Try?
Yorkshire Stingo is a notable beer on several counts, and not solely because it's the first new beer I can ever recall from this Yorkshire, England, brewery. Sam Smith's traces its lineage all the way back to 1758, though I have to confess I haven't been drinking their beer that long. Sam and I only go back as far as the mid eighties.
No, Samuel Smith's Yorkshire Stingo is also the strongest beer yet from the brewer who gives us a decidedly under-strength Imperial Stout, and therefore of further interest to dedicated beer lovers everywhere. Hence the name: "Stingo" is eighteenth century slang for strong beer.
Yorkshire Stingo is laboriously produced, first in the brewing process and then in the aging. Samuel Smith's uses a unique Yorkshire Squares fermenting scheme to make its ales, and Yorkshire Stingo is no exception. But the beer undergoes a full year's aging in old brewery oak casks; my bottle has "Brewed in 2008" printed on it.
Sam Smith Yorkshire Stingo pours to a brilliant amber color with a
medium sized head formation of tightly packed bubbles and a powerful nose of
vanilla and fresh bread. A fine layer of Brussels lace coats the sides of my
brandy snifter glass, the wide mouth of which allows me to more fully
appreciate the wealth of aromas that pour forth from this treat.
The body is a bit thinner than I expected, though the beer certainly does
not lack in flavor: woody oak, rich vanilla, dark fruity raisin, cinnamon,
fresh bread, and toffee all vie for the attention of your taste buds.
Interestingly enough, the combination of cinnamon, vanilla, raisin, and
bread flavors remind me of a hot bread pudding.
In the finish, some grassy, decidedly English hops come through and add a
balancing presence. There's an immense alcohol warmth here, too, one that
implies a heft greater than the true 8% by volume strength. Brewers like to
condition beer in whiskey barrels for added depth and character; Samuel
Smith's chose to use its own instead. Because of this, one does not perceive
the usual whiskey notes, the wood definitely contributes its own character.
I'm really enjoying this complex and flavorful sipping beer. Well worth
trying a bottle, though I'm thinking it's definitely overpriced at $10.99
for a 550 ml bottle. One could obtain an even more complex six-pack of
Bigfoot Barleywine for about the same price (maybe less). Still a solid four
star brew, maybe four and a half, though the price rounds it down to four
for sure.
My recommendation is to try it. But you'd best hurry. Only 2000 cases were
made, and the next batch won't be released until the next Yorkshire Day in
England: August 1, 2010 .
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
