Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic
Style: Fruit Beer| ABV: 5.9% | IBUs: Unknown
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass

Here we have a controversial beer, perhaps the most controversial yet on PintLog. Lambic-heads (such as yours truly) are a pretty fickle bunch, and God help anyone foolish enough to use the much vaunted Lambic title on something that doesn't truly deserve it. Unfortunately for Boston Brewing Company, that's just what they did with their Cranberry Lambic. Beer geeks have been crying foul ever since.

Now, I won't get into all the geeky details (check this article for said geeky details), but suffice it to say that this beer is simply not a Lambic. I usually just go ahead and list a beer with the style the brewer had in mind, but here I just can't bring myself to do it, so we're going with the catch-all Fruit Beer style instead. All that said, PintLog gives every beer a fair shot, so we'll review this with a neutral disposition, ignoring anything to do with style.

It's all rather moot anyway, as Cranberry Lambic is no longer available. It used to star prominently in the Sam Adams winter mixed pack, but was replaced in 2010 by Chocolate Bock. That ended quite a long run, as it was actually first brewed way back in 1990, back when you could get away with fudging styles a little more.

As with most of the special Sam Adams brews, Jim and the boys in Boston were not afraid of a deep ingredient bill. The backbone was built of Two-Row Harrington, Metcalfe, and Copeland Pale malts, along with a helping of wheat. As for hops, Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops did the deed. The yeast, perhaps the single most important component of a Lambic and the crux of the argument against this beer, used was W-68 Weissbier ale yeast. Special ingredients included New England cranberries and maple syrup.

Here's how they describe the finished product:

Tart and sweet, with complex fruit, maple, and vanilla notes. [...] The flavor [is] rich in fruitiness and reminiscent of cranberries, bananas, cloves, and nutmeg. The yeast fermentation also creates a slight sourness on the sides of the palate, reminiscent of the original lambic style. That sourness, along with the astringency of the cranberries, is combined with a subtle cereal note from the malted wheat. It reminds its drinker that, as fruity a beer as this is, it’s still a beer.

Let's give it a shot, shall we?

Appearance: A deep and hazy reddish-brown body capped by a finger of rose-tinged, creamy head that features good retention and lacing.

Aroma: Sweet, musty, and sour with lots of cranberry and raspberry juice.

Taste: Sweet fruit juice up from with some nice acidic and sour flavors that turn things tart in the finish. Those juicy fruit flavors certainly have some cranberry notes, but are just as much, if not more, berry-like. Underneath, a wheat-like malt backbone keeps everything grounded. The aftertaste is juicy and grainy, but just a little too brief.

Mouthfeel: A slightly fuller than medium and slightly syrupy body with mild carbonation. It finishes crisp and a little dry.

Drinkability: A little slower than average, mostly due to the mouthfeel.

Verdict: Sam Adams' Cranberry Lambic may not be a real Lambic, but it's still an enjoyable beer - just think of it as a wheat beer with a fruit twist. It's interesting enough and really worked well as part of the Winter mixed pack (once you got past the label).

Grade: B

Note: While this review is being published in 2011, the tasting notes contained within were taken when the beer was fresh in 2009.

Samuel Adams Cream Stout Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Cream Stout
Style: Milk/Sweet Stout | ABV: 4.9% | IBUs: Unknown
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

First brewed way back in 1991, Sam Adams Cream Stout is a survivor. Sam Adams pitches this as "the cappuccino of beers." From what I can tell, there is no lactose added to the beer, so I believe they are handling those qualities with a clever malt bill.

Speaking of the malt bill, here it is: Two-Row Harrington, Metcalf, and Copeland Pale, Chocolate Malt, and Caramel 60 malts, along with malted wheat and roasted unmalted barley. As for hops, East Kent Goldings and English Fuggles get the job done.Brining it all alive is Sam Adams standard ale yeast. it goes through a standard warm ale fermentation, then undergoes a long cool

Here's how they describe the finished product:

Roasty, smooth and sweet [with] a fullness of body, a roasty malt character and rich, creamy head. Its dark, mahogany color makes it almost as easy on the eyes as it is on the palate.

My mouth is watering, so let's get started.

Appearance: A deep brown, almost black body with the barest hints of ruby and brown highlights when held up against the light. Up top, two fingers of pillowy caramel-tinged head with good retention and great lacing.

Aroma: The classic Stout aromas are all in full effect here: chocolate, coffee, and dark-roasted malt.

Taste: All of the same Stout standbys (chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt) with a good dose of lactic sourness thrown in. Towards the end, the mild hops come in to add some bitterness for added complexity. The aftertaste features a nice flourish of milk chocolate and then fades to bitter coffee.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with smooth carbonation. A creamy, slightly sweet finish.

Drinkability: If you're into Stouts, this is plenty sessionable.

Verdict: Samuel Adams' Cream Stout, like most Samuel Adams offerings, is a solid and tasty enough rendition of it's style. It's not a world-shaker by any means, but it's a very likable brew, and I'll be looking forward to it in future Sam Adams mixed packs.

