Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout - Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)

claspada

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown color with about a inch worth of tan colored foam sitting on top.
Dark ruby hues along the edges with some spotty lacing as the head recedes.

Aromas begin with chocolate and roasted malts for the most part, with some definite dark fruit notes. As it warms you get hints of toffee and perhaps a little bit of caramel.

The tastes begin with roasted barley maltiness with touches of unsweetened chocolate and caramel. As it warms you get some slight fruity undertones in the background.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is semi-dry with a typical English yeast fruity, metallic twang in the finish.

Overall this is a good example of an English style Imperical Stout. It was not very robust and would not stand up against some of the other heavyweights in its style. However, I feel it does have a nice place there as a good "sessionable" RIS. By no means Samuel Smith's best offering (seek out Oatmeal Stout and Nut Brown over this for sure).

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 17:14:44 | More by claspada

StJamesGate

New York

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with oxblood highlights and a loose, cola like head that surprisingly settles to a finger of pink-tinged sandy foam that rims. Nose is cinnamon raisin toast, with lots of brown sugar and bread crust notes.
Prune, espresso, blackberry, ash and potting soil, then sarsparilla bark end.
Fig and Madeira finish and roasty charred linger.
Medium edging towards light even, creamy, some chew.

This looked a little thin coming out of the bottle and the nose was alarmingly sweet. And so it goes: lots of dark dried fruit over any roast or hops, and light-bodied for the style (though it matches the ABV.) More like an Irish Export stout than an RIS.

With a 4.18 average, almost certainly overrated.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 23:00:58 | More by StJamesGate

pkalix

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

so the bros gave it a 99, huh? i think they like stouts . . . .
good pour, little head. very dark into an 11oz glass with wimpy lacing.
smell is very roasty-y; it's a good stout. surprised at the 7% abv from samuel smith's. ive had this before many years ago. taste is dark roasted malts and the mouthfeel is thick and chewy(?). overall, it's a great brew. a tribute to britain's decent beers. they really have come out with some funky products.... after a thick porterhouse i expected this to be too heavy, but despite the thickness it's very satisfying....

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 02:21:00 | More by pkalix

CloudStrife

New York

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a very dark ruby brown appearing black at full volume. A 1.5 finger khaki head tops this off that leaves a little lace as it fades away.

S: A dark roasty stout with that signature open square yeasty backbone. Slightly dark raisin or fig blend with a chocolate blend. Has a unique fruitiness. A little alcohol is present.

T: A lot of dark roasty malt with raisin and plum overtones and chocolate. Again that unique yeast provides the Samuel Smith trademark taste. Pretty light for a R.I.S.

M: A creamy mouthfeel that makes it fairly light on the pallet. Low carbonation. Real clean finish and not too boozy a bite. Very high drinkability considering the ABV.

Overall a real approachable yet delicious stout. Certainly could have a couple of these in a row. Samuel Smith's knows what they are doing when it comes to stouts.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 01:42:39 | More by CloudStrife

mjtiernan

New York

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

550ml bottle poured into a globe glass. Bottled March 19, 2012 (SC19L1).

A: Couldn’t ask for a prettier pour. Slow rising thick light brown three-finger head. It oozed with smooth creaminess. It even sounded creamy. Having a hard time getting a good gauge on the body color due to low lighting.

S: Licorice, molasses, and dark chocolate. Some dark fruit. Sorta reminds me of rum-soaked cake.

T: A lot of the aroma comes through in the palate but the dark fruit stands out a bit more. There’s a little roastiness in there, but not as much as you would expect from a RIS. I’m not 100% sure I know what cocoa nibs taste like, but this is what I imagine it to be.

M: It’s a little bit watery compared to how thick it appeared to pour, but that helps the drinkability. Finishes a bit dry and chalky...nothing new for an English ale. Carbonation is dialed in nicely as it adds a creamy texture rather than a fizzy thin feel.

O: More complex than rich. It’s a classic English stout that is notably different than most American takes on the style. Give me this with a nice stew or bowl of chili and I’ll be fine.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 01:38:38 | More by mjtiernan

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pint bottle poured into a Gulden Draak tulip glass.

Appearance- Pitch black in color with brownish khaki head that sits at about 2 fingers and leaves nice lacing.

