receded to a half finger leaving plenty of lacing
S - fresh cut grass and mild citrus, hints of grains and pepper, all very fresh
T - grass, grapefruit rind, light pepper, hints of bubble gum and pale grain
M - medium to light body with solid carbonation, mildly bitter finish, very easy drinking
O - a very sessionable and traditional tasting english ipa, worthy of regular purchase

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 23:24:49 | More by joemcgrath27

mactrail

California

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

Clear dark amber in the Saxo tall tulip. A very nice cap of foam with champagne bubbles. It smells so... English, that is to say, basements, flowers, old wool clothes. Light but full of flavor. What a distinctive taste of hops-- maybe even unique, but it seems so familiar. It's a perfumey flavor that lasts and lasts. An interesting quaff, and a big surprise for the richness of flavor.

Strangely spicy, but it does wear our its welcome. Quite malty but with a touch of the metallic, or else it's just a serious amount of the British mineral water taste. A little sharp but pleasantly sudsy in the mouth. Only $2.50 for this 16 oz bottle and other Samuel Smith beers at a liquor store where you can wire money to the gormless youth in your life.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 05:35:13 | More by mactrail

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

3.91/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

India Ale pours a clear dark golden color, with a long lasting head. The aroma is rather malty, with hints of the floral hops coming through. The taste has a strong malty backbone, with hints of a sweet hoppyness near the end. Full flavor, and easy to drink. Overall this taste more like a pilsner, but there are hoppeir pilsners out there, but still not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 02:42:27 | More by vette2006c5r

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

The beer poured a very clear light copper color with a nice three finger head at 55 degrees. Perfect temperature. The head has excellent cathedral pillar looking lacing that is sticky to the sides and the head stays as a full cap and ring throughout the drink from my imperial pint glass.

The aroma is of mellow light caramel malts biscuity yeast and apricots.

The taste is out of this world smooth caramel malts, some biscuity tastes (very light) and some light fruit flavours all combined and balanced nicely with a bit of dry hops which really don't become exceedingly apparent until the finish which is only slightly dry. Incredibly pleasant.

Mouthfeel is smooth and moderately full for a 5% abv beer thanks to the malt sweetness and it is really well balanced throughout the sip by the hops. The carbonation is mild to moderate and the lasting one finger head lends some creaminess to the drink as well. Slight dry finish makes you crave more!

Overall this is probably my favorite IPA. I'm not a hop head so this fits the bill perfectly for me! I also feel that this is a world class beer and am now a strong fan of Samuel Smith Old Brewery which is now on my bucket list of breweries to tour!

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 01:34:53 | More by WissBrauSean

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

550ml bottle served in a pint glass.

A: Pours a deep amber copper color. Absolutely clear. Forms a big white bubbled white head. Good retention but not much lacings left

S: Sweet and caramel malts in the nose. Toffee, honey and a bit fruity. Grassy and citrus hops in the end. Quite British

T: Follows the nose. A slightly sweet upfront. Strong notes of toffee, caramel malts, honey, citric hops, grassy hops. A bit fruity. In overall, a dry taste and a good bitter hoppy end

M: Light body. Medium carbonation. Caramel maltes and grassy hops aftertaste

O: Quite drinkable and plasant British style IPA. Nice and smooth

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 20:15:10 | More by eduardolinhalis

PhantasIPA

Delaware

4.11/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

The color of this beer is a mixture of copper and light gold. The head was big at first but quickly dissipated and the beers leaves a little lacing as you drink but if the glass is left undisturbed, it disappears completely.

The smell is very subtle and the strongest characteristic is the sweet malt and dry, barley. The malt smells like caramel and a little bit of brown sugar.

The taste is really nice. No flavor or characteristic is dominating but it is extremely well balanced and delivers a hint of lots of flavors. First the caramel sweetness, then the dry, wheat-like barley, then the even dryer hops.

The mouthfeel is really nice as well. Very smooth, almost no carbonation and all of the flavors linger nicely. Very refreshing and super easy to drink.

Overall this is a good beer. It is unique in its lightness and flavor, even thought it is not very strong (5% ABV). Refreshing and very easy to drink with good a good balance of flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 23:52:46 | More by PhantasIPA

kristenspaintings

California

3/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I enjoyed this beer much less than I thought I would.

I like the glass and coaster that came with the sampler pack and was interested in the possibility of visiting the brewery as they have a pretty decent website describing their process and visitation facilities. I still think there’s a possibility that I’ll visit the brewery anyway because I enjoy these sorts of things when I travel, but I’m not into their beer as much as I want to be.