Grade: B+

Samuel Adams Holiday Porter Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Holiday Porter
Style: English Porter | ABV: 5.8% | IBUs: 35
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

Showing up every winter for the last six years in Sam Adams' mixed seasonal pack, Holiday Porter has built a reputation as one of the brewery's best beers. It's what Sam Adams describe as a traditional-style British Porter and was brewed as a tribute to the original beers and those it was named after.

While it's still pretty far from the holiday season, the unseasonably cool weather here in Houston has me in a wintry mood, so I figured it was as good a time as any to post my notes from the 2008 batch.

There's a pretty complicated ingredient list behind the beer. The backbone is built from Two-Row Harrington, Metcalfe, Copeland, Caramel 60, Munich 10, and Carafa malt varieties along with flaked oats to help round everything off. It's hopped with East Kent Goldings, Fuggles, and Spalt Spalter noble nops, with more Goldings added during a bout of dry-hopping. As usual, everything is brought to life with the house ale yeast.

Here's how the describe the finished product:

Robust and full bodied. Deep, rich and roasty malt balanced with traditional English ale hops and a touch of German Noble hops.

It's still not December yet, but let's dig in anyway.

Appearance: A murky, deep dark brown body that blocks most light, except for a few ruby highlights. Up top, two solid fingers of tan-tinged head with good retention and great lacing.

Aroma: Equal proportions of roasted malt, milk chocolate and toffee with some hints of dark fruit and nuttiness thrown into the mix.

Taste: The taste follows the aroma well, but is a little less sweet and adds a mild coffee dimension. This is very much a Porter, but perhaps a little lighter in intensity than usual. The aftertaste is nicely roasty and nutty.

Mouthfeel: A silky body that's perhaps a little fuller than medium accompanied by smooth carbonation. Dries in the finish.

Drinkability: Securely in the middle of the drinkability spectrum.

Verdict: Holiday Porter is certainly a welcome inclusion in the Sam Adams Winter seasonal pack and fits the season well. But, that being said, I can see why they don't offer it year-round - it's just not very compelling.

Grade: B-

Note: While the review above is being posted in October 2010, the tasting notes contained within were taken when the beer was fresh in December 2008.

Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier
Style: Witbier | ABV: 5.5% | IBUs: ~15
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

While my review of Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat didn't go so well, I'm back to give the other the other year-round Sam Adams fruity wheat beer a shot.

Unlike Cherry Wheat, which is just sort of a general wheat beer with added fruit, Blackberry Witbier is brewed with a specific style in mind (guess which one!). According to the marketing, it was brewed as the companies own version of the Witbier, with all of the the classic flavors along with some subtle sweetness and tartness from blackberries.

It was first brewed as part of the Beer Lover's Choice promotion in 2008. In that contest it defeated a coffee-themed Stout by a margin of 60-40 and became part of the regular year-round lineup.

These guys are always generous with the ingredient details, and this particular beer has an interesting roster. Its backbone is built from Two-row Harrington, Metcalfe, and Copeland pale malts along with malted wheat and it's hopped exclusively with Hallertau Mittelfrueh noble hops. In addition, there are Oregon Marion blackberries and the orange peel and coriander traditional to the style. Everything is brought to life with the house ale yeast.

Here's how the describe the finished product:

The blackberries are brought together with a hint of traditional orange and coriander to complement the malt character and give a smooth finish that’s both sweet and tart.

Sounds good to me. Let's dig in!

Appearance: A nicely hazy golden-honey body with lots of particles in suspension. Certainly a little darker than the average Witbier. On top, one finger of creamy, off-white head that features good retention and lacing.

Aroma: Lots of juicy blackberry over a bit of pale-ish malt and some subtle spiciness. The blackberries are more sweet than tart and somewhat grapey.

Taste: Not quite as berry-like in the flavor profile, but still rather grapey, spicy, and now somewhat sour. Underneath, there's a solid bready malt backbone to keep everything grounded. The aftertaste is grainy and slightly juicy.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and dry with sharp carbonation.

Drinkability: I'd call it about average for a Wit; nicely refreshing.

Verdict: While it's probably more of a Fruit Beer than a true Witbier, the end result is not particularly exciting regardless of style. Compared with Cherry Wheat, this is a much more pleasing proposition.

Grade: B

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock
Style: Bock | ABV: 5.5% | IBUs: ~25
Serving Method: 750ml bottle poured into Pilsener glass

Chocolate Bock is one of the occasional rarities from Sam Adams that shows up every few years. Sold in a handsome bottle adorned with a wrapped neck, neck tag, and metallic label, it presents well enough on the store shelf to justify its twelve dollar price. It hasn't been brewed since 2008, and the notes below were taken back then.

As for construction, the backbone is built from Two-Row Harrington, Metcalfe, Copeland, Caramel 60, Munich 10, and Chocolate malt varieties. Hallertau Mittelfrueh and Spalt Spalter hops provide bitterness and the house lager yeast brings it all to life. All of that is brewed, fermented, and krausened on a bed of Felchlin cocoa nibs. As a final touch, a "hint" of vanilla is added to "meld the symphony of flavors together." The ingredient bill seems to reflect the premium price tag.

