Samuel Smith Variety 6Pk

Samuel Smith Variety 6Pk is a curated six-pack of British ales from England's oldest brewery, spanning a range of approximately 5–7% ABV across multiple styles. Brewed at the Samuel Smith Old Brewery in Tadcaster — established in 1758 — each bottle in this collection reflects one of the few remaining operations still using traditional 19th-century Yorkshire Square fermentation in Welsh slate vessels.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~5–7% (varies by style)  |  Origin: Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England  |  Style: Multi-Style Variety Pack  |  Brewery: Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Est. 1758)

Production & Heritage

Samuel Smith Old Brewery has occupied the same site in Tadcaster since 1758, drawing brewing water from an original well sunk 85 feet deep that same year. The brewery is one of a vanishing handful in Britain that still ferments in Yorkshire Square vessels — large open-topped tanks constructed of Welsh slate — a method that encourages a distinctive yeast character and full-bodied mouthfeel. The house yeast strain has been in continuous use since approximately 1900, making it one of the oldest unchanged brewing cultures in the country. Ingredients remain straightforward: water, barley malt, roasted barley, hops, cane sugar, and yeast.

Tasting Notes

The variety pack typically showcases several flagship Samuel Smith styles, each with its own character:

Oatmeal Stout: Nearly opaque in the glass with a silky, smooth texture. The palate is medium-dry with a complex bittersweet finish that balances roasted grain against gentle creaminess.

Imperial Stout (7% ABV): Deep chocolate color with a pronounced roasted barley nose. Rich and layered on the palate, delivering interwoven malt, hop bitterness, and fruity yeast notes.

Nut Brown Ale: A warm, amber-brown pour with a nutty palate recalling beech nuts, almonds, and walnuts — a textbook example of the Northern English brown ale tradition.

Taddy Porter: Predominantly sweet up front with hints of licorice, anise seed, and a slight yeasty tang that adds dimension to the finish.

Organic Chocolate Stout: Full-bodied with roasted barley backbone. The Samuel Smith yeast strain lends fruity esters that support a lush chocolate aroma, taste, and lingering finish.

How to Drink Samuel Smith Ales

These ales are best served at British cellar temperature — around 50–55°F — to allow their nuanced malt profiles and yeast character to fully express. Pouring into a tulip pint glass or nonic helps concentrate aromatics. The Oatmeal Stout and Chocolate Stout both shine in a beer float with vanilla ice cream. The Nut Brown Ale works well in a Brown Ale Flip — shaken with a whole egg, simple syrup, and nutmeg. Taddy Porter makes an excellent base for a Porter Shandy, cut with ginger beer for a refreshing contrast to its licorice sweetness.

Best For

• Introducing a friend to traditional British ale styles beyond the usual lager
• Hosting a guided beer tasting at home with distinct style comparisons
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates heritage brewing
• Pairing across multiple courses at a dinner party

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Samuel Smith beers taste like? Across the range, Samuel Smith ales are malt-forward with a signature full-bodied texture derived from Yorkshire Square fermentation, featuring notes of roasted barley, nuts, chocolate, and licorice depending on the specific style.

How does Samuel Smith compare to Newcastle Brown Ale? While both are iconic Northern English ales, Samuel Smith's range is significantly more traditional and diverse — brewed with Yorkshire Square slate fermentation and an unchanged yeast strain dating to 1900, whereas Newcastle Brown Ale is a single-style, widely industrialized product with a lighter body and simpler malt character.

Is the Samuel Smith Variety Pack good for beginners? It is an excellent entry point for anyone exploring British ales, as the range of styles — from the approachable Nut Brown Ale to the more robust Imperial Stout — provides a clear progression of intensity and complexity.

Where is Samuel Smith beer made? All Samuel Smith beers are brewed at the Samuel Smith Old Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England, a site the brewery has occupied continuously since its founding in 1758.

What foods pair well with Samuel Smith ales? The Oatmeal Stout pairs naturally with oysters and shellfish due to its briny minerality. Nut Brown Ale complements aged cheddar and roasted root vegetables. Taddy Porter stands up to smoked meats and barbecue. The Organic Chocolate Stout is a classic match for dark chocolate desserts and flourless cakes. Imperial Stout works alongside rich beef stew or blue cheese.

What sizes does the Samuel Smith Variety Pack come in? The standard variety pack contains six bottles, typically 12 oz (355 ml) each, covering a selection of the brewery's flagship styles.

Is the Samuel Smith Variety Pack worth the price? It positions as a premium import variety pack, and the combination of a 265-year-old brewing heritage, rare Yorkshire Square fermentation, and consistently high critical ratings — including a 91 on BeerAdvocate for Yorkshire Stingo and 86 for the Organic Lager — represents strong value within the imported British ale category.

Why Samuel Smith?

What separates this variety pack from other multi-style offerings is provenance that cannot be replicated. The Yorkshire Square slate fermentation system and a house yeast strain in continuous use since approximately 1900 give every Samuel Smith beer a textural richness and flavor depth that modern stainless-steel breweries simply do not achieve. The brewery earned a gold medal at the International Brewers Exhibition as far back as 1897, and its ales continue to collect strong marks on platforms like BeerAdvocate and RateBeer over a century later. For drinkers interested in tasting living brewing history — not just a style exercise — this pack delivers six distinct arguments for tradition.