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John Smith's Extra Smooth

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A classic, clean Yorkshire bitter: the aroma is malty and hoppy, the body sweet and bitter at once, and a distinct cereal character meets toast and caramel malt. Fruit and bitterness sit in equal measure, and the finish stays clean with a lingering bitterness. A widget in the can gives the head its creamy texture; the strength was cut to 3.4% ABV in February 2024.

ABV
3.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppymaltytoasty
hoppy
malty
toasty
clean
caramel
fruity
Aroma
The nose opens with clean, straightforward maltiness layered with cereal and toast notes.
not found:juicy,roasted,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for John Smith's Extra Smooth

◎ Appearance

Pale amber hue with excellent clarity and a bright, inviting sheen. The widget nitrogen system produces a dense, creamy head with fine retention and distinctive lacing that clings to the glass. Carbonation appears steady and well-integrated.

pale ambercreamy headexcellent clarityfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with clean, straightforward maltiness layered with cereal and toast notes. Noble hop character adds herbal and earthy undertones without aggression. A subtle fruitiness emerges beneath the grain, creating a balanced and approachable profile.

malty grainnoble hopstoasted cerealsubtle fruit

◐ Taste

The palate strikes an even hand between sweetness and bitterness from the first sip. Caramel and toast malt provide body and warmth, while moderate bittering hops (40 IBU) cut cleanly through without harshness. Mid-palate shows good balance, with fruity esters playing gently against the dry hop edge.

sweet-bitter balancetoasted maltclean bitternessmoderate body

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with a lingering bitter note that persists pleasantly without overstaying. The creamy mouthfeel from the widget lingers softly, leaving the palate refreshed and inviting another sip.

lingering bitternessdry finishrefreshing
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
77
Appearance
78
Finish
74
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with John Smith's Extra Smooth

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Ordinary Bitter
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About Ordinary Bitter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Ordinary Bitter?

Ordinary Bitter is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Ordinary Bitter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, bitter, malty character as John Smith's Extra Smooth will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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