Samuel Adams - Boston 26.2 Brew

Drinkers, today I am blessed with a special treat of sorts.  I have been gifted a bottle of Samuel Adams Boston 26.2 Brew.  Since I live in the Midwest and the Boston 26.2 Brew (what a mouth full!) is only in Boston and only "available at race-related events, as well as pubs and restaurants along the Marathon route and around Boston," I am very stoked to be sampling this brew.  A HUGE thanks goes out to my east coast friend that made this possible.  With the Boston Marathon only a week away, it's time to review this very limited brew.

One more very cool aspect about this beer is that it is brewed in the Gose style.  No, not geuze (or gueuze depending on your spelling), but a Gose style.  If you don't know much about it, you're not alone.  It's a style that was all but extinct, but has been kept around by some rather dedicated breweries (read all about the Gose style here or its Wikipedia article).  Long story short?  It was originally a spontaneously fermented beer made with malted wheat (50% of grain bill), coriander, and salt.  Not only is this a great opportunity for me to try a beer exclusively available on the east coast in Boston, but also to try a style that I have never seen before let alone tasted.  Big props to Samuel Adams for not only showing some love to it's home market, but for also brewing a style that is not only "not popular," it barely exists!  They're educating beer drinkers once again and it's no surprise.  I'm very excited to crack this open and see what this style is all about.  Let's pour!

Aroma 10/12

A simple bouquet here, but it's effective.  A lemon zest citrus is the initial primary aroma, but there is a sweetness behind it, as if it were cream-filled but in a much more subtle way.  A tickle of Belgian spice is behind that and I attribute it entirely to the coriander used in the making of this beer.  It's like a light Belgian with very little spice, plus a little bit of lemon.  Ahh, and now the wheat begins to come forward as the beer warms.  It makes the beer smell much less "light" and definitely shows the origins of the lemon aroma.

Appearance 1/3

Somewhat pilsner-esque in appearance: extremely high clarity, no notable ascending carbonation, bright gold in color with hues of the wheat sheaves located in the center of the glass.  Carbonation was one finger tall, offered less than average retention in the pure white head, but remained to cover the surface.  No lacing.  I imagine the acidity has something to do with the poor head & retention, but if there is one thing I expect an established, "bigger" brewer to do, it's to nail the technical aspects.  This was not up to the high level that Samuel Adams has previously established.

Flavor 16/20

This is definitely its own character!  Loads of malted wheat is present right off the bat, not only in a substantial and pleasing mouthfeel, but also with grain and lemon flavor.  To those worried about the salt used in the brewing process: don't be.  The salt is initially quite noticeable, but eventually blends in as the palate grows accustomed to the newcomer.  The backbone is mostly a continuation of the wheat flavors, but adds the salt in a way that compliments the light citrus astringency.  This is NOT like shaking salt into a summer shandy.  The wheat and salt are both far too delicate.  They neither insult the drinker with too much sweetness, nor disgust him/her with too much salt.  I can see how either could happen, so this is a delicate balance to achieve.  A quick slurp brings forward the cream-like sweetness and the citrus.  The finish is a classic wheat taste: very fresh with pure grain flavors and a crispness that ends in the lightest of bitters.  The aftertaste is mostly clean but does leave the faint citrus and bitter remnants of the wheat.

Mouthfeel 5/5

As mentioned earlier, all the wheat in this brew give it a much more substantial body than one would normally expect in a beer with flavors this light.  Overall, the body is medium-light, but seems lighter with the lively carbonation.  The first sips from the bottle were nearly champagne-like in amount, but not in texture.  While it does fade rather dramatically toward the end, there is still enough to make this a superb drink for the summer.  I would definitely encourage a wider distribution in the summer months.

Overall Impression 7/10

While I have no other gose style beers with which to compare this beer, from everything I've read, this seems to be a fine, lighter representation of the style.  Most references make reference to a "strong saltiness," "lemon tartness,"  and a "characteristic sourness," (the last being given by the wild yeasts that originally were used in its spontaneous fermentation).  This beer definitely does not possess the "stronger" characteristics of the attributes listed, but for a beer that's still trying to gain a foothold after being extinct on two separate occasions, maybe that's wise.  The authenticity will come with the demand.  There was no sourness present, but the coriander and salt certainly were.  A very refreshing brew that I certainly prefer to many of the shandies, hard lemonades, and "summer ales" currently available on the market.

