Exploring Samuel Adams' Diverse Beer Flavors

The Boston Beer Company's flagship brand, Samuel Adams, offers a wide range of beers with distinct flavours. Founded by Jim Koch, the company has a rich history and has gained recognition for its innovative and award-winning beers. With a focus on reshaping how Americans perceive their beer, Samuel Adams has crafted an extensive variety of beers, from lagers to ales and IPAs, each with its unique taste profile. The brand's commitment to brewing has resulted in a diverse selection of beverages that cater to different preferences and occasions, making it a popular choice for beer enthusiasts across the globe.

Boston Lager

Samuel Adams, often shortened to Sam Adams, is the flagship brand of the Boston Beer Company. It was founded by Jim Koch in 1984 and is named after US Founding Father Samuel Adams, who inherited his father's brewery on Boston's King Street (modern-day State Street).

The brand offers more than 21 styles of award-winning beer and is recognised globally as a hub of new beer ideas. One of its most popular beers is the Boston Lager, which is brewed according to a recipe from Koch's great-great-grandfather.

The Boston Lager is an amber lager and the flagship product of the Boston Brewing Company. It is brewed using a time-consuming, traditional four-vessel brewing process that has been discarded by many contemporary brewers. This process brings forth a rich sweetness from the malt that makes it well worth the effort. The beer uses only the finest of ingredients, including two-row barley and German Noble aroma hops. The exclusive use of two-row barley not only imparts a full, smooth body but also gives the beer a wide spectrum of malt flavour, ranging from slightly sweet to caramel to slightly roasted. The Noble hops varieties, Hallertau Mittelfruh and Tettnang Tettnanger, add a wide range of floral, piney, and citrus notes that are present from the aroma through to the lingering smooth finish.

In 2023, the Boston Lager was "remastered" to be "easier-drinking". This change in the brewing process has been controversial among loyal drinkers, with some appreciating the lighter, hoppier version, and others feeling that the new recipe lacks character. Despite the mixed reviews, the Boston Lager continues to be a popular choice, with many drinkers considering it a gateway to craft beer.

New England-style India pale ale

The New England-style India pale ale (NEIPA) is a hazy and juicy beer with a medium body and a big punch of citrus juiciness. It is characterised by its emphasis on hop aroma and flavour, without the bitterness that is usually associated with IPAs. The New England IPA is created using late and dry hopping techniques, as well as the addition of wheat or oats, to deliver a bursting, juicy, tropical hop experience. The appearance of the beer ranges from slightly hazy to opaque and cloudy.

The New England IPA is a style of beer that has been dominating, influencing and inspiring brewers and consumers for several years. It is a variation of the traditional India pale ale, which was originally an export beer shipped to India, under the control of the British East India Company until 1858. The early IPAs were lightly hopped and quite different from the IPAs of today. The New England IPA, on the other hand, is known for its juicy, luscious mouthfeel and opaque, hazy appearance.

The Boston Beer Company's Samuel Adams has a New England-style India pale ale that is described as "hazy and juicy". It is available in 12 oz and 16 oz cans and is also part of the "Wicked IPA Party Pack". The beer has a 6.8% ABV and a low 35 IBUs, contributing to its unfiltered and fruity hop aroma.

The New England IPA style is not limited to beers brewed in New England, but the name and style have been adopted by brewers around the world who put their own regional twist on it.

Session IPA

Samuel Adams Beach Session IPA is a hazy blonde beer with a whitish head. It has a citrus, wheat, and grass aroma, with notes of orange, lime, pineapple, and mango. The beer has a bitter hoppy taste with a bitter finish. It is also described as having a high level of carbonation, resulting in a mineral-like taste reminiscent of a pilsner. The beer is light and refreshing, with a clean bitter finish.

The Samuel Adams Beach Session IPA is part of the brand's Summer Breeze mix pack. It has an ABV of 4.7%, making it a good choice for those who want to drink more than a couple of IPAs. It is described as a simplistic, easy-drinking beer with a neutral grain profile and a slightly sweet finish.

The Samuel Adams Session IPA has been reviewed by several beer enthusiasts, with ratings ranging from 2.62/5 to 4.5/5. While some reviewers appreciate its well-rounded nature and easy drinkability, others find it underwhelming and lacking in flavour. However, it's important to note that this particular IPA is not intended to be an over-the-top style, and its mild flavour may be preferable to those who are not fans of the typical bitterness or sharp citrus notes of IPAs.

The Samuel Adams brand, founded by Jim Koch, is the flagship of the Boston Beer Company. It offers a wide range of beers, including lagers, ales, IPAs, stouts, and more. The brand is known for its award-winning beers and innovative new beer ideas.

Double New England-style IPA

Samuel Adams, the flagship brand of the Boston Beer Company, offers a wide range of beers, including the Double New England-style IPA. This style of IPA is characterised by its intense fruit flavours, soft body, smooth mouthfeel, and hazy appearance. With less perceived bitterness than traditional IPAs, the Double New England-style IPA emphasises late and dry hopping techniques, often using hops with tropical fruit qualities, to create a "juicy" character.

The Samuel Adams Double New England-style IPA is available individually only in New England and along the Atlantic coast. However, for those outside of this region, it can be found nationwide as part of the "Wicked IPA Party Pack". This variety pack offers a range of unique flavours, including an IPA with hints of papaya and coconut, a non-alcoholic hazy IPA, and a non-alcoholic lager.

The New England-style IPA, in general, is a modern craft beer style that originated in the New England region of the United States. It is known for its emphasis on hop aroma and flavour, without the bracing bitterness typically associated with IPAs. This style often includes the addition of wheat or oats, contributing to the alluring haze that has made this variation of the American IPA so popular.

The Double New England-style IPA takes the characteristics of its single counterpart and amplifies them. While it retains the smooth mouthfeel and juicy, tropical flavours, the double version often has a fuller body and more intense flavours. The best examples of this style strike a balance between the intense flavours and a drinkability that is characteristic of IPAs.

Non-alcoholic lager

Samuel Adams, the flagship brand of the Boston Beer Company, offers a wide range of beers, including non-alcoholic options. One of these non-alcoholic options is their non-alcoholic lager, which has 98 calories per 12 oz serving. This lager is likely to be smooth and easy to drink, in line with the brand's mission to create highly enjoyable American beers.

The Boston Beer Company was founded by Jim Koch, who comes from a long line of Cincinnati brewers. The company's flagship beer, Samuel Adams, was first brewed in Koch's kitchen in 1984. The brand has since expanded to offer over 21 styles of award-winning beer, including the non-alcoholic lager.

The non-alcoholic lager is part of the brand's commitment to innovation and exploration in the beer space. It provides an option for those who want to enjoy the taste of beer without consuming alcohol. This lager is carefully crafted to retain the flavour and character of a traditional lager, while removing the alcohol content.

Samuel Adams' non-alcoholic lager is likely to have a crisp, refreshing taste with a well-balanced blend of flavours. The brand is known for its use of high-quality ingredients, including noble hops and carefully selected malts, which contribute to the flavour and aroma of their beers. The non-alcoholic lager, as a non-alcoholic option, may have a more subtle flavour profile, but it still embodies the brand's dedication to creating enjoyable and accessible beers.

In conclusion, Samuel Adams' non-alcoholic lager is a testament to the brand's creativity and inclusivity. With this lager, Samuel Adams offers a refreshing and flavourful option for those seeking a non-alcoholic beverage without compromising on taste and quality.

Frequently asked questions