Smell- Raisins and piney hops with some chocolate and smoke.

Taste- Coffee and chocolate with a bit of tart hops on the backend. Something is just not working for me. I think some more toastyness would have created a better balance.

Mouthfeel- Nice heavy mouthfeel with proper carbonation. Seems somewhat watery though as far as imperial stouts go.

Overall- Not a bad beer, but for me it's on the lower end against other good imperial shouts that I've had. I was especially disappointed because I consider Sam Smith oatmeal stout to be world class.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 18:16:52 | More by BrownAleMale

Dools9

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into nonic pint

A: Jet black, very dark. Thick light brown pillowy head retains forever and leaves excellent lacing.

S: Lots of dark fruits, I get something that reminds me of figs and raisins. Theres light hints of chocolate. Decent amout roasted malts, light toffee and light coffee notes come through. Mostly dominated by dark fruit and sweet mollases.

T: Rich roasty malts, sweet mollases, light dark chocolate and hints of smoke. Bitterness is there but not overpowering. Definitely getting alot of dark fruit, plums and raisins mostly. Different but I like it.

M: Lighter bodied for a RIS. Its very smooth and theres no alcohol detected.

O: Very nice, different than previous RIS's that I've had but very easy drinking. Can see why this is so highly rated. Maybe not my favorite imperial stout, but well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 00:46:10 | More by Dools9

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep dark auburn ruby brown with a small mocha head. Looks rather ordinary.

Aroma is rich and robust chicory malts with some stewed dark fruits topped with candied sugar.

Taste is rich and robust like the nose, but also tastes thin and watery upfront. The backend is smooth and creamy with a hint of molasses or licorise.Flavorful yes and different then today's standard hop driven imp. stoudts.
Maybe thats what people are thinking about.
Pair it with some Jethro Tull in particular A New Day Yesterday. You'll get the idea son.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 16:49:02 | More by micromaniac129

freditoj

Alabama

2.9/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance - Very dark color, like a 2 inch head.

Smell - Malty.

Taste - Like soy sauce. I don't know if my beer was bad. When it was served the owner of the store told me it was frozen and gave it to me for free. I understand the beer was damaged.

Mouthfeel - The taste is heavy and strong.

Overall - Don't know what all the fuss is about.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 21:40:26 | More by freditoj

Zraly

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a CCB snifter. Opaque, thick black with a mocha head. Delicious smell of roasted barley and coffee.

Rich roasted malt flavors with a heavy backdrop of chocolate and smoke. Raisin undertones. Very subtle, floral-like notes round out the mouthfeel. Bitter but so smooth and silky. Mouthfeel is bliss -- medium-heavy with a creaminess that dries down nicely.

Much stronger stouts might bring more alcohol or more "edge" (read: coffee, barrel aged), but this is just pure smoothness and quality taste from solid beer-making skills. You can't front on that.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 00:55:54 | More by Zraly

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A- Pitch black with thin tan head that leaves good retention.

S- Black licorice is the first thing I notice along with some roasted malt.

T- A little sweeter than I expected, with the roasted malts coming through on the finish. Anise and licorice are noticeable, but not overpowering. I taste more vanilla than chocolate too.

M- Great mouthfeel, smooth, velvety, drinkable.

O- A different flavor than most RIS's, very good.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 00:51:55 | More by stephenjmoore

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consumed 8/22/12

Appearance: Pours dark brown, a bit light for modern iterations of this style, but whatever - starts with a creamy beige head, fades to a little ring, leaves minimal lacing

Smell: Sweet malts and burnt chocolate - caramel, toffee, dry chocolate malts, burnt notes, some grainy sweetness, and some dark fruits - some dark chocolate, nuts, and some English hops

Taste: A nice balance of sweet and burnt - caramel, toffee, molasses, dark fruits (figs, cherries, raisins), and some sweet chocolate - nuts, soy sauce, and some char - some minerality, something that tastes like oats - complex, but not in a typical, burly RIS way

Mouthfeel: On the heavy side of medium, very smooth and creamy, nicely carbonated

Overall: A unique stout

This is sweet for an RIS, but not in a boozy way. The sweet flavors are interesting, and they work well with the burnt malts. This is definitely not an American-style RIS, but it's great for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 05:54:20 | More by angrybabboon