Total 39/50

I enjoyed this beer's excellent wheat characteristics and the noticeable presence of lemon.  It's a welcome alternative to the overly-sweet, lemonade-tinged brews that come out of the woodwork every summer.  The subtlety was a nice change of pace, but I sure would like to see a more authentic type of this beer.  While the aforementioned characteristics were appreciated, this beer's lightness shows that it was indeed made for the runners.  Again, not that I have anything to compare it to, but it sounds like this beer was made of sterner stuff back in its heyday and now I'm curious of it's original form.  Now, can you give a richly flavored anything to someone that has just finished a marathon?  No.  In fact, I can't even imagine the rich flavor that this brew would attain after 26.2 miles.  Heck, I bet a caramel flavored rice cake would taste like a crème brûlée exploded in your head.  However, I think it's safe to say that most people that drink this will not have just run a marathon and might appreciate that bit of sour to compliment the lemon and salt.  Oddly the coriander didn't play that big a role in the flavor, but it was still nice to have in the aroma.  As it stands, it's no wonder they're serving it after the Boston Marathon.  This would be a God send after running a distance that borders on cruel and unusual punishment.  A lighter-bodied wheat beer that has plenty of carbonation should be on every runner's wish list.

Sam Adams, much like in my "novice" drinking days, you have introduced me to a style that I might not have otherwise tried.  It seems to be what you do best!  Thank you for making this style accessible to a much larger audience than it has had in decades and for giving other summer "refreshers" something to shoot for.  This is more than your average "lawnmower beer," and I'd love to see it in a more authentic setting (hint hint).

SOURCES:

http://beerstreetjournal.com/sam-adams-26-2-brew-officially-announced/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gose

http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/marathon-weekend/marathon-monday.aspx

http://www.germanbeerguide.co.uk/gose.html

http://www.samueladams.com/company/view-news.aspx?id=9e9794dd-12b3-4fd4-9fd5-e46d25f8e409

Samuel Adams - The Vixen

I was very pleased to see these Samuel Adams bombers on the shelf.  It seems I see plenty of the seasonal variety packs & sixers, but rarely their big, fancy, limited engagement bombers.  These must be an exception because I saw these all over the place.  "Good on ya!" to Sam Adams for not only producing 3 gajillion different seasonals, but also these more risque offerings that aren't necessarily aimed at "the masses."  It's a beautiful thing when a brewery is not "scary" to the macro crowd, still caters to the craft beer crowd, can "evangelize" craft beer by giving the macro crowd new things to try, and be large enough to do this on a national scale.

Samuel Adams just might be the most influential craft beer brewer in America and not just because they're the biggest.  Think of the sheer number of people they have gotten to try craft beer simply by being available, reasonably priced, and approachable by the average beer drinker.  The last characteristic is one that was created out of the first two, but they earned it all their own.  Let's face it, to the uninitiated those big ol' walls of bombers and crazy looking sixers might be rather intimidating.  Grocers, have tried to help my making the "pick six" variety packs, but ultimately it's a big wall of beer that most folks have never heard of.  Enter Samuel Adams.  They look like a 12 pack, sit with the other 12 packs, but have a reputation for being a better beer.  The taste has the good fortune to be of high quality, yet not avant garde enough to scare away the macro beer drinkers.  Who knows?  Maybe next time they pick up one of the seasonals.  It's like the perfect gateway beer.  Keep on spreading the craft beer gospel, Samuel Adams!

Editorial over.  Today's review is for one of the aforementioned bombers entitled "The Vixen."  It's a good choice for Valentine's Day, right?  Course it's also a good choice because Samuel Adams recently got their own Twitter account (@SamuelAdamsBeer) and I never properly welcomed them.  Let's pour!

