Samuel Smith's Organic Best Ale - Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)

AmitC

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 500 ml bottle into a snifter.

About two and half fingers thick off white colored head that stays as a thin layer. Color is golden. Very clear and transparent. Nice lacing on the sides. A lot of bubbles seen rising up.

Aroma is very subdued. Malt presence. Some minor noble hops as well as some weed like hop notes. Slight caramel is off flavor i guess. Strength is moderate. No alcohol or warmth.

Taste is slightly better with a more balanced presentation. Hops and malts blend in really well and provide a nuanced flavor. Some bready malts and slight caramel. Hops are very subdued to have any presence of bitterness. Finish is dry. No bitterness whatsoever - low for pale ale.

Mouth feel is light bodied. Good amount of carbonation. Borders on being a one dimensional lager like ale.

One of the worst stuffs from Samuel Smith that I have had so far.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 22:31:51 | More by AmitC

pkingdesign

California

4.26/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.75

Clean ale flavor, extremely smooth and drinkable, a bit of citrus flavor and in the nose. Good head that lasted through the first several sips. I poured mine straight from the 'fridge into a chilled glass. Was delicious when very cold. One of my favorite beers overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 19:44:16 | More by pkingdesign

smokinyodas

Florida

4.8/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Just think of all the best things you could say about a lager and this would be the one for me. After drinking 4 of these just now I'm completely lost for words. The pour is a beautiful clear gold with a nice white foamy head. The smell and taste are fruity and floral without being overdone. The body and mouthfeel is just right, full and not heavy. Perfect introduction for anyone wanting to try a drinkable lager or share with a lady friend. And the best part is this beer is USDA Organic and free of chemical pesticides.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 05:10:34 | More by smokinyodas

McNealc31

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Very clear for an ale. Aroma is mostly toasted malt and butterscotch candy. The butterscotch flavor carries through, blending with grassy hops. Very smooth. There is a hint of lemon in the finish. And that classic English hard water, as well.

Overall, I thought this was fine. Definitely not bad, but I don't think I'll be getting a craving for it again. Just didn't have enough flavor for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 01:42:59 | More by McNealc31

Premo88

Texas

3.86/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. bottle poured into pub glass

L: no great head, but crazy bright orange color -- VERY different. the color is a 5. that clear orange look is super sweet. the weakish head and lack of any noteworthy lacing looks disappointing for such an otherwise good beer.

S: fruity, citrusy (more orange than grapefruit) but with tons of good malt about halfway down. really smells like what I think of as a good English pale ale.

T: orange, sweet English pale ale, *NOT* always that sweet finish but more sweet up front with a very dry, carbonated watery-like finish. no major hop bite anywhere, but a goodly enough taste of hops to make it taste like good beer.

F: great carbonation, easy to drink, lightweight ... but a hair watery at times, at least to me.

O: love it in many ways, and it's certainly different from Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale -- the citrus notes distinguish it if nothing else. LOVE it as a break from our hop-tastic IPAs on this side of the pond because it gives me a different angle on the more malty English pale ale.

I will drink this from time to time several times a year. Not a champion beer but awfully good.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 02:29:35 | More by Premo88

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.84/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355 ml bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A: Pours a golden amber color with a mild yeast haze. The head is a one and a half finger eggshell shade. It doesn't retain itself in a fantastic manner, but I love the lacing that's left on the glass.

S: There is a lot of semi-sweet caramel featured in the aroma, alongside touches of butterscotch and toffee. It doesn't seem to feature much in the way of hops; if they're here, then they seem to be merely used as a ballast against the malt sweetness. Still, it's a pleasant aroma featuring a slight mineral touch ever-so-prevalent in many Samuel Smith offerings.

T: Initial flavors of butterscotch, caramel, and toffee give way to some stone fruit esters in the midpalate and a semi-dry, vaguely hoppy finish. There's also a mild finishing astringency on the palate, nothing that's remotely harsh, however. Some of the fruity esters here (like cherry and apricot) help give a cherry pie quality to it. While not horribly complex, I could see myself drinking a few bottles in a sitting - which is always a great thing.