Here's how the brewery describes the finished project:

Smooth, rich, and dark, with the robust flavor and creamy texture of chocolate. Distinct aroma of chocolate, toffee and malt. Tastes slightly sweet, full bodied with a finish of fine chocolate.

Sounds good to me. Let's crack this pretty bottle open and see if the beer inside can live up.

Appearance: A rich reddish-brown body with laser beams of red highlights. Up top, a little over a finger of tan head that burns out quickly and leaves little lacing.

Aroma: Standard dark fruit and darkish malt Bock aromas with just a hint of milk chocolate.

Taste: Much the same as the aroma. It's essentially a regular Bock with all of the usual nutty, raisiny, and malty notes. The milk chocolate character is more prevalent in the flavor profile but still not as prominent as I'd like. The aftertaste is roasty with a mild hint of alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied with moderate carbonation and a drying finish.

Drinkability: Very sessionable, though you'd quickly run up quite a tab at this price.

Verdict: Unfortunately, Chocolate Bock falls a little short; it's not much more than a middle-of-the-road Bock with some mild chocolate flavors mixed in. While this would work as part of a mixed twelve-pack, this 750ml doesn't quite measure up to the over ten dollar price tag.

Grade: B-

Note: While this review is being posted in 2010, the tasting notes contained within were taken when the beer was fresh in late 2008.

Samuel Adams Imperial Stout Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Imperial Stout
Style: Russian Imperial Stout | ABV: 9.2% | IBUs: 50
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass

Somehow, I never got around to posting a review of the star of the Sam Adams Imperial series, the Imperial Stout. Allow me to remedy that real quick.

Brewed in the Russian Imperial Stout style, Imperial Stout is one of the biggest and baddest brews Boston Brewing Co. has ever brewed up.

The malt bill is huge, calling for a combination of Two-Row Harrington, Metcalfe and Copeland pale malts, Caramel 60, Munich, Special B, Smoked Malted Barley, Roasted Unmalted Barley, and Malted Wheat. East Kent Goldings are the exclusive hop used and everything is brought to life with the house ale yeast.

Here's how Sam Adams describe the finished product:

Huge roasted malt character with smoky, chocolate, and coffee aromas and flavors balanced by an earthy English hop bitterness.

Sounds about right, so let's dive in.

Appearance: A solid black body with a big dark caramel colored head that leaves nice lacing. It certainly looks the part.

Aroma: Rich and complex: bananas, dark fruit, bitter chocolate, sweet roasted malt and alcohol.

Taste: The malt body is massive, bitter, and very roasty (almost burnt at times). Still getting some strong banana and general dark fruit flavors. Definite dark chocolate and coffee notes in the mix too. Plenty of alcohol to compliment everything, but never so much to step on anyone's toes. The aftertaste is big and roasty.

Mouthfeel: Full and velvety body with low carbonation. Dries nicely in the finish.

Drinkability: A sipper, but perhaps a little bit quicker than average for the style.

Verdict: Imperial Stout is another solid beer from the new Samuel Adams Imperial Series. Miles ahead of the Imperial White, and a shade better than the Double Bock, this is my pick from the collection. Well done Jim, this is great stuff.

Grade: A

Samuel Adams LongShot Cranberry Wit Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams LongShot Cranberry Wit
Style: Witbier | ABV: 5.0% | IBUs: 22
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

Continuing my late as hell wrap-up of the 2009 LongShot mixed pack is Carissa Sweigart’s Cranberry Wit. A sales representative for Samuel Adams, Carissa won the employee contest in 2008. What's even more impressive is that she had never entered a homebrew contest before. Way to start out strong!

Carissa was inspired to brew Cranberry Wit as a tribute to both the Witbier style and her home town of Cape Cod. As for ingredients, the backbone is built of flaked wheat and Belgian Pilsner malt, Sterling and Golding hops make up the hop bill, bitter orange, cinnamon, coriander, grains of paradise, and Ocean Spray cranberry juice are the special ingredients and everything is brought to life by a combination of Belgian Witbier Forbidden Fruit yeasts.

Here's how Sam Adams describe the finished product:

Carissa’s brew is bright, fruity and refreshing. The perfect beer to sip on a chilly day, this crisp brew is flavorful and well rounded.

Sounds good, let's check it out! (Just a quick reassuring note: the notes below were taken when the beer was still fresh back in 2009.)

Appearance: A deeply hazy, golden-orange body capped by a creamy off-white head that's ever so slightly rose-tinged. The head sticks around a while and leaves good lacing.

Aroma: Bready wheat with some nice spiciness and light yeast character. Essentially your standard Wit so far; not much from the cranberries here.

Taste: Cranberries come alive in the flavor. A splash of moderately sour cranberry juice layered nicely over the bready and moderately spicy Witbier underneath. The aftertaste is wheaty with a nice hint of cranberries.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with good carbonation and a drying finish.

Drinkability: A brilliant session choice (if this were available outside the mixed six-pack, of course), just keep in mind the ABV.

