Samuel Smith's India Ale from Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Rating: B+
Presented in a brown (!) Samuel Smith's bottle with a lovely blue cap.
Appearance: Pours with a satisfying "glug glug glug..." an attractive dark amber color. Big, frothy head. Good lace. Very nice looking beer.
Smell: Smells a bit like I expect a DIPA to, I think because the malt/hops balance is tilted more to the malt in this one than your AIPA's, but with more fruit and not as much sweetness.
Taste: malt up front, followed by some spicy hops and a caramel/fruit middle with apples and oranges (which is stronger? don't ask me, I can't compare the two!). Great dry, bitter finish. Definitely the hoppiest English ale I've had to date (take that as you will). Bitterness is on the high end of APAs. Some diacetyl butteriness shows up as the beer warms.
Mouthfeel: well-carbonated, light-moderate mouthfeel. Diacetyl tongue-coating butteriness detracts a bit, though.
Drinkability: with the fruit and conservative hopping, this could be a great introductory beer for IPA's. Potentially sessionable.
Serving type: bottle
Reviewed on: 07-29-2006 20:46:39
Rating: B+
Presented in a brown (!) Samuel Smith's bottle with a lovely blue cap.
Appearance: Pours with a satisfying "glug glug glug..." an attractive dark amber color. Big, frothy head. Good lace. Very nice looking beer.
Smell: Smells a bit like I expect a DIPA to, I think because the malt/hops balance is tilted more to the malt in this one than your AIPA's, but with more fruit and not as much sweetness.
Taste: malt up front, followed by some spicy hops and a caramel/fruit middle with apples and oranges (which is stronger? don't ask me, I can't compare the two!). Great dry, bitter finish. Definitely the hoppiest English ale I've had to date (take that as you will). Bitterness is on the high end of APAs. Some diacetyl butteriness shows up as the beer warms.
Mouthfeel: well-carbonated, light-moderate mouthfeel. Diacetyl tongue-coating butteriness detracts a bit, though.
Drinkability: with the fruit and conservative hopping, this could be a great introductory beer for IPA's. Potentially sessionable.
Serving type: bottle
Reviewed on: 07-29-2006 20:46:39
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