Does anyone else think Sam Adam's beer sucks

[Honda88]

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.

I would agree with this, Sam Adams is good for the money but when comparing too a hand crafted beer that isn't mass produced, well that's a whole different ball game.

 

[cheezydemon3]

I call BS.

Sam Adams Samplers are AWESOME.

Nearly every one has some seriously experimental beer and/or a good example of a REALLY obscure style.

They make fantastic beer. Just their line of IPSa is STAGGERING.

The whitewater IPA was eye opening, and that is coming from an IPA FREAK.

Step off haters.

 

[MaxStout]

I call BS.

Sam Adams Samplers are AWESOME.

Nearly every one has some seriously experimental beer and/or a good example of a REALLY obscure style.

They make fantastic beer. Just their line of IPSa is STAGGERING.

The whitewater IPA was eye opening, and that is coming from an IPA FREAK.

Step off haters.

 

[cheezydemon3]

SERIOUS.

Had a Doppelbock in their sampler this summer that was better than the one at a FANTASTIC local brew pub.

 

[mcmeador]

SERIOUS.

Had a Doppelbock in their sampler this summer that was better than the one at a FANTASTIC local brew pub.

Doppelbock in the summer variety pack?

 

[prohl84]

I like their Imperial Stout quite a bit. I find most of their offerings to be clean tasting and quite drinkable if a bit overpriced compared to tastier counterparts from other breweries. For instance Founder's RIS is a dollar or two more but loads better IMHO.

+1 to those who have pointed out that SA has done a lot to open peoples' minds (BMC drinkers) to better beer. It's like a gateway beer. I feel similar about Guinness Extra Stout- not the greatest beer but Guinness and Flying Dog pretty much ushered my tastebuds into the world of real beer.

 

[hellawaits77]

Sam Adams got me into craft beer, so they will forever be in my heart! Are they a top-tier brewery? Of course not. But I really enjoy the majority of their beers, and always look forward to their seasonal variety packs. There are many better breweries out there, but for the quality/value ratio, it doesn't get much better.

My favorites are Double Bock, Noble Pils, and Latitude 48 IPA. Whitewhater IPA and Winter Lager are great brews too.

 

[flars]

No.

 

[littletommy]

I've really grown fond of the Octoberfest. I tried it for the first time last year, bought a 6 pack at the local store, and it just really didn't do much for me, kinda had a bad after taste. This year, I had one on tap at a local place, and absolutely loved it! It's been my go to beer here lately unless I'm someplace that has lots of other choices.

As far as Sam Adams sucking? No way! Not fan of all their offerings, but I do like/can drink most of them.

 

[Oifvet0708]

Well asI said before. I'm appalled. I for one love SA. To the original poster. If your palate is so refined, then you are the biggest beer snob on the planet. I'm pretty picky in what I drink kind of a snob, but very open to try anything in the beer world. SA Adams is Successful for a reason, the majorityof people,and well respected judges, find their beer great. Look under most of their bottle caps and you will find what award that particular beer won and where. Call me crazy but I'm guessing they don't hand that out for no reason. I once saw a wine competition and they didn't have labels on the competitors glasses,it was anonymously decided. There are plenty of other bets I have tried that I liked better than SA, but could only get them in the bar. Ifv anyone wants to send me samples of their favorites brews. .... feel free. .lol

 

[mcmeador]

Look under most of their bottle caps and you will find what award that particular beer won and where.

I used to think that as well, but I don't believe that's the case. I've taken the caps off of brand new styles that list awards from years before. The caps don't seem to be paired with particular styles. That would make for an expensive capping operation if they did.

 

[drainbamage]

SA Adams is Successful for a reason, the majorityof people,and well respected judges, find their beer great. Look under most of their bottle caps and you will find what award that particular beer won and where. Call me crazy but I'm guessing they don't hand that out for no reason. I once saw a wine competition and they didn't have labels on the competitors glasses,it was anonymously decided.

I hate to play devil's advocate for a minute, but awards aren't everything. Have you seen the beers that medal in categories like Light American Lager? Mich Ultra, Coors Light, Steel freaking Reserve?!

 

[patthebrewer]

I brew my own, like what I brew, and lots of others do too. I also appreciate small craft beers. Please remember that not all small craft breweries produce good beer, and not all larger brewers produce bad beer. There is definitely, a group of people, with a particular conceit, that believe that once a brewery grows past a certain number of barrels in production, they lost their mojo and "Sold out to the Man!". While Sam Adams is larger than most of the other craft brewers, they are TINY compared to Miller Coors, or Inbev. and they make very very good beer with quality ingredients. My favorites are Boston Lager (made with decoction Mashing), and Oktoberfest.

 

[jdhasse]

When U go to a restaurant with a bad craft beer selection they always have a Sam Adams brew or two and NB fat tire. That is when u appreciate them more, but never buy either at store

 

[mcmeador]

I hate to play devil's advocate for a minute, but awards aren't everything. Have you seen the beers that medal in categories like Light American Lager? Mich Ultra, Coors Light, Steel freaking Reserve?!

Well how many craft brewers brew that style? You could probably argue that the Light American Lager category was created just for BMC.

 

[drainbamage]

I know, I know. Like I said...devil's advocate. Just thought it was worth pointing out that awards shouldn't be the sole measure of quality.

 

[Calichusetts]

I know, I know. Like I said...devil's advocate. Just thought it was worth pointing out that awards shouldn't be the sole measure of quality.

