2010 Sam Adams Winter Classis

[JeffBeck]

1) Boston Lager
2) Winter Lager
3) White Ale
4) Chocolate Bock
5) Holiday Porter
6) Old Fezziwig

Nothing special here IMO.

Boston Lager and Holiday Porter are the stand outs for me, Winter Lager is , well ok, other than that the mix is pretty pedestrian. I expected more from Sam Adams to be honest.

 

[ArcaneXor]

. I expected more from Sam Adams to be honest.

Like what? Sounds like a typical Sam Adams pack to me.

 

[FishinDave07]

Out of the list i prefer Old Fezziwig and Holiday Porter. But i can see what you mean that the mix is pedestrian.

 

[Tilldeath]

Like what? Sounds like a typical Sam Adams pack to me.

Agreed Sam Adams unimpressive for the most part. If you want a good seasonal mix I can recommend quite a few.

 

[Homebrewtastic]

Most everything Sam Adams does is pedestrian. However, Noble Pils aside, I think that their seasonal stuff is solid. It's nothing amazing, but solid. Winter Lager being one of them.

 

[Runyanka]

Their winter lager seems to vary year to year I've noticed. It isn't nearly as good this year as it was last year.

 

[Homebrewtastic]

Also I just wanted to make this clear. I think that Noble Pils sucks out loud. There. I said it.

 

[ArcaneXor]

Also I just wanted to make this clear. I think that Noble Pils sucks out loud. There. I said it.

It's actually one of the few SA beers I enjoy.

 

[Airborneguy]

Noble Pils was awesome, probably my favorite pilsener ever.

I've always enjoyed their winter lager, but haven't tasted it this year, so I'll reserve judgement. It's always been consistent on tap and out of the bottle.

 

[Homebrewtastic]

I know. I'm way in the minority on that sentiment. But I really dislike Noble Pils. The one bottle I bought I was only able to drink half of it. I got almost no hop flavor. Avery Prima Pils FTW.

 

[Airborneguy]

See if you can find it on tap next year. It was outstanding on tap.

I've also noticed that it seems outside of the east coast, it wasn't as popular. I wonder if that has to do with freshness at all?

 

[madbaldman]

I thought the Winter Mix was a pretty solid offering. I really liked the porter and the feziwig was good too. The chocolate bock was a nice desert beer. My problem with Sam Adams is their prices. SA is running $9+/six pack at the local grocery. Their beers are decent but not spectacular. When I can grab SN Torpedo for less than Sam Adams, it's no contest. Given SA's volume and buying power, I'd expect a six to run around $7. I'd probably try more SA beers if they weren't asking top shelf prices for beers that don't measure up against the competition.

 

[oojuxeoo]

Also I just wanted to make this clear. I think that Noble Pils sucks out loud. There. I said it.

I agree totally. I never understood the appeal of this beer.

 

[greencoat]

At least they took that POS Cranberry "Lambic" out of the Winter pack this year.

 

[madbaldman]

Just got back from the grocery where the SA 12 packs were $12 and change. Not bad - that's about where they should be. I grabbed another winter pack for some re-sampling.

 

[tradgunkie]

At least they took that POS Cranberry "Lambic" out of the Winter pack this year.

+1 on the POS Cranberry Lambic. It was always the last beer to go in my fridge.

Now if I could only find an extract recipe for making the Holiday Porter, my favorite by far.

 

[MistyMountainHops]

I usually reserve they Cranberry Lambic for beer butt chicken or making bread. I think it is terrible to drink.

 

[SkinnyShamrock]

Just had a Winter Lager on draft Friday night. Wasn't a fan before, and now I really don't like it. The Yuengling Lager I had after it tasted better!

With the exception of Octoberfest and Boston Lager, I really find most of what Sam Adams does unexceptional, and sometimes downright terrible. Cherry Wheat, anyone?

 

[johnnyt471]

SA's Imperial series is pretty awesome.

 

[chriswilkes33]

I know. I'm way in the minority on that sentiment. But I really dislike Noble Pils. The one bottle I bought I was only able to drink half of it. I got almost no hop flavor. Avery Prima Pils FTW.

Victory makes Prima Pils.

 

[Synovia]

I know. I'm way in the minority on that sentiment. But I really dislike Noble Pils. The one bottle I bought I was only able to drink half of it. I got almost no hop flavor. Avery Prima Pils FTW.

