Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout – TA-Brews review

 

Samuel Smith’s brewery is, without a doubt, a well-known brewery with a rich history as many of the old breweries have.  However, aside from that, Samuel Smith’s has had an immense impact on the town of Tadcaster throughout the years.

It seems as though there is a Victorian era mentality ruling the people of this town with Humphrey Smith, current owner of the brewery, acting as master of the town.  For many, many years now, no one has been able to make significant changes within the town without receiving legal notice of a judicial challenge from Samuel Smith’s brewery, making life very difficult for those looking to improve their town.

The video below does a very good job at explaining what is happening in this town, but there is likely more going on.  We will be doing a more in depth article regarding this particular brewery in the near future.  For now, be intrigued by this small morsel of a much larger bite.

 

Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout Reviewed

The Samuel Smith’s website describes this beer as follows:

Brewed with well water (the original well at the Old Brewery, sunk in 1758, is still in use, with the hard well water being drawn from 85 feet underground); fermented in ‘stone Yorkshire squares’ to create an almost opaque, wonderfully silky and smooth textured ale with a complex medium dry palate and bittersweet finish.

 

The description from the site doesn’t give any clear indication of how this beer should taste, however, all it says does apply:

This stout pours black and smooth, as expected from stouts.  The head is off white and generous, smooth, and tightly packed, similar to what you’d expect from a well-made cappuccino.  During the pour, there’s an unmistakable roasted aroma with hints of brown sugar.

Smells exuded from a fresh pour were defined and typical of many oatmeal stouts; coffee, oats, cocoa, and brown sugar.  Together, they were balanced and reminiscent of a morning breakfast with coffee and hot oatmeal.

During the tasting, the texture described from Samuel Smith came to life.  Smooth on the tongue, coating it lightly on the way down with a bitter foretaste and pleasantly sweet aftertaste that stays only momentarily.  The carbonation is light, similar to San Pellegrino, but is a bit too much for the flavors and the body, lending themselves to a more traditional cask level of carbonation.  The actual flavors of the beer are of a medium roast coffee, with enough cream to take away any edge and just enough sugar to take away the bitter bite, making the use of cane sugar in this beer quite effective.  Oatmeal is very present, but hides just below the coffee flavors and becomes apparent after the initial sip and stays on the tongue.

Pros

Sessionable, smooth, full of typical oatmeal stout flavours.

Cons

A bit too light for what’s expected of a stout

Food Match

Roasted meats and vegetables.

Time of year

Good for a cold night, typically winter or late fall.

TA Brews rating 3.5/5