Muntons - Premium Gold Smuggler’s Special Premium Ale
To quote Muntons… “This light malty beer has a wonderful balance achieved with choice aromatic and bittering hops and the use of finest English 2-row premium ale malt”. They also state that this ale should reach 5% ABV although I haven’t achieved that strength on any occasion I have brewed it.
With it’s distinctive nutty malt characteristics, “Smugglers” has a rich flavour I keep returning to. Since I began home brewing in 2011, I have bought “Muntons Premium Gold Smuggler’s Special Premium Ale” on four or five occasions. Anyone I have served with a glass of this brew has been highly complimentary. Smuggler’s Special thankfully doesn’t have the heavy hopped metallic taste that’s common with many homebrew kits, especially those that come with hop enhancement sachets. If you’re trying to get away from that kind of thing any of the Premium Gold range will be a refreshing change.
That said there seems to be a recurring problem with the Premium Gold range. According to discussion on the popular ‘Home Brew Forum’, Smuggler’s Special has a habit of sticking during fermentation at a gravity of 1020 and I confess this has happened to me (3/9/13). I am not sure what one can do about this situation other than leaving the ale longer to brew and condition. After 13 days in the primary fermenter I racked the ale, leaving in the bottom more than a pint of dense olive green sludge. I figure from the quantity of sludge or trub, the yeast must have done a great deal of work. However, if the hydrometer reads 1020, there must still be sugars remaining in the mix. In the secondary fermenter I added a little more yeast and waited to see if anything positive came of it. One fellow posting to the forum had written to Muntons for some explanation but received a very unsatisfying response. Although I would have liked to rate this ale higher I have settled on 4 stars on account of the brew problems one is very likely to encounter.
The Verdict
This ale eventually finished on a specific gravity of 1016, which I feel lucky to have achieved. After a month in the barrel the brew has established a good flavour and clarity and remained steady at the same gravity. Smuggler’s Special has a dark amber colour with a yellowish bubbly head. The aroma is of sweet caramel although not strong or overpowering. I needed to get my nose well into the glass to discern any such hints. The sweet elements really come through in the flavour which is nutty and fruity but very lightly bittered. Lee was particularly pleased with the Smuggler’s Special after previously tasting a much more hoppy ale. It seems that despite the grumbles, this ale is sill likely to be on our menu.