The History of Yorkshire Stingo

Stingo, traditional strong ale originating in the north of England, is mentioned in literature before 1700. Samuel Smith's Stingo melds the fine history of this style with the signature elegance of the brewery. Brewed from British malt and multiple hop varieties, Stingo is fermented in open-topped stone "Yorkshire Squares," with the Samuel Smith ale yeast strain. It is then aged for over a year in oak barrels that previously held cask-conditioned ale, gaining complexity and depth from the wood. Bottle conditioning - bottling the beer with live yeast for carbonation - produces soft conditioning as well as a fruity aroma and finish; it also allows Stingo to age and develop in the bottle for many months. Please note: Stingo has the year brewed on the back label. Due to barrel aging, the release year is one year after the year brewed.

Taste

Rich, deep, flavors of toffee, raisin, dried fruit, caramel; waves of flavor ascend and ebb leaving soft oak notes. Bottle conditioning creates elegant conditioning and satisfying fruitiness.

Serving Suggestion

Stingo is a wonderful digestif when served alone, and also pairs well with beef, wild game, or demanding deeply-flavored foods. Try with strong aromatic cheese, pickled fish, cured meats, duck, or Kalamata olives. Serve in a small nonik or in a stemmed wineglass at 55 °F.

Accolades

100-Point review: ". . . intoxicating, mouthwatering scents of caramel-dipped raisins, rich vanilla, fresh coconut and earthy-sweet tobacco. Thick caramel pours onto the tongue and carouses with raisin and sherry flavors as the swallow washes back. Mid-sip, woody oak notes infuse the drink with earthiness, lending a sophisticated, aged quality to the profile. Molasses weaves through the back before drying alcohol ushers the flavors from the palate. Complex and stunningly balanced, this old ale is perfection in a glass." - DRAFT Magazine, Nov/Dec 2010 (Here is a nice certificate from DRAFT as a .pdf of 828 KB.)

Ratebeer.com: 97 points (March 2013)

"1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die," selection, A. Tierney-Jones, 2010

Five out of five mugs: ". . . we were startled how good it is . . . a complex symphony of tastes, rich & full, with layer upon layer of rich caramel and toffee interspersed with lush fruit." -Modern Brewery Age, Sept. 17, 2009

Product Sizes and Quantities

• 18.7-ounce (550ml) "Victorian Pint" bottles / 12 per case

Stats

ABV: 9.0% (2012 release) - OG: 1.080 - IBU: 30-35 (2011 release: ABV 8.0%; 2010 release: ABV 9.0%; 2009 release: ABV 8.0%)