Verdict: Carissa has brewed up a solid enough Witbier with a nice cranberry twist. It may not be an earth-shaker, but I can see this working well as a Samuel Adams Summer seasonal.

Grade: B

Note: While this review is being published in 2010, the tasting notes contained within were taken when the beer was fresh last year.

Samuel Adams LongShot Traditional Bock Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams LongShot Traditional Bock
Style: Bock | ABV: 6.8% | IBUs: 28
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into Pilsener glass

Well, it's that time of year again, when Samuel Adams releases it's LongShot mixed pack. While I should be posting reviews of this year's beers, I'm actually wrapping up the reviews of last year's. Late pass! Don't worry though, the notes below were taken when the beer was still nice and fresh last year.

Anyway, we're checking out Alex Drobshoff's winning entry from the 2008 contest: Traditional Bock. Alex was inspired to create up this recipe after talking with some friends about how German beer exported abroad was never as good as the real stuff back home. He decided since he wasn't able to fly out to Germany whenever he was in the mood for a good German beer, he'd take a shot at brewing up an authentic German Bock himself.

Since Bocks need to be lagered and Alex was not in possession of an underground cave, he could only work on the beer during the winter. It took two winters to get the beer where he wanted, and after picking up a few blue ribbons, he was ready to submit it to Sam Adams. The rest, as they say, is history.

As for construction, the backbone is built from 2-Row, Munich, Crystal, and Chocolate malt varieties, Hallertauer hops are used exclusively, and Märzen lager yeast is used to get everything going.

Here's how the guys at Sam Adams pitch the beer:

Alex's beer features hints of rich plum and cherry aromas paired with its toasty, malt flavor make this a great beer to linger over on a cool evening.

Let's pretend that it's a cool evening back in 2009 and crack this bad boy open.

Appearance: A clear, brownish-orange body capped by over a finger of creamy, off-white head featuring decent retention and lacing.

Aroma: Rich malt with great nutty and dark-fruity notes; certainly on point for a Bock.

Taste: Just what you'd expect to find in a Bock: earthy, nutty, bready, and ever so slightly chocolaty dark malt. There's some balancing bitterness from the hops, but not much. Towards the end, a nice little flourish of booze that shows up and compliments everything perfectly. I think the best way to describe this is somewhere between what passes as a Bock today and a Doppelbock.

Mouthfeel: A smooth, medium body with good carbonation and a drying finish.

Drinkability: It goes back easily, just keep in mind the moderately high alcohol content.

Verdict: Another hit from the LongShot series, Alex's Traditional Bock is a real winner and dead-on for the style. If this were on the shelves all the time, I'd be sure to pick up a six-pack every now and then.

Grade: A

Note: While this review is being published in 2010, the tasting notes contained within were taken when the beer was fresh last year.

Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat
Style: Fruit Beer | ABV: 5.4% | IBUs: 23
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into Weizen glass

First brewed as a summer seasonal back in 1995, Cherry Wheat was popular enough to warrant year-round availability as part of the Samuel Adams Brewmaster's Collection. It's proved to be so popular that it's one of the best selling Sam Adams beers out there—it's certainly my wife's favorite.

Cherry Wheat's body is built from 2-Row Pale and Munich malts alongside malted wheat. Bitterness is provided by one of Sam Adams' favorite hop varieties, the Tettnang Tettnanger. Other ingredients include a "touch" of honey and two additions of Michigan cherries—one during the mash and one during finishing. Here's how the finished product is pitched:

The sweet fruitiness of the cherries is balanced against the crisp, cereal note from the malted wheat and the subtle citrus flavor from the Noble hops. The end result is a sweet, refreshing beer that is light on the palate but long on complexity.

It's about time I got around to this one—let's get to it, shall we?

Appearance: A slightly hazy, golden-amber colored body with a massive and sticky off-white head. Great lacing.

Aroma: An overabundance of candy-like cherry. Some definite wheaty beer underneath, but the balance is out of whack.

Taste: The cherry flavor is certainly in the spotlight here and almost reminds me of cherry cough syrup. Underneath, there's a firmly subservient and very average wheat body. Sweet, but not too cloying. Lingering aftertaste of cherries.

Mouthfeel: A medium-light body with sharp carbonation.

Drinkability: If you're not put off by the strong cherry flavor, rather good drinkability.

Verdict: As wrong as it seems, there is something pleasant about the cherry flavor. However, it still seems much better suited to the candy world than the beer world. This is a very strange beer, and I find it hard to rate. All I can really say is that while I certainly don't love it, I don't absolutely hate it either. I suppose that makes it average.

Grade: C

Samuel Adams Imperial White Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Imperial White
Style: Witbier | ABV: 10.3% | IBUs: 15
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass

My first experience with the Samuel Adams Imperial Series was the wonderful Double Bock. Well, it may have taken me a while, but I'm ready to continue my evaluation of the series. Up next, Imperal White, a Witbier with a double-digit ABV. Wait, what?

You read that right, this is an Imperial Witbier that tips the scales at 10.3 percent alcohol. It's potent enough that it actually has the highest alcohol content of the series. Hallertau Mittelfrueh is the lone hop variety, while the backbone is built of malted wheat along with 2-Row Harrington and Metcalfe malts.