Agreed...but they usually point to a high quality beer. Jack's Abby has been putting out amazing beer for a few years and took down a much deserved gold medal this year. They are the best thing to happen to lagers.

 

[Callacave]

I'm loving Jack's Abby too. Mass Rising is great. The prices are pretty damn good compared to some other brews I get in bombers. Framinghammer is freaking awesome. The only one I didn't care for was the Wet Hop Lager. It was too bland for me.

 

[40watt]

That Wee Heavy really pissed me off.
Smokey as all hell. Way to ruin what may have been a good beer. Oh look an over spiced Wit!
At least that Boston Lager is suitable for consumption.

 

[biggmatt]

Is this an off flavor from the yeast? It has to be.

It is their yeast that I don't like. Some of their beers cover it up but a lot don't

 

[Opiate42]

Not at all, think they've earned the respect and have a stable of great recipes. They have a ton of varieties. That being said, some are more hit then miss. Some of their berry/fruit concoctions were downright awful or delightful experiments.

Boston is a great brew, their Lat 48 isn't great but will take that over others like Northern Tier.

 

[MarcusKillion]

they think their beer is goo because they have never had one of ours

 

[estricklin]

If their beer really does suck, they've sure made a variety of "sucky" beers. You'd think by now they would have hit on at least one that doesn't "suck". Oh and I snapped this picture last time I was in Boston at the brewery.



Of coarse trophies don't matter, and I'm sure the people that give these things out probably know about as much about beer as your local Western Sizzlin waitress, hell I bet they don't even do blind taste tests, but you gotta admit they are nice and shiny! I can't read the plates on them in this picture, but they could be for sales figures, or "most sucky beers".



Off flavors? Too much hops? Too little hops? Too much specialty grain? These are all over the place. I've got a suspicion this has a lot mroe to do with the idea of Sam Adams, than their actual beers. Maybe Sam Adams is a little "too" every day for some folks on this forum. Maybe the fact it can be found in every liquor store is a "turn off". Maybe they're just "too good" for Sam Adams.

Oh well I'll mention it again for the good it e'll do me. To those of you who think Sam Adams sucks, quit buying it!!! Those of us that DO enjoy it, need those variety packs and seasonals and there's only so much!

 

[seanybubbles]

While I do respect Sam Adam's beers I do believe they sometimes suffer during shipping and distribution. I 've had a few that might not have been stored in the best conditions. Those types of issues are probably related to growing pain for the brewery. That being said, this year's octoberfest is great!

 

[nealperkins]

My two cents...

I believe Jim Koch has been very good for craft beer. I like his attitude.

Do I like all his beers...of course not. But, I do like him out there making lots of choices from which we can choose.

Choice is good!

 

[alane1]

I'll put this out there, me being from Massachusetts, moves to, say Texas, and decide to brew a beer called "Alamo", with "all the pride of Texas" as it's slogan, and when the idea takes off I then move all my brewing operations back to Massachusetts and start mass producing "Alomo" beer for Texans, It wouldn't take long to smell a rat!!!

 

[mcmeador]

I'll put this out there, me being from Massachusetts, moves to, say Texas, and decide to brew a beer called "Alamo", with "all the pride of Texas" as it's slogan, and when the idea takes off I then move all my brewing operations back to Massachusetts and start mass producing "Alomo" beer for Texans, It wouldn't take long to smell a rat!!!

Not following...

 

[fuzzy2133]

Sounds like they are stating you start a micro Brewery in Texas. When you out grow the micro facility you set up a larger brewery in Massachuetts and continued using the same brewery name and beer names.

 

[nianticcardplayer]

I'll put this out there, me being from Massachusetts, moves to, say Texas, and decide to brew a beer called "Alamo", with "all the pride of Texas" as it's slogan, and when the idea takes off I then move all my brewing operations back to Massachusetts and start mass producing "Alomo" beer for Texans, It wouldn't take long to smell a rat!!!

Not sure what this has to do with Sam Adams but other than Cherry wheat their stuff has been well above the SUCK meter.....Oh wait so far he is the only brewer/brewery in America that is running the biggest homebrew competition called the LONGSHOT, and if you win it everyone in America where Sam Adams beer is sold gets to try "your" recipe....yeah he hates homebrewers......the longshot six pack was wonderful by the way.... Love that the bottles are still pry off and can be recycled for my own homebrew and the labeles clean off fairly easily.....so as has been said before if you don't like it don't buy it...

 

[mcmeador]

Not sure what this has to do with Sam Adams but other than Cherry wheat their stuff has been well above the SUCK meter.....Oh wait so far he is the only brewer/brewery in America that is running the biggest homebrew competition called the LONGSHOT, and if you win it everyone in America where Sam Adams beer is sold gets to try "your" recipe....yeah he hates homebrewers......the longshot six pack was wonderful by the way.... Love that the bottles are still pry off and can be recycled for my own homebrew and the labeles clean off fairly easily.....so as has been said before if you don't like it don't buy it...

Well I wouldn't say everywhere Sam Adams is sold. I've been collecting their bottles for years and only just this year found a Longshot on the other side of the country.

I do agree that their labels come off really easily. I prefer theirs for homebrew bottles.

Fuzzy, I understood the scenario that was being posited regarding opening up a microbrewery in one state and then relocating, but I'm completely lost as to what that has to do with the topic at hand and what point was being made.