Does anyone else think Sam Adam's beer sucks
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For me, SA got me into craft beer (which can be tough in St. Louis). So for my life,
No SA = no craft beer
No craft beer = no good beer
No good beer = no homebrew
No homebrew = no HBT board...
I'm basically disappearing like Marty McFly's family without SA.
That being said, I rarely drink it now. But I love those glasses.
No SA = no craft beer
No craft beer = no good beer
No good beer = no homebrew
No homebrew = no HBT board...
I'm basically disappearing like Marty McFly's family without SA.
That being said, I rarely drink it now. But I love those glasses.
I have had good ones and bad ones.... I am not fond of thier "flagship" Boston lager as I think it is to Hoppy... an issue with a bunch of thier beers... but I would not say they suck... I would say I like other beer better....
Fair enough, you're talking about the people that just dump on the whole brewery. That's a valid point. It just always rankles me the people that insist that you can't offer criticism unless you can do better. Consumers know what they like and what they don't, it's not necessary to make a similar product to know what you don't like and why. Cheers, man.
You know, honestly I haven't been much of a fan of SA and I say I don't like their Boston Lager, but truthfully I haven't had it in years. I saw their summer pack at Costco yesterday, think I'll pick it up next time I'm in and give it an honest try (except Cherry Wheat, which I really can't stand, but my wife likes).
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I don't get this at all. I don't find any of their beers very hoppy at all. My biggest complaint with Latitude 48 is thats its too malty and doesnt have enough hops.
Everybody has a different palette though i suppose.
cheezydemon3
Well-Known Member
*shakes head.....*
too hoppy?
You need to get out more.
I am puzzled by this as well.
It isn't my favorite IPA, but unless you don't like run of the mill IPA's, what gives?
ReverseApacheMaster
Well-Known Member
Like others, SA was one of my gateway beers into craft beer. It wasn't tremendously interesting or complete swill. However, over the past year or so every time I've tried a SA beer it has been terrible. I know SA is contracting out a lot of brewing but they are really failing on the QC. No flavor or bad flavor every time. I've given up buying any of their beers.
If you think Boston Lager is too hoppy, you ought to just avoid any beer from Stone. Or really, most craft beers...
Papachristou
New Member
No, i dont.
Sure, it isnt a high end beer like stone or rogue but they are pretty tasty as far as a mass produced, store bought beer goes. I admire their different varieties they have been producing lately. They are really offering a lot of different choices. Boston lager is an excellent DD, and i love their noble pils in spring/summer but i only found it once this year!
i think it is much better than some of the common german pils you can buy at stores, it has more favor imo.
The other day I had a SA Boston Lager from a tap at an airport bar. I couldn't even finish it and at $10 a pint that was a shame. It just tasted terrible, almost skunked. I was tempted to ask the bartender when the last time the beer lines were cleaned. I'd always enjoyed the lager before but it had been awhile since I had one, (couple years) I don't know if my tastes have changed that dramatically or if was just what but that beer at the airport was sickening.
Papachristou
New Member
This wasn't at DFW was it? I had the exact same experience at a TGIFridays in DFW a couple of weeks ago.
I don't mind most of SA's beers. Unlike a lot of people on this board, I enjoy the Latitude 48 (though I won't go out of my way to look for it). However, the Chocolate Bock tastes too much like Yoohoo to me. There's no way I could drink more than 1 of those in a row.
rico567
Well-Known Member
An airport bar? My guess would be dirty tap lines. I'd try bottle beer next time.
Sam Adams has done an amazing thing - opened up the world of better beer for millions of people.
For most of those people, it's Boston Lager. They hardly realize there are other styles of beer than lagers. (Dark beers?)
OK, I don't usually buy Sam Adams beers(well, I did get some for Octoberfest). For almost every style they make, there is a better example from a microbrewery. Will I drink a Sam Adams offered at a party or a friend's house? Yes! Will I drink BMC if that is all that's available? NO!
Most that don't like Sam Adams either:
1. Don't like the style of the beer in question and are comparing to a different style(that they like), or
2. Are comparing to a great microbrew or homebrew.
or both.
Sam Adams makes a credible beer for every style they make. They are a big company, however, and seldom match the best microbrew or homebrew available. Heck, I can't find any poured beer in Nevada that tastes as good to me as my standard IPA or Pliny clone I make. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a well made commercial beer.
For most of those people, it's Boston Lager. They hardly realize there are other styles of beer than lagers. (Dark beers?)
OK, I don't usually buy Sam Adams beers(well, I did get some for Octoberfest). For almost every style they make, there is a better example from a microbrewery. Will I drink a Sam Adams offered at a party or a friend's house? Yes! Will I drink BMC if that is all that's available? NO!
Most that don't like Sam Adams either:
1. Don't like the style of the beer in question and are comparing to a different style(that they like), or
2. Are comparing to a great microbrew or homebrew.
or both.
Sam Adams makes a credible beer for every style they make. They are a big company, however, and seldom match the best microbrew or homebrew available. Heck, I can't find any poured beer in Nevada that tastes as good to me as my standard IPA or Pliny clone I make. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a well made commercial beer.
gratus fermentatio
Well-Known Member
I'll go so far as to say that Sam Adams is HIGHLY OVERRATED...
