Samuel Adams LongShot Old Ale

Formerly brewed at Boston Beer Company
Style: Old Ale
Boston, Massachusetts USA

The deep copper tone and a two finger frothy head were the first positive impressions of this bottled home brew from Sam Adams. The body was clear and the apparent carbonation was very low. The smell was malty, but not as rich as other Old Ales I’ve sampled before. The aromas detectable were dates, strawberry, molasses, and brow sugar, but I had to inhale deeply to truly smell it. The taste was moderately sweet with a lot of molasses flavor. There were also hints of spice (from hops I presume) and earthy minerals to keep the malts from completely dominating. The texture was rich and soft, I loved the way the beer just glided off the tongue. The aftertaste was not as sticky as other soft ales, and the light spritz of the carbonation served to cleanse the palette after each sip. Quite easy to drink for a beer of this strength.

Pours a clear mahogany brownish red with a resilient, thick head. The aroma was filled with dried fruits and a little yeast. The flavor was similar. Huge malts with a very, very complex fruitness. Difficult to specificly say whcih fruits, but I think the cliche "dark fruits" fits well. Not much hop bitterness to speak of. The alcohol is hidden well, but the moutfeel is a little sticky and not clean on the finish. Overall, quite an interesting representation of the style, which I think I have now discovered I’m not a huge fan of.

Dark brown,clear beer, huge thick tan head. Nice aromas of figs,prunes and other dark and mysterious fruits., sweet yet at the same time nutty .Chocolate cake. Taste is all of the above with the inclusion of treacle toffee and dark chocolate. Quite good palte on this one, smooth as silk and not as much alcohol tatse as predicated by the volume. A nice "soft" night cap. Well done again to the homebrewers!

Pours dark mahogany with a thin, mostly receding tan head. Aroma of caramelized wort, toffee, prunes. Taste is sticky sweet and caramelized with notes of nuts, prunes, and plums. Mouthfeel is full bodied, slightly sticky with moderate carbonation. Cheers to all the LongShot winners, I enjoyed your beers, although I’m sure they were better as homebrews!

Bottle. Pours copper with a small fading tan head. Nose is rich and sweet with dark fruits, brown sugar, cake, and caramel. Taste is creamy and rich malts, caramel, rum cake, dark fruits and light spice. Alcohol is present but not overpowering. Body is sticky in spots. Average to above average carbonation tingle. Light warmth as well. Medium overall feel. Finishes with rich malts, caramel, brown sugar dark fruits and rum cake. Very nice!

Clear copper/brown color with a small head. Aroma of brown sugar and dark fruit. Taste is very sweet, like brown sugar candy and raisins. Alcohol is well covered. Desert beer, for sure.

The ale filled filled a glass with a deep copper colored body and a medium-sized light tan head; excellent lacing remained as I slowly enjoyed this beer. Aroma is nearly all malt, with caramel and dried fruit predominating. The initial palate is quite sweet, as suggested by the aroma, but with more complexity and distinct raisin, brown sugar and black cherry notes. The finish counter-balances the initial palate sweetness with mild hop bitterness and noticeable alcohol dryness. I’m not particularly familiar with this style, but I find it quite reminiscent of the barleywine or doppelbock genres.

Deep copper/ruby body, thin tan head with solid lacing. Nose is dark fruit - plum, fig, some red grape. Flavor is rich dark fruits, tobacco, brown sugar, a bit of hop presence, lots of sweet caramel. Peraps a bit cloying.