Extra Stout (Sam Smith's)

While I was out at Richmond I also got into a bit of Sam Smith's Extra Stout (4.5% abv). SS Extra Stout is served from nitro-keg and is very similar to Guinness. I would go as far to say that it is an excellent clone, although it does have marginally more flavour and has a nice coffee tang that modern Guinness tends to lack (although it did ten years ago?). The beer was ok, but in general I despise nitro-kegs. There is something slightly dissatisfying about having a beer with a head the consistancy of shaving cream! Also generally as a rule: Nitro-kegs tend to be cellered alongside the lager collection and as such come from the tap at about 2 degrees! Who wants icy cold stout? Not me...

Alpine Lager (Sam Smith's)

Alpine Lager (4.5% abv) is one of the many lagers produced by Sam Smiths of Tadcaster, Yorkshire. I was fortunate enough to be enjoying the sunshine last Sunday and popped into a little pub near the Thames in Richmond called “The Rose of York”, which is a cosy former coach-house now owned and operated by the brewery. I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of Smith’s beers as they tend to give me a hangover and you can usually only get Old Brewery Bitter on draught (and it was nitro-pour in the ‘Rose’). For those that are not in the know, Sam Smith’s are a completely organic operation and all the products that they sell come from the brewery or its subsidiaries’. Yes, so this includes soft drinks, spirits, wine as well as the beers. The only advantage from the consumer’s point of view is that the beer is usually very cheap (and hence Smith’s pubs are very popular). I actually do not mind the alpine lager although it is a little generic and flavourless, but at least it isn’t complete shite.