Pitched as a "wine substitute," Sam Adams claims Imperial White:

Pushes out the boundaries of a Witbier. While the brew delivers orange and coriander notes, typical of Witbers, it has a bigger mouthfeel and body. It's truly a unique brew.

At this point, I'm wondering who decided to go with a Witbier for the Imperial Series, but let's see how it turned out.

Appearance: Far from white, the body is a rich pumpkin-orange and quite hazy. The off-white head pours very tall and leaves good lacing. Not a typical look for the style, but fetching none-the-less.

Aroma: A variety of spices and a fruits over a sweet malt base. Perfumey. As you'd expect for a beer with over ten percent alcohol, there is a lot of booze here.

Taste: It's much the same in the flavor profile. Lots of spice (coriander and pepper) and fruit (pineapple, banana, and citrus). Nothing as far as hops go, but there's a bit of balance from spiciness. This is rather sweet. The booze character is massive, can feel rather out-of-place, and dominates the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Thick and syrupy. Despite the massive ABV, there isn't too much burn. Dries slightly in the finish.

Drinkability: With the ABV and syrupy body, this is a sipper, which seems bizarre for a beer with "Witbier" in the style name.

Verdict: Imperial White is not a bad beer, but a baffling one. If given this in a blind taste test without knowing the style, I'd have no idea at all what it was—Wit certainly wouldn't be my first guess. To me, Witbiers have always been light and quenching beers perfect to enjoy on a warm Summer's day. Imperial White is just kind of a syrupy, boozy wildcard that just begs the question "why?" Of all the styles to "imperialize," why Witbier?

Grade: B

Samuel Adams Announces Barrel Room Collection

After the success of the Samuel Adams Imperial Series earlier this year, the Boston Brewing Company has announced another new premium collection, the Samuel Adams Barrel Room Collection. There's not much concrete information yet, but what we do know so far is that the beers will all be aged in oak barrels and sold in big 750ml bottles.

Here are the confirmed beers for the launch:

• Samuel Adams American Kriek - 7% ABV
  
• Samuel Adams New World Tripel - 10% ABV
  
• Samuel Adams Stony Brook Red - 9% ABV
  

I have to say, the Imperial Series was rather accomplished, and I'm expecting big things from this collection. Samuel Adams can clearly brew up big, character-filled beers when they choose to, and I'm looking forward to what they're going to do with the added complexity derived from barrel-aging.

While there hasn't been a timeline released yet, I think it's safe to expect more details in the coming weeks.

Samuel Adams LongShot Double IPA Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams LongShot Double IPA
Style: American Double India Pale Ale | ABV: 9.0% | IBUs: ~100
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass

One of the releases I look forward to most each year is the Samuel Adams Longshot pack. The pack is composed of two winning beers from the American Homebrew Contest and one beer from the Boston Beer Company employee's competition. I absolutely love that Samuel Adams has such a commitment to homebrewing, and I love the fact that some of the best homebrewer's beers make it to my local liquor store even more.

Unfortunately, due to the hop shortage last year, Mike McDole’s 2007 champion Double IPA was unable to make it to production. Mike brewed the beer as a Pliny the Elder clone that clocks in at about 100 IBUs, so you know there were a hell of a lot of hops involved. It wasn't a case of the hops simply being too expensive, some of the seven varieties in the recipe were just unavailable at any price at the time. Well, the wait (and hopefully the hop shortage) is over, and the beer is finally here. Lets see if it was worth the wait.

Appearance: A deeply hazy, dark orange body capped by a generous mountain of off-white head that sticks around a long time and leaves great curtains of lace behind. Top marks.

Aroma: Intense and pungent citrusy Cascade-like hop oil absolutely explodes from the glass. Underneath it all, there's a solid caramel malt base accompanied by a nice dose of booze.

Taste: Up front, a brilliant flourish of bitter, herbal, grapefruity, piney, and resiny hops. After the initial hop blast, there's a solid caramel malt backbone to keep the hops somewhat in check. The alcohol is masked well enough and there's plenty of bitterness in the finish. This is no slouch, but a proper West Coast style Double IPA.

Mouthfeel: A creamy, slightly fuller than medium body with good carbonation. A dry finish.

Drinkability: Just what you'd expect from a full-bodied, full-hopped, and fully-potent Double IPA.

Verdict: I've waited quite a while to try this beer, and it didn't disappoint. Congratulations Mike, you've brewed up a great beer here! I'd love to see Sam Adams base a year-round Double IPA on this recipe as the newest addition to the Imperial Series.

Grade: A

Samuel Adams Double Bock (Imperial Series) Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Double Bock (Imperial Series Version)
Style: Doppelbock | ABV: 9.5% | IBUs: 25
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass

A few weeks back, I reported the exciting news that Sam Adams was adding an Imperial series to their lineup. Well, I was able to secure a pack of each of the three varieties and I'm ready to start reporting my findings. First up, I decided to review the established member of the team.

