Samuel Smiths Old Brewery Pale Ale

What I originallly thought as a horrible skunk, I think after trying a few times and researching some more is just a funky hop profile. That being said, I prefer my beers don’t smell or taste skunky/funky, especially if I think I’m drinking an English Pale. Other than that, it’s kind of a blah beer anyway, typical for style in malt flavorings and hops (English Pale Ales aren’t supposed to be hopped like a typical APA). Not bad, but there’s gotta be better offerings in the style.

550 ml bottle. Lovely red-copper brown with decent head - not a lot of lacing. And not particularly pale, especially when compared with North American offerings. Aroma of caramel, spice, a bit of bread. Taste is not complex; malt, caramel, a bit spicy. Restrained, is perhaps the word. Finish begins with brown sugar, ends with a light bitterness. Lightly carbonated, as it should be. Not bad, but there are better choices out there.

the beer is of course low in carbonation. there is is malty and earthy tone to the beer. but primarily i get a sweet hazelnut flavor. i suppose toffee like since the beer is slick tasting. the body is moderate but the beer still seems thinnish. since the flavors are recessed, one might mistakenly refer to this as watery. but i think not. decent head. i find the bite a mild one. i am wondering when one would drink a beer such as this! but it is somewhat refreshing.

Poured from a bottle. A nice amber color with a huge dark white hair (may have been because of a too hard pour). The malt really comes through in the smell. Taste was heavy on the malt with some carmel in the background. Also a little bit of a biscuit taste.

550ml brown bottle from Lou’s in Augusta. Red-copper translucent body with around an inch of initial off-white head that dissipates rather quickly. Smells caramelly and fruity, with hints if a peaty quality. A roasty maltiness dominates the flavor with hints of fruit, diacetyl (coming through as a very pleasing butterscotch flavor). No one quality of the flavor overpowers another I would say. A nice balance and a medium-bodied mouthfeel make this extremely drinkable. Definitely glad I finally tried it, and I’m sure the brown bottle helped the flavor. A new favorite!

Pours a light amber with a momentary head which disappears without a trace in a few minutes. Wonderful fruity and floral aroma, strong and sweet. Peaty, sweet malt taste - definitely not just a pale ale, just barely enough hops to balance it. Tastes like a Scotch Ale, nice caramel and fruity notes. Alcohol detectable. Decent body, low carb but that’s expected. This was a very pleasant beer to drink, and reminded me of the fruity Fullers Vintage Ales. I wish it had a bit of a head, though.

Pours a straw to copper color with a big healthy offwhite head. Bubbles along the side of glass make this look over carbonated. The nose is strongly toasty. A faint floral hop or two in the background. There’s also a small about of sweetness. Balanced. Soemwhat earthy. Creamy on the palate. Not big and viscous, but certainly mouth-filling. Lightly sweet, toasty, a little bit of hazelnut. Some floral hops and more subdued malting set this apart from the nut brown, though I’d say it’s not nearly as good a beer. There’s some diacetyl, though less than the nut brown, but it’s more offputting here. A little bit lemony. A dry earthy toasty malt and bitter hop finish. Dry. A little bit of dark malt character.

light copper color. faint aroma of earth and carmel malt. body is a little watery thin. carmel biscuit flavor and light bitterness. i actually was a little unimpressed compared to their other beers. it was decent, but i expected more