Try?
Samuel Smith's Beers, like most of those distributed by Seattle-based importer Merchant du Vin, are on the pricey side. A six pack will run you around $12; a 550 ml bottle $2.99 to $3.29. Though that works out to about the same price per ounce, you'd be surprised how many people will pay the $3 for the single yet complain vociferously about the 6 pack price. That has been my experience at any rate, and contributes to what I call the "Merchant du Vin Effect". This importer sells their beers for a high price, which reduces turnaround time, which means the beer sits and goes stale, which means the buyer pays too much for spoiled beer. I'm very careful when I buy beers from Merchant du Vin; if they are dusty I won't even consider them. Nor should you.
As I pop the cap off the (sadly) clear glass bottle, I get the dreaded skunk aroma I had anticipated. The beer pours jet black into my glass, and a huge tan head of foam quickly forms. The nose is skunk, skunk, skunk but fortunately when I take my first sip the roasty character of the beer hides that unwanted element of this brew. Instead, there's a lot to like here, as the roast notes combine with licorice and bittersweet chocolate, and then finally a lingering, roasty-hoppy bitterness in the finish. The beer has something of a sour character too which makes it eminently drinkable.
Samuel Smith's takes credit for making English porter popular again with this beer when they introduced it back in 1979. They recommend it with shellfish such as oysters, and I concur. I like stouts with fried oysters; this beer is close to a stout in character though thinner in body. I dare say it would be a fine accompaniment to a slice of dark chocolate cake as well, perhaps sprinkled with bittersweet chocolate chips.
Update 2006
Tonight on a whim I picked up a bottle of Sam Smith's Taddy Porter. For some
reason, Porters seem to be as scarce as hen's teeth here in Georgia, but
this one is always available. Tonight's bottle is a treat: smooth and
chocolately, a hint of butter, a tad (pun intended) roasty, coffeeish, and
gently roasty bitter in the finish. Very drinkable, and very delicious. Sam
Smith's, like Sam Adams, is always a good decision.
Perhaps why Michael Jackson called this “One of the world’s five best beers.”
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
