SAMUEL SMITHS

I recently had an absolutely wonderful bottle of Samuel  Smiths Organic Chocolate Stout. Its made from organic chocolate malt and organic cocoa extract. I cant normally smell most beers but the distinctive aroma of cocoa tempts the nostrils. A fantastic stout. I am beginning to regret only buying 1 bottle.

Sam Smiths is based in Tadcaster and is the oldest brewery in Yorkshire.  I think I'm right in saying that the only real ale they produce is Old Brewery (OB)Bitter. It seems it  can only be found in their own pubs, so as a result there is no pubco mark up and hence is usually cheap.

COLPITTS

I used to drink it occasionally in the Colpitts in Durham in the 70's which I am pleased to say still sells it . We started a Durham pub crawl in there in 2011 for a mate who now lives in Australia. He said the best beer of the day was the OB.

Ive not tried their keg beers but there are some wonderful other bottles available.They seem to like making stouts as their Oatmeal Stout and Imperial Stout are as good as this one.  The trouble is they are not supplied in supermarkets, well not up here anyway. 
 

Its interesting that some breweries shy away from dark beers and indeed do some pubs. 

When challenged , "why don't you sell more dark beers ?"  

"Well customers prefer  lighter beers " 

" But you sell Guinness !"

So hats off to Sam Smiths for this cracking stout. Worth seeking out in a bottle shop near you !