| Browse by Categories: |
|
|  |
|
 |
|
|
| Dan's Beer Blog |
|
Saturday 1st November 2008.
After a great day in the shop tasting the range from "Prickly Moses" the new microbrewery at Otway Estate near Lorne in Victoria, I'm at home trying out some of our newest British arrivals: Samuel Smith Brewery, Tadcaster, Yorkshire
Sam Smith's pubs are a funny bunch; they tend to be fiercely independent of the larger chains and (similar to Aldi) only stock products that are made by or for Samuel Smiths - everything, down to potato crisps are Sam Smiths brands. I selected these beers from the range available because they represent beers styles that Plonk has limited examples of - it is my goal for Plonk to have the greatest diversity of beers available in Canberra, not necessarily in terms of geography but in distinct styles and to start this I have been using the Beer Judging Certification Program's Beer Style Guidlines as... well... my guidelines! They allow anyone who is keen to educate their beer palate a chance to do it in a systematic way and well worth a look if you have more than a passing interest in beer :) Anyhoo, moving on to the beers at hand.
Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale
Tasting notes: Lots of sweet, sticky, hazelnutty, and malty aroma. Pours rather well, the 550mL sized bottle caught me a bit by surprise when I poured it into a standard pint glass thinking I had room for some head! Reasonable off-white head and good head retention - quite a ruby hue to it. Tastes quite a bit drier than it smells, quite malty, a little roast flavour and a very mild coffee finish. 5% alc/vol.
This is an excellent example of a style that has, until recent years, really only been represented in this country by Newcastle Brown Ale - a far more subdued beer - other examples available in Plonk include Wychwood Hobgoblin.
For judging notes check out the BJCP style guidelines for Northern English Brown Ale
Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter
Tasting notes: Very soft chocolatey malt aroma. Pours quite dark (not quite black), low head and a little head retention. Rich, bitter-chocolate flavours with an interesting, slightly smokey, dry finish. Pretty easy to drink for such a strong looking beer. 5% alc/vol.
This is the only example Plonk has of this style Brown Porter and probably the only example commercially available in any liquor store so it is definitely worth it if only to experience such a unique beer. Many of the porters currently available tend to be of the "robust" variety - a far more aggressive beer in terms of roastiness, hops and alcoholic strength.
Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout
Tasting notes: Slight, sweet malt aroma. Pours very dark - pretty much opaque in my pint glass, like the porter it has a low head and a little head retention. The palate is incredibly smooth, with a slightly sweet, creamy malt texture. Compared to the last couple of beers this has quite a sweet finish.
Plonk has at least one other Oatmeal Stout that I can think of - 3 Ravens Black from Thornbury in Victoria - but the Sam Smith's Oatmeal Stout is a bit softer and smoother.
cheers!
Dan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
