Why does all Samuel Adams Beer Taste Bad?

[myelo]

are we talking about on tap, or bottled? I've never found one of their bottled beers i'm excited about, although the plain old lager is at least drinkable. On top definitely better.

That's what she said.

sorry

 

[--0o0o0--]

I can get behind SA too. I really like their Old Fezziwig. It's too bad you have to buy a whole Xmas time variety 12 pack just to get two of them. Other than that I like the standard Boston lager and Boston ale.

 

[foam_top]

It's not my go-to brewery but I quite enjoy the majority of their line-up. Rebel Rouser, Grapefruit IPA, Cream Stout, Winter Lager, Hopflake IPA, Octoberfest, Pumpkin, Black Lager and probably more.

 

[d3track]

I don't think it gets treated well by a lot of distributors and liquor stores. At the brewery I was really surprised by fresh Boston lager, and they had an oyster stout that I actually enjoyed.

It also goes to show that it's good there is variety, as people enjoy different tastes.

 

[Invertalon]

One of the best beers I had in 2016 was fresh Boston Lager at the brewery in Boston. Insane how good it was.

Noble Pils is amazing as well. Oktoberfest... Many fantastic beers.

Maybe not "extreme" enough for the crafty, "snobby" beer lovers. Let's be honest. For people who appreciate all beer, they do fantastic stuff.

 

[GPP33]

They used to sell an "deconstructed" Latitude 48 IPA variety 12 pack. It had 2 beers with all the hops combined and 10 beers (two) each with the base beer and single variety hops. The EKG IPA was pretty good as well as the Mosaic and Hallertau Mittelfrueh. If they sold that again I'd buy it. And the Cream Stout.

http://brewpublic.com/uncategorized/samuel-adams-latitude-48-ipa-deconstructed-12-pack/

That's an awesome idea. I might need to try that with my rye IPA.

 

[APendejo]

I gave up on all Sam Adams beers last summer. Seems every single one of their beers had that dirty mop bucket smell going on.

 

[njviking]

Had you been brewing 30 years ago or drinking craft beer, you'd probably have a different opinion.

But yes, nowadays they're a bit iffy,

 

[JordanKnudson]

I am not really saying anything new here, but...

I find Sam Adams to be pleasant and approachable, if not always mind-blowing. My parents didn't drink much when I was growing up, but when they would get beer, it was always Sam Adams, and so when I got older that's what I went to as a "known" brand. Drinking their Boston lager, summer ale, winter lager, and white ale (which I think either got replaced by or became Cold Snap) was how I first got interested in craft beer. I have nice memories of it and I still order it sometimes if the options are limited.

That said, they do make some stinkers...Chocolate cherry bock in the holiday sampler case, anyone?

 

[TheMadKing]

Beers from all over the country I have had cans with floaters and band aid phenols most commonly. Many barrel aged beers that I have let sit for awhile have come up quite questionable after a year. Just look to the Bourbon county debacle of last year for that. I am in a club that has a large amount of traders and collectors and unfortunately beers gone bad are not uncommon.

Floaters and phenols are not infection, and barrel aged beers are oxidized intentionally. Everything you are describing sounds like beer that had been aged for way longer than it should have. Most beers do not benefit from cellering, the exceptions being barleywine and sours. I too have consumed hundreds of craft beers from all over the country and have never once seen an infected can/bottle. I HAVE had an Oscar Blues pilsner that was a couple years old because I didn't check the production date. It was nasty, and stale and cloudy, but that was the stores fault, and mine, not the brewery.

 

[madscientist451]

Most beers do not benefit from cellering, the exceptions being barleywine and sours.

Add to the list of exceptions? Lagers, Stouts, Porters, California Common, Saisons, probably many more I can't think of right now.
But back to the original subject of Sam Adams: I agree many of their offerings aren't all that great, but homebrewers and beer nerds (enthusiasts)
aren't their target market. Sam Adams is a large industrial brewery seeking mass acceptance.

 

[TheMadKing]

Add to the list of exceptions? Lagers, Stouts, Porters, California Common, Saisons, probably many more I can't think of right now.

But back to the original subject of Sam Adams: I agree many of their offerings aren't all that great, but homebrewers and beer nerds (enthusiasts)

aren't their target market. Sam Adams is a large industrial brewery seeking mass acceptance.

Disagree, lagers should be lagered appropriately but, as I said, a 2 year old pilsner was absolutely ruined.

Stouts and porters should be consumed within 3 months of brewing. RIS is a different story and should be aged though.

California common I don't know enough about, but arrogant bastard and dead guy both should not be aged excessively (less than 6 months). and Saisons are designed to be consumed young and fresh, and should never be aged... They shouldn't even be a thing for that matter.. Nasty clove flavored Belgian milkshake [emoji16]

 

[Brownalemikie]

I've tried most of SA's beers including their Winter variety 12 pack and never desired to drink most of them again. Oktoberfest is the only SA beer I'll buy every year. It's not great but at least I can use the empty bottles for my home brew.