M: It features a pleasing dryness on the back end to counteract the slightly sweet linger. It also has that 'hard water' feel I expect from this brewery; a clean lightness that creates a very drinkable offering.

O: Very solid. I admit I didn't expect it to be this good, seeing as I don't usually gravitate towards the style. If it had a bit more depth, it would be incredible; as it stands right now it's simply very good.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 20:36:34 | More by ThisWangsChung

Huffs

New York

3.59/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a pint glass with a nice white head developing which lasted reasonably well and has descent lacing. Appearance was an amber / gold color with a slight haziness. Aroma was of citrus and grain. Taste hat notes of caramel, fruity citrus. Mouthfeel was full and creamy with a light, hop aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 00:41:14 | More by Huffs

CuteZombieDoll

New Jersey

4.26/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

From a bottle, poured into a large beer mug.

A- Pours a hazy orange-gold. Decent head that disappears quickly, and good lacing on the side of the glass.

S- Very sweet and fruity, with hints of toffee.

T- Starts very sweet and fruity at first, then finishes slightly floral and just a teeny bit hoppy.

M- Full, but not super heavy.

O- Fruity, flavorful, with a full mouthful. A definite go-to beer for me, and I would recommend it to others, especially for people who are big on eating (And drinking) organic.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 06:13:14 | More by CuteZombieDoll

sethcroisant

Nebraska

4.7/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A- beautiful golden color with a finger of head. some lacing sticks around, but not a lot.

S- slightly floral/pine-like hops are up front. samuel smiths signature scent of toasted malts is in there as well.

M- splendid texture. very thick and frothy.

T- a lot of malt hits right away. sweet caramel up right away followed by the steely, toasted malt flavor the brewery is so good at using. hops are spicy and just strong enough. they linger on the back of the tongue for a few seconds. sweet and malty in the finish.

O- an absolute home run. perfect balance of hops and malt. novices and beer snobs alike should be able to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 05:48:50 | More by sethcroisant

bambam2517

Arizona

3.45/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From the bottle to a pint glass at 48F. As an aside, I love the bottles Sam Smith's is using!! Such a satisfying glug-glug-glug during the pour...

A - Dark golden body with a flat white froth that begins very minimal and does not last. Faint carbonation.

S - Nearly nothing! If I put my nose right into my glass I get a faint flowery aroma, but I dont get any of the wide range of esters in other reviews. There's certainly nothing bad about it, but very unremarkable.

T - Just a hint of pear up front. Subtle citrus and coriander aftertastes. Mild in a nice way, not a boring one.

M - Extremely easy drinking, finishes so clean and doesn't bog me down. Even at 5%abv no hint of alcohol whatsoever, its just so fresh. Reminds me of a farmhouse ale.

O - Feels like a real standard, this could be a go-to beer for me if it were more readily available here in AZ. Its versatile enough for most occasions and meal pairings. Id like to have it on hand for when im not in the mood for trying standout/"different" beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 05:37:08 | More by bambam2517

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a lightly hazed light orange amber color with a two finger white head. The head has a good level of retention, slowly fading to give a nice level of lacing.

Smell- Wow. I was not expecting the huge fruit aroma that was in this one. An apple aroma mixed with some peach and pear are big and bold. Mixed with these are hints of caramel as well as a light bready smell.

Taste – The taste begins with a bready and fruity sweet flavor. The fruit flavor is initially of a peach and apricot flavor, but transitions to a more apple flavor as the taste advances further. Upfront there is also a caramel sweetness that soon gets overwhelmed by the apple. Toward the end the flavor has a malty and cider like taste. A light bitter citrus and herbal flavor come to the taste at the very end with it slightly leveling out some of the sweetness.

Mouthfeel - The body of the beer is on the slightly thicker and creamier side with a carbonation level that is on the average side. While the carbonation level is average, it consists of tiny little bubbles that seem to tingle the tongue. This when combined with the slightly creamier body, is wonderful for the fruit flavors of the brew.

