Samuel Smith Brewery
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-->Samuel Smith's is a British brewery located in Tadcaster, Yorkshire.
History
In 1847, Samuel Smith, a tanner from Meanwood, Leeds, bought a brewing business in Tadcaster from the Hartley family. That brewery, founded in 1758, is said to be the oldest in Yorkshire.Samuel's son, John Smith and latterly his brother William, took over the brewery in 1852 forming John Smiths. John then left the brewery to the eldest son of his other brother, Samuel and the joint custiodianship of the business to both William and Samuel. However William bought Samuel's half and moved the business to a new brewery, next door, which is where John Smiths is now brewed, then leaving the business to his sister's sons. Meanwhile Samuel's son Samuel Smith, inherited the old brewery on William's death in 1886, and re-opened the brewery under his own name. He then ran it in competition with his cousins' business, John Smiths. Samuel Smith's is the only one of the Tadcaster breweries which has remained an independent family firm.
The brewery also operates some pubs, which are notable for quality drinks, which are not nationally advertised, are all produced with natural ingredients and beer sold at very reasonable prices (Samuel Smiths only increase their beer prices by alcohol duty and inflation increases). In November 2004 the company took the decision to ban music in its pubs because of Perfoming Rights levy.
Samuel Smith still deliver also multiple-trip bottles in beer crates - a very environmentally friendly system.
The Old Brewery
The Old Brewery at Tadcaster was founded in 1758 and bears the name of famous local brewer Samuel Smith. It is both the oldest brewery in Yorkshire and the only surviving independent brewery in Tadcaster.
The smallest of the three modern-day Tadcaster breweries, Sam Smith's is one of the few remaining British breweries to employ the traditional Yorkshire Square system in the production of its beers.
Brewing water for ales and stouts is still drawn from the original 85 foot well, sunk when the site was established in 1758, and the yeast used in the fermentation process is of a strain that has been used continuously since approximately 1900 - one of the oldest unchanged strains in the country.
In keeping with this rich sense of history and tradition, the brewery keeps a small team of dapple-grey Shire Horses. Far from being simply show horses, these gentle giants are among the last active dray horses in the world. They deliver beer to customers within a seven-mile radius of the brewery, as they and their ancestors have done for more than a hundred years.
Beers
Samuel Smith produces a wide range of beers, all vegan. Only Samuel Smith owned pubs stock the range, although some bottled beers and lagers are available from off-licences and supermarkets. In the United States, Samuel Smith's bottled beers are imported by Merchant du Vin.
| Beer Name | Style | Alcohol Strength ABV |
|---|---|---|
| Old Brewery Bitter | English Bitter | 3.9% |
| Old Brewery Pale Ale | English Pale Ale | 5.0% |
| Organically Produced Ale | English Pale Ale | 5.0% |
| Taddy Porter | English Porter | 5.0% |
| Winter Welcome Ale | Winter Warmer | 6.0% |
| Extra Stout | Dry Stout | 4.5% |
| Imperial Stout | Russian Imperial Stout | 7.0% |
| India Ale | India Pale Ale (IPA) | 5.0% |
| Nut Brown Ale | Brown Ale | 5.0% |
| Oatmeal Stout | Oatmeal Stout | 5.0% |
| Organically Produced Lager | European Pale Lager | 5.0% |
| Alpine Lager (formerly Ayingerbrau Lager) | European Pale Lager | 4.9% |
| Ayingerbrau D Pils | European Strong Pale Lager | 5.9% |
| Cider Reserve | Dry Cider | 5.0% |
| White Beer (formerly Ayingerbrau Hefe Weiss) | Wheat Beer | 5% |
| Sovereign Bitter | English Bitter | 4.1% |
Ayingerbrau
Until 2006 Samuel Smiths used the brand name Ayingerbrau for its lagers and wheat beers. The brand was best known for its 'man-in-a-box' pump for Ayingerbrau Lager, which featured a model Bavarian man in a plastic box.
Ayingerbrau Lager gained a cult following in some parts of the UK and a beer drinking challenge is held annually. In 2006, the lager was renamed to Alpine Lager.
External links
- [Ayingerbrau Challenge website]
- [Merchant du Vin], US Importers
- [RateBeer]
- [Quaffale]
- [Evening Press article on the removal of Sam Smiths logo from pubs]
- [Article about the banning of music in Sam Smiths pubs]
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