 

[brokebucket]

My hypothesis on SA is not specific to them, but to any bottled beer. The beer you poured from a bottle at your house is absolutely NOT the same beer that left the brewery. Sam Adams is going to really suffer from this, since they are sold everywhere...from bottle shops to convenience stores. There is no telling how many miles are on that bottle. You brew a batch, or get something fresh and local, there is good reason why that beer tastes so much better.

Judging SA by the skunked bottle you bought at Sheetz isnt really a fair assessment.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

I don't like sam adams because I remember their owner stating he wasn't an 'ipa guy' and that isn't what they make, from an interview. which is fine, I don't have a problem with that, (I don't like traditional Belgian beers and I don't bitch about it).

What I do have a problem with is the fact that 6 months later, not only did I see a couple of brand new sam adams ipas on my local shelves, i also saw a flippin mixed ipa pack from sam adams.... they obviously realized the huge market for ipas and decided they wanted to cash in on that money train. that is what bothers me to no end.

i realize this thread is about the taste of the beer, but there is something more important than taste when discussing beer, its character of the person/brewery brewing it. i love ipas, and ill be damned if i am going to support a brewery that 'doesnt like' ipas, yet still brews them.

To be fair he wasn't on board for most of the stuff they've come out with thats why he only does commercials for Boston Lager. Thats what happens when other people own more stock in your company than you do. And FWIW I think SA beer is mediocre at best. Maybe their Boston stuff is good but IIRC the majority of their beer is made in regional facilities not from home base.
Concrete Beach, which Koch started, beats the pants off anything Ive ever had from Sam Adams.

 

[Maylar]

I love their Octoberfest. If I find it on draft I get one every time.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Sam's Oktoberfest was good is was even served in Munich last year.

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

I don't actively seek out SA, but neither do I avoid it, with the notable exception of the Cherry Wheat, that stuff should be outlawed in civilized countries.

That said I really like their Noble Pils, Ruthless Rye, and for some bizarre reason I have a soft spot in my heart for Old Fezziwig.

 

[Cavpilot2000]

I don't like sam adams because I remember their owner stating he wasn't an 'ipa guy' and that isn't what they make, from an interview. which is fine, I don't have a problem with that, (I don't like traditional Belgian beers and I don't bitch about it).

What I do have a problem with is the fact that 6 months later, not only did I see a couple of brand new sam adams ipas on my local shelves, i also saw a flippin mixed ipa pack from sam adams.... they obviously realized the huge market for ipas and decided they wanted to cash in on that money train. that is what bothers me to no end.

i realize this thread is about the taste of the beer, but there is something more important than taste when discussing beer, its character of the person/brewery brewing it. i love ipas, and ill be damned if i am going to support a brewery that 'doesnt like' ipas, yet still brews them.

"cash in on the money train"?
Or how about Jim Koch runs a major business enterprise that employs hundreds of people, so despite his personal preferences, he reacts to the market demands so he can stay in business.
Yeah, what a sellout...
Come on, man - as a hobbyist, you can make whatever the hell you want without catering to anyone. If you were in the beer business, I guarantee you would make what the consumer wants, otherwise you'd be out of business.

 

[Cavpilot2000]

I like quite a few SA products, and their Boston Lager is a great anytime go-to, but it really needs to be on draft from a place that goes through a lot of it (so it's fresh), and keeps good, clean lines. Under those circumstances, it's fantastic. I don't like it in bottles or cans though.

But they also make some other excellent beers - Cold Snap (unless you don't like coriander), their Double Bock is fantastic (if you can find it), and several of their other lagers and lighter IPAs.

If you're a hardcore hophead and are always drinking Pliny and Heady, then no, they don't make anything for your tastes. Or, if you are younger, and relatively new (within the last 10 years) to the beer scene, you probably have no appreciation for SA's contribution to the world of beer, and probably don't remember when Boston Lager was one of the only interesting beers you could get, at least on the East Coast (in which case, you probably also grew up with a beer palate more oriented toward newer, "extreme" styles, which is not what SA does or is known for).

 

[kristiismean]

sam adams is the beer to drink when that's all that's available other than the BMC on tap. It's consistent and i know what I am getting. to me it's better than lite, bud light, etc..

in bottles their rebel series is actually not to shabby.

but I don't bother with their Oktoberfest, since I am so close to Capitol brewery, who makes an Oktoberfest that I love.

 

[Cavpilot2000]

I used to like their Oktoberfest, say, 10 years ago, but nowadays I feel like it is too caramelly for the style. (I don't think their recipe has changed - I just think I've had a lot more exposure to real German festbiers, and I think MOST american attempts at the style are too heavy and caramelly.

 

[TheMadKing]

I used to like their Oktoberfest, say, 10 years ago, but nowadays I feel like it is too caramelly for the style. (I don't think their recipe has changed - I just think I've had a lot more exposure to real German festbiers, and I think MOST american attempts at the style are too heavy and caramelly.

