Samuel Smith's Pure Brewed Lager Beer - Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)

Neorebel

New Jersey

3.89/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Samuel Smith's Pure Brewed Lager Beer pours a brilliant, clear gold, with about a 1/2" of fluff adorning the top. Bubbles are consistently rising, indicating a fair amount of carbonation. It's almost perfect, as the head also clings to the side of the glass nicely. The nose is that of fresh baked bread, and the smells of Spring fields. A soft, European hop aroma can be detected within as well. While the scents leads one to believe the beer will be delicate, the taste is much more vibrant. It's got a hearty, buttery malt taste in the background with the crisp, yet floral hops coming in next. The fading sensation in the finish is gradual and pleasing. The mouth feel is very light, borderline watery. The best way I can describe it is that the back of the throat is filled with the presence of the beer on the way down more than the beer actually coats the mouth during each sip. This is a great beer to get someone started on the finer lagers in life, or for any beer enthusiasts who are skeptical about European lagers or lighter ABV beers in general.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 00:48:55 | More by Neorebel

rangerred

Tennessee

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

550ml bottle into a Samuel Smith nonic.

Pours a clear straw yellow with a billowy two finger head that very quickly fizzles away to a very thin cap. Abundant carbonation keeps the little foam around for awhile though.

Aroma of bready grain along with some soft noble hops. Not very strong but subtle and soft. A tiny bit of orange and lemon zest as well.

The flavor provides lots of bread with grassy/floral hops along with a hint of biscuit. Very typical for the style but this feels just a little more refined than some cheaper versions. Soft, clean mouthfeel with a nice crisp finish.

Overall, a decent, quaffable beer but not worth the steep price it commands. I would much rather drink a Baltika 3.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 22:33:52 | More by rangerred

Premo88

Texas

3.91/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. bottle poured into pilsener

L: clean pale gold, 1/2-inch white head; slight lacing

S: biscuits; sweet malt

T: sweet yeasty malt -- thorough sweetness that is there from the front to back end; very little bitter hops, but you can taste some mellowed hops

F: heavier than water, decent carbonation ... nothing exceptional

O: not your average lager; really sweet and malty; blindfolded, I could mistake this for an English pale ale ... the big giveaway is the lack of "bitter," but that isn't a bad thing. It makes this brew very distinctive. It's fantastically sweet without being overly so; no cloying banana or anything like that ... just good yeast and barley.

I must say had I rated this beer after the first bottle, it might've gotten all 5s. It just blew me away how malty a lager can taste. After working through a four-pack, the beer became less of a mind-blower and just a good solid beer. It's not cheap, and chances are you can find a local lager better for a better price, BUT if you want to show a friend the difference between the corn tortilla chip that is the American macro brew and a true lager, THIS IS IT!

And maltheads, sign up ...

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 05:01:28 | More by Premo88

BuckIronRocket

3.99/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

S - Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass.

A - Classic; bright shining gold with a half inch of foamy white head. Looks almost like a prototype movie or TV show beer. Reminds me of a Notre Dame football helmet.

S - Best part about this beer. HONEY. Strong smell of honey and buttered biscuits.

T - After the smell the taste is a slight let down. Clean, cold and complex. Has a mild hop bite, strong yeast flavor. There is something missing that I cannot quite explain.

M- Refreshing and light. Good bubbly carbonation through out.

O- One of the more intriguing beers I've ever had. The smell is OUTSTANDING and I may buy again based on smell alone. The taste is just as compelling for what it lacks in comparison to what it has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 02:39:46 | More by BuckIronRocket

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

For whatever reason, I have Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" stuck in my head right now... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear brass topped by a finger of off-white foam. The nose comprises lightly-buttered biscuit, very light grass, and a hint of honey. The taste holds notes of dried honey, light toffee, even lighter biscuit, and a vague sense of funky lemon peel. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, though I could possibly see this working well on cask (don't ask me why, I just get that impression here), it just didn't do it for me out of the bottle. This is quite the letdown.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 07:46:07 | More by TMoney2591

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A: Transparent gold with a generous frothy head.