DocJitsu

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very dark brown translucent, nearly black with a gorgeous, rich, dark taupe colored foamy head. Head retains well, but eventually subsides to a persistent 1/8" cap. The aroma consists of banana, honey, sorghum, chocolate, and roasted malt. The mouthfeel is full, smooth, thick, but not viscous, and compliments the beer very nicely. Flavors of honey and banana up front. Sorghum appears second and never dissipates. Rather, it bitters with the expression of the hop alpha acid. Some sweetness still occurs as the beer cascades down the sides of the tongue. There's just the least little bit of that liquid medicine flavor that keeps this beer from being perfect. It is a great beer though. Very British.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 03:03:02 | More by DocJitsu

ruckus232

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

18.7 Ounce brown bottle poured into a stein

Appearance: Dark brown, not heavily carbonated but with large amounts of tan head

Smell: Slightly toasted scent with a sweeter fruit smell, maybe raisin

Taste: Starts out sweet malty and fruity and then changes into a slight bitterness but not overwhelming. Finishes off with just a mild mix of both of those flavors.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 00:07:49 | More by ruckus232

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

bottled served in a pint glass

A - Dark brown with a 2 finger fluffy tan head with excellent head retention and good lacing

S - Strong dark chocolate and a touch of roasted coffee

T - A chocolate forward stout, very well done.

M - Full bodied, moderate carbonation.

O - Very good stout, could drink this anytime. Especially nice winter beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 14:14:18 | More by williamjbauer

Greywulfken

New York

4.63/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: motor oil pitch with dark tan head; modest lacing

S: crisp, clean roasted chocolate malt

T: smooth and bittered chocolately malt, not overly sweet - very classy; interesting dryness as it finishes - almost like a wine

M: not too heavy - a relatively thin body (for a RIS) with a real nice milky creaminess; wonderful dark, smooth bitter aftertaste

O: a very refined stout, and much to my personal liking, being a fan of well-balanced RISs - more toward the dry end than the sweet, richly flavored without being too filling or heavy

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 03:32:31 | More by Greywulfken

Hoppsbabo

United Kingdom (England)

4.58/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Black. Beige head.

S: Oranges in cointreau. Smokey.

T: Absolutely divine. Again, oranges in cointreau. Smokey. Alcohol just right.

O: Absolute perfection. The best stout I've ever had. Easily one of the best beers I've ever had, but not my favourite style. I can't falt it in any way and I want to give it a five but it hasn't been my ultimate beer experience.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 09:21:23 | More by Hoppsbabo

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a deep cola brown, with a couple fingers of milk chocolate head. This retains with a nice looking thin creaminess, leaving back a thick cascade of lacing that hangs in sticky rings around the sides of the glass. The aroma smells of coffee, chocolate, toffee, ripe earthy citrus, dark fruit and just a smidge of alcohol. This has a nice smoky twang in the nostrils.

The taste is more of the same, with smoky roasted coffee flavor, dark fruit, chocolate, tangy caramel notes and earthy green citrus. The overall flavor profile here is equal parts ripe stickiness and bitter roast on the palate. This is dry and burnt feeling on the finish. The mouthfeel is fuller to full bodied, with some crispness on the tongue that then gives way to a big chewy thickness that fills the mouth. The alcohol presence is very well hid, with just a touch of spicy dryness that lingers on the tongue a bit after each sip.

This is one of those beers that after you finally have it, you wonder where it’s been the whole time! This was just a really nice take on an English Imperial Stout with a well balanced complexity to it and a solid chewy feel in the mouth that feels bitter than its only 7% ABV. I will be returning to this down the road.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 14:27:50 | More by Kegatron

Reaper16

Alabama

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle served into a nonic pint glass

Pours a nice deep dark brown color. It's definitely brown, especially at the edges. Lots of head on this beer (which makes sense, given that this is only a 7% ABV beer), light beige and voluminous. Lovely lacing, too.

This beer has all of the flavor notes that a straight-up Imperial Stout should have, only in more balance and subtlety than in most renditions of the style. You've got roasted coffee aromas, dark chocolate aromas, notes of blackcurrant, and a vanilla bean component.

The taste follows the nose. There's lots of brown malts here, supplemented by roasted notes. More chocolate and vanilla than coffee on the palate. Dark fruits on the back end.

