What is it with Sam Adams specialty beers??

[Rhoobarb]

I actually look forward to getting this each year specifically for the Old Fezziwig. It's a decent Winter Warmer. Not the same as Sam Smiths, but good nonetheless. I used to really like their Scotch Ale, too, peat malt and all. But I haven't had it in years.

This year I'm looking forward to getting their Cream Stout b/c it has always been a favorite and it isn't easy to find. Never had the Honey Porter. Sounds like a stripper's name. Last year I had the Holiday Porter and it was undrinkable due to diacetyl.

 

[Mustangfreak]

I liked their winter and october fest. I have 4 bottles of their hefe still, and it's not very good. It tastes flat as well.

 

[srm775]

Overall, I don't mind the Holiday pack. The cream stout, holiday porter, old fuzzynuts and winter ale aren't bad beers. Much like everyone else though, I don't care for the Lambic, but I don't like Lambics in the first place.

The cherry wheat is one of only two beers that I will flat out refuse to drink. The first and last time I had it, it tasted like cherry cough syrup. It had a very medicinal and artificial flavor to it. It was so bad, I wrote Sam Adams customer service to complain.

 

[TheJadedDog]

I am pretty much done with Sam Adams at this point. Occasionally they still make a good beer and I did buy a bottle of the 07 Utopias, but I have not been real thrilled with any of their seasonals in a long time. Maybe it is because I have lots of better options to choose from where I live, but they just don't do it for me anymore.

 

[brauhaus]

I am pretty much done with Sam Adams at this point. Occasionally they still make a good beer and I did buy a bottle of the 07 Utopias, but I have not been real thrilled with any of their seasonals in a long time. Maybe it is because I have lots of better options to choose from where I live, but they just don't do it for me anymore.

I like the Octoberfest, but I can see what you are saying, now knowing I have more to choose from, I def go for something a bit more flavorful.

 

[zoebisch01]

I hate that they call the Cranberry Lambic a lambic, when, in fact, it is not a lambic.

That's a big pet peeve of mine. You hear people talk about 'brewing a Lambic', when I say Hogwash. About the only person on here that I saw with a real go at it was Janx, iirc.

I am not even sure outside of Belgium how many full scale breweries have even attempted a true spontaneous ferment. (And of course there's the issue about the localized microflora over there...but I have to disagree with that. They may have a special strain, but I believe there are other areas of the world capable of producing similar ferments).

My personal feeling on Sam Adams, is that they used to be much better before they became popular.

 

[rdwj]

Am I the only person that likes the SA Cherry Wheat? I won't drink more than one because they're too sweet, but I do enjoy one every now and then. I think the black lager is pretty decent too.

 

[cheezydemon]

DEAR GODD!!! CRANBERRY>>>>WHATEVER THE F IT IS!!!!!BLEEEEEEEEEEEEACHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

ARGH.....cough medicine is better......give me some robitussin to wash this sick a$$ stuff out of my mouth!!!!!!!!

 

[Philip1993]

Am I the only person that likes the SA Cherry Wheat? I won't drink more than one because they're too sweet, but I do enjoy one every now and then. I think the black lager is pretty decent too.

Nope, I'm there with you. CW is best enjoyed in small quantities when it's hot outside. Quite good as a lawn mower beer, actually. Is is definitely not a comfort beer.

That said, I will admit to being a little disappointed that the cherry is so obviously artificial cherry like one might find in a sno-cone.

As for the others, I like Boston Lager and Summer Ale and dislike cranberry lambic

Off topic: Tried accessing their website lately? No go if you are under 21, or over 100... WTF?

 

[FatMonsters]

I like their seasonals (summer, winter and octoberfest) beers. The only time I ever go for a regular sam is if it is that or BMC. I kinda like the fezziwig as well...I think the Cherry Wheat had its place when it first came out, b/c it was so new to the mass market. I remember drinking it and thinking it was pretty good. But lately, I'd have to agree with the forum members that it tastes like cough syrup now...I thought the cranberry lambic was going to be worse than it was. It was drinkable, not an everyday beer by any stretch.

 

[PearlJamNoCode]

Say what you will about all their seasonals and whatnot, but the Black Lager is a damn good beer.

 

[newbrewoob]

Sam Adams has a limited Imperial Hallertau Ale that is just great!! I think it only comes in 4-packs ($9). It is intense with Hops and 8%+ABV, but still very good.

The other offering from them are hit or miss. Sometimes you can get a great Boston Lager and other times it will be....less great

my 2..

 

[Dr Vorlauf]

I had their Cranberry Lambic once and it sucked, poured it right down the drain. Also the smoky flavor of their Scottish Ale was way overboard. I mean I appreciate peat in a nice single malt scotch but this tasted like I was eating a piece of burnt peat bog.

 

[abracadabra]

I think Sam Adams beers are great. While I like some, dislike others and could take or leave a few of them. In many areas of the country it's one of the few decent beers you can get. Everyone doesn't live in the NE or Calif. where there are a bunch of good beers to chose from.

And most restuarants in my area Sam Adams is the only decent beer you can buy.

Sam Adams beer also made me realize that beer could actually be good as compared to the stuff of other commercial brewerys.

