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Samuel Smith's Organic Pale Ale

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A malt-accented English pale ale made from organically grown barley and hops, golden to copper in colour. Caramel and toffee from crystal malt meet biscuit, subtle fruity esters from the house yeast and fresh, lightly floral hops. The body is medium, the bitterness moderate, the finish dry with a soft, bready sweetness. Fermented in slate Yorkshire squares. Developed from 2011 as an all-organic pale ale, it took the place of the brewery's earlier Organic Ale.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter31 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltycaramelfloral
malty
caramel
floral
hoppy
bready
fruity
Aroma
The nose leads with caramel and toffee notes from the crystal malt, supported by a subtle biscuit undertone that speaks to the organic grain character.
also:clean
not found:juicy,roasted,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Samuel Smith's Organic Pale Ale

◎ Appearance

Golden to copper in color with good clarity and a stable, creamy head that displays fine lacing along the glass. The carbonation is well-integrated, creating a gentle effervescence without excess vigor. The hue shows the influence of crystal malt while maintaining the brightness characteristic of the English pale ale style.

golden-copperclearstable headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with caramel and toffee notes from the crystal malt, supported by a subtle biscuit undertone that speaks to the organic grain character. Fresh, lightly floral hops provide an understated herbal quality, while delicate fruity esters from the house yeast add a soft, slightly ethereal dimension. The overall effect is balanced and inviting rather than assertive.

carameltoffeebiscuitfloral hopsfruity esters

◐ Taste

The palate opens with a malt-forward character accented by caramel sweetness and bready notes that evolve through the mid-palate. Moderate bitterness from the Edelhopfen provides structure without dominating the malt foundation, while the subtle fruit esters enhance complexity. The body is medium and approachable, allowing the interplay between sweetness and dry bitterness to develop clearly.

malt-forwardcaramel sweetnessmoderate bitternessmedium body

◑ Finish

The finish is dry with a soft, lingering bready sweetness that fades gradually. A gentle, clean aftertaste persists without harshness, leaving the palate refreshed and inviting another sip.

dry finishbready sweetnessclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
80
Appearance
80
Finish
76
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 Samuel Smith's Organic Pale Ale

More from Samuel Smith's Old Brewery

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Sam's Brown Ale
Alcohol-Free Brown Ale
0.5% · 30 IBU
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About English Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a English Pale Ale?

Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.

Finding a similar English Pale Ale

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

Other English Pale Ales in hopIQ

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