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

bobhits

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

India Ale has finally made me realize that all these Samuel Smith beers seem to have a flavor that I can't place in common. I'm not a fan, perhaps yeast? Here we have a citrus and bitter IPA, backed with a biscuity malt, orange flavors, and perhaps some grain. Nothing special but there's enough here to call it an IPA and there's nothing bad about it. Mild by american standard in the hops, the real difference is in the flavor profile that is gven off. Citrus orange hops with a lot of grain vs the american caramel dominated malt backs. I don't get the earthy notes I often associate with the English hops so a HUGE thanks for that one.

I wouldn't seek another out, but if orange bitter flavors with a more grainy malt sounds like a good change of pace this one might really work for you.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 22:50:33 | More by bobhits

swinyeju

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

06-16-2013 15:56:28 | More by swinyeju

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

06-16-2013 15:09:06 | More by TheBeeraholic

jlcevans

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%

06-15-2013 23:18:58 | More by jlcevans

rxmk

New York

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%

06-15-2013 17:51:23 | More by rxmk

-ronin-

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

06-14-2013 01:34:52 | More by -ronin-

Marty91

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%

06-14-2013 01:00:05 | More by Marty91

ackeeper

Illinois

3/5  rDev -18.9%

06-12-2013 18:57:39 | More by ackeeper

Bighorn

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%

06-10-2013 22:01:33 | More by Bighorn

greenbr

Texas

3/5  rDev -18.9%

06-09-2013 18:29:18 | More by greenbr

JLapadura

New York

2.75/5  rDev -25.7%

06-09-2013 14:56:08 | More by JLapadura

dertyd

California

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

06-08-2013 07:23:29 | More by dertyd

DeutschesBier

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%

06-07-2013 15:33:06 | More by DeutschesBier

WDJersey

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

06-05-2013 03:38:40 | More by WDJersey

randymanar

Arkansas

4.5/5  rDev +21.6%

06-01-2013 20:10:29 | More by randymanar

superspak

Michigan

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

550 ml bottle into imperial pint glass, bottled on 7/05/2012. Pours slightly hazy golden orange color with a nice 2 finger fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of orange zest, pear, apple, caramel, toffee, toast, bread, floral, grass, honey, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of fruity/floral hop and yeast notes with good malt balance; and solid strength. Taste of orange zest, pear, apple, caramel, toffee, floral, light pine, toast, bread, grass, honey, and floral earthiness. Fair amount of earthy floral/pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of orange, light fruits, caramel, toffee, floral, light pine, toast, bread, and floral earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of moderate hop flavors; with a very balanced malt backbone and no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a moderately creamy, smooth, and slightly sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good English IPA style. Very nice balance and complexity of hop and malt flavors; and very smooth to drink. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 04:26:33 | More by superspak

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%

05-24-2013 00:17:32 | More by Slatetank

Rdc67

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%

05-22-2013 20:26:21 | More by Rdc67

pin

Australia

3/5  rDev -18.9%

05-22-2013 00:55:11 | More by pin

KingBiscuit

Illinois

3/5  rDev -18.9%

05-21-2013 02:01:25 | More by KingBiscuit

Kingcurio

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%

05-21-2013 01:58:07 | More by Kingcurio

cosmonick

Indiana

2.75/5  rDev -25.7%

05-19-2013 01:43:44 | More by cosmonick

drgonzo2k2

California

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%

05-18-2013 17:52:18 | More by drgonzo2k2

ridgeline23

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.1%

05-17-2013 00:27:05 | More by ridgeline23

sneaks2210

New York

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%

05-15-2013 20:05:22 | More by sneaks2210