One should not mistake 'bad' for not your preference.
Exactly!
I don't think their beers are bad, and the "soapy" flavor some refer too, is probably their yeast. Many homebrews have a bit of a soapy flavor too.
Back in the days SA was a breath of fresh air in the world of beer. I really enjoyed their Boston Lager and Oktoberfest (on tap) and their variety of ales at the time. By today's standards, I think we expect more from craft beer. It has to be a superb lager or an exquisite ale that can stand alone against the competition.
For example, I really dig a draught of Blue Point's Toasted Lager or Devils Backbone's Vienna Lager. I've tasted them, compared them, judged them, side by side on many occasions, and find it hard to choose which I prefer. They are both wonderful, yet slightly different. Either can stand alone, and not just in a competition. Today's SA's Boston Lager wouldn't even come close to those two.
But, I also had the most wonderful Sam Adams' Pumpkin Ale (on tap), and for that style, it remains my favorite because I can still taste
pumpkin! I'm sure many prefer any of the other different breweries' offers. More spicy, clovey, cinnamony, sweeter, drier, whatever. That's mostly preference.
During one of the beer festivals I came across Gordon Biersch' Oktoberfest. Hmm, I remember having had that in the past. GB never impressed me that much (aside from a sumptuous "dirty" Saison 11 years ago) and is really not all that "crafty" by today's standards, but what the heck...
Perfect! Better than you would probably get in Germany, or anywhere else.