The bottle says it’s “exceptionally full-flavored and complex” which I found to be an exaggeration. It is by far not a bad beer; It’s just not very interesting. It is malty and hoppy/bitter which is true to its category but lacks some depth or “layers” of flavor you get with other IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 16:00:48 | More by kristenspaintings

NiceTaps

New Jersey

4.19/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the 550ml bottle into a stemmed tulip pint glass.

A- Nice deep copper color, just a bit of cloudiness. The huge billowy head has staying power and delivers the lacing to the end.

S- Strong malt and biscuit with some mild floral hop aroma. Some funk from the deepwell hardwater, perhaps.

T- Dy malt, fruit hops. Just about a perfect English India Ale flavor for me.

M- Good cabonation and body, holds up @ 5.0% abv. Dry finish bitterness and some hop bite.

O- Truly how IPA was meant to be, flavorful and drinkable. It is not overpowering and does not burn the palate. Just right, even for a hop lover like me.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 00:38:23 | More by NiceTaps

smakawhat

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

One of the few Samuel Smith brews I have put off for a long time. From the 550ml bottle into a nonic pint glass.

Out of the bottle a faint copper red body, crystal clear with lots of large cola bubbles sticking to the sides of the glass. Head forms real big but soapy white, with large bubbles. Some fairly good staying power also.

Nose is very biscuity sensations. Moderate toasty grains with hints of fruit yeast esters. Slightly powdery. Hop angle is non existent mostly, smells mostly like a good solid bitter.

Palate seems to bring no surprises. Hop angle comes out a little bit forward with mild bitternes, but bowled over with a good classic large malt biscuit character. Hints of light buttery toast sensations, and mild caramel, with a light hop bitterness pull through on the finish. Not particularly hop noticeable but subtle.

Overall, a simple easy drinking brew, and truly English in flavor. It will do.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 21:42:09 | More by smakawhat

pressedmeat

New Jersey

3.36/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a little cloudy, not much head at all.

S: Get a hint of pine, and some sweetness

T: Don't really get a ton of hoppiness, but relatively a smooth finish

M: I find it to be a little velvety.

O: Not one of my first choices of Samuel Smith, but far from something to snub your nose at.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 02:37:40 | More by pressedmeat

Premo88

Texas

3.64/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into pub glass

A: beautiful color, not much of a head. i could cheat and slam this beer into the glass to get a head going, but poured closer to textbook style, it just doesn't rise up. still, it's a wonderful caramel brown color.

S: malty. sweet. damn near like a white wine to me.

T: good but kind of flat. it misses that wonderful sweet finish of Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale. almost tastes more like a brown ale to me.

F: watery. not much carbonation, and being an American raised on too many sodas, I need more carbonation.

O: save your money and try this company's Old Brewery Pale Ale would be my suggestion. it's not terrible in any way ... and frankly, I'm not sure how qualified I am to score an English IPA because this might be the only one I've tried if we're being technical and staying strictly within the confines of each defined beer style. but for the price, I think you can get more Arrogant Bastard and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale for the same money ... so do so.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 02:33:17 | More by Premo88

GiantMidget

Pennsylvania

3.41/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Bought at Wegman's in Collegeville PA.
Drank at the pub, poured into a pint glass.
Had very high expectations despite what some of the reviews I had seen said.
Samuel Smith has typically shown me very good beers and as an IPA guy I figured this EIPA would deliver.

It wasn't 'bad', just not what I expected.

About 2 fingers of smooth head, off white and round lacing that remained to the bottom of the glass.

Very mild citrus and pine scent, I'm more getting the malt and leafiness/grain.

The hops are present but it's more of a bitter nature than a dry one. It didn't hit me the way most IPA's do, it was milder and less hoppy than I expected.
Almost as if it didn't sit with the continuous dry hopping that it may have needed.
The ABV is nothing remarkable nor traceable.

Lighter mouthfeel than I would look for in an IPA.

I probably sound like I'm really down on it, but as far as beers go and EIPA's it's a good beer, just not great, and if you want the real bold bitter hop feel, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 03:19:02 | More by GiantMidget

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.46/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

650mL bottle in the Sam Smith's gift pack, which came with a snappy little Sam Smith's glass as well.

Poured into said glass. Light amber-caramel in colour, some visible carbonation, decent head of foam that survives as a thick ring with some clouds of lacing.

Nose is quite faint - some malt sweetness, biscuit, caramel. Little of the hops I was expecting here. I need to temper this review with my expectations of what an EIPA should be, and what people have been brewing recently, but I have to say I'm not getting much hop character here.

Decent brew that would sit in the bitter category were it not for some hop bitterness to the finish. Malt heavy, lingering bitterness. Drinks well enough, but not really the brew I was expecting.

