May 4, 2007

The Session #3: English Milds (Maybe)

Man, I searched up and down for an authentic English mild, but for the life of me just couldn’t find one. While it was a fun exercise in terms of the hunt, I can’t help but feel saddened for not finding anything. So, with a heavy heart I dug deep into the fridge and pulled out the closest thing I had to a mild that I had — Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale.

The Session Logo

This particular beer isn’t my favorite from this brewery (I love the Taddy Porter and Oatmeal Stout), but it would do in a pinch.

Appearance

The Nut Brown Ale pours a nice reddish brown with a fairly decent looking head. It’s definitely a nice looking beer.

Aroma

This one smells earthy, with a bit of nuttiness to it. It’s not as strong as Troegs Rugged Trail, but it’s got a great aroma. There’s a bit of caramel sweetness as well.

Taste

The caramel that I got in the nose wasn’t as strong in the taste as I thought it might have been. The nuttiness is there, but it’s far from overwhelming. It’s subtleness makes this beer an easy drinking session beer.

Overall

I’ve had this one only a few times as I tend to narrow my focus to the company’s porters and stouts. It’s quite a tasty beer that’s not too complex, but balanced well enough to make it a staple in anyone’s fridge.

Rating: 3.5/5

Happy Session!

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