By the way for the person that asked Old Fezziwig is a porter named after a Charles Dickens character.

 

[Joker]

The only Sam Adams beer I have tried it the Cherry Wheat, what a mistake that purchase was.

 

[Danny013]

I like some of their beers a lot, actually. Their Octoberfest was excellent last season! I must have bought at least 2 cases worth. I just bought a case of Cream Stout, as well, excellent stuff! The BL, brown ale, pale ale, and black lager are all pretty good, as well.

I think BBC is a great company and does a lot for the homebrewing community as well. It might not be as great as your favorite micro (at least they don't use cascade in every recipe! ) or import, but is still a damn decent beer. I don't like some of their offerings, but I respect that they go out there and brew all sorts of different beers. This can only be a good thing IMO; it shows the BMC drinkers out there that there is variety and different flavors and that beer does not emcompass fizzy, watery, underhopped 'pilseners'.

And for those ordering SA on tap at bars, I've found that most of the time the bar doesn't know jack about cleaning their beer lines and that is most often the culprit, not the beer itself. Serving temp also plays a big role, that's how the BMC crowd likes it and that's the biggest seller.

But hey, cheers! I'm off to go grab a Cream Stout.

 

[RICLARK]

The Cherry Wheat makes me gag I hate the taste, I really only like there Ale and Lager the rest are gross but I still want to try a Utopias.

 

[zoebisch01]

Hmm one local distro has the Imperial Pils on discount for $25. I wonder if it's worth it?

 

[Danny013]

I've never had it myself, but have heard some great things from friends up north. Give it a shot, I would!

 

[TheJadedDog]

Hmm one local distro has the Imperial Pils on discount for $25. I wonder if it's worth it?

Personally I would say no, it's not worth more than $12-$14; that said, if you're willing to pay $25 to try it, then that is what it's worth to you.

 

[Adolphus79]

SWMBO and I just finished a case of the Holiday Variety Pack, and I must say, except for the Cranberry Lambic, they were all pretty decent... I think the Winter Lager is so far my favorite SA brew, the Holiday porter and the Old Fezziwig were quite tasty... the Cream Stout was a little hoppy for a stout (in my opinion), but was still pretty good...

 

[GloHoppa]

as far as Sam Adams, by and far the beer i have had from them has been pound for pound (or beer for beer) one of the best overall breweries I have had multiple beers from. their honey porter is delicious, their boston lager is awesome, winter lager is equally as tasty, and the only beer I have tried from them that I had serious trouble drinking was the cranberry lambic. the best way to describe this swill would be making a bowl of cereal (cheerios or something like that) and then instead of milk using cranberry juice and eating the whole bowl. VERY grainy and VERY tart. no balance whatsoever...

other than that im a big SA fan...

 

[RICLARK]

as far as Sam Adams, by and far the beer i have had from them has been pound for pound (or beer for beer) one of the best overall breweries I have had multiple beers from. their honey porter is delicious, their boston lager is awesome, winter lager is equally as tasty, and the only beer I have tried from them that I had serious trouble drinking was the cranberry lambic. the best way to describe this swill would be making a bowl of cereal (cheerios or something like that) and then instead of milk using cranberry juice and eating the whole bowl. VERY grainy and VERY tart. no balance whatsoever...

other than that im a big SA fan...

Damn Than it must taste like the cherry Wheat. I think the cherry wheat is one of the most awful beers I have ever had it tastes like the Red liquid Nyquil it is horrible!

 

[zoebisch01]

Personally I would say no, it's not worth more than $12-$14; that said, if you're willing to pay $25 to try it, then that is what it's worth to you.

I dunno, $25 for a case price isn't too bad in my book. I just don't want a whole case of it if I don't like it

 

[kush]

but my favorites in the bunch were the Black Lager and the Honey Porter.

Agreed.

 

[gruntingfrog]

Hmm one local distro has the Imperial Pils on discount for $25. I wonder if it's worth it?

I just picked up a 4 pack this morning for 10 bucks and just cracked one open with lunch. Trust me. If that price is for a case, it's plenty worth it.

It tastes much like an IPA, but so clean.
Beautiful hop aroma and flavor.
Perfect balance of bitterness/maltiness (if you like IPAs).
8.8% alcohol, so I think one will be all I have for now.

Like a lot of you, I have been disappointed in many of the Sam Adams specialty beers, but this is fantastic.

 

[beta pleated sheet]

I haven't had too much SA, but I do quite like the winter lager. And the imperial pilsner! That beer tastes like sex.

 

[westerntrout]

picked up a sixer of the 'winter holiday' lager last week. read something like 'amber' on the box. when i was bringing it into the house, with SWMBO right behind me, i looked at the package again and saw 'cinnamon, ginger' etc and went ballistic! i HATE spiced beers. SWMBO thought i was cussing at HER! took an hour for her to calm down enough for me to explain that i was cussing out the entire family history of Jim Koch and anyone else who had anything to do with that beer. after a couple of days i tried one, you know, just because. hmmm, damn good. maybe i don't hate spiced beers after all. SWMBO is still a bit miffed though, she has a tough time believing a grown man would literaly throw a fit over beer and i feel a bit stupid too