Samuel Smith Organics (via Wolfman-K)
I first saw these brews while perusing the awesome Beer/Pub photoblog Beer Lens.
I didn’t think they were available here in the states but my friend Ben came across them at Beers of the World and picked up a bottle of the Cherry, Raspberry and Strawberry for us to try. I happened to find the Cider at Nathanial Square Corner Store last week, so I tossed that into the mix, for our informal tasting last night.
Samuel Smith is known here in the states for having “classic” English Brews. Nut Brown, Taddy Porter, Oatmeal Stout, etc. But this is the first time I’ve run accross something new by the old brewery, at least on this side of the pond.
The fruit beers border on the Lindermans fruit lambics. They are very sweet, but finish very clean unlike the sticky sweetness of the Belgian desert beers. Combine that with the Organic label and you have a beer that is sure to be a hit here in the states, where fruit beers are gaining rapidly in popularity and organic is all the rage.
To use a three sheets colloquialism, these are definitely “pinky up” brews. But I admit I do have a soft spot for the sweet stuff, so I enjoyed all three brews thou rally last night. Especially since they had such a crisp clean finish.
If I were to rate these on the podcast I’d say these are all solid 4/5 brews with the Cherry coming close to a 5/5. I can’t make the Cherry a full five because that would mean it’s on the same level as my beloved Quelque Chose by Unibrou, and it’s just not quite there.
Now the cider. The cider although labeled organic does not share the upfront bright fruit flavors of it’s Ale brethren. In contrast the Cider is a near perfect balance of dry and sweet, making it so neutral, clean and crisp you almost lose that it’s an Apple Cider at all.
The Cider is very good, and very refreshing, but if you like to taste apple in your cider there are some better choices out there. If you like a very subtle Apple flavor, (and I do) then you really must try this cider.
To wrap this up, if you like sweet fruit brews, or nice subtle ciders, then the Sam Smith Organics are well worth a look.
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