The mouthfeel is quite full and creamy for a 7% ABV beer. There are American IPAs (not even Double IPAs) that have more alcohol than this beer, but aren't as full in the mouth. Overall, this is a lovely beer. A staple of the style.

Pro-tip: drink this beer with creme brulee. It is one of the finest food pairings you will ever have.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 03:23:57 | More by Reaper16

The_1084

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

A - Pours a shade of black with a nice mocha colored head, roughly 1 finger in width.

S - Has the aroma of fruit and wine with hints of dark chocolate and coffee.

T - Starts with a sweet fruity taste, about mid-drink the flavors of dark chocolate present themselves, and finishes with a bitter coffee taste. A very nice balance of flavor.

M - Thick and creamy with a clean finish.

O - This is not only a great stout, but a great beer in general. I plan on drinking more of these in the future and would highly recommend this to all beer enthusiasts.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 06:35:09 | More by The_1084

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I hate to not write a glowing review for this beer, but for me it's just not as rich, full-bodied or aromatic as the best imperial stouts I've had. I mean, it's still a smooth, tasty beer. I like it. It's just that when I compare it to Old Rasputin or Stone, this one just doesn't bring as much to the table. It's all the same basic components, just not as strong and not as full. A fantastic introductory Russian Imperial, and perhaps I'll try it again sometime and realize all I'm missing. But today, it's just a really solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 04:40:46 | More by TheRealBigC

rangerred

Tennessee

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

11.2 oz bottle into a snifter.

Pours pitch black with a half finger dark tan head. Head recedes to a ring around the edge of the glass and leaves decent lacing.

Aroma of dark fruit; figs and raisins, coffee, and dark roasted malt. Also a little bit of lighter citrus.

The flavor is an amazing mix of fruit and roasted malt. Plenty of dark fruit along with coffee and dark chocolate. Roasted malt is prominent but not close to being overpowering. Some earthy hops also sneak through which is a little odd for a RIS but works really well here. The finish is clean and crisp, not at all sweet and sticky.

This is one of my all-time favorite beers. While it is on the light side for an Imperial Stout, it packs tons of flavor and is incredibly drinkable. I could really have a couple of these in a sitting without tiring of the flavor. A world-class beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 01:37:54 | More by rangerred

fountainofyouth

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 16.9 oz bottle into a pint glass. Before I even comment on the categories above, I just want to say the beer SOUNDS good -- like pouring a fresh bottle of wine.

Appearance: HUGE light brown head and deep, impenetrably brown body.

Smell: It kinda smells like wine too, like a chocolate wine. Not totally in a good way -- too much booze. Besides the booze is sweet brown malt and no discernible hops.

Taste: The taste definitely follows the nose, although slightly more pleasantly so. It is a bit "grapey." There's a good mix of dark barley, plenty of sugar, a little booze, and maybe a hint of English hops. Nice, but not mindblowing.

Mouthfeel: It's got a good, full feeling and a good dose of carbonation. The alcohol is warm, but not hot, and kinda trails into the back of the mouth.

Overall: It didn't really have the depth I wanted. It's good, but I feel like it's trying to mimic to the flavor palette of oak-aged stouts too much. It's too sweet, not really balanced out by anything except a touch of alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 00:52:42 | More by fountainofyouth

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

550 mL bottle into HF tulip glass

A - Black in color with a 1.5 finger light brown head. Great retention, the head lasts a long time.

S - Roasted malts, sweet dark raisin and fig, bit of anise.

T - Lots more of the licorice. Plus fig and dark chocolate and toffee. Not exactly my style.

M - Medium body, kinda chewy. Sticky and a bit dry.

O - Overall an OK imperial stout, but not one I will be looking for in the future. Pretty disappointed by this average beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 22:36:49 | More by greenmonstah

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355ml bottle, poured into Leffe chalice, jet black, opaque, no head, tanned lacing around the edges which hung around. Smelled coffee beans and slightly of fruits. Tasted malt, coffee, bourbon, dark chocolate, raisins and cream. Booze well hidden. Long espresso finish. Minimal carbonation, very smooth, medium body. Liked the feel of the beer and the way it hid the booze, but I wasn't blown away. Guinness on steroids.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 10:12:35 | More by jonb5