Samuel Adams White Christmas

Samuel Adams White Christmas - Ale Brewed with Spices (2012)

Limited Release (Winter Seasonal? - New)

12 fl. oz. (x6) / $8.99USD / 5.8% ABV

About: "Using some of our favorite Christmas spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange peel, we brewed this hazy white ale with distinct fruity citrus notes and a warm spiciness. The blend of malts contributes a medium body with a subtle sweet note while the wheat provides a slight crisp character. The lingering spice notes leave you wanting more. Malts: Samuel Adams Two-Row Pale Malt Blend, Wheat, German Pils / Hops: Spalt Spalter Noble / Special Ingredients: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Orange Peel / Yeast: Samuel Adams Ale Yeast."

Thoughts: Christmas Beers. You gotta love it. Or do you? White-mas poured a super-light yellow lemony-type color with a fluffy white head. This beer is ultra cloudy, with slight carbonation.

The scent is a very light citrus tone with all of those familiar spices from the Fat Jack and Merry Mischief. And though everything here is super light, it still smells delightful overall. It smells a little bit like oranges, and maybe a touch of kiwi, which is weird since lemon and grapefruit usually prevail. But here it smells a lot sweeter and of course, those spices help things out a bit.

The taste is decent enough. It's not fulfilling or exciting at all really. Hmm. It's like water with the spices. Imagine Fat Jack or Merry Mischief... only without the special stuff, the kick that makes those go above and beyond the usual stuff SA does. This is like a watered down-tasting version of those brews. It may be a lighter affair, but it's void of any unpleasant factors. It tastes like a Sam Adams brew, which I guess is consistent, but they don't really seem to ever venture into unknown territory. These guys play it way too safe, and this beer (along with many others) is proof of that.

Mouth is pretty thin. Not exactly what you would think of when you imagine a "Christmas" beer, but if you're going to session a sixer, I don't see why this wouldn't do. It does after all taste good. It's just that after trying their other seasonal offerings (which feature the same spices, and yet are far superior) this one just doesn't cut it. However, this is a damn fine White Ale for what it is. The spices don't overpower and actually fade along with the initial taste, but leave a remembrance of the brew on the tongue. Still, it's far too watery for its own good.

At least they put this out by itself in six and twelve packs. I'll take this any day over the other beers from their Winter Pack, aside from Fezzi, which should have gotten this treatment. Hey, there's that playing it safe again!

Samuel Adams Merry Mischief

Merry Fake-O-Ween!1 That's right.

What?! Stone Cold ET, wants to celebrate Halloween... three days late... and drink himself, a couple Christmas beers... and that's the bottmline!!1 What!?? I said, Halloween... has come a little late, and is Nuts to Butts with this here years Christmas Season! What?!... Gimme a Hell Yeah!, if you like your pumpkins... and your mistletoe... inter-mingling, while you drink beers, kissin' each other, and plumpin up, while you whoop your bitches ass! Wait, what?!

So the town I'm currently residing in is celebrating Halloween today. I guess it's "for the kids" because the 31'st didn't fall on a weekend. That happens pretty much every year (when the unloved holiday lands on a weekday, and parents don't want to deal with shit). But now people are claiming it's been pushed back because of the storm that hit us. Yeah, sure.

Samuel Adams Merry Mischief - Gingerbread Stout (2012)

Limited Seasonal Release (First Year Beer)

22 fl. oz. / $6.69 USD / 9% ABV

About: "This rich dark gingerbread stout entices with the aromas of the holidays, hinting at the merriment and spices within. The flavor of gingerbread comes alive beginning with the smooth sweetness and heartiness of dark roasted malts and a touch of wheat. But it’s the intensity and spices of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, & ginger that add a wicked kick for a jolly playful brew full of merry mischief.

To bring to life the gingerbread we wanted to create that distinctive richness and spicy kick.  We strengthened the dark stout and added a touch of flaked oats for a full body and smoothness.  The dark malts also give the beer a sweet roastiness with hints of cocoa and a slight nuttiness. Then come the spices with a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger for a layer of complexity and lingering heat. The cinnamon and clove create a peppery heat while the ginger and nutmeg create an earthiness that marries perfectly with the hops.  All of the ingredients come together to create that nostalgic taste of gingerbread for a festive and warming winter brew.

Malts: Samuel Adams two row pale malt blend, wheat, Special B, Paul’s roasted barley, and flaked oats / Hops: East Kent Goldings and Fuggles / Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams ale yeast / Special Ingredients: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, & Ginger."

Thoughts: Merry Mischief poured a seriously dense ultra dark brown that turned pitch black, and featured a very dark beige and/or a light brown milk chocolate head atop.

This smells just like their Fat Jack! Typical... but I'll give it a chance, since it's made with the same spices and yeast. Alright, it only smells mostly the same at first. Once you get into it there's a darker, smokier tone to it...  it's very roasty, and a mix of chocolate and coffee, though neither of those are overpowering the other. It smells pretty awesome. There's an extinguished cigarette thing going on but it's pleasant. Something weird though... are hops actually coming through? No... wait, that's booze.

Very, very malty. Tinge of alcohol. Loads of ginger and vanilla here. It's got a real alcoholic frosting type taste to it. What's this, about 600 calories or so? Yeah, sounds about right. There's a lot of flavor overall, but it does fade pretty quick on the tongue leaving a dry haze from that cinnamon and a burn from that alcohol. It's a bit roasty, burnt, heavy, warm, a little bit acidic, heavily spiced and pretty much a dropped bomb. I don't hate it, no... in fact, while I'm not overly fond of it, I do happen to enjoy it quite a bit. Just because it reminds me so much of a Pumpkin Beer. Their Fat Jack particularly, only different.

Mouth feel is pretty thin for a stout. Watery, and such... sure it tasty for the most part. I wonder how it'll age. Perhaps in a few years it'll develop into a really nice IPA. What?! I said...

This is a cool beer. Not revolutionary by any means, and not really original, but I'm not going to sit here and complain. Most of the Sam Adams brews taste the same anyways, so at least this time they took one that I actually liked and made a Stout clone out of it. Who wouldn't have done the same thing?