Overall – This beer has a fabulous nose and feel. The taste is not quite up to the former two but is still rather good. One to try if you have the chance.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 01:22:12 | More by Darkmagus82

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - clear golden copper, respectable head retained very nicely, some random spot lacing
S - gentle apricot and orange peel, caramel and light grain, earthy on the back end
T - earthy and peppery hops of front, citrus rind hoppiness is there but more subtle than the nose, biscuity and light caramel malts, then a metallic crisp hop favour cuts through everything on the finish
M - somewhat light body with medium carbonation, just dry enough to make this very easy drinking
O - this is a very fine example of the style, it is not overbearing in any aspect but the mix of subtle flavours creates a bold tasting yet easily sessionable pale, highly recommended

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 01:38:30 | More by joemcgrath27

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 18.7 oz. bottle. Has a light golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is malty, a bit sweet. Taste is crisp, mild, some malts, kind of on the mild side. Feels light in the mouth and overall is a decent beer but it's nothing great.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 03:08:52 | More by tone77

gtermi

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer pours a amber golden body with a thick white creamy head that quickly fades.

S: Really not too much going on here. I am getting a bit of grain, some slight hops and a slight lagery smell weirdly.

T: The taste is pretty damn faint too.. I really dont get why this beer gets so much love, there really arent any hops and the malt is pretty pale and weak.

M: Very smooth and goes down with ease. Has a nice creamy feel with a decent amount of crispness.

O: This is a decent beer, but not as great as people say. I think Samuel Smith is very overrated and just dont make anything that I care for. Maybe I am just not into English beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 04:46:51 | More by gtermi

TheSixthRing

California

3.88/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a clear, golden orange with a white, 2-finger head. Decent retention. Fair lacing, with little stick.

Smell - Notes of crisp apple, light buttery toffee and a near untraceable hint of hop character.

Taste - Follows the nose. Notes of toffee, butterscotch and apple. Hints at grassy hop bitterness mid-taste, finishing light, balanced and fairly clean.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body, with lively carbonation. Goes down with a buttery smoothness.

Overall - Good EPA, though it drinks close to an ESB. Great all-around balance; a beer just about anyone can appreciate.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 06:05:08 | More by TheSixthRing

beergoot

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Excellent medium gold body with a nice heavy, rich white head. Very malty aroma with butterscotch and rich caramel notes. Buttery flavor, caramel and toffee notes with a tinge of hop bitterness. Clean, semi-dry body.

An all-around nice, malt-dominant pale ale. Well-balanced and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 22:09:32 | More by beergoot

Dave1999

Virginia

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The appearance is a cloudy golden with a fluffy white head.

The smell is sweet and malty,with some dark fruits raisins and plums which I did not expect from a golden colored ale.

The taste is much the same as the smell, dark fruits with the smallest amount of bitterness towards the end.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall a strange beer,looks like a pale ale but tastes and smells like a fruity maibock.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 02:02:14 | More by Dave1999

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Samuel Smith Organic Best Ale has a thick, foamy, off-white head and a hazy, murky, orange-golden appearance with some streaming bubbles and splotchy lacing. The aroma is of turned fruit, stinging mustiness, toffee, and English garden. Taste is of turned fruit, toffee, garden soil, some bitter hops, and caramel candy. Mouthfeel is light to medium, and Samuel Smith finishes semi-dry, uneven, and refreshing. Overall, this is a very interesting and enjoyable beer, and I rate it excellent. Check it out!

RJT

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 16:53:49 | More by RonaldTheriot

PancakeMcWaffles

Germany

4.23/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Golden to light brownish colour, once finger thick, white head, decent head retention.

S: Very fruity and sweet, hints of caramel, only a very little hops in the smell;

T: As the smell would suggest it has a strong fruit, with decent caramel and a balanced tartness combined with a slight hop flavour in the finish. Some breadiness comes through aswell;

M: Good carbonation level, mouthfeel is rather average, nothing too special here.

