Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry 4Pk

Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry 4Pk is a 5.1% ABV organic fruit beer from Yorkshire’s oldest brewery, blended with pure organic strawberry juice and extract. It earned an 86 on BeerAdvocate across more than 600 ratings and holds a 3.7 out of 5 on Untappd from over 30,000 reviews — consistent marks that reflect a reliably well-made fruit ale with genuine crossover appeal.
Quick Facts: ABV: 5.1%  |  Origin: Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England  |  Style: Organic Fruit Beer  |  Brewery: Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery
Production & Heritage
Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery, founded in 1758 in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, remains independently owned and is the oldest brewery in Yorkshire. This strawberry ale follows a distinctive dual-brewery process: initial brewing and fermentation take place at the historic Melbourn Bros. All Saints Brewery in Stamford, Lincolnshire, using manually operated Victorian-era equipment, before the beer is transferred to Tadcaster for conditioning, aging, and packaging. The base undergoes primary and secondary fermentation with different yeast strains and extended maturation, then is blended with organic strawberry concentrate and organic strawberry extract. The grain bill comprises organic malted barley and organic malted wheat, with organic cane sugar and organic hops rounding out a fully certified organic ingredient list.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Ripe, jammy strawberry dominates the nose immediately, leaning toward preserves rather than sharp, tart berry. Underneath, a light biscuity malt sweetness and faint caramel warmth add depth without competing with the fruit.
Taste: The entry is unmistakably strawberry — sweet, juicy, and full-flavored, arriving in layered waves of fresh and candied fruit. Mid-palate introduces a solid malt backbone with notes of biscuit, light toffee, and a touch of caramel from the organic cane sugar. A subtle tartness emerges toward the back, providing enough contrast to keep the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional.
Finish: Surprisingly balanced — the initial sweetness dries down as gentle hop bitterness and lingering strawberry meld into a clean, moderately dry close. The finish is medium in length with a creamy mouthfeel that fades into soft fruit and malt.
How to Drink Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry
Serve chilled at 45–50°F in a tulip glass or goblet to let the aromatic strawberry character open up fully. This fruit beer is best enjoyed on its own as a standalone sipper. A Shandy made with equal parts of this ale and sparkling lemonade creates a refreshing low-ABV summer drink. A Fruit Beer Mimosa — substituting champagne with this strawberry ale over a splash of orange juice — works well at brunch. A Berry Radler blending the ale with grapefruit soda balances the sweetness with citrus bitterness for a quick, informal serve.
Best For
Introducing craft-curious friends to fruit beer through a trusted heritage brand
Summer garden parties and picnics where a light, flavorful beer outpaces heavy stouts
Gifting to someone who appreciates organic, artisanal British products
Pairing with dessert courses at dinner — especially berry tarts and soft cheeses
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry taste like? It delivers layered strawberry flavor — jammy and sweet upfront, with biscuity malt and light toffee through the middle, finishing with a gentle tartness and moderate dryness that keeps it balanced.
How does Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry compare to New Glarus Strawberry Rhubarb? Both are well-regarded fruit beers with prominent real-fruit character, and reviewers frequently note the flavor profiles are strikingly similar. The key difference is that Samuel Smith’s version is fully organic, uses a dual-brewery English production process, and is far more widely distributed than the Wisconsin-only New Glarus.
Is Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry good for beginners? Yes — its approachable sweetness, smooth malt body, and moderate 5.1% ABV make it an excellent gateway into fruit beers and English ales for drinkers new to craft beer.
Where is Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry made? It is brewed and fermented at the historic Melbourn Bros. All Saints Brewery in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, then transferred to Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire for conditioning, aging, and packaging.
What foods pair well with Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry? Fresh strawberry shortcake mirrors and amplifies the beer’s fruit notes. Aged brie or camembert contrast the sweetness with earthy creaminess. Grilled pork chops benefit from the berry-forward character cutting through fat. A spinach salad with goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette echoes the tart-sweet interplay. Dark chocolate truffles pair well with the malt and caramel undertones.
What sizes does Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry come in? It is available as a 4-pack and is also commonly found as a single 550ml (18.7 oz) bottle, which is the traditional Samuel Smith format.
Is Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium import fruit beer, and its fully organic certification, dual-brewery handcrafted production, and use of real fruit juice — rather than artificial flavoring — justify its placement above mass-market fruit beers in both quality and price.
Why Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry?
The dual-brewery production method is genuinely rare: very few commercially available fruit beers begin life on manually operated Victorian-era equipment before undergoing secondary fermentation and extended maturation at a separate facility. The entirely organic ingredient list — from malted barley and wheat to the strawberry concentrate and hops — reflects a commitment that goes beyond marketing. With an 86 on BeerAdvocate and over 30,000 Untappd ratings confirming its consistency, this is one of the more reliable and widely available organic fruit beers on the market, backed by a brewery with more than 265 years of continuous operation.