Samuel Smiths India Ale

355ml dark brown bottle, label as pictured. Pours a beautiful, clear orange golden with a medium, fast-collapsing off-white head; some lacing. Aroma of citrus fruit, malt, and a touch of honey. Medium-bodied bitter (indeed, not an IPA) with active carbonation. Earthy, full mouth feel for this type of beer. Taste is earthy, medium-bitter, hops are evident in the grassy, dry initial taste. Malts and some spicy herbs then dominate the palate. Dry finish, medium-bitter after taste. This is a most refreshing brew from Samuel Smith, with characterful spicy notes giving added dimension to its character as an English bitter. While hops are noticeable, they aren’t strong enough for this beer to qualify as an IPA. Well-balanced, highly sessionable, less bitterish-bitter than most esb’s or "best bitters" - on reflection, maybe somewhere between a bitter and a golden ale.

Poured a medium orange-yellow. Nose was weak, slightest hints of floral hops. Taste was bland, slightly corn tasting sweet base. moderate hop bitterness, very weak floral hop flavor.

Excellent brown frothy head with a tanned underscore. Dry dry dry ale with lots of grainy grip. A very nice drop. Best of Samuel Smiths I have had.

Pours orange-amber with an off white head. Aroma is caramel and grass. Flavor is sweet malt and floral, grassy hop. Easy to drink.

Nice golden color that has a very pleasant hop aroma. The flavor is not very bitter just a pleasant malty bitter amalgamation, with a bit of a sour note.

Has a hint of an evergreen smell and a faint orange taste. Overall a good beer when you can’t get your hands on a stout!

Not very hoppy, but nicely balanced. Nice hoppy aftertaste. Turns out it’s not an IPA.