Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Brewed by Boston Beer Company
Style: Premium Lager
Boston, Massachusetts USA

Re-rate after multiple samples from both bottle and draft. This beer frustrates me to no end, and it is so wildly inconsistent between various samples and formats. I’ve had really good, 3.6-3.7 Sam Adams, and I’ve had really bad 2.8-2.9 Sam Adams, sometimes all in the same week! This brew loses points for this inconsistency with me. It is still a good standby, and one of the better lagers out there, but it is all over the map for quality and consistency.

Original rating 7/4/7/4/15. I really think this beer is underrated due to its perceived "macro" status, which is a case of mistaken identity. Sure, you see it on commercials and it is argueably the worlds most popular "craft" brew.......but make no mistake, this is a very good beer. Color is a near perfect dark caramel-copper. Head is ample and off-white, with excellent lacing that lasts. Aromas are mild hops, caramel malts, and spice. Flavors are relatively complex, with layered sweet and savory malts, mild but abundant hops, nutmeg and pine. Nice body. Smooth but hoppy finish that lingers. Better on draft than from the bottle. Inconsistency between the two formats tempers its score potential for me. Easily one of the best values in the beer world.

Bottle. Rich golden brown, with a fluffy head, that remains lacy around the glass. The first thing is the strong roasted malt flavour, slightly sweet middle and then finally right at the end a bitter finish. I'm looking forward to the seasonal specials my NY buddies tell me about.

draft, pours amber with off white head. nice floral and earthy hop aroma, flavor isn’t as hoppy as the nose but still some pleasant noble hop notes, caramel body, clean and refreshing. i didn’t recall this beer having this nice a hop character. not bad at all.

(Bottle). Amber/deep golden colour, good head. Smells and tastes like a cross-breed between an ale and a lager. Flowery perfumed aroma (not unpleasant), malty flavour (a tad too sweet), plenty of bitterness in the aftertaste - but COMPLEX is not the word I would use. Decent (and of course infinitely better than the BMC stuff), but I'm sure there are better American beers out there.

Amber color...malty floral aroma...malty flavor witha little caramel and then a bitterness...not disgusting...

Clear amber color w/ a long lasting head. Very nice appearance. Good aroma. Very simple, typical lager flavor. I’m not big on lagers, but this one is palatable

One of the better lagers, way ahead of bud and miller. Some citrus in the start of the aroma, flavor crispy, ceraels.

This is really not a bad beer. While not great, it has alot of flavor for a lager. I was really impressed that I actually tasted hops. Have it on hand for the macro set.