Carbonation is somewhat assertive, and the brew has moderate body with a slightly oil feel.

For Sam Smiths, this brew was a disappointment. I was hoping for (what I feel to be) a classic EIPA, and got really...nothing special. Fairly standard pale ale with a bit of extra hops to the finish. Again, expectations play their part in this, but judging from others' perspectives, I'm not alone in thinking that this brew could have been a lot better.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 23:56:47 | More by JohnnyBarman

MaineBrewing

Maine

2.8/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from 550 ml bottle into Samuel smith imperial pint glass.

A - Poured a translucent copper with frothy off white 2 finger head, doesn't appear very carbonated. Head disapated to an ever present cap and small amount of lacing.

S - smell is very fruity apricot, pear, phenolic. slight toasted malt peaking through.

T - very big malt forward taste with a filling burnt sugar/caramel and toffee character. Can't pick up any distinct flavoring hop character over the wall of malt flavor. Hops seem to only make an appearance in the well balanced and bitter finish with the yeast providing only the slightest fruit and spicyness in lieu of the missing hops.

M - thick for the style, although there is more carbonation than I expected from the pour. The carbonation and drying finish certainly lend balance to the heavey malt forward character of this beer.

O - I knew it was an English IPA, but I struggle to even give it that label. The absence of flavoring hops and the big malt character comprises the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Just isn't what I expected. Maybe it's an age issue, there was no date on the bottle I could find. Probably will stick with their darker beers in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 01:36:42 | More by MaineBrewing

kvnstfrd

Missouri

2.95/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass.
Poured a deep golden color with a white, foamy head. Aromas of English malts, cereal grains and spicy hops. Sweet, ripe, dark fruits up front with more citrus-like flavors coming through later. Bitter finish, but not too dry. Carbonation just right. Hops are bitter, but not as piney or grapefruity as most American IPAs, and more complex. Still, not one of my favorite styles.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 20:35:49 | More by kvnstfrd

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

3.8/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from an imperial pint bottle and split with seanniek91.

A - Transparent gold with a thin layer of head. Nothing particularly interesting.

S - Malts, a bit sweet and herbal

T - Very smooth, balanced EIPA. I love the ultra hoppy AIPAs, but this is a nice change of pace from what I've been drinking. Extremely well balanced with the malts and hops. The taste is really where this one shines.

M - Light and very smooth. The flavor lingers but the aftertaste isn't as good as the initial flavors.

O - This is a very solid, balanced EIPA. Samuel Smith consistently sells great beers at a great price.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 04:12:04 | More by RoninTK3

gr0g

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Three finger head atop this amber-gold beer. Retention is very nice as the head never fully disappears. Aroma is quite herbal with a bit of a citric twist. Cracker-like malt note comes through. Though I enjoy an English IPA from time to time, there's no question that they're a far cry from good AIPAs when it comes to aroma.

The flavor can be easily summed up as an English pale with an extra hop kick. Biscuity malt body with a touch of buttery diacetyl. Bitterness is on par with what passes for a mildly hopped APA these days. Certainly refreshing and quaffable, but not especially memorable. Not really any complaints on the mouthfeel front - there's ample carbonation that's not too prickly.

A solid, if unspectacular, example of an EIPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 22:13:49 | More by gr0g

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from an 18oz bottle into a Samuel Smith tulip-pint glass.

Appearance: Basically perfect. A seemingly undying excellent frothy head that gives way to a nice orange-ish colored India Pale Ale. That same great head leaves a lovely lacing. Easily the best aspect of this beer, though that shouldn't be seen as an insult.

Smell: Grainy almost "gritty" smell. Not the best part of this beer, but it doesn't turn me away.

Taste: A "light" (In terms of strength, not calories, I have no clue there.) IPA of sorts. Heavy on malt with a nice hop undertone that sticks in your taste buds for a while after each gulp. An enjoyable take on the IPA, if not in line with the current trend toward hyper hops.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and easy drinking. Carbonation is on point for what I'd want with the taste: Not too strong, not too weak.

Not the best Samuel Smith's, but even at their "worst," they're better than most.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 03:47:35 | More by ColdWaffles

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

550 Ml poured into a pint glass

A- POurs crystal clear golden orange with a three finger of a slightly off white head.

S- A bit of grain. A little sweetness. An oniony hop profile.

T- This is moe of a pale ale by american IPA standards. A light bitterness and a light hop profile. It is herbal and oniony with some floral and citrus notes. A sticky mouthfeel. A bit of a roasted caramel quality.

M- A silky smooth and relatively light beer but still retains a quality feel.

O- A nice drinking beer. I would like for it to have been bigger. But it is good for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 02:00:55 | More by TwelveOunces