Twitter Taste Live! Sam Smith Stouts

A hearty welcome to all you Twitterers from Twitter Taste Live! I wouldn't normally volunteer to stay up after midnight drinking Sam Smiths but, hey, I've nothing better to do. Like drink all the Thornbridge beers I've just picked up... ah. OK. Sam Smiths. Let's do it...


So; the basics. Sam Smith, probably the oldest brewery in Yorkshire, renowned for their own cheap drinks in their own fiercely independent pubs and an export trade built on filtered, pasturised bottles.

You could find out more about them on their website. But they don't have one. In fact, Sam Smiths are known more for what they don't do. No website, no ostentatious branding, no TVs or music in their pubs.

And they only brew one cask beer, which pees off many English ale fans . Offer some beardy beer boys a filtered & pasturised bottle of Sams and, by their reaction, you might think you'd just offered to bugger their dog.

Anyoldhow - here's some random Sam Smiths facts for you:

1 - They've removed their famous white rose logo from staff t-shirts, delivery vans and pub signs. They say it's because they want to preserve the individuality of their pubs. Some suggest it's a cost-cutting measure...

2 - They've removed TVs from pubs and didn't renew their music performance licenses. Some say it's to ensure a convivial atmosphere in their pubs. Some say it's a cost-cuttting measure...

3 - They're based in Tadcaster, Yorkshire, where brewing has been going on since the fourteenth century. And they're the only independent brewers left there, the others being the industrial torpor that it Coors and John Smiths.

4 - The current owners of this family firm are Humphrey Richard Woollcombe Smith and Oliver Geoffrey Woollcombe Smith. Could their names *be* any more English?

5 - Brewing liqour is still drawn from the original well sunk in 1785. The hard water contributes to the bright nature of the beer.

6 - They are one of the few brewers who still use a Yorkshire Square fermenter. Albeit made of slate, not stone. You can see it here courtesy of Zak Avery on Flickr.

7 - They once sacked workers for drinking on the job. The workers said it was custom and practice and won their case for unfair dismissal.

8 - Awards for their beers include the Gold Medal at the International Brewers Exhibition 1896 (Imperial Stout), Gold Medal at the Brewing Industry International Awards 1996 (Oatmeal Stout) and Best Vegetarian Beverage, The Vegetarian Society 2001 (Organic Beer). They are in no way responsible for the Samuel Smith Award.

9 - They (I do believe) still operate a cooperage.

10 - You can no longer have a pint of Sam Smiths Pure Brewed Lager in a Pure Brewed Lager glass at the Sam Smiths pub The Abbey near Derby. Because they were all stolen.

Now, then. Aggregated ramblings on the beers will follow. Feel free to scatter comments around. And, before you all get too pished, do avail yourselves of the following sites:

- A bit about the Oatmeal Stout from Merchant du Vin

- And a bit more from them about the Imperial Stout

- All you ever wanted to know about the breweries of Tadcaster

- A wonderfully comprehensive article reproduced from the journal Modern Brewery Age about Sam Smiths

Have those bottle openers at the ready...