S: Faint smell of grain and malt.

T: Similar to a german Helles - grainy with a mild grassy hop presence. Tastes very fresh - there's nothing skunky about this at all.

M: Medium carbonation - crisp and refreshing.

I'm generally a bit intolerant of this style, but this is actually fairly drinkable - it's definitely one of the better blond lagers I've experienced, though I'd choose a german pilsner over this any day.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 00:39:04 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A - Bright light yellow not faint like a light beer with a 1/2 inch of frothy head that trickles to a mild lace ring.

S - Sweet corn, mild grain, some faint hops, and a bit of skunk.

T - Best corn tasting beer I ever had. Very little skunk and has a touch of caramel malt and hops too.

M - Light and crisp easy to drink.

Overall not a huge fan of lagers but this one was well crafted. As good as everything they make.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 02:04:19 | More by DrDemento456

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a clear pale yellow color with a half an inch's worth of head that fades to a thin cap quickly

S: Pale malts, buttered bread, lager yeast, and light hops. Very clean and crisp

T: Follows the nose. Buttered bread and malts come through the most, with a background of the yeast and hops. Finishes with lightly spicy hops. Again, very clean and crisp

M: Light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O: A very clean and simple lager with nice flavor and great drinkability. Good price point, as usual with SS. Definitely recommended for those who like lagers

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 07:13:03 | More by BEERMILER12

RaulMondesi

California

2.23/5  rDev -41.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Four pack at my local Trader Joes in Tustin, CA.

Was looking forward to drinking session after session of Hottenroth all day - but apparently walking into The Bruery Provisions at 5:01 (they closed at 5:00 on Christmas Eve) was too late for them to sell me a few bottles. (The also sent me to a liquor store that didn't even sell any of their items, but that is besides the point.)

Anyway, so here I am with this swill instead. Raul was looking forward to pounding the entire 4-pack, but he could only get through 1. Is it me, or do all Euro lagers/pilsners either taste just decent, or like this nasty astringent, windex, skunk-like lager?

Raul was pumped on this, but he highly disagrees with it. I'll use it to clean my windows instead. Peace!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 21:39:15 | More by RaulMondesi

bambam2517

Arizona

3.18/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

330ml bottle poured into a pint glass at 40F.

A - Very pale straw color, short-lived froth that dissipates to a watery ring, slight effervescence in the body.

S - Faintly floral, some light hops aroma.

T - Refreshing and mildly hoppy, but not outstanding. Pretty standard actually, falling in line with the Buds and Coors of the world. The floral aftertaste is an improvement over American macrolagers, but is not present in enough abundance to score higher.

M - Light and clean, pleasant.

O - This one is easy to enjoy, wouldn't mind a few in a row at a wedding or the like. Much better values to be had though. Look elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 21:23:12 | More by bambam2517

DarkBeer

4.8/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is a good beer. It has a yellowish gold color, and nice head when poured in a pint glass. The taste of it is similar to Sam Smith's Organic Lager, but with less of an acidic aftertaste. The soft water in Pure Brewed Lager helps it go down smooth and easy. There is a good amount of carbonation that blends well with the grainy aftertaste. It's very pure tasting with well balanced flavors and texture, something I can drink regularly.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 16:57:12 | More by DarkBeer

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle served in a Thumbler glass.

A: Pours a pale yellow color forming a small white bubbled head which dissipates quickly leaving no lacings

S: Sweet grains and honey, basically. Lager yeasts and some flowery hops

T: Follows the nose, sweet grains and honey, mainly. Lager bready yeasts and some hops. In overall, a slightly sweet beer with a very light bitter end

M: Watery light body. Medium carbonation. Grainy aftertaste

O: Excellent drinkability. One of the best Lagers I've ever had

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 20:02:45 | More by eduardolinhalis

seagullbeer

California

4.4/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

If you are looking for a nice simple lager that does everything right and has no weird syrupy things going on get this beer

A- Typical lager yellow with a nice soft head

S- Light fresh piny, mild lime zest

T- Clean bitter flavor. Not much of any malts or darker tastes. Perfect lager taste!