O: Great Pale Ale, lovely fruit combined with caramel and balanced hops, really like the smell of it!

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 11:17:14 | More by PancakeMcWaffles

Razumikhin

Minnesota

4.58/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

AROMA: Quite fruity/estery, and slightly grassy to balance.

APPEARANCE: Golden straw, topped with a creamy head (with excellent retention).

MOUTHFEEL: Rich and creamy.

TASTE: The overwhelming flavor is banana/ester, with some lemon. The hops provide enough bitterness to balance, but not enough to notice.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:
An exemplar of the English pale ale style. This is a beer where the hops play second fiddle to the yeast, with excellent results. Ester and fruit dominate both aroma and flavor. The real highlight of this beer, though, is its rich, velvety mouthfeel. This is definitely one I will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 02:04:12 | More by Razumikhin

SmashPants

Australia

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: very solid 550mL embossed brown bottle. An old-school medicinal-style label - a quirky and, to be honest, awesome package.

Appearance: a light amber honey colour, fantastic 1.5-finger creamy head with good retention and lacing.

Aroma: sweet toffee and caramel malts and some light fruits. Not overwhelming, to be honest.

Taste: this is more like it. Bread malts join the toffee and caramels and, more importantly, a wealth of fruits and floral hops back them up. A very nice combination of flavours.

Aftertaste: all of the flavours linger fantastically well. One can simply enjoy sipping this lovely ale and enjoy over a long period. Which is for the best really, considering the price.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, nice and smooth. The carbonation is reasonably light too, making it a fantastic slow-sipper.

Overall: a fantastically well put together English Ale. Nice winter sipper - certainly not a sessional ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 02:18:54 | More by SmashPants

UCLABrewN84

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy honey orange with a 1/2 inch foamy off-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, slight caramel, and some light fruity aromas. Taste is of malt, light fruits, and some mild herbal hop flavors on the finish. There is a slight amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some nice aromas and flavors but nothing all that exciting in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 02:27:10 | More by UCLABrewN84

viverlee

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Squeeze every drop out of the bottle. Lick the glass clean. Set up shop directly under the fucking tap.

STYLE: English Pale Ale

ABV: 5%

LOOK: Long straw, solid pale yellow, Bubble Bobble carbonation. A half-finger head settles thinly but nicely atop an enigmatic aroma bomb.

NOSE: Cherry pie, Nerds, pomegranate, Twix, crackers. There’s more, oh so much more, there there, I can’t stand it.

MOUTH: Bready bready biscuits, cherry tree bark, raspberries, rhubarb, Jesus wafers, butterscotch, Sauvignon Blanc, mystery. Someone who should probably be the next president has managed to layer a world of flavors into this pint, each pull flaunting a new, more curious profile. The finish is surprisingly fruit free, mellow but still prurient. The blokes, they did it right this time.

Beeradvocate Rating: 88

Hayward Abbey Rating: 97

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 04:36:11 | More by viverlee

vazy

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A rich golden color pours clear, head dissipates quickly but had a good 2 1/2 fingers for a few seconds. The head is soapy and leaves a little lacing to the end. A real crisp and clean taste, honeydew aromas hit me first for some reason. Hops are not promenant but it balances out in the finish, grassy notes balance the malt to finish it off.

Grassy, the hops cut the palate immediately but gently. Slight biscuit flavors linger in the background, lemony tartness is accompanied with some slight maltiness.The mouthfeel is thin and soapy, not overly carbonated.

A brilliantly made ale. The label grabbed my attention first but the ale itself really lived up to it! It's well balanced and with some really aromatic notes. A very good session beer and I like the organic factor too, big plus in my book!

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 03:21:15 | More by vazy

omokoro

New York

3.88/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a quite clear dark straw color with a quickly dissipating half a finger head. There are many tiny bubbles rising to the of the glass. On the nose I notice some floral and earthy hops with some malt. This is a very clean tasting beer. It is light in body. There is enough malt character balanced by the earthy hop character. Not a ton of flavor, but it has some character.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 20:42:52 | More by omokoro