Samuel Adams Fat Jack

Samuel Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin - Ale brewed with Pumpkin and Spices (2012)

1'st Batch Special Edition - Seasonal (Limited Release)

22 fl. oz. / $6.99 USD / 8.5% ABV

About: "Pleasantly plump and satisfied. This rich and luscious brew indulges in flavor with over 28 lbs. of pumpkin per barrel, for a full bodied sweetness and deep russet color. Classic pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice ignite a warmth and spark that’s deepened by an undercurrent of toasty smoked malts. The result is a delectable brew full of enveloping layers of flavor and spice. Malts: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Rye, Special B, and Smoked Malt / Hops: East Kent Goldings and Fuggles / Yeast: Samuel Adams ale yeast / Special Ingredients: Real pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice."

Thoughts: Poured a dark ruby red color with a thick and frothy slightly yellow colored head.

Smells like sugar pumpkin cookies. Damn good! The scent is fairly strong, and gets stronger the longer you breathe in. It's got a real down to earth homemade pumpkin pie type scent. It doesn't smell incredibly sweet, but it's nothing mild either... it's like a classic and familiar pumpkin, and the spices aren't overwhelming to the point where you can't get the pumpkin. I really like how this one smells. There also seems to be a low lingering booze heat around the back. Let's see how it tastes:

First thing I got was a mix of that cinnamon and sugar, followed by an extremely malty tone and then after the swallow that nutmeg and allspice shot off like fireworks. There is quite a boozy taste to this one too which is a really fucking tart, and that ginger really gives it a hazy feel once you breathe in after each gulp. There's a decent bitterness to this, but it maintains a sound balance with the semi-sweetness. It's not syrupy or overly sweet and the spices aren't overpowering either, but don't let those words fool you into thinking this one has a weak taste, as it does not! After drinking half the bottle the cinnamon coats the tongue for a while, and the spice really starts to emerge strong. It does get a little smokey. Overall I'd say that this is a very good representation of the style. It's very middle ground in pretty much all categories, but it's damn tasty and the high ABV is always more than welcome.

Mouthfeel is a medium, but man it is Frothy! It explodes like foam in the mouth when you hold it in.

I just looked back on my Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale review, and found that it's very similar to this one. Everything from the color to the scent and even the taste... only this time things are a lot stronger. While the color and look is exactly the same, the smell is something that this time around really comes out at you. You don't have to try for it, because it's right there bursting and popping. The taste also comes out like a squishy pumpkin slammed over the dome! It's a lot heavier and that booze kick doesn't let up one bit. I like my beers boozy, with a strong taste (and as you may have noticed, I'm not really a fan of subtlety). There's a good chance I'll buy this one again if I can find it, perhaps for a mixer review.

Samuel Adams Porch Rocker

Samuel Adams Porch Rocker (2012)
Summer Seasonal.
12 fl. oz. / $1.49 USD / 4.5% ABV

About: "Perfect for any summer day, Porch Rocker was inspired by traditional Bavarian Radlers that mix beer with German-style lemonade. Our bright and citrusy Radler is a Helles beer with a fresh-squeezed lemon taste, effervescent sweetness, and slightly tart, refreshing finish. A light malt character and hint of hops balance out this satisfying summer brew. Malt Varieties: Samuel Adams® two-row pale malt blend / Hop Variety: Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops / Special Ingrediens: Lemon / Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams lager yeast."

Thoughts: Porch Rocker poured a super light yellowish gold color with a fizzy white head that evaporated fast as all hell. The beer is almost completely clear, but something interesting, all of the carbonation bubbles are clinging to the side and laying at the bottom of the glass. Weird, dude. A floor lining of bubbles... they look like those little underwater eggs from Hellboy.

The smell is kind of out there. It's not strong at all, but it's pretty damn fruity. Kinda like Fruity Pebbles, but not as distinct. It's a bit lemony, and there's an almost unnoticeable scent of hops.

The taste is an amped up version of the smell. Liquid Fruity Pebbles, with no milk. It's malty for the most part, with only a little hop burst at the end, and while pretty OK, it's a bit on the light side. But I suppose that's the point of this beer. It's got a very good ratio between sweet and tart, leaves a very welcome aftertaste and is incredibly refreshing. Not bad at all. This must be the liquid equivalent to light fluffy cereal.

Mouth feel is light, very watery, a little bit airy, incredibly easy to drink and just slightly filmy.

I bought a single of this figuring I'd probably end up disappointed, but I guess I'm not. I ended up drinking this beer pretty fast and actually this is the best I've felt all day. There must be something about these light citrus beers after a ten hour work day that just work well for me. I'm not super enthusiastic about this one, and I doubt that I would drink more than two in a sitting before switching to something heavier, but it was still pretty good.

Samuel Adams Norse Legend

Samuel Adams Norse Legend - Ale Brewed With and Aged On Juniper Berries (2012)

Limited Release (First Batch)

22 fl. oz. / $5.99 USD / 7% ABV

About: "Legend has it that barrels of sahti were found on sunken Viking ships off the coast of Norway.  This ancient Nordic ale took root in Finland becoming one of the oldest continuously brewed styles. For us, the legend of this sahti goes way beyond its Nordic roots.  It’s been a labor of love, or at one time some may have said hopeless pursuit, among a few of our brewers.  For almost 8 years we’ve been tinkering with it, from experimenting with its traditional, if rudimentary, technique of brewing with full juniper branches to trying variations of berries, malts, and rye.  We kept searching for just the right combination of ingredients and process to capture this brew’s distinctive character of woodsy earthiness, citrus, and spice.  After all of those trials, we’re excited to finally get to share this unique brew outside of our brewery. Malts: Samuel Adams 2-Row Pale Malt Blend, Rye, Special B, and Aromatic Malt / Hops: Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops / Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams Ale Yeast / Special Ingredients: Juniper berries."

Thoughts: Norse Legend poured a ruby like red color and had a dark yellowish creamy head. The beer is pretty transparent, though not completely, and isn't cloudy at all.