This is the only beer in Sam Adams' new Imperial Series that isn't totally new. There has been Sam Adams Double Bock for 20 years now, it was actually their first seasonal offering. However, this isn't just a relabeled old timer, the recipe has been revised heavily, with almost a full percent of alcohol added in the process. I never had a chance to try the old version, it would have been interesting to see how it's changed.

The label reads "Enjoy this beer now or age to develop unique flavors" and has a message from Jim Koch:

Samuel Adams Double Bock is brewed with a half pound of malt in each bottle, almost enough for a loaf of bread. This intense, rich lager reveals a deep mahogany color and velvety smooth flavor. Samuel Adams Double Bock is one of our most sought after brews. Enjoy!

On a bit of a tangent, the label also reads "Lager (Ale in TX)." What is is about out state lines here that can magically change the classification of a beer once you cross them? We really need to repeal a lot of the arcane liquor laws around here. Anyway, enough ranting about the wacky world of Texas law, how's the beer?

Appearance: A clear, dark red-brown body with a finger of caramel-tinged head that leaves spotty lacing.

Aroma: Lots of caramel malt dripping with sweetness and booze. No hops to be found here.

Taste: Sweet caramel malt with dark fruit, smoke, chocolate, and Scotch notes. Pleasant alcohol in the back, playing a perfect supporting role. Certainly one of the most complex Sam Adams beers I've tried. The aftertaste is malty and boozy.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and velvety smooth with moderate carbonation. Coats well, but never too syrupy. A lovely subtle burn in the throat.

Drinkability: Above average for a beer with this level of alcohol, but still very much a slower beer. Great for savoring after a meal.

Verdict: This is just about what I expected when I first head "Sam Adams" and "Imperial Series" in the same sentence. A solid, though not earth-shaking, beer that's head-and-shoulders above the rest of the Sam Adams line. The Imperial version of Double Bock is a complex and satisfying beer, and a great companion for after-dinner contemplation.

Grade: A

Samuel Adams To Release New Imperial Series

While the Samuel Adams beer portfolio is one of the widest in the market today, they're showing no signs of slowing down. Fresh from the bottling line is the new Samuel Adams Imperial Series, a collection that, according to the company, "represent[s] some of the biggest and most intense beers we have ever brewed." That's saying something with such legendary extreme beers as Utopias and Millennium under their belt. The series is composed of three different beers; two brand new and one old.

First up is Double Bock, based on the beer of the same name, one of the company's first seasonal beers. According to the brewer, the recipie has been "amped up," so this isn't just a rebranding of the beer. Here's the company line:

Over the past 20 years, Samuel Adams Double Bock has become one of the Samuel Adams Brewery's most acclaimed beers. An enormous amount of two-row Harrington Metcalfe and Caramel 60 malts, half a pound per bottle, is used to brew this intense, rich lager. This beer is close to the idea of beer as "liquid bread." Its deep mahogany color, velvet smooth, rich yet slightly citrusy flavor and mouthfeel is a testament to the beer's balance. In the past, Samuel Adams Double Bock has been available for a short six-week period. The brewers have decided to make it available year-round with the other Big Beers in the Samuel Adams Imperial Series.

Next is Imperial White, which is probably just a more extreme version of one their current seasonals, White Ale. Here's the company line:

Samuel Adams Imperial White pushes out the boundaries of the witbier style. While showcasing the traditional witbier aromas and hazy appearance, it delivers a bigger mouthfeel and body. Brewed with ten spices, and a high quality blend of two-row Harrington, Munich and Metcalfe malts, malted wheat, and an abundance of Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops, Samuel Adams Imperial White is an incredibly robust, refreshing beer with notes of orange and coriander.

Last, but certainly not least, is the second new beer, and the one I'm most excited about: Imperial Stout. Here's the company line:

Much bigger than your average stout, Samuel Adams Imperial Stout is a colossal beer inspired by centuries-old stouts. These traditional stouts were first brewed by 18th century English brewers for the Russian Imperial Court of Catherine the Great. Brewed with an abundance of East Kent Goldings hops and Caramel 60 and Munich malts, this beer is intense with full rich flavors like dark chocolate, coffee and anise.

I was surprised to not see their Hallertau Imperial Pilsner (see my review here) on the list. I'm not sure what that means for the fate of Hallertau, as you would think that if they planned on keeping the beer on the market it would be rolled in the new series, like Double Bock. Here's hoping it's not going anywhere, as it's one of my favorites from the boys in Boston.

According to the company, you should start seeing these beers showing up towards the end of February, at a price of $9.99 per four-pack.

Imperial Series info on SamuelAdams.com

Samuel Adams Winter Lager (AKA Winter Brew) Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Winter Lager (AKA Winter Brew)
Style: Bock | ABV: 5.8%
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into Pilsner glass

First brewed in 1989 as one of their first seasonal offerings, Winter Lager (occasionally labeled as Winter Brew due to state liquor laws) is Sam Adam's main Winter seasonal. Since '89 Sam Adams have added more beers to their Winter seasonal collection: Winter Porter, Old Fezziwig Ale, and Cranberry Lambic. All of these and a few mainstays can be found in a handy Winter variety 12-pack.

