Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry 550ML

Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry 550ML is an English organic fruit beer brewed with pure strawberry juice, bottled at 5.1% ABV in a 550ml bottle. It earned an 86 score on BeerAdvocate across more than 600 ratings, placing it among the more respected fruit ales widely available today.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.1%  |  Origin: Yorkshire & Lincolnshire, England  |  Style: Organic Fruit Beer  |  Brewery: Samuel Smith's Old Brewery (est. 1758)

Production & Heritage

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery, founded in 1758 in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, is Yorkshire's oldest brewery. This strawberry ale begins its life at the Melbourn Bros. Brewery (also called All Saints Brewery) in Stamford, Lincolnshire — a small, time-warp facility that still relies on manually operated brewing equipment. The beer undergoes primary and secondary fermentation using multiple yeast strains, then travels to Tadcaster for conditioning, aging, and blending with certified organic strawberry juice and extract. The grain bill includes organic malted barley, organic malted wheat, organic cane sugar, and organic hops — every ingredient carrying full organic certification.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe strawberry jam dominates the nose immediately, layered with hints of fresh-picked strawberries and a faint undertone of biscuity malt. It reads almost like opening a jar of homemade preserves, with no artificial or cloying character.

Taste: The entry is sweet and fruit-forward, with waves of strawberry jam, strawberry juice, and a subtle cream-soda quality. At mid-palate, biscuit malt and light caramel emerge, adding body and roundness that prevent the fruit from tipping into candy territory. A touch of balancing bitterness from the hops anchors the sweetness before the beer shifts toward a surprisingly dry close.

Finish: Medium in length with a gentle tartness that cleanses the palate. Lingering strawberry and a mild grain note fade gradually, leaving the mouth drier than the initial sweetness might suggest.

How to Drink Organic Strawberry

Serve chilled between 45–50°F in a tulip glass or goblet to concentrate the fruit aromatics. It drinks well on its own as a sessionable warm-weather pour. For a Strawberry Shandy, combine it with lemonade and a sprig of mint for a refreshing garden-party drink. In a Fruit Beer Spritz, top a half-pour with sparkling water, ice, and a lemon twist for a lighter, effervescent serve. It also works as a base in a Berry Radler, mixed with grapefruit soda to amplify citrus-berry interplay.

Best For

• Introducing craft-curious drinkers to fruit ales with a trusted heritage brand
• Summer barbecues and outdoor dining where a lighter, fruit-driven beer fits the mood
• Gifting to someone who appreciates certified organic beverages
• Pairing alongside a cheese board or brunch spread as an alternative to cider or sparkling wine

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Organic Strawberry taste like? It leads with sweet strawberry jam and fresh berry flavors, supported by biscuity malt and light caramel, then finishes drier and slightly tart rather than syrupy sweet.

How does Organic Strawberry compare to Samuel Smith Organic Apricot Ale? Both share the same dual-fermentation process and organic certification, but the Strawberry leans sweeter and jammier while the Apricot Ale tends toward a brighter, stone-fruit tartness. Among Samuel Smith's three fruit beers (Cherry, Raspberry, and Strawberry), the Strawberry is often described as the most reserved in fruit intensity despite its sweeter profile.

Is Organic Strawberry good for beginners? Yes — its accessible sweetness, low bitterness, and familiar fruit flavor make it an approachable entry point for anyone new to craft beer or fruit ales.

Where is Organic Strawberry made? Brewing begins at the Melbourn Bros. Brewery in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, using manually operated heritage equipment. The beer is then transferred to Samuel Smith's Old Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, for conditioning, blending with organic strawberry juice, and packaging.

What foods pair well with Organic Strawberry? Soft cheeses like brie or camembert complement the fruit sweetness. Fresh summer salads with goat cheese and strawberry vinaigrette mirror the berry notes. Vanilla bean panna cotta or strawberry shortcake echo the jam-like character. Mild smoked salmon brings a savory contrast that highlights the beer's malt backbone. Dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage provides a bittersweet counterpoint.

What sizes does Organic Strawberry come in? The standard format is a 550ml bottle, consistent with Samuel Smith's signature packaging across their fruit beer range.

Is Organic Strawberry worth the price? It positions as a mid-range import fruit ale, but the dual-fermentation process, full organic certification, and use of real fruit juice rather than artificial flavoring give it stronger production credentials than many competitors at the same tier.

Why Organic Strawberry?

What separates this beer from the wave of flavored fruit ales on the market is its production pedigree. Dual fermentation with multiple yeast strains at a manually operated Victorian-era brewery, followed by blending with certified organic strawberry juice at England's oldest Yorkshire brewery, is a process few commercial fruit beers can match. The result tastes like actual strawberries rather than artificial flavoring — a distinction reviewers consistently note. With an 86 on BeerAdvocate and nearly 31,000 ratings on Untappd, it has built a track record of broad appeal without sacrificing authenticity.