M- Light with small bubbles and refreshing mild bitterness left at end

O- I've been meaning to try a few of the Samuel Smith lagers but haven't because I'm accustom to paying no more than a dollar a beer. When i'm made of money I will be buying bottles of these in place of tall cans.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 03:42:31 | More by seagullbeer

pkalix

California

4.38/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

does england have a budweiser?
yellow - definitely STRAW color, minimal head.
typical lager smell with a slight accent , , , you know, like 'those guys' over there . . . .
taste . . . WAY more drinkable than a bud or a cuurs...
mouthfeel? like a heavier bud or cuurs...
overall? dang! i like it. 5%, too. plain wrapper. plain beer. refreshing. maybe it's NOT a commercial beer in england, afterall . . . .seems EVERYTHING samuel smith is EXCELLENT. way better than that samuel ADAMS junk too....

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 01:56:03 | More by pkalix

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up in Totowa recently since I never had this before and this was lighter than the other Sam Smith's beers that I've had before. I was never a fan of this style, given how similar and "skunky" the popular examples of this are but after having enjoyed this bottle, I can say that this was by far and away the best example of a Euro Pale Lager that I've ever had!

The pour to this was what I expected when I bought this beer - golden, clear, and foamy. Not a lot of lacing though but the carbonation was good for a beer that was this clear in appearance. Lots of grass and straw here with a good malt balance and a slightly sour aftertaste. This blew the green-bottled beers of this style and there was just enough body here to keep this from feeling watered-down.

The alcohol was spot-on too and had I hard another bottle, I would have downed that after finishing this. I wish more lagers were this floral and easy to drink. There's nothing flashy here but this was enjoyable and ups the ante for a style that doesn't get a whole lot of love!

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 21:12:39 | More by JerzDevl2000

UCLABrewN84

California

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear light yellow with a 1 inch foamy off-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots and streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt/grain and some slight grass/hay aromas. Taste is much the same along with a slight fruity note. There is a very mild bitterness that quickly fades after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is very refreshing and very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 04:15:06 | More by UCLABrewN84

tdm168

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - pure, translucent gold with a huge head of dense, foamy, creamy, white head that has great retention

S - grassy, faintly fruity, a hint of cereal grains

T - grassy, cereal grains, corn flakes

M - light bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a decent light-bodied lager that's easy to put away. It has a nice, corn flake-like flavor that is welcomed in a see of musty, watered down Euro lagers. I would try this again if I were in the mood for something highly sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 23:19:49 | More by tdm168

Jerone

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Darker straw color than most lagers, bright head that stays for a minute, lots of bubbles, some lacing.

S - slight malt and fresh hop, mmm.

T - Great, some slightly floral hops with a malt backbone and a bit of a yeasty flavor in there too. Really delicious beer, everything in the right balance.

M - Moderate carbonation, nice and refreshing.

O - Tastes really good and hits the spot. Nothing overly complex, but doesn't need to be.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 22:46:21 | More by Jerone

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

550ml bottle, with an attractive hop-vine foil neck enclosure. One of the very few Sam Smith brews not repped in my home jurisdiction, so I just couldn't pass it up upon seeing it here on Oahu, in a most unlikely British beer locale.

This beer pours a mostly clear, pale golden straw hue, with three fingers of puffy, silky, foamy white head, which leaves a decently weird array of random op-art lace around the glass as it genially recedes.

It smells of grainy white cereal malt, a bit of hotel breakfast toast, and muddled grassy/leafy hops. The taste is strong grainy malt, with a Riesling-like petrol essence, very slight drupe fruitiness, and a soft dead-leaf and mildly tangy hoppiness.