Sam Adams list the beer as a dark Bock, brewed with "generous quantities of malted wheat." To be more specific, the malt backbone is composed of Two Row Pale, Caramel 60, Wheat Malt and Munich varieties. Hops are provided by East Kent Golding, Tettnang-Hallertauer and Tettnanger Noble varieties. As with most Winter beers, emphasis has been put on brewing something full-bodied and warming. Sam Adam's brew the beer using a decoction mash and is Krausen it to "add body and sweetness."

Appearance: Clear copper/burnt orange body with a finger and a mass of sticky, off-white head. It easily topped my Pilsner glass and left good lacing.

Aroma: Brown sugar and caramel malt with a decent dash of spices. A little bit of citrusy hops on the edges.

Taste: Bold, toasty malt with the spices providing decent balance. There's also a bit of honey that lingers into the aftertaste. Citrusy hops show up in the finish, but are still firmly behind the malt backbone. Occasional tinges of booze in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and medium-light bodied with moderate carbonation. Compared to the sweet body, the finish drys a bit.

Drinkability: Another relativity quick Winter seasonal from Sam Adams. While very full-flavored, Winter Lager goes down easily.

Verdict: A solid Winter seasonal and, at least in my opinion, one of Sam Adam's best offerings. A safe bet for a mellow, but still full-flavored Winter seasonal, Winter Lager is worth a try for sure.

Grade: B+

Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale
Style: Winter Warmer | ABV: 5.9%
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

Old Fezziwig is named after the character in Dicken's Scrooge, the main character's jolly employer from the "Christmas Past" flashback. Sam Adams call this beer a Stong Brown Ale, but I think it's more appropriately listed as a Winter Warmer. This was a Winter seasonal from 1995, when it was first brewed, until 2000, when it was discontinued. People were disappointed, and although there apparently wasn't enough demand to justify bringing it back as a solo offering, it's now included in Sam Adam's Winter twelve-pack.

The malt body is composed of what the brewery calls Two-Row Pale, Munich 10, Chocolate Malt, and Caramel 60 varieties. While hops come in the form of Tettnang Tettnanger and Hallertau-Mittlefruh Noble varieties. The brewery also adds orange peel, cinnamon and ginger in the way of spices, to "impart a rich spice complexity that balances against the deep malt character." The brewer describes Old Fezziwig as the "Christmas cookie of beer," and I can see why.

Appearance: Clear dark reddish brown body. One finger of off-white head. Leaves above-average lacing. A handsome beer that really looks the part for a Winter evening.

Aroma: Roasty sour malt with lots of spice and some hints of booze. Not much in the way of hops.

Taste: Lots of sour roasted malt that's chocolaty and nutty. The hops ramp up a little in the finish, but still but never really come all the way to the forefront. Alcohol comes through every now and then, but the malt body conceals it well. Everything is nice and balanced for the style, but unfortunately a little thin. The aftertaste, conversely, is rather full very malty.

Mouthfeel: A little creamy, but much more lighter-bodied than you'd expect. Moderate carbonation.

Drinkability: It goes back easily enough with it's thinnish body and moderate alcohol. Certainly one of the quicker Winter Warmers I have tried yet.

Verdict: As you'd expect from a Sam Adams offering, this is a solid beer, but nothing that special. I'd heard great things about this beer, but it just seems kind of average to me. Certainly not worth buying the mixed Winter twelve-pack just to get two bottles of this beer, but not necessarily the weak spot in the pack either.

Grade: B-

Samuel Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner
Style: American Imperial Pilsner | ABV: 8.8%
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into Pilsner glass

Hallertau Imperial Pilsner is part of the Sam Adams "extreme beers" portfolio, along with beers like Chocolate Bock and Utopias. This beer was designed as their hop-centric extreme beer, and was first brewed in 2005. The style is American Imperial Pilsner, basically just a Pilsner with a lot more malt, hops and alcohol. Sam Adams markets the beer as "an intense hop experience" and "one of the hoppiest [beers] in the world, without being overly bitter."

According to their website, Hallertau Imperial Pilsner is hopped exclusively by the Hallertau Mittelfrueh hop variety, from the Hallertau region of Bavaria. The brewery describes the beer as containing "enormous, almost reckless, quantities" of these hops - twelve pounds per barrel in fact (twelve times more than their Boston Lager). The malt backbone is composed of two-row Harrington and Metcalfe malt varieties.

Appearance: A murky amber body with a finger-high, fluffy, off-white head that leaves fantastic lacing. Reminds me of a good Hefeweizen in the glass.

Aroma: Slightly hoppy with bananas, lemons, and a juicy, fruity sweetness like that of gummi bears or wine gums. You can find a little bit of biscuity malt at the end if you focus.

Taste: Hoppy and crisp, but not very bitter, with the juicy sweetness at the start. Soon, biscuty malt comes into sharp focus and then a brilliant bitterness that lingers in the aftertaste for minutes. Unlike the nose, this is actually very well balanced and intense. Alcohol is certainly there, but never ruins the party. As it warms, the focus gently starts to drift away from the hops and more towards the malt and alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a healthy amount of carbonation and alcohol warmth in the cheek. While it's a little juicy in the mouth, it drys a bit in the finish.

