John Smith’s Extra Smooth

After the disappointing beer that I just finished, I went into the fridge for another reviewing beer that would hopefully be a little bit better than the last. This was a brew that I picked up awhile ago. I picked it up mostly because I had never seen or heard of it before. That, and the tallboy can looked pretty cool. You would think that Katie picked this one out because it’s another beer from the UK…but I digress. Let’s crack this open.

ABV: 3.80%

Style: English Pale Ale

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “John Smith’s Extra Smooth was launched in 1993 and is now the nation’s number 1 ale. The boffins say it has a distinct cereal character, with malty, caramel notes being complemented by some fruitiness. But we just think it’s a right good pint. Extra Smooth is available in draught at the pub or in cans to be enjoyed at home (both 3.8% ABV). Plus you can also get John Smith’s Extra Cold on draught; the same great taste, but colder, we don’t muck about with names see.”

Random: In my early days of drinking, I was fascinated by widgets in beer. I find the concept of being able to have a nitro beer at home very cool. Technology at its finest.

After I cracked this one open and poured it, the first thing that struck me was how the brew cascaded like Guinness. The head was hugely thick and one finger high that really didn’t dissipated at all. After a few sips, it left a huge amount of lacing on the glass. After I let the beer settle, it ended up to be a clear, dark chestnut color with almost no visible carbonation. This struck me as odd. I figured an English pale ale would have more carbonation, or at least something. The nose was very mild. I got some hops and caramel malt, but it was a struggle to get even that. I handed the pint glass to Kate who told me that it smelled like “beer.” Thanks. That was a help. The taste was interesting…grain, malt and a little yeast. This was probably the most mild flavored English Pale Ale that I’ve ever had, and that really wasn’t a good thing. It quickly got boring. The body was medium thickness with low carbonation. The finish was quick and just as boring as the sip. This was a generally unremarkable beer. I wouldn’t have this one again.

Untappd Rating: 3.0/5.0