Thoughts on Sam Adams...

[scratchypants]

Unfortunately, during my first sampling of Sam Adams Lager I was coming down with a particularly virulent bug. It started with soreness in my neck and shoulders, a slight chill, and then fever - all within about 2 hours. So now, when I think of Sam Adams, I think of that nasty evening.

 

[mojotele]

I've never much cared for Sam Adams beer. Some is OK, like the Winter Lager. But there's something about the flavor I just never cared for, though I haven't been able to put my finger on it. As others have said, though, that may just be because the beer wasn't treated right by the people selling it to me.

I've never had anything against the company or anyone in it, though. They seem to put out a product that many people enjoy. What's wrong with that?

 

[stageseven]

My opinion is that overall they're pretty solid as a brewery. While they're never my first choice if I'm picking up stuff for myself, it's great when I'm heading over to someone's house and want to bring some beer with me. They're generally not overly inventive or flavorful brews, but if I want something of a particular style and I'm not sure what everyone will like, Sam Adams is a pretty safe choice. It's decent enough to almost never be nasty, and not adventurous enough to put off pickier people.

 

[smizak]

I've got nothing against Sam Adams, but I've never been impressed with any of their regualr beers. The Imperial pilsener was very good.

For the same money, I'm going to pick up a Sierra Nevada or Great Lakes six pack every time.

 

[BrianTheBrewer]

I agree with most of the posts. There's nothing wrong with SA and it is one of the first non-BMC beers I ever drank and enjoyed. Still today, Sam Adams serves as a good back up beer for me when I'm out to dinner or someplace random that doesn't have anything else I would prefer.

But, I don't think there's anything wrong with BMC either. When I'm on a fishing or rafting trip, sweating in the middle of summer, and someone tosses me an ice cold Miller High Life I'll gladly drink that too. It just isn't what I like most of the time, and I'm sure as hell not going to risk breaking a bottle of homebrew or wasting money on a can of craft brew that gets tossed overboard, stepped on, or warmed up in the sun.

To me there is a time and place for almost any beer, it's just that the time and place for BMC doesn't occur very often for me.

Ya I hear ya when I am out on the boat in the middle of the hot summer sun I wont turn down a Miller light.

 

[apologeticus]

Their Octoberfest is my fave. wish I could find a HB recipe for it...

also love their Brown ale.

not a fan of their Boston lager, though. Looks like I'm in the minority on that.

 

[the_bird]

I will say, I don't usually buy a lot of Sammy just because there's so much other outstanding craft brew that I'd rather try. But, avoid the known stinkpots and Sam Adams will treat you alright.

Plus, you can't really spin negatively all that they've done for the craft beer community (selling hops at cost when they could have easily re-sold them for 3x or 4x more) and in the support they give homebrewers via the Longshot competition.

 

[aeonderdonk]

I love SA, they have a lot of variety and most of their beers are great. I love the Oktoberfest, they make one of the best "light beers", and my gf loves the Cherry Wheat (it is a bit nyquilistic though).

Cranberry Lambic aside I don't think they make a beer that I genuinely don't like.

 

[ahoffman565]

I was fortunate enough not to be a huge drinker in college - even after turning 21. A few years after my 21st birthday, a good friend of my brother sat me down one evening with a Sam Adams Boston Lager and schooled me in the way beer was SUPPOSED to be! From that point on, I was always a huge Sam Adams fan and to this day have a deep appreciation for them. I think someone else on this thread referred to them as a "gateway" beer. That's actually a really great description. Their fine offerings certainly got me hooked on a great craft beer and Jim Koch's homebrewing roots really have inspired me in this hobby.

 

[Cape Brewing]

I boycott Sam... Not because of the quallity of the beer but because Koch is a habitual line cutter.

Don't go to a beer fest when Jim's there unless you like getting dropped down one person in line constantly.

... the bastid.

SO punching him at the Night of the Barrels.

"THERE!!! Take THAT Sam Adams guy!! How do you like THEM apples Mr. Line Cutter!!?!? Hmmm!?! HMMM!?!? You want some more a' that!?!? Here, you're next in line for another left to the jaw!!!"

it's gonna be sweet.

 

[iddqd]

I think their beer is pretty good. So far I've had Winter Lager, Boston Lager, Boston Ale, Octoberfest and Honey Porter. Octoberfest and Winter Lager are on sale now, I might pick some up if I can find it next time I buy beer.

 

[Nyxator]

Yeah, I'm a huge fan and I tend to get prickly when people compare then to BMC. I often wonder if we're drinking the same beer. Boston Lager is definitely one of my favorite lagers, and for me, sets the standard for the definition of a 'balanced' beer.