You got a bad bottle. Its a better beer than Avery's. Much better.

 

[Hartski]

i think the chocolate bock is possibly the best beer i've ever had. Was paying $15 for the big bottle before the winter sampler pack, and it was totally worth it.

 

[FlemingsFinest]

Love Old Fezzewig, can honestly do without any of the others though. As far as their other seasonals go, I was totally underwhelmed with their Latitude 48 IPA. Tasted like ****, had to force myself to finish it.

 

[Hannable1975]

I grabbed one, promptly killed the two Boston Lagers as I kinda like it.

The Chocolate Bock got 3 sips - then poured in the sink. The other I'll pass off on some unlucky soul as soon as possible.

The Holiday Porter was good - until I had a Baltika from Russia. WOW. I drank the second Holiday Porter and was sad after that.

The White Ale i like. I like most White Ales though.

Old Fezziwigg was why I bought it in the first place - had read / heard great things and wanted to try it. I did. The second one will go to whatever sucker I get to take the Chocolate Bock.

The Winter Lagers I have not tried yet - but I'll have them before too long, I guess.

So, all in all, I was unimpressed. But then again, I am just glad it was not Cherry Wheat. That shyt is so vile that I had at one time sworn never to drink any Sam Adams product again...

( And seriously - if you like Porter, try and find you some Baltika. I got mine at the local Russian Grocery. Man that is awesome! )

 

[michigator04]

i think the chocolate bock is possibly the best beer i've ever had. Was paying $15 for the big bottle before the winter sampler pack, and it was totally worth it.

I was disappointed in the chocolate bock. Too light/thin for taste. I was expecting something hearty, complex, and potent. Didn't get any of those out of the CB. It was ok, but didn't taste as good as the bottle looked.

 

[JNye]

I just don't get it, I think its pure prejudice. People just love to not like certain beers/breweries. Noble Pils is a good beer, if you like hops and cannot recognize that then you sir are a racist, or a beer snobbist or something

 

[BlackJackBrews]

I bought it for the Old Fezziwigg. Really enjoyed the Chocolate Bock. It is def. lacking in body, but the chocolate comes through so strong I drank it as a dessert beer. I'm wanting to use it for a beer float, thinking it would be great with some vanilla ice cream...

 

[Frank-Likes-Beer]

Just got 2 twelves to take to a party this past weekend. The Old Fezziwigg was really good as was the Chocolate Bock. Tho as someone else said, I was expecting much more body for a bock. It was till very good tho.

As to those who think the SA stuff is pedestrian, I would disagree. I think piss in a bottle like BMC is pedestrian. While SA may not be the best beer on earth, (and I'm not saying it is), compared the mainstream BMC crap, it's pretty good beer.

 

[FlemingsFinest]

Just got 2 twelves to take to a party this past weekend. The Old Fezziwigg was really good as was the Chocolate Bock. Tho as someone else said, I was expecting much more body for a bock. It was till very good tho.

As to those who think the SA stuff is pedestrian, I would disagree. I think piss in a bottle like BMC is pedestrian. While SA may not be the best beer on earth, (and I'm not saying it is), compared the mainstream BMC crap, it's pretty good beer.

I agree. I feel like I came off as a major hater of SA in my previous post by bashing the IPA. In reality, I have been a huge fan of SA for quite some time, I'll even go as far as to say that Boston Lager was my favorite beer for a long time. I have just been disappointed with some of their seasonals lately.

 

[cheezydemon3]

i think the chocolate bock is possibly the best beer i've ever had. Was paying $15 for the big bottle before the winter sampler pack, and it was totally worth it.

ABSOLUTELY. The most chocolate I have tasted in a brew.

I just don't get it, I think its pure prejudice. People just love to not like certain beers/breweries. Noble Pils is a good beer, if you like hops and cannot recognize that then you sir are a racist, or a beer snobbist or something

Agreed. WTF?

1) Boston Lager - A solid beer, fantastic for a lager.

2) Winter Lager - The dark wheat is FAR from common, WTF?

3) White Ale - Delicious and refreshing

4) Chocolate Bock - Incredible chocolate comes through. Delicious and FAR from pedestrian.

5) Holiday Porter - Nice crysatl 120 notes, fine.

6) Old Fezziwig - Meh, but certainly not bad.