Session # 131 | Samuel Smith’s | Yorkshire Stingo | 9% ABV
English Strong Ale| Tadcaster, England | Rating: 90/100
One year ago: Hanssens Oude Gueuze
Draft Magazine is one of my favorite sources for craft beer reviews and culture. This past month they released their Top 25 Beers of 2010 list and the Yorkshire Stingo from Samuel Smith’s Brewery made that list. Not only that; it was the only beer the magazine gave a perfect score. Well I just had to try it ASAFP. Similarly to Draft, I enjoyed this beer a lot. It pours from the bottle about the same way an English Barleywine might with its brownish-red color and a beautiful frothy off-white head. The aroma, too, reminds me of an English Barleywine with loads of caramel malts followed by dark sticky fruits like dates, figs, raisins, and plums. There is also a touch of green grape and French oak present in the beer. The palate is very similar to the aromas with a wash of malts and dark fruits. Overall, Yorkshire Stingo is a very well-made beer. If you are a fan of Belgian Quads, English Barleywines, or German Doppelbocks, I think you’ll really enjoy this beer.
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This beer can be found in these states.
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Posted by Barleywhiner on January 10, 2011 at 9:17 AM
I was excited to try this, but it didn’t do a whole lot for me. I feel like I have a pretty good appreciation for English styles, but it seemed a little lacking in flavor. At the price, I would be hesitant to give it a second chance.
Posted by thehopry on January 10, 2011 at 9:32 AM
Yeah…I can see you’re point. I think what ultimately makes this one so good to me is how well-balanced and crafted it is. Now, if I took price into consideration (which I don’t), I would definitely agree and might have brought the score down a couple points. Either way, not 100/100 material but still very good…
Posted by Leo Daly on January 10, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Nice to see an English beer on the Hopry, though I’d say with some hesitation that Samuel Smiths importance as a brewery is now almost wholly historic. I find their beers are usually above average but never really remarkable, and one should steer well clear of the organic fruit ones. Good review though. Mark, if ever you find a Good Kind Henry Special Reserve anywhere buy it, at any price. It is quite simply the best English beer (for once I’m in complete agreement with Ratebeer on this) and probably one of the most special barrel aged stouts available – although it’s availability is a sore point. It’s one of those once in a lifetime beers after which you’re never quite the same again. And as always, a sterling job with the site.
Posted by thehopry on January 11, 2011 at 3:19 AM
Hey Leo –
I think I remember you speaking about the Good King Henry before, but I don’t believe that one is available in the states. Of course, I haven’t dug in too deeply on it but will try to do a little more research to see what I can find.
Posted by Jamison Moeckel on January 11, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Great review Mark, what I find interesting about this beer is they keep the barrels for a long time and reuse them over and over again. The sam smith website even says they have coopers repair the damaged barrels.
As far as old ales go Great Divide Hibernation really surprised me, very good beer.
Posted by theReaper16 on January 11, 2011 at 2:31 PM
Great Divide Hibernation Ale surprised me too. I stumbled upon a bottle that had aged for a year and found it quite enjoyable. I rated it among the highest Old Ales I’ve ever had.