Scent is sweet and spicy. I'm mostly getting the rye. Juniper berry scent is laying real low in this one, which is a damn shame. While I'm not really a gin drinker, and haven't had the stuff in over ten years and even then didn't enjoy the stuff, I would have liked this beer to have more of a scent to it than what it does. Overall the smell is good, but it's pretty light and hard to get.

One big gulp to start off the night. First sensation is that Sam Adams yeast and malt which is very recognizable, followed by a calm tartness from those juniper berries and the end of it is a crisp citrus hop blend. My initial thought is that doesn't hold a candle to the greatness that is Dogfish Head's Sahti... but my second thought is that this beer is actually probably one of Samuel Adams' better brews out there. As I start to drink it faster, the merging of the senses build and a cloudy lingering of this brew's true essence remains behind. It definitely tastes of a Sam Adams brew, but the addition this time around of these special ingredients actually works out quite well. It's more woodsy tasting than it is herbal, and the mild citrus at the end is on the sweet side and doesn't get grassy at all which is nice. It's not sour, but sweet and tart... and when I said mild before, the beer as a whole is pretty mild really.

Mouth feel is a cold, watery medium with a gentle building fizz around the back.

This sweet, malty, tangy and somewhat spicy brew is an above average release from Sam Adams. It could be better yes, if these flavors were amplified (Isn't that always the case?). With this brewery though, I'll be pleased with what I get, if in the rare case I actually enjoy the beer. Their track record is pretty rough stuff with me, but they've got some gems hidden around here and there. This is my second ever Sahti Ale, and while I don't know how this would rank amongst the style, be it mediocre or not, to me it's one of Sam Adams' better tasting- if still rather unremarkable - products.

Samuel Adams Verloren

Samuel Adams Verloren - Ale Brewed with Coriander and Salt (2012)

Limited Release (First Batch)

22 fl. oz. / $ 5.69 USD / 6% ABV

About: "This unfiltered brew begins with a base of 50-60% malted and unmalted wheat for a crisp cereal note that’s light and refreshing.  The addition of lactic acid gives the beer a soft almost creamy taste and just a hint of acidity.  The addition of salt rounds out these flavors, providing a slight mineral quality while ground coriander gives the beer a peppery spice and citric notes. Malts: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Munich, malted and unmalted wheat / Hops: Saaz Noble Hops / Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams Ale Yeast / Special Ingredients: Coriander and Salt."

Thoughts: Verloren poured a pretty standard light-amber golden beer hue that turned out to be pretty hazy. The white head was fairly robust and showed a lot of staying power at a half-inch of small bubbles and lacy foam around the top of the glass.

The smell is very nice on this one. Very fragrant with a touch of spice... there's a lot of heavy malt in this one. Not really caramel, but very candy like.

First sip and I'll admit I'm a bit impressed. It's flavorful and fun, and those are the first thoughts that came to mind. Coriander and Salt are definitely the shining stars here, adding that touch of unexpected surprise and enjoyment to a wheat ale base. There's a zing to it, a little bit of a flavor blast that hits you, and then as it dies down it does so tremendously well. Not too much of a tang, but it's there and just the right amount. If I had to describe the fruity notes, I'd say tangerine. It's not sour at all, but there's a sweet and strange citrus quality to it. The saltiness really starts to come through around the last end of the bottle. I can feel it in the back of my tongue and throat. It's got a creeping mineral feel about it that blends perfectly well with the citrus and light spice. No complaints here, aside from it's got me licking my lips like a crackhead.

I went into this beer expecting nothing aside from the cool Owl artwork and the mention of salt. From the taste you can tell that this is a Sam Adams brew. Standard ingredients are all there and if you're used to it, it shows and it's not terribly exhilarating. The aftertaste doesn't fare as well as the first sip, gulps and initial taste, but it's not unpleasant by any means. Taking another gulp however, simply refreshes everything and even burping it up is a little exciting experience in itself. I'd say that this is one of their better one-offs falling third under Griffin's Bow and Tasman Red. While I had qualms with the other brews in this series aside from those two, this one seems to be pleasing to all of my senses. Something about this one really makes me miss those pumpkin ales. Maybe that's why I liked it so much? I taste a bit of Halloween in it.

Samuel Adams Alpine Spring

Samuel Adams Alpine Spring (2012)

Seasonal (January – March) New Brew!

22 fl. oz. /$2.99 USD / 5.5% ABV

About: "Brewed especially for the season, this bright citrusy unfiltered lager is both satisfying and refreshing. It’s the perfect transition from winter’s heavier brews to the lighter beers of summer. This hazy golden brew is brewed with only pale malts (Two-row Harrington, Metcalfe, and Copeland) for a crisp maltiness and honey malt for a slight sweetness. The beer is brewed with 100% Tettnang Tettnanger Noble hops (from original hop gardens in the foothills of the Alps), a half pound per barrel, to produce a unique, bright orange-citrusy aroma and taste of orange blossom honey."

Thoughts: Poured a very light yellow. Nice puffy white head that stuck around for a while. Somewhat transparent with a lot of carbonation bubbles rising up.

Well this smells pretty good and not light at all (a concern of mine among Sam Adams beers, scent and taste-wise). Major citrus, honey, wheat and floral notes for the most part. Nice mix of hops and malt present, with the hops really standing out in the scent.

It's got a very nice mix of the hops and malts. They obviously made a nice choice with what they've used here, and by the looks of things, it was really simplistic. It really comes together quite well and leaves a distinct flow. Those blistering cold hops hit first and then slowly fall back while the pale and honey malts rise. The hops never fully retreat though, and their taste lingers throughout the entirety of the brew. It gets a little musty after a while. A bit like lemon rind and grapefruit, but not sour at all... pretty sweet actually. Like edible flowers. I've got issues with balance when it comes to beer. I tend to lean towards the extreme and prefer dominance in certain areas depending on the style and ABV. Perhaps it's because quite a few balanced beers I have tried simply seemed bland. This one however, is not one of those. Maybe it's the one-two punch of pure ecstasy that this beer delivers, but I couldn't stop thinking about it for the next few days.

Mouth feel is a light medium and very drinkable. Very good for a sipping beer as well, ladies.