Drinkability: As the bitter aftertaste here is intense and the 8.8% ABV is on the higher side, this is something best enjoyed at a snail's pace.

Verdict: Sam Adams developed this beer as a showcase for Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops, and they've done a great job showing them off here. Instead of just brewing up another great American IPA for their hoppy "extreme" offering, they went a different direction and came up with something really special. They're not bullshiting with all the marketing, this really is a brilliant hop experience.

Grade: A

Samuel Adams LongShot Weizenbock Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams LongShot Weizenbock
Style: Weizenbock | ABV: 7.2%
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

Each year the Boston Brewing Company (makers of Sam Adams beers) puts on a homebrew contest and releases the best employee and public entry in a nationally distributed six-pack. Two weeks ago, I reviewed one half of the 2007 Samuel Adams LongShot offerings, LongShot Grape Pale Ale. You can read a bit more about the contest in that review.

This week, we turn to the 2007 winner in the public category, Rodney Kibzey's Weizenbock. Weizenbock is a top-fermenting, unfiltered wheat beer with a strength closer to that of Bock (hence the name). The profile is typically that of dark fruit, spices, bready wheat, and darker malts. According to the bottle, Rodney himself describes this particular beer as "deep amber in color with a full creamy body and a dark fruit and clove aroma." I'm sold, let's try some.

Appearance: Murky brown body with amber highlights and a healthy and creamy ivory head that settles nicely with good retention

Aroma: Sweet bananas and herbal cloves over a nutty and earthy malt base

Taste: Similar to the aroma, banana, dark fruit, and cloves dominate here. However, the nuttiness and roasty malt come out more in the taste than in the nose. Pleasantly, that 7.2% booze comes through every now and then in the back

Mouthfeel: Creamy with medium to high carbonation for good contrast

Drinkability: Even with a somewhat high ABV and its strong flavors, I could easily throw one or two of these into a session

Verdict: Complex and unique, Rodney has really brewed up something special here. I guess with these contest winning brews, the real test is whether people would actually buy them again. Well, I can confidently say that if this was a regular or seasonal offering, I'd happily pick up a six-pack or two a year. After trying this year's winners, I can't wait for next year's!

Grade: A

Samuel Adams LongShot Grape Pale Ale Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams LongShot Grape Pale Ale
Style: Pale Ale | ABV: 5.4%
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

The Boston Brewing Company, being one of the biggest success stories in craft brewing, takes the art of brewing pretty seriously. A big part of their brand image is the attitude that the company really cares about everyone out there making great beer, including homebrewers. To back this spirit up, every year the company holds a homebrew contest for their employees and the public, with two winners (one from each group) having their concoctions distributed across the country. Click here to watch a cool video the company put together about The American Homebrew Contest.

This review is about the 2007 winner from the employee category, Lili Hess' Grape Pale Ale. The bottle advertises this as an "ale brewed with natural grape flavor and maple syrup added." Well, you certainly have to give Lili points for originality here. In her own words, "It's like you are drinking a pale ale after biting into a fresh green seedless grape." Sounds fun.

Appearance: Rich amber color with a decent off-white head that leaves quite a good amount of lacing

Aroma: Almost smells like a malty apple cider, there's some real brown sugar sweetness lurking here

Taste: A lot more malty than I had expected, it's sweet with some nice tart crispness to balance it all out. I'm getting some fruit, but I can't decide if it's grapes that are coming through though (is it green apples I'm tasting?)

Mouthfeel: Well balanced carbonation with a decidedly light body

Drinkability: Goes down nice and easy, this is a beer in the middle of the spectrum

Verdict: A well balanced malty Pale Ale with a unique twist of sweet fruit. I really love Boston Brewing for putting on this contest, it's a great public service to the world of homebrewing and beer in general. Quite a unusual little beer, Lili Hess' Grape Pale Ale is a worthy winning recipe, athough I bet not everyone would agree with me...

Grade: B

Producers of Samuel Adams to Share Hops With Craft-Brewers in Need

Over the past few months, the ongoing worldwide hop shortage has affected all brewers, with craft-brewers feeling more of a crunch than the macros. To help ease the pain of its peers in the craft-brew world, Boston Beer Company (makers of Samuel Adams beers) has started a hop sharing program.

Up for grabs are 20,000 pounds of premium hops, half East Kent Goldings grown by Tony Redsell and half German Noble Tettnang Tettnangers from various German growers. This is no quick grab for easy cash from the hard-up brewers without good reserves, BBC will be selling these items at their cost. That's right, they are passing these hops on to those brewers that truly need them just because it's the right thing to do.

I think this program illustrates some of the underlying principles of the craft-brew mindset: brotherhood, sharing for the greater-good and the golden rule. BBC is probably the largest craft-brewer in America and they're showing they still care about great beer and those who brew it, not just their bottom line. Kudos.

Get more details from Boston Brewing Company's site