Aroma 10/12
Nevermind pouring, simply opening the bottle puts the perfume of chocolate in the air.  The sniff from the pour shows why.  There are gobs of dark chocolate galore!  As in "Did I just place my nose into a chocolate fountain?"  The strong chocolate fades slowly in conjunction with the head, allowing eventually a roasted caramel malt to briefly appear, and what seems to be a lemony hop!  Lemon?  I must be mistaken, correct?  Absolutely not.  It's strange when it first starts to become detectable, but as the head dies out almost completely, this beer settles nicely into an almost equal parts blend of roasted chocolate malt, caramel malt, and the sharper, almost sour note of the Hallertau hops.

Appearance 2/3
The beer is very dark brown/black in shade and shows glints the color of stained cherry wood when held to light.  The head was enormous on this beer (see above pic), but fizzled down a bit quicker than I thought it would considering its size.  Thea head is a nice tan shade and is creamy looking to the point where each bubble is nearly indistinguishable from the next.

Flavor 17/20
The slight bitter of roasted malt shows itself first and then the chocolate from the aroma can be easily detected on the tip of the tongue.  The backbone continues this blend, but rapidly shows itself to be more than meets the eye (or nose!).  From its roasted, chocolatey beginnings, the beer rapidly becomes spicy with cinnamon which tingles on the tongue.  By the way, the chocolate is still running full force.  After holding the beer a while in the mouth, the tiniest hint of heat is becoming apparent toward the back of the tongue and it makes a pretty awesome blend with the super-smooth chocolate.  The sour hops are present, but with such strong primary flavors one almost forgets about them entirely.  The finish is a insanely bold stroke of cinnamon across the palate before it melds with the cocoa nibs, roasted malt, a distinct warmth, and a faint amount of heat from the chili peppers.  Whether or not someone from a culture that enjoys spicy foods would be able to taste this heat is debatable.  However, being a gringo that enjoys heat, I can say that it is barely detectable in the finish, but lingers on in the aftertaste when all the other flavors have dissipated, which helps it stand out a bit more.  In fact, that's about all the aftertaste is: a continuation of the earthy cocoa nibs and the gently rising and falling of the chilis' heat.

Mouthfeel 4/5
The chocolate smoothness that gets to take over (at times) is very nice and something that a lot of good malts can bring to a good bock.  Much like the head, the carbonation is initially somewhat aggressiv, though never prickly, and then fades away when held in the mouth.  This "aggressive" sensation is somewhat abetted by the spicy cinnamon, which does come across as a bit heavy.  The abundance of malt smoothness plus the lightly foaming carbonation lend a light level of creaminess that seems welcome and not out of place for the style.

Overall Impression 8/10
I dig this beer!  It's LOADED with flavor and very unique ones at that.  It labels itself as a "chocolate chili bock," but it strays far from the bock style with its hop aromas, roasted malt, and lack of clarity.  That said, I don't really care about the "straying from the style" as much as I once did.  What I do care about is the rather abrasive cinnamon that yells at you to sit up and pay attention.  It enters loudly, causes a ruckus, and then leaves almost as abruptly as it came.  It's a great ingredient to include in this beer, but I should've liked to see it blend more harmoniously with the other flavors.

Total 40/50
This is a tasty, chocolate forward beer that I would not be afraid to drink again.  It's a unique experience and if you're looking for something different to try, then have I got a Vixen for you to meet.  I feel that the strong cinnamon held it back in several areas.  It interrupted the flavors instead of complimenting them and it lent itself to an aggressive carbonation.  I feel that this score should be higher given the beer's flavorful nature, but I stand by my ranking.  Samuel Adams has done to me what it has done to so many other drinkers - gotten them to try something new.  I've only had three other beers in my life that have had a chili in them (Rogue, Bent River, Cave Creek) and this one was vastly different than any of them.  The smooth, chocolate-laden malts, bit of chili heat, and alcohol warmth were definite highlights that allow this beer to be a lesser expensive bomber to share among friends.  I guarantee they've not had anything like it.  It all goes to prove their old slogan, "Samuel Adams.  Always a good decision."

And so it was.  Welcome to Twitter!

Samuel Adams - Infinium (2011)

They said it couldn't be done.  They said I'd never make it.  The odds were not in my favor.  Well, I'm here to tell you that I did it.  I turned 30 today.  I lived just long enough to make my parents feel really old and to sprout a few silver additions to my hairline (which is wonderfully intact, thankyouverymuch).  Days like today call for celebration, which is why I'll be breaking out a beer meant for celebration: Samuel Adams' collaboration with Weihenstephan called Infinium.  Quite a namesake to live up to and I hope it does.  Let's pour!

Aroma 10/12
Lots of citrus fruits in the nose, but not in a way that one is accustomed to having them presented.  There is quite a nice blend of tangerines, orange rinds, lemons, and what could be argued to be a near-pear aroma.  However, these are not the bright, sharp citrus notes that one finds in a fresh fruit.  Instead they linger in the glass as a dull sweetness that is not quite the flavors with which we are familiar.  It's like eating candy from a foreign country: it's sweet, you know it's good, but it is unusual.  A wonderful medium roast rises from the brew and as the head dies, more of rich caramel tone joins in and blends interestingly with the citrus.  This unique blend, plus the alcohol warmth only enhances it intriguing peculiarity.  As the beer warms, a slightly musty or straw-like aroma joins the fray and paints a more complete picture of the hops involved in making this brew.


Appearance 3/3
The champagne presentation is not uncalled for considering the contents within.  The head rises exuberantly like champagne and fizzes just as noisily at the top.  It dies fairly quickly, but is still impressive given the head-destroying nature of citric acids.  It even leaves some nice lacing on my glass - not something I was expecting from a beer that smells of fruit.  The carbonation is very busy on the inside and constantly rises in a single, centered column.  The shades of gold and orange in this glass are also foreshadowed in the packaging (which is gorgeous by the way.  I almost felt guilty opening it!).  The eye captures loads of honey colors, burnt oranges, rusts, gourd flesh, and when held to light is quite striking.  The ascending carbonation makes it appear vibrant & alive!

Flavor 16/20
The amount of malt flavor in this beer is impressive.  The first sip is a full load of the caramel malt that was first detected in the aroma.  The backbone has quite a bit of warmth exposed - this is not a beer afraid to tell you it means business.  However, it threatens to overpower the overall composition of the beer.  This backbone is an orange liqueur (but thankfully not nearly as orange-laden as a liqueur) and a big, round, occasionally salty caramel malt.  Now that isn't terribly complex, but the interesting nature of the combination makes it very worthwhile.  This is a very big beer and it can be difficult to be nuanced when this large.  The finish is a continuation of the backbone with no large changes.  The only change is extremely subtle.  It is a glimmer of bright citrus trying to poke through like a distant, shining star on a cloudy night.

Mouthfeel 4/5
There's a lot to talk about with the mouthfeel of this beer.  First of all, it's boozy.  Not always a bad thing in a beer, but in this beer it seems like the alcohol is trying (successfully) to be part of the flavor profile and not just an attribute of the beer.  It's not hot, but I think it comes closer than any other beer I've sampled.  Second, the carbonation is a very interesting choice.  Yes, the brewers are trying to mimic the effervescence of champagne, but it is quite a contrast from the big beer that contains it.  One normally expects a big beer to be a bit smoother and gently carbonated.  Infinium, goes the complete opposite direction, filling this beer with lively bubbles that foam up and fill the mouth when sipped.  The body is immense and smooth, and despite the large amounts of caramel malts it doesn't leave the mouth the least bit slick.  In fact, true to its champagne roots, the aftertaste is quite dry.

Overall Impression 7/10
This is definitely a sound, very big beer.  However, it has elements which make it not seem too large.  The carbonation is vivacious and delicate, the smoothness coaxes the beer down your throat, the citrus flavors are gentle, and the color is bright and cheerful.  On the other hand, the body is a behemoth juggernaut that could probably take over a medium-sized metropolitan area and while the warmth isn't strong enough to be a flaw, I feel that it covers up a lot of the details that I'm sure each brewer would want to shine.

Total 40/50
First things first, this is some of the most elegant, well-designed packaging I've ever seen.  It draws the drinker in and intimidates them in the same breath.  Second, I almost didn't make it to 31.  This cork POPPED, slammed into the ceiling and surprised the hell out of me when it did it.  Had I known it was going to make such an entrance I would've opened it around more family members and scared them as well.

This beer has many of the champagne's characteristics it seeks: wonderful carbonation, great aroma, drying aftertaste, and alcohol.  It also has many of the beer characteristics that it sought not to lose: large body, rich malts, dry-hopped aroma, sticky head, and overall character.  It's a great blend of two celebratory beverages!  My only complaints are thus:  I wish the flavor had erred more on adding a bit more bright citrus to balance out the heaps of caramel malt, and I wish the alcohol were a bit more camouflaged to let those flavors work their magic.  That said, this is a big beer on par with any of the other big boys in the market.

Probably more important that any other aspect of this beer is the "listening" behind it.  I'm glad to see that Jim Koch and the folks down at Sam Adams listened to their consumers' complaints with this beer and tweaked the recipe from last year.  That shows humility and a desire to satisfy the customer.  I think with another tweak or two, this beer will be at the level Samuel Adams and Weihenstephan are seeking: sophisticated, festive, and above all, supremely tasty.

Samuel Adams - Latitude Series (Part II)

Well, judging from the popularity of the first part of this two part series there are a fair number of you waiting to hear about the last three varieties of hops involved in making Samuel Adams' Latitude 48 Deconstructed Series.  I'll just get right down to brass tacks, then.  Let's pour!

The fourth hop: SIMCOE 

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational purposes only.

Aroma 11/12
This is so nice I wish brewers would make an IPA out of this hop alone.  Brewers: please consider that a challenge.  The aroma was abundant the second I opened the bottle, not even waiting for the pour.  It is almost champagne-like with a wood/nut aroma in close contention.  There is a light pine and grass note in the background that seems to be an afterthought, but as the beer warms it blends superbly with the champagne and citrus smells.

Appearance 3/3
Color is the same reddish-copper as the others, but the head is (forgive me) "head" and shoulders above the rest.  It is thick, frothy, stiff, becomes lumpy, and leaves an almost solid lace on my glass.  Excellent!

Picture is my own.

Flavor 19/20
An immediate bitter splash is the bold introduction for this brew and dives immediately into its backbone.  On the tongue this beer has just as much molasses as the color would have us believe, but with some woody tones, and a sharp, sour citrus note that shines through it all.  After being held in the mouth a bit, a sugar sweetness also develops.  The finish is a fantastic IPA bitter finish.  It is exactly what one should expect from an IPA.  It builds off the prior sour flavors and really uses them to beautifully transition into a resinous bitter.  The fade from one to the other is very tasty and very cool.  The aftertaste is surprisingly clean, given the bitter finish, and also leaves the mouth dry.

Mouthfeel 5/5
Did you notice I didn't start the flavor section "Again with the distracting carbonation," like all the others in this series?  That's because it didn't have it.  I'm not sure how.  I stored them the same way, opened them the same way, handled them the same way, etc.  Its mouthfeel is definitely different and I shall describe it as a certain well-copyrighted Disney character: "Practically perfect in every way."

Overall Impression 9/10
I am very impressed with this offering.  Excellent, unique aroma, superior appearance, distinct flavor transitions, and a perfect stylistic mouthfeel are definitely ingredients for this beer's success.  What else can I say?  Wow.

Total 47/50
Yeah, I'm surprised by the score too, but I stand by it.  This is an amazing hop!  After re-reading all the flavor sensations it gave me (molasses, sharp citrus, the crazy fade to bitter/pine), I thought to myself, "How can anyone not like beer?"  This is a fun beer to drink a glass of and since you receive two, almost worth the price of the 12 pack itself.  Seriously.  I haven't even had the last beer of the bunch yet, but unless it tastes like unicorn tears and plays the theme from the ORIGINAL Transformers Movie (1986!) when it opens I think that is a safe claim to make.


The fifth variety: ZEUS

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational purposes only.

Aroma 9/12
Starting with rich molasses-laden malt, this beer quickly gets to work showing its hop profile as it warms.  It starts with a faint grassy aroma, but gradually transitions into a rich pine log sent.


Appearance 3/3
Head retention average, lacing is just as superb as the Simcoe hop.  Color is similar to prior varieties.

Picture is my own

Flavor 15/20
Again with the carbonation.  This beer starts out with a creamy malt, but switches almost immediately to a pepper and bitter resin.  Those two flavors grab hold and never really let go.  OK, there is a slight, dark, caramel undertone, but it is very faint in contrast to the other