This is pretty crisp and a little bit grassy, but a sweeter grassy. Very flowery. Like running through a grassy field full of wildflowers while burping up pale ale. I really enjoyed this beer and picked up another bottle after work to do some non-review drinking. This is an astonishing release by a company that I haven't had the best track record with, and I can see why it's a seasonal. Why spoil your customers with the good shit! Huh? The price is just right for a 22 oz. as well.

Samuel Adams Dark Depths

Samuel Adams Dark Depths - Baltic IPA (2012)

Limited Release (1'st Batch)

22 fl. oz. / $5.59 USD / 7.6% ABV

About: "Dark, Fierce and Blustery. Across the cold and brackish waters of the Baltic, the English porter was transformed, from a mild ale to a dark and complex later that confounds definition. Immersed in dark, roasted malts and a bold citrus hop character, these big and contrasting flavors are brought together with the smoothness of a lager for a brew that's bold, mysterious and full of flavor."

Thoughts: Poured a very dark raspberry color that I've never seen before in a beer, and it was pretty cool. The head was thick and foamy right from the build, with a cream color and around the edges, a bit of light brown and a yellowish tint. Very strange and interesting look to this beer.

This smells pretty damn good. It's cold, heavy and tangy. It's mainly a tingly citrus attack, and it's a bit sweet.

Starts off with a instant sweetness and then suddenly an ultra bitterness rushes in, attacking facial nerves. There's a peppery alcohol fume after the swallow, and an almost unnoticeable caramel background once that fades.

Mouth is a medium, very bubbly... yet easily swallowed and leaves a clean trace.

I liked the initial smell of this beer more than the taste. I let it warm and the malts start to come through a lot more, not that the hops were standout or anything when it was cold. It tastes a bit soapy to me though. I've read reviews where people describe a soapy taste, but I've only experienced that one other time (with Dogfish Head Hellhound - Review on the way). That was a bit of a dish soap taste though, and this one is more like a bar soap like Dove. I don't know if I would say that it tastes "better" once it warms, but the taste is more obvious.

Sadly, I'm not really a fan of these two new brews that Sam Adams put out. The tastes of both are well, unique, but they didn't make me happy so I'm leaving them for other beers. It would have been cool if they had four new Batch 1's instead of just two and Batch 2's of Griffin's Bow and Tasman Red... but those two were the best of all six of these so I can see why. It still should have been four new ones this time, and then 2n'd Batches of the other two. Meh.

Samuel Adams Cinder Bock

Samuel Adams Cinder Bock - Rauch Bock (2012)

Limited Release (1'st Batch)

22 fl. oz. / $6.59 USD / 9.4% ABV

About: "Smokey and Rich with a bit of Mischief. Unusual and playful, this half-breed brew begins with a rush of smoky, almost savory, aromas and flavors. The distinctive campfire smokiness of a rauchbier lingers and begins to reveal the rich and velvety malt smoothness of a double bock with notes of toffee and caramel. This roguish brew transforms from its bold start to a hearty and satisfying finish."

Thoughts: Cinder Bock poured a very rich and deep hued mahogany. An absolutely beautiful color. The beer is almost transparent and carbonation bubbles are rising all over the place. The tinted off-white head was very slow to form and left nothing but a ring around the edge of the glass after about a minute.

The scent is very light on this one. There's hardly anything at all. Caramel candy and smoke is what I'm getting, but it's so faint.

Well unlike the smell, the taste of this just exploded in my mouth on the first swig. This is one strange beast. I'm going to have to examine the tastes to figure out what this is, but while I think about that the very last bit I'm getting is a strong burn of alcohol. Okay, I'm getting a lot of smoke, toffee and a caramel background, and... that's about it. I have a feeling that I'm drinking this way too soon. Then again, it's not exactly my favorite style either so who knows. There's a touch of spice in there. After a while I notice that the taste never goes through any changes. It's very up-front and it is what it is: One note, and not exactly bland, but just bland enough.

Mouth feel is a light to medium that's easily drinkable, and it's kind of silky.

I don't know about this one. Something about it just feels incomplete. I want to like this one, but uh, yeah, it's not really going to happen I don't think. It's a heavy alcohol, smokey malt bomb with a quick rush of flavor that instantly fades away, leaving a hazy cottonmouth of an aftertaste. It's not bad at all. It makes me wonder what this would have tasted like a year from now, but not so much that I'd spend the money to find out. :( Oh well, Batch #2 of Griffin's Bow was just released with this. Maybe I'll do something along those lines with that one.

Samuel Adams Imperial Stout

Samuel Adams Imperial Stout (2011)
Year Round (Imperial Series).

12 fl. oz. (x2) / $1.56 USD (Sale) / 9.2% ABV

About: "Samuel Adams Imperial Stout was brewed with seven different varieties of malted barley, each delivering its own unique flavor for the beer.  But this beer is not a “malt bomb”. It is balanced by 50 BUs of East Kent Goldings hops that have a clean earthy aroma and pleasant bitterness. This is a colossal beer that should be savored and enjoyed. Malt Varieties: Two-row Harrington, Metcalfe and Copeland pale malts, Caramel 60, Munich, Special B, Smoked Malted Barley, Roasted Unmalted Barley, and Malted Wheat / Hop Variety: East Kent Goldings / Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams ale yeast."

Thoughts: Poured a pitch black with a slow to form chocolate colored head that lasted just over a minute before darkening around the corners and leaving a puddle of large bubbles and foam in the middle and around the rim.

Alcohol heat is the first thing that hits me as I lean in. It creeps up the nose and tickles with a tingling sensation. It smells strong. Cafe Mocha scent all around, and a hint of sugary sweetness.

Bitter coffee grounds. Fruityness. High alcohol. After swallowing and the tastes start to fade it's like the smell of grinding coffee beans or walking through the coffee isle at the supermarket. Malty, chocolatey, and it gets a lot sweeter as it warms. The bitter coffee grounds flavor fades as it warms and you drink it, leaving an alcohol haze with a little bit more of that fruity chocolate. It's a little bit grassy and tart which is a nice offset to the malt of the drink. It's a bit of a cloudy haze of booze, and good for a totally-not "malt bomb" of a brew.

Frothy and thick. Little bit sour at first, but that fades. 