The bubbles are a bit frizzy, and petulant, but easily disregarded, the body an agreeable medium weight, and more or less smooth. It finishes with more of the food-grade gasohol aura, blended into the hearty crackery graininess, and meek, but steadfast noble hops.

A solid pale lager, of the European bent - full, comprehensive, and thorough - you could be forgiven if you think I'm talking about insurance policies, but, no, it's a lager - and a damned good one at that, if stiff British upper lip-ism is your thing.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 06:11:05 | More by biboergosum

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.55/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Angel in the Fields.

A: Clear straw-gold body with lively carbonation rising to an ultra-fine inch of white head. Lots of lace. Great-looking lager.

S: Clean, lightly-toasted bready malt aroma, with some faint grassiness as well. Solid but unimpressive.

T: Again, clean, light, bready malt. Nothing off, but nothing interesting either.

M: Light-to-medium bodied with lots of lively, slightly prickly effervescence. Ok.

O: This is a nice, drinkable, crisp lager. It's better than most examples of its style, but still isn't something I'd seek out.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2012 22:22:27 | More by woosterbill

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Samuel Smith Pure Brewed Lager Beer has a thick, stark-white head and a hazy (after swishing the bottom 20% of the bottle), yellow-golden appearance, with some lacing and lots of streaming bubbles. The aroma is of lightly-toasted malt, grain husks, sweetness, and water. Taste is of a bit of lemon, biscuit, malt, some hop bitterness, paper, and water. The mouthfeel is medium, and Samuel Smith’s Pure Brewed Lager finishes mostly dry, crisp, and very refreshing. Overall, this is a very fine beer.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 14:59:05 | More by RonaldTheriot

brewskifan55

Mississippi

3.73/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Got a real good deal on this 19 oz. $1.50. Was it past the freshness date? Tasted OK to me.
Poured into a pint glass

A: golden with a touch of amber. White, one finger head that dissipates rather quickly; big bubbles. Decent lacing.

S: A pleasant maltiness with some lemon in the mix.

T: Light, clean, crisp. Citrus and lemons are present with a sweet, bready, malt backbeat. Slight hoppy finish that doesn't overwhelm.

M: light to medium; medium carbonation.

O: A really sessionable lager. Smooth. A great stepping stone from the BMC lagers.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 01:52:45 | More by brewskifan55

bluHatter

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Very slightly foggy yellow with lots of foamy meringue head that forms beautiful lacing.

S: Crisp and fresh, bready, grainy

T: Clean, refreshing flavor, grainy malts. Really fresh tasting lager.

M: Light body with plenty of basic carbonation.

O: A beautifully poured lager with a clean, refreshing taste. Extremely easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 04:04:35 | More by bluHatter

K9AleingPiss

Oklahoma

4.5/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The appearance was almost perfect,..good smoke after opening, nice blonde color,very busy with bubbles and good robust fluffy head and lots of lace. Looked like a TV commercial. The smell was also very enticing, an aroma with a clean malty sweet odor and yet some bitter hops to it as well. The taste is wonderful...again a great balance,very satisfying,no after taste, a wonder how they get both a malty robust taste and yet so light and a bit of hops to it as well. Overall just one of the best Ive had,and would recommned to anyone who likes beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 01:07:02 | More by K9AleingPiss

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Samuel Smith's Pure Brewed Lager Beer

Pours a light golden color, white head forms and little lace. Aroma of lager yeast, some fruityness, fresh buttered bread, mild floral notes. In the taste, almost has an ale yeast fruityness, with apple and pear flavor. Some buttery diacetyl, bread and leafy hops. Not too bitter, but hardly too sweet either. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, carbonation is at a low medium. The feel is a little flimsy and not quite as crisp, but still fine. Overall, a decent lager, plenty of character, has that Samuel Smith's taste, more than probably from stone vats the beer is fermented in.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 14:37:47 | More by Stinkypuss