Samuel Smiths Strong Golden

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Barley Wine
Tadcaster, England

A hazy orange beer with a small orange head. The aroma is sweet with strong notes of alcohol, which also gives it hints of metal, and for me it also contains an off-note of carpet. The flavor is very sweet and very alcoholic, the alcohol dries out the mouth, but the flavor also contains notes of peach and caramel. Not as good as expected.

(Bottle 18 cl) Clear, pale amber with a very small head. Sweetish with an incredibly full body. Lots of sweet malt, but the sweetness never gets cloying. Incredibly complex, the kind of beer that slowly grows in you mouth in a fantastic palette of flavour impressions. Big positive surprise. 220505

<i>Bottled at Monks Café Wallingatan, Stockholm. </i> Clear amber, brief head. Resiny hops up front. Sweet and dense, quite hoppy. Gets drier underway when the intense doughy malt takes over. Salty resiny finish. Warming, but not very complex.

18 cL bottle, thanks to BelJohansen. Pours slight hazy orange with a lacing white head. Dark malt, dried fruit and a light oldish/aged note. Flavour is sweet and fruity. Lingering caramel flavoured into the finish with a lingering fruity finish.

Bottled: Dark golden coloured. clear. Beige dense head. Alcohol, sweetness, fruit and light liqourice in the aroma. Flavour of plums, sweetness, distinct alcohol and some vague smokyness. Is very madeiraish. Medium bodied. Has a sweet and alcoholdense finish.

Bottle. Green apple aroma. Bright copper colour. Sweet flavour with a little sour bitterness. A little disappointing.

Bottled (from Cracked Kettle). Amber colour, small beige head. Aroma is quite fruity, alcoholic and also has some biscuity notes. Flavour is smooth fruits, some wood as well as alcohol. Not really a complex brew, but indeed very balanced and drinkable.

Bottled at DBF 2005. Orange coloured with a white head. Sweet fruity aroma with notes of alcohol and honey. Sweet flavour with lots of fruits and spices.