This is an OK stout. It's not funky or unpleasant. In fact, it tastes quite nice, for a total malt bomb! I'm highly grateful for the heavy alcohol content presenting itself here. It seems a little light though in other areas, like it's just lacking a little bit somehow. I wouldn't go as far as to say that it's boring, but it's a bit repetitive. You know, for a tasty brew. Not exactly a one-note brew, but it falls flat on its ass. Thumbs up for the booze though.

Samuel Adams and Weihenstephan Infinium

Samuel Adams and Weihenstephan Infinium (2011)
Brewed and Bottled by The Boston Beer Co., in Boston MA and Hammondsport, NY. USA.

Limited Release (Yearly - December)

25.4 fl. oz. / $18.99 USD / 10.3% ABV

About: "Our brewers worked for two years with the world’s oldest brewery, Germany’s Weihenstephan, to create this unique new beer style. A groundbreaking brew, made with only the four traditional ingredients: malted barley, hops, water and yeast. Infinium is dry-hopped with Bavarian Noble hops for a light citrus flavor. Its then bottle-conditioned with a traditional Belgian yeast and fermented in the champagne-method to add another layer of flavor complexity, a bright clarity, and a fine carbonation to the beer. Malt Varieties: Custom blend of two-row malted barley, malted spring white wheat, and malted oats / Hop Varieties: Hallertau Mittlefrueh, Spalt Spalter, Tettnang Tettnanger and Hersbrucker Noble Hops / Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams ale yeast, Belgian yeast."

Thoughts: Major smoke as I popped the double-logo printed cork. Poured a pale light straw yellow that settled into an orange hue, with a huge white puffy head full of small rotating bubbles. Lots of carbonation coming up from my Sam Adams glass. It's quite a beautiful looking beer.

Getting some nice malts and hops mingling together. It's a bit yeasty too. There most surely is going to be a yeast snap in this one. Overall the scent is fruity and sweet. Like soft apples, sweet green apples or white grapes.

First taste note is very fruity. Spices come through afterwards and tickle the tongue. Low alcohol zing around the end while breathing in. This is a well balanced beer with that zesty yeast just almost creeping in a little too much but it falls back accordingly. Flavors seem to roll around in circles, and overall the taste is quite nice. A little heavy on the yeast side still, but not as bad as some of the other brews I've reviewed. It's not overdone. For this beer, I think that they stopped and bottled it at just the right time.

Frothy, bubbly, with a little bit of bite.

I poured two glasses for the first time, but my girl couldn't get through five sips of the stuff so I got to drink all of it. And no, I didn't mind that at all. It reminds me of this old André Wine that I stole from my folks' cabinet when I was young, only not as drying. For me this one has a bit too much of an apple taste though. The strong alcohol is nice, as is the balance and even the yeast, but overall the taste isn't the most satisfying in terms of expectations. I guess I'm lucky that I got this for nineteen dollars as opposed to the one and two dollar jump-ups these bottles got just after I bought mine. It should be fifteen at the most but I'm not dwelling. It was an OK experience, but it's time to move on.

The rest of the Samuel Adams Winter Pack.

Samuel Adams Holiday Porter (2011)

Winter Seasonal (Yearly Release)
12 fl. oz. (x2) / $2.50 USD / 5.8% ABV

About: I couldn't choose a quote I liked and didn't feel like combining them, so here's two: "In total, four types of malted barley are used in the brewing process including a variety of German malt called Carafa. This specialty malt, along with a bit of flaked oats, gives our Holiday Porter its smooth, roasted malt character. Add generous portions of imported hops to the mix and one has a brew that is both robust and drinkable."

"Samuel Adams Holiday Porter is a full-flavored porter inspired by the famous drink of London's Victorian era luggage porters. Brewed with generous portions of Caramel, Munich and Chocolate malt, this hearty porter finishes with traditional English Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. Cheers!"

Thoughts: Poured a very dark amber that turned to an almost non-transparent brown.

Scent seems pretty uneventful. Little bit of sour hops slowly find their way through the Munich and light caramel malt. It's a pleasant experience, but still, things seems a little light.

Taste fares quite a bit better. Nice blend of hops and malts here. It's a little heavier than their standard stuff thankfully. This porter has a pretty cool smokey flavor to it, there's minimal bitterness and it tastes quite good. Only problem is that it's a bit tame. I'm halfway through and not excited at all, nor half-way interested even. 

Feels like a medium-thick. It's creamy and mouth coating.

I'm not much of a Porter guy. And even then, some of the Imperial Stouts seem to test my patience. Also, it seems I'm one of those Keep Giving Sam Adams Another Chance guys. That, on top of my declining Most Beer Is Nothing But A Chaser attitude, this doesn't bode well at all does it? The lack of kick here just doesn't do it for me. Or was "lack of kick" what they were aiming for? Perhaps I've been spoiling myself lately and just fail to see the silver lining anymore when it comes to "normal" brews. Maybe I should be eating some kind of meal while I'm drinking this one. It only seems fit.

This beer is not unpleasant, don't get me wrong... It's actually pretty decent. Will I buy it again? Well, I was forced to this time around you see - as it was sold only in the "Winter Classics" 12 and 24 packs. If I could have I would have preferred to just drink a 22 or 40 oz. of Fezziwig and leave the rest to my imagination. I don't mind it all that much however. I'll just chalk it up to another Porter for the experience of learning more about this style. Hey! There it is. The silver lining. Well fuck me silly with a crutch and call me Tiny Tim.

Samuel Adams Black and Brew Coffee Stout - Ale With Coffee Added (2011)
Winter Seasonal (Yearly Release?) - New Style

12 fl. oz. (x2) / $2.50 USD / 5.8% ABV

About: "We use 1.5 pounds of Sumatran coffee beans per barrel, roasted to nearly an espresso level roast to ensure the strong coffee character, added late in the brewing process to provide the most flavor possible."

Thoughts: Poured a very dark brown, almost blackish, but you can still see the dark auburn brown tones in the pour and the swirling. The head is a chocolatey tan that's a bit frothy and beautiful like a milkshake. It's taking a while but the head is slowly bubbling itself away.

