Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Poured from the bottle into a double-walled pint glass. Pour produced a clear, amber body, topped by a generous head of white foam.. Malts are the predominant note in the aroma, with smatterings of hops for good measure. This has a moderate mouthfeel, with a crisp carbonation. The palate is clean with a dry, bitter finish, beginning with hints of caramel sweetness. After being absorbed by Miller, it is impressive that Samuel Adams produces a decent product.

Enjoyed via 12oz bottle and draft on several occasions. Pours a nice medium copper color, with a reasonably long-lasting white head. In the span of occasions in which I have sampled this beer, there have been some substantial differences in the aromas I’ve picked up. At times, it has been malt forward, showing a nice complexity between base malt and crystal malts. Other times, it has been very hop-forward, giving notes closer to an American pale ale that had been dry-hopped. My guess is that the samples had aged for different amounts of time, the hops having fallen out of the former as it got older. On the palate, the beer shows notes of malt and hop balance. I didn’t detect any indication of the use of a decoction mash (i.e, high levels of caramel and other melonoidins) but some malt complexity is noted. The hops make an appearance to pretty much balance the malt, although, as mentioned before, this depends on the age of the sample. The finish is clean and relatively dry. Overall, the original east coast microbrew is not a great beer in comparison with what has become commercially available since the early 1980s, but it does deliver in a manner that mass-produced industrial pale lagers cannot.

Bottle. Clear golden with a medium foamy off white head with good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma is citrus and malt. Flavor is grainy malt with citrusy hops, some herbal notes, a bit of caramel and a nice bitter finish. Thin to medium body. Mouthfeel is a little creamy.

355ml bottle poured into a tulip. Nice golden amber color with one finger off-white head. Aroma is vanilla. Flavor starts sweet and quickly turns bitter. Finish is medium to long of hoppy bitterness.

Bottle. Small, off-white head, with little lacing. Body is very clear, no particles present, with an amber color. Aroma is neither offensive or attractive... smells like your typical beer in this category. Surprisingly heavier on the body then you would think from its appearance; slightly oily/creamy with average duration for its type. Little carbonation, with a bitter finish. Impressive addition to its class from a macro... would definitely have again.

Bottle LCBO. Clear goldy pour fizzy head. Really respectable gateway beer, with a sweet but not heavy caramel malt profile, and sleek hops.

Poured a copper color with a nice white head. Had a typical skunky aroma that most premium lagers have. Light flavors of malt, hops and a little bit of fruitiness. Definitely one of the best light beers that I have had.

Overall Impression: What is there to say about this beer? One of those stepping stone beers if you will. Sure seemed great compared to the PBRs I was drinking in high school, but now? It’s a solid and properly rated beer that I’ve always liked.