Friends,

There are over 9,000 breweries world-wide. Approximately 700 new breweries opened up last year. Surrounded by young breweries vying for success, Samuel Smith Old Brewery in tiny Tadcaster, England, is sticking with what has worked for them for the better part of 200 years. Focused on maintaining tradition and quality, Samuel Smith is keeping it old school.

Still making local deliveries by horse-drawn carriage five days a week, the folks at Samuel Smith have held on to some traditions since they began brewing in 1758. But don’t write their deliveries off as a gimmick—every step of Samuel Smith’s brewing process is rooted in a rich history.

By using only mineral-rich water drawn from their original well, sunk in 1758, maintaining the same strains of yeast they have used since the end of the 19^th century, and by being one of the few remaining breweries to ferment their beer in traditional “stone Yorkshire squares” (fermenting vessels made of pure slate), Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery gives us a taste of the English tradition in every bottle of their sought-after brews.

And today’s feature beer, Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale, is a perfect example of why some things are better left unchanged. Originally brewed in early 18^th century England, the style of brown ale has taken on many incarnations – but few have been as loved as the original that Samuel Smith concocted.

With a distinct nutty flavor (a result of dark malts and Yorkshire square fermentation, not the addition of actual nuts) and pleasant fruity finish courtesy of their signature yeast, this ale is the exemplar of the style.
A “Top-25” Wine Enthusiast beer of 2013 and four-time World Beer Championship Gold-Medal winner, Sam Smith Nut Brown is an exquisite piece of old school England.

Ask about Tavour’s new horse-drawn-carriage delivery service! (Just kidding...)