I agree that it's heavy for a festbier but that's because it's brewed more like a traditional Marzen

Festbier anymore is much lighter and more drinkable than the Marzen that used to be considered the same as oktoberfest beer.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

"cash in on the money train"?
Or how about Jim Koch runs a major business enterprise that employs hundreds of people, so despite his personal preferences, he reacts to the market demands so he can stay in business.
Yeah, what a sellout...
Come on, man - as a hobbyist, you can make whatever the hell you want without catering to anyone. If you were in the beer business, I guarantee you would make what the consumer wants, otherwise you'd be out of business.

The thing is the guy hasn't owned 50+% of Sam Adams for some time now. While as of 2012 he was still one of 5 people on their executive team "a number of financial institutions follow Koch in terms of ownership of the company, led by Neuberger Berman Group LLC with 14%. The ownership from these financial institutions comprise well over 25% of Boston Beer. "

http://www.beerpulse.com/2012/04/bo...jim-koch-owns-common-stock-worth-460-million/

My point here is he could have fought for everything he said in the video only to be overruled at the end of the day by other players in the business. This happens a lot.

 

[TheHopfather]

I think Sam Adams is fine. All that I can get waaay up in the frozen north is Boston Lager and Rebel IPA, both are alright. Nothing mind blowing but I wouldn't turn one down if offered. I buy Sam Adams for the bottles, empty Rebel IPA bottles hold my homebrew very nicely.

 

[violinguy]

To me, SA is just fine and I often order it when I'm out and the restaurant's only "different" offerings are Shock Top and Michelob Ultra. I have tried several SA brews and the only ones I have not enjoyed at all are the fruit beers. Oktoberfest is very good (usually) and Rebel IPA is pretty good (but not as good as many other readily available IPAs). Boston Lager is an extremely drinkable go-to beer.

Everyone is entitled to his opinion. The only time I question a person's opinion is when they say that xyz brewery makes bad beer because that person doesn't like the taste. One can say a beer tastes awful, but that doesn't mean the brewery makes bad beer.

 

[Cavpilot2000]

I gave up on all Sam Adams beers last summer. Seems every single one of their beers had that dirty mop bucket smell going on.

Were you drinking them at a bar? Maybe the bar had bad tap lines?

 

[Cavpilot2000]

Questions?

If you don't like it, why do you buy SA beer then? Aren't there better choices out there you do like? How about your own homebrew?

I don't care for most SA beer either (anymore). There's so much better to be had nowadays, so I avoid it, it's simple. There are a few other breweries I just can't get into their beer either.

True, but then again they aren't trend-chasers either.
They make solid, mostly classic style variations, and often classic styles don't go over well with the crowd that wants Heady Topper. Then again, while I love some NEIPA, I think Heady Topper so massively overhyped.

 

[Cavpilot2000]

The thing is the guy hasn't owned 50+% of Sam Adams for some time now. While as of 2012 he was still one of 5 people on their executive team "a number of financial institutions follow Koch in terms of ownership of the company, led by Neuberger Berman Group LLC with 14%. The ownership from these financial institutions comprise well over 25% of Boston Beer. "

http://www.beerpulse.com/2012/04/bo...jim-koch-owns-common-stock-worth-460-million/

My point here is he could have fought for everything he said in the video only to be overruled at the end of the day by other players in the business. This happens a lot.

Sure, but my point is that he would be dumb to fight that fight, because of the consumer/market realities.
Sticking to "your guns" and arguing against making what the consumer wants is just dumb and bad business. Making what the consumer wants isn't selling out - it's keeping your business afloat.
I mean sure, if Sam Adams were a punk band, Koch and crew should stick to what they like and what they believe in. But when you are a company with hundred of people depending on your decisions for a livelihood, you do what makes business sense.

 

[Cavpilot2000]

I agree that it's heavy for a festbier but that's because it's brewed more like a traditional Marzen

Festbier anymore is much lighter and more drinkable than the Marzen that used to be considered the same as oktoberfest beer.

True, but I've been drinking a lot of German beers in the last few years (mainly because I'm making lots of trips to Germany in the last few years) and I still think "we" (Americans) tend to overdo it with caramel malts when brewing Marzens and Oktoberfests, but it's not surprising because "we" seem to think bigger/more is better in everything, and brewing is no exception (see the rise of West Coast IPA, Then NEIPA, and the "Imperialization" of everything).
I often lament that not many breweries do enough classic, old world styles, but then again, the American beer drinker's palate has become so attuned to "Big" beers (be it IBU, ABV, massive dry hops, or bourbon-barrel-triple-chocolate-mocha-cherry-latte-stout).
Too many drinkers here think classic styles are boring, so they don't buy or brew them.
That's not a value judgement, because to each his own, and who am I to say that there's anything wrong with a bourbon-barrel-triple-chocolate-mocha-cherry-latte-stout, but I lament that the nuanced delicacies of German lagers and British ales are so often lost to the newer trend-chasing "beer snob" crowd.

Okay, old curmudgeon rant complete.