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Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery
United Kingdom·Brown Ale
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A deep brown ale in the northern English manner. The name describes the flavour, not the recipe: walnut, hazelnut and almond notes come from dark malts and from fermentation in slate Yorkshire squares, and no nuts are used. Around them sit toffee, toasted bread and a light caramel sweetness. The palate is relatively dry and medium-bodied, with a fruity note from the house yeast in the finish and a restrained bitterness. Brewed with hard well water, barley malt, roasted barley and cane sugar.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter30 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
nuttytoastyroasted
nutty
toasty
roasted
caramel
fruity
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with distinct nutty character—walnut and hazelnut notes lead, followed by toasted grain and subtle almond sweetness.
also:yeasty,bready
not found:hoppy,chocolate,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep brown color with a warm, translucent quality when held to light. A dense, cream-colored head forms readily and clings to the glass with fine lacing throughout the drink. Carbonation is moderate and persistent, creating a gentle effervescence.

deep browngood head retentiontranslucentfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with distinct nutty character—walnut and hazelnut notes lead, followed by toasted grain and subtle almond sweetness. A light caramel backdrop emerges underneath, with hints of fermentation character and toasted bread crust. The overall impression is warm and inviting, without any sharp or aggressive notes.

walnut, hazelnuttoasted maltlight caramelbread crust

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and medium-bodied, with the nutty character translating cleanly to the palate. Mid-palate reveals toasted bread, toffee, and a gentle roasted quality from the dark malts, balanced against a dry, crisp backbone. Bitterness is restrained, arriving late and finishing clean without harshness or lingering astringency.

dry palatetoasted, nuttybalanced bitternesssmooth texture

◑ Finish

The finish is medium in length, fading to a dry, slightly fruity aftertaste from the house yeast. A faint nutty echo persists as the beer warms slightly on the palate.

dry finishfruity notesmedium length
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
79
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°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 Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale

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About Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Brown Ale?

Brown Ale 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 Brown Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same nutty, toasty, dry character as Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Brown Ales in hopIQ

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