Smells pretty sweet at first, almost like Wachusett's Milk Stout. Let it warm for a minute or two... sweet coffee comes through a little stronger. Just sneezed. It smells a bit malty, and the head is clinging to the glass.

Let's taste it. Yep. Tastes like coffee. One more time. It's decent. Little bit flavorful, malty, and there's those semi-bitter roasted coffee beans on the second try. Not that I was searching, but it seemed as if the sweetness was toying with my emotions.

Thin and watery. It's a bit tickling after a while. Not really dry, but drying. It's coating around the whole inside of the mouth.

Never really goes too bitter, and it never really gets too sweet. Of course, I should have expected that. I'm enjoying the beer somewhat, even though I'm not much of a coffee fan. It tastes just good enough that I feel as if it's being deceptive. It's just too light for me. Like if this beer were music, it would be a catchy pop song that you know fucking sucks total balls but is repetitive enough that it tricks your brain into thinking it's enjoyable. Remember Britney back in the day when she was doing all that teasing shit? That's this beer.

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock - Ale with Cocoa and Natural Flavor (2011)
Winter Seasonal (Yearly Release)

12 fl. oz. (x2) / $2.50 USD / 5.8% ABV

About: "The flavor of the chocolate is developed by aging the beer on a bed of rare dark cocoa nibs.  The cocoa nibs, a primary ingredient in chocolate, impart an aroma and flavor of fine chocolate to the beer.  As the beer matures, the flavors are released into the liquid to give the brew a complex, full bodied taste and velvety finish. A hint of vanilla is added, also used in making chocolate, to meld the combination of flavors together.  This combination of flavors results in a malty, chocolaty, and wonderfully complex bock beer. Hops: Noble Tettnang Tettnanger and Spalt Spalter / Malts: 2-row Harrington and Metcalfe, Munich 10, and Caramel 60."

Thoughts: Poured a dark brown with shades of deep mahogany, with a thin and rapidly diminishing tan head.

Little bit of a chocolate scent. Something kinda spicy about it, like black pepper but not really.

Tastes pretty standard I guess. Not really diggin' it all too much. Not malty enough, that kinda spicy thing I was smelling sure ain't in the taste. It all seems very clouded. Getting very subtle hints of roasted malt that thankfully doesn't remind me too much of coffee, and some weak cocoa powder. Tastes kinda like a warm, dingy soft serve ice cream from a buffet. You know, one where the vanilla and chocolate don't taste "quite right"? Especially when compared to the gourmet shit.

Goes down like water. Starts to tingle on the tongue if you don't gulp it down right away.

Pretty bland overall. Sam Adams really need to step up their game with their normal brews. This is the last of my Holiday 12'er and I've got to say that I'm pretty disappointed with the pack as a whole. Porter, Coffee and Chocolate were just too similar of styles, feels and tastes. Their Boston and Winter Lager are pretty similar too, with Winter being a slightly superior version; Winter and Fezziwig especially being the standouts, but let's face it: People are being forced to buy what I feel isn't necessarily horrible, but rather mediocre brews, just to get a few beers that are slightly above average.

I don't give a fuck if these are packaged as "incentives" to get you to buy the "variety". It's bullshit(!) because their "variety" needs to be of a higher standard than this. Huh, I guess it's official. I've drank way too many awesome beers. I can't drink this normal shit anymore. It's not cuttin' it for me! Put Old Fezziwig into Holiday 12 Packs of their own, because I'm not doing this Ever Again.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager - Malt Beverage Brewed With Spices (2011)

Winter Seasonal (Yearly Release)

12 fl. oz. (x2) / $2.50 USD / 5.5%  ABV

About: "To put our own twist on the classic bock style, we created a dark wheat bock brewed  with holiday spices of ginger, cinnamon and orange peel. For Samuel Adams Winter Lager, we came to a blend of Vietnamese and Indonesian cinnamons grown in Southeast Asia. The spices for Samuel Adams Winter Lager are fresh ground just before brewing adding character and depth to the generous quantities of malted wheat. Malts: Two-row Harrington, Metcalf, and Copeland pale malts, Caramel 60, malted wheat, Weyermann Carafa Malt, and Munich 10 / Hops: Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops / Special Ingredients: Orange peel, Ginger, and Cinnamon"

Thoughts: Poured a pretty rich looking darkish red amber, or light brown, with an off-white head that stayed puffy for a while.

Smells pretty neat. Frosty and inviting. Little mellow. The tiniest bit peppery.

Cinnamon and zesty hops. I'm so used to cinnamon and malt lately that this one (being the first beer of the day) just crept up the sides of my tongue and attacked my pucker sense. Little bit roasty and maltly once that hop bit fades. The taste is pretty mild. The cinnamon and ginger are decently represented and the whole beer has a pretty good flow about it. Orange peel hops dominate, with the cinnamon backing it up and a low roasted malts flavor with a pinch of ginger.

It's a light medium with a bit of froth.

Bitter citrus aftertaste. Roasted malt finish. Decent enough brew, but it suffers a bit from being a little too similar tasting, like their other beers.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager (2011)

Year Round (Standard Release)

12 fl. oz. (x2)  / $2.50 USD / 4.9% ABV

About: "Samuel Adams Boston Lager uses only the finest ingredients including two-row malted barley and Bavarian Noble hops. The sole use of two-row barley not only imparts a full, smooth body but also gives the beer a wide spectrum of malt flavor ranging from slightly sweet to roasted. The Noble hop varieties of Hallertau Mittelfrueh and Tettnang Tettnanger add a wide range of floral, piney and citrus notes, which are present from the aroma, through the taste, and all the way to the lingering smooth finish."

Thoughts: Poured a fairly light yellow amber with some orange shades in the shadows.

Not really getting much of a scent at first. After a while it's got a bit of a spicy tone that's pretty nice.

Light hops and malts, blended quite well. Little more hop than malt, which originally made this beer stand out. Compared to other lagers, this one is a bit stronger in the taste department and certainly in the hops. It's slightly bitter but still pretty good. Overall a nice blend with no real downside taste-wise, aside from some a grassy after bite.

A light medium with a bit of froth. Somewhat watery. Mild tingle.