I'm not crazy about a number of their other offerings, but that doesn't take away from what they do well. I'm a fan of Boston Ale and Lager, the Brown, Black Ale, Oktoberfest, and few others. The Winter Lager is my least favorite, but I'm pretty staunchly against spiced beers as a rule.

 

[McGarnigle]

They brew so many beers, it's hard not to dislike at least some of them. But many are good, especially the Black Lager, IMO.

 

[brrman]

I like most of their beers, but the Summer Ale just doesn't agree with me. Don't get me started on the Cherry Wheat and Lambic - ugh... Their Ol' Fezziwig tends to be inconsistent from year to year as well.

 

[Hammy71]

Actually I think/feel that the SA bashing has gone way down from what it was a while ago. SA when compared to BMC wins, hands down in every category. Sure some of the stuff them make (have to go with yooper on the cherry wheat...yuck.) isn't my cup of tea. But it's a beer company that seems to care about the beer it sells, not just about making a global empire (Inbev, for example).

 

[Boondoggie]

The biggest turnoff for me with Sam Adams is the price. Obviously when put up against a bud or mgd I would take a Sam Adams in a taste test, but a six pack of SA costs the same as say a three floyds, stone, etc., and I would prefer all of those to SA. Hell, even if there were no other craft brews available I would still probably take a Schlitz or PBR over paying the price for a SA, it's just too mass produced to justify the cost.

Does it cost a lot there? It's like $13 for a 12pack here, which is pretty much the bottom of the non-BMC beers here.

 

[Kaner]

Does it cost a lot there? It's like $13 for a 12pack here, which is pretty much the bottom of the non-BMC beers here.

At my store it's 8.99 for a 6-pack and 16.99 for a 12-pack. Which is the same as three floyds, stone, goose island, sierra nevada, etc. Here there's literally no price difference between any of the other non-BMC stuff and SA. Maybe it's just the store I go to?

 

[BrianTheBrewer]

Here Sam 12 pack is around 12$ Stone is around 13$.

 

[carnevoodoo]

At my store it's 8.99 for a 6-pack and 16.99 for a 12-pack. Which is the same as three floyds, stone, goose island, sierra nevada, etc. Here there's literally no price difference between any of the other non-BMC stuff and SA. Maybe it's just the store I go to?

yeah, that's really pricy.

 

[brewmonk]

I boycott Sam... Not because of the quallity of the beer but because Koch is a habitual line cutter...
...SO punching him at the Night of the Barrels...

..."THERE!!! Take THAT Sam Adams guy!! How do you like THEM apples Mr. Line Cutter!!?!? Hmmm!?! HMMM!?!? You want some more a' that!?!? ...
/quote]

damn that was funny.

(btw, most of their beers are great, and the glass isn't thick enough)

 

[fivehoursfree]

I'll agree that SA is good, but I also don't think the price is justifiable. It's the same price as a bunch of other comparable or better beers. And even all things being equal, I'll support the local breweries first. The other thing is I can't find anything but the Boston Lager (and recently the Winter Lager) on draft. I like to try beer on draft first, so I don't have to buy an entire 6er just to try something.

 

[BrianTheBrewer]

Funny thing is I live right outside of Boston and around here you really cant find anything but the Lager and Seasonal on tap. They made a Brickhouse Red a few years back and had it on tap at one place. Very very good.

 

[BrianTheBrewer]

If you can get your hands on the Chocolate Bock get it. A little pricey but good.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

If you can get your hands on the Chocolate Bock get it. A little pricey but good.

I tried it. It was rather good but I didn't then and still don't have much experience with chocolate beers. Maybe I need to make one sometime.

 

[JLem]

Funny thing is I live right outside of Boston and around here you really cant find anything but the Lager and Seasonal on tap. They made a Brickhouse Red a few years back and had it on tap at one place. Very very good.

IIRC the Brick Red was brewed as a "thank you" of sorts for the city of Boston and is only available within city limits.

 

[overflow]

I thoroughly enjoy their Winter Lager. IMHO, it's much better than Goose Island's Mild Winter. Also, the price around here (Chicago area) of Sam Adams is cheap. They sell 24 packs of their "Winter Packs" at Sam's Club for about $22.

 

[BrianTheBrewer]

$22 is not that bad...

 

[danculwell]

I just bought a 6er of Boston Ale. It's almost as good as I remembered. Good flavor. Very drinkable. It does have a little bit of an after-bite that is bugging me. The finish isn't nearly as good as some similar beers I've had.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I like a lot of the SA beers. Not my favorite but definitely a good beer that is available at most places. They also put together good combos of their beers. The seasonal collections are a great way to try out some new flavors.

 

[jiggs_casey]

I just finished off a sixer of their Blackberry Witbier. Took a little getting used to. Can't really say I'm a fan...