Samuel Adams LongShot Grape Pale Ale

Brewed by Boston Beer Company
Style: Fruit Beer
Boston, Massachusetts USA

12 oz. bottle courtesy of DYCSoccer17 - thanks. Fairly typical pale ale appearance with rather finely laced eggshell head. Cereally aroma with some light caramel and grape - less wine grape than standard Concord grapes here. Contrary to the description, I definitely get red grapes versus white grapes here. Flavor is rather dry, rich cereal malts prevail. Very low acidity here, surprisingly, contributing to a rather odd mouthfeel. The grape is rather light in the flavor, really just contributing a fruity penumbra to the decisive maltiness. Rather dry in the finish, low bitterness. An unusual but well-executed beer.

A light amber apperance with a moderate white head. A very nice looking beer but that really is the highlight of this beer. The aroma contains hints of citrus as well as the obvious grapes and some caramel. This one is rather bland with some grapes and citrus in the flavor. Interesting idea but not executed well. Overall boring but ok.

Bottle. Body-deep gold/light brown body with a lasting 1 inch foamy head. Very pleasing to the eyes. Nose-stale crystal malt, lightly soapy, champagne, macroness. Taste-cheap hard grape candy, watered down unsweet grape Kool-Aid, high CO2, cherry, like a heavy, sweet, slightly fruity macro.

Thanks for the bottle, iowaherkeye. The body is deep gold with a light khaki head. The aroma is definite grape juice with some dandelions. There is also some lightly sour cranberry type smells in here. The taste is rich grape juice with some strong notes of nasty grass and hay in the finish. There is also some strange woody notes that distract. The body is fairly light. Again, like these other contest winners, I am sure that something was lost in translation. Overall, it is like watered down sugar free grape juice mixed with some children’s cough syrup.

I guess it’s a dry, clean beer, but not much else to say about it. Tasted almost like an old Spaten lager-- clean, but not much else going on. Couldn’t really taste the grape flavor or the maple syrup. Maybe should have double the grape and maple syrup to get something a little interesting. What a disappointment.

I really liked this one. Poured a beautiful copper colour with medium head. Malty aroma with fruity notes. Sweet initial taste that finishes with a bit of bitterness. I would have liked more bitterness, but otherwise, a tasty and relatively well balanced brew.

The grape mixed with hops is a very interesting concept. It smells unique but the flavor is not what I exactly like in a fruit beer. There was not a good mix of hop and grape.

Name: Longshot Grape Pale Ale
Date: 05/10/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: clear amber, wispy dirty white head, sudsy lace,
Aroma: sweet crystal malt aroma with a winey grape character, light floral hops,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, grape character adds additional winey sweetness, light hops for balance, light bitter finish,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4