Personally I've never had a problem with Sam Adams lager. Never particularly loved it either. For what I'm getting, their year round six packs are just too expensive for this (which is why I don't buy them normally). Is it better than some of the other lagers out there? Yeah, sure. After all, there's only a few good ones out there anyways. But a Lager is a Lager, and a Lager is a Chaser. If I want to buy beer for the taste I'm not going to buy an everyday Lager, it's a simple... as... that.

So people, including myself, should just shut the fuck up 'bout it. Hey, I buy beer for the taste too! Not that I've got an issue (it can't not be brought up when you review this particular staple of everyday beer), but a lot of people talk down on Budweiser or Natural Ice when there are far worse beers out there. If it's all about taste, then buy something that tastes Exceptional. As far as I'm concerned, Lager wars are about as pointless as The Scary Snowman's Third and subsequent videos. You're still going to watch them all, but the joke gets old fast.

I can't count the times I've imagined taking a flamethrower to my own nuts while listening to some arseholes going on about Bud Light vs. Coors Light. They're Light beers for fuck's sake. And for me, Regular 4.9% through 5.9% ABV beers are Light! Personally, I'm looking forward to more of the higher ABV special releases that Sam Adams will hopefully be putting out next year. I had a really great time with their 4 Batch #1's (Man, I wish I had bought and saved one of those Griffin's Bow bottles for later), and hope the next batch features all new stuff.

Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale

Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale - Ale Brewed with Cinnamon, Ginger and Orange Peel. (2011)
Winter Seasonal (Yearly Release)

12 fl. oz. (x2) / $2.50 USD / 5.9% ABV

About: "Spicy and bold, a big Christmas cookie of a beer! Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale is bursting with spices of the season. With a remarkably full body and flavor it helps those long winter nights pass more quickly. The rich taste hits the palate with a depth of malt character ranging from sweet toffee and caramel notes to dark, roasty chocolate notes. Then the spices come in full force. Cinnamon, ginger and orange peel dance on the tongue bringing with them the celebratory spirit of the season." 

Thoughts: Poured a deep, dark mahogany. It's so dark that without light it looks almost black. There's some brown and seemingly purple tones when I look around the glass. It's transparent and actually a really beautiful color. Almost mysterious in nature. The off-white head was slow to form, and there wasn't much of a puddle left after it fizzed away.

Smells pretty good. There's that recognizable Sam Adams scent, with a little bit more of a slight malty milkshake. The cinnamon bounces all around as the bubbles pop under my nose.

I get ginger instantly, followed by cinnamon and then a total flow of malts that foam up in the mouth. It's kind of nutty and bready at the same time. The spices really fall back once it's swallowed. 

I swirl it around in the glass and take another scent. It's got a very roasted essence about it. The taste is pretty mild overall. It does taste rather excellent however, and not too sweet. It reminds me of a Lighter Holiday Ale done right. It's not as falsely advertised as this year's batch of Harvest Pumpkin. I somewhat wish that I had another bottle of the stuff right now to compare these two brews, because they're awfully similar! Though cinnamon seems to be more well incorporated this time around and doesn't leave so much of a dry residue.

Just violently poured the rest of the second bottle in the glass. Huge bubbling off-white with tan around the edges head this time around. Still fades pretty quickly. This is a pretty smooth beer. A little watery, yet also a little bit silky. Not sticky and it doesn't seem to dry me out at all. Aftertaste is a bit like sweet apples, only very faint.

The extremely low hop profile (there's orange peel in this?) and low-key cinnamon taste no doubt appeals to all light beer drinking, quasi-hipster Domo-shirt sporting, tri-force tattooed into the shaved spot on her head rocking, Ugs and no salt on the banana slugs frumping, rainbow bright thigh-high stockings slumping, no-lens dark-frame taped up glasses dumping, pretend nerd grrrls. Playing a not-even plugged in video game system no less.

Samuel Adams Third Voyage

Samuel Adams Third Voyage - Double IPA (2011)

1'st Batch Special Edition - Rotating (depending on sales) (Limited Release)

22 fl. oz. / $5.99 USD / 8.0% ABV

About: "Hops: Cascade from UK and New Zealand, Simcoe from U.S. / Malts: Two-Row Harrington, Metcalfe and Copeland Pale, Caramalt, Honey Malt. This unique double IPA takes the style’s origins a step further.  IPAs were born out of making an ale that could sustain a long voyage.  For our take, we were inspired by the indomitable Capt. James Cook whose 3rd voyage made him the first to navigate a treacherous route from England to New Zealand to the Pacific Northwest. Using Cascade hops from each of these regions we crated a a brew that’s citrusy, earthy, and full of bold character."

Thoughts: Poured a light amber, vibrant red with a with an eggshell near pinkish head that stuck it out for a while.

This doesn't smell as strong as the Tasman Red. Strange. I figured this one would be stronger in all areas. Instead it's a lot milder in terms of the hops. Sweet smelling, nonetheless. I don't know if it was malted out to hide the hint of strong alcohol, but it seems like it. Upon the second pour, and warming, there's a bit more hop notes.

For an IPA that's an 8.0% ABV this one sure is on the malty side. I'm hardly getting any hops in the all around flavor, only getting lingering notes of hop on the back of my tongue once the brew is swallowed. The malts are overwhelming, with the hops coming in only at the last moments. I'm a bit confused. The honey and caramel do a really good job of making this strong brew more accessible to the majority of drinkers, but for an Imperial IPA it seems a bit toned down for me.

It's very smooth and easy to drink. The alcohol is well hidden, but can hit you in short blasts if you're seeking it out.

I wondered why in this Small Batch Series of four brews they'd put out two IPAs. It seemed a bit suspect to me, and a bit overkill, or perhaps they were trying to prove something in terms of which one will get chosen. Though I've been on a serious Imperial kick, I'm rooting for the Tasman Red IPA. The taste and sensations from that brew are just far superior to this one's.