BUT, it's not nearly as bad as Sierra Nevada or Ninkasi. :cross:
Regards, GF.
MisterTipsy
Well-Known Member
According to the company, Samuel Adams uses only the finest Noble hops that cost 20x as much as average Noble hops. Their beer must be awesome!!!
I've had about 10 different Samuel Adams beers and most of them were just OK and some of them were blech. My favorite is their barrel aged Third World Trippel. It's the only SA beer that I thought was better than meh.
I've had about 10 different Samuel Adams beers and most of them were just OK and some of them were blech. My favorite is their barrel aged Third World Trippel. It's the only SA beer that I thought was better than meh.
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I don't hate SA. I don't particularly like them much, either. I know what the OP means about the aftertaste. I call it the Sam Adams whang, and I've only had a couple that didn't have it. The Spring Ale is really nice. They have a decent stout. The Cherry Wheat, well, I have a freeloader drawer in my beer fridge, and right now it's mostly full of Cherry Wheat.
But there's something on the back end of almost all of SA's styles that disappoints me. So much so that I generally won't buy an SA until I've tried a freebie.
That said, I have never had the opportunity to try anything from SA in Boston. I know a lot of their capacity is outsourced (to Miller, I believe?), so I wonder how much different the beer is at the brewery than it is from the bulk runs done on contract.
At the price point of SA around Knoxville, there are other beers I like far better.
But there's something on the back end of almost all of SA's styles that disappoints me. So much so that I generally won't buy an SA until I've tried a freebie.
That said, I have never had the opportunity to try anything from SA in Boston. I know a lot of their capacity is outsourced (to Miller, I believe?), so I wonder how much different the beer is at the brewery than it is from the bulk runs done on contract.
At the price point of SA around Knoxville, there are other beers I like far better.
nathanthn
Active Member
The Boston Lager fresh from the brewery is way better than any other glass of it I've had, I was really surprised at how much of a difference there was. If anyone's is in the area I highly recommend taking the tour, they are not stingy in the tasting room either. I've never had a beer from them that tasted "off" from the bottle, maybe there is a difference in production/distribution when living in MA... I would say their seasonals are hit or miss and have gone downhill in recent years. Not a fan of the Alpine Spring or Cherry Wheat at all, the Summer and Latitude 48 are very mediocre IMO, but I have been impressed with their imperial series and limited series. The Imperial Stout and Wee Heavy are very good and if you ever see the Cinderbock definately pick it up.
Xpertskir
Well-Known Member
I dislike their mainstream beers greatly with the exception of noble pils. I have had some of their specialty offerings such as Utopias and while they are interesting, they aren't typically what I am looking for when I want to drink. Overall I think they are a very large sub par brewery and I wouldn't mind if they disappeared.
Fizzycist
Well-Known Member
Nope.
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I don't know that I'd go that far. Whatever you think of their beers, Jim Koch and SA have done a tremendous amount of good in advancing craft beer and homebrewing in the US. Wasn't the GABF Pro-Am his idea? I know SA sponsors it.
STLExpat
Well-Known Member
Depends on what you're drinking in my case. The Cinderbock is good, but their winter beers give me a real bad case of rotgut.
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I believe so. Also some small loans available, but there are some long strings attached IIRC.
I'm really, really unimpressed by their Boston Lager. I will drink it, after I drink everything else in the mix pack. It seems like their stuff is kind of hit or miss. I love their chocolate bock, holiday porter, noble pils, and their alpine spring; haven't really like the boston lager, winter ale, or irish red.
It saddens me that they mix some of their great beers with the Boston lager, and I have to buy mix packs containing it to get things like the scotch ale or chocolate bock (at least the past couple of years).
It saddens me that they mix some of their great beers with the Boston lager, and I have to buy mix packs containing it to get things like the scotch ale or chocolate bock (at least the past couple of years).
zeg
Well-Known Member
I think their Boston Lager is fairly good, but my taste for it comes and goes. Their Winter Lager is perhaps my overall favorite beer. The Oktoberfest is pretty good, too.
Other than that, I've not been too fond of their styles. Had their Kölsch recently and it was pretty good, but that's one of the few times I've tried a new one and not been disappointed. Don't like the Cherry Wheat.
Regarding hoppiness and craft beers, I hate this connection. I don't like the HOP HOP HOP HOP HOP HOP approach of a lot of the "great" breweries. Sometimes, sure, but not in every beer. If this means I don't really "get" beer, then so be it, but there's more to beer than HOPS!!! SA hits the balance pretty well to my taste.
Other than that, I've not been too fond of their styles. Had their Kölsch recently and it was pretty good, but that's one of the few times I've tried a new one and not been disappointed. Don't like the Cherry Wheat.
Regarding hoppiness and craft beers, I hate this connection. I don't like the HOP HOP HOP HOP HOP HOP approach of a lot of the "great" breweries. Sometimes, sure, but not in every beer. If this means I don't really "get" beer, then so be it, but there's more to beer than HOPS!!! SA hits the balance pretty well to my taste.
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