Old Brewery Pale Ale (Samuel Smith's Old Brewery)

Appearance - 14

Old Brewery Pale Ale pours a reddish brown copper color, with a hint of cloudiness.  It is an English Pale Ale, which typically are a little darker than American Pale Ale's.  It is  very pretty beer.  It is unfortunate that you can't tell from the picture, but Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale comes with a great thick and creamy head.  The head leaves a decent lacing of a few rings.

Aroma - 14

The aroma of Old Brewery Pale Ale is very...British countryside.  The aroma is a pleasant blend of a complex bunch of aromas.  You first notice the floral tones, and then some fruitiness.  There are definite grassy tones with a nice amount of earthy hops.  There is even a slight toastiness to the smell.  It is nice, and deep, but not overwhelming.

Taste - 46

The malt of Old Brewery Pale Ale definitely stands out, which is to be expected with an English Pale Ale.  Caramel and a hint of toffee are present.  English hops are present and bring some floral and bitterness that you want in a Pale Ale.  The bitterness is not overwhelming and the beer finishes with a slightly sweet.  The complexity of the aroma was equaled in the depth of the taste, yet nothing was overpowering.  Making it a very balanced and flavorful Pale Ale.  This is one of the better English Pale Ales I have had.

Drinkablility - 7

Old Brewery Pale Ale is above average in drinkability.  There is a filling feeling as you drink the beer, which is nice and slows you down, but also just makes it a little less drinkable for the typical American beer drinker (not that you want to English Pale Ales to poor down like water though.)  The sweet aftertaste also detracts some from the drinkability, however this beer is in no way harsh and drinks very smooth.

Hip-Hop - 10

This a cool beer. The brewery was established in 1758, and is still independently owned today.  The water for this beer is still drawn from the exact same well as the first beer brewed at the Old Brewery.  Samuel Smith's Old Brewery also still sticks with the tradition of delivering the beer locally, five days a week, with a small team of Shire Horses.  I love history and tradition!

Total Score - 91

Website: Old Brewery Pale Ale (Samuel Smith's Old Brewery)