Samuel Adams Tasman Red

Samuel Adams Tasman Red - Red IPA (2011)

1'st Batch Special Edition - Rotating (depending on sales) (Limited Release)

22 fl. oz. / $4.99 USD / 6.75% ABV

About: "Hops: Topaz, Galaxy (Imported from Tasmania) / Malts: Two-Row Harrington, Metcalfe, Copeland Pale, Special B, Caramel 60, Roasted Dehusked. This wily red IPA gets its character from the Tasmanian hops that are full of grapefruit, pine and earthy notes creating a bold flavor that threads throughout the taste. The hops are balanced by a core of roasted malts that give this brew body and richness with hints of toffee."

Thoughts: Poured a dark amber out of the bottle that developed into a deep red inside the glass. The foamy head is very frothy looking and going nowhere fast.

First scent is hops, obviously... little bit flowery. This smells really, really, like utterly sweet though. Very nice.

Through there's a distinct hop flavor throughout the entire flavor of the brew, malts come flowing in like sets of waves hitting the shore. These hops from Tasmania must be pretty damn strong that they'd have to use so many different malts to offset it, and even then the hops are the main thing going here. The malts are doing a nice job of balancing things out here, with a bit of a roasted nut flavor and those Cella's goo-filled chocolate covered cherries, only with less emphasis on the chocolate.  

Bitter citrus on the back of the tongue. There's a bit of a peppery spice, though very mild.

The super malty backbone they've got here really tries to hold back what most surely would be a huge snap of these hops, so I'd say that's fairly well done. It sure does feel malty, but those hops just cannot be denied here! This is a really good, and very hoppy beer. And these hops taste awesome.

Samuel Adams Griffin's Bow

Samuel Adams Griffin's Bow - Oaked Blonde Barleywine Ale (2011)
1'st Batch Special Edition - Rotating (depending on sales) (Limited Release)
22 fl. oz. / $6.99 USD / 11.5% ABV

About: Malts: 2-Row Harrington, Metcalfe, Copeland pale malts and Paul's Caramalt / Hops: Nelson Sauvin Hops from New Zealand and Zeus Hops / Aged: in Toasted Oak. "Golden in color and wine-like, Griffin’s Bow is characterized by a surprisingly smooth balance of fruity notes, hop citrus, and warming strength. Flavors of honeysuckle and grapefruit are layered with toffee, vanilla, and the distinct character of toasted oak. A beautiful pairing for strong aged cheeses, Griffin’s Bow cuts through and contrasts the strong flavors of washed-rind cheeses with accompaniments of nuts, honey and dates to complement the beer’s inherent flavors."

Thoughts: Poured an orange, hay-colored amber with a frothy white head of varying size bubbles that stayed in clumpy areas.. I've never seen a barleywine this light before, should I be skeptical?

Smells awesome and rare. Sugary grapefruit hit me first, it's not sour at all, and it smells extremely fresh. It's really strong too. As if I had just cut one open and it was right in front of me. Cool! Once the beer started to warm I got a bit more of a toffee scent, that evened out with the citrus. There was a light honey and pineapple aura around the second pour, but that was after I had already tasted it.

Wow! This is one neat tasting brew. Sweet caramel malt circling around that piney, grapefruit hop taste. Like a swirl of taste sensations. Once the fizz settles down, you get that brown sugar barley malt taste, with a backbone of what I must assume to be those New Zealand hops. I stopped a fourth of the way through to just let it linger in my mouth and that toasted, oak taste started to resonate. Absolutely wonderful and complex. I'm impressed. It's different.

It's slightly heavy, tingling, a bit fizzy and filling. I'm halfway through now and I am feelin' it! Aftertaste is a bit buttery.

Thus far the best Samuel Adams brew I've ever had. This was of course the first one I picked up out of the four in the series. I had to, it was the highest ABV and Oaked Barleywine. I actually didn't pick up on the Blonde part (aside from the yellow label) until I poured it. But it's cool. It's a really sweet and very slightly bitter beer. When I hit the stores these last two days I noticed that all of them were sold out. I guess I should have tried this sooner, as I may have just gone out and got another bottle saved it for a year (yeah right!).

Samuel Adams The Vixen

Samuel Adams The Vixen - Chocolate Chili Bock (2011)
1'st Batch Special Edition - Rotating (depending on sales) (Limited Release)
22 fl. oz. / $5.69 USD / 8.5% ABV

About: Malts: 2-Row Harrington, Metcalfe, and Copeland Pine Malts, Munich, Caramel 60, Roasted Demashed Malt / Hops: Hallertau, Mittelfruh Noble Hops / Spices: Chilies from Mexico, Cocoa nibs from Ecuador, Cinnamon from Southeast Asia. "The Vixen is smooth and rich with an enticing touch of sweetness and ends with a spicy heat. For this unique brew we used carefully roasted malts and dark cocoa nibs for a full bodied and slightly sweet flavor. To this roast and chocolaty base we added an element or warmth and spice with cinnamon and chilies. Dark and alluring, the brew will keep you captivated. "

Thoughts: Poured a dark hazy brown with a frothy, bubbly tan head that lingered for a long, long time.

First smell was obviously chocolate up front, then the slightest hint of cinnamon crept in. Still a little cold and that's what I'm getting. Tasting now.

Alcohol and Cocoa. I'm letting it warm. Toasty and malty. I was really expecting this to be a major chili beer. I hadn't tried one before so I was really going crazy to do so for the first time. The chili essence here is extremely light. It does give a distinct flavor to the brew, but it's still pretty light. I'm used to eating extremely hot foods so maybe I've spoiled myself with expectations. The taste is good enough, and it's certainly interesting with the chocolate and chilies together. Still, I was looking forward to more of a less chocolatey and more chili pronounced spiciness.

Very frothy and creamy. Afterwards there's a bit of mild but tingling chili pepper spice at the throat, but for someone like me who's used to it, it's really hard to notice. For all I know someone else's throat could be on fire, but with the overwhelming chocolate, I doubt it. And even then, the cinnamon may perhaps be helping it out which means less chili than chili. It's a Chocolate Bock with some Chili added. Not a Chocolate Chili Bock.

Well, I like it. It just didn't meet my expectations. It's actually pretty good, though it starts to get a little watery as you finish it off. All of the chili flavor is aftertaste, and I don't really mind it that much since it's gone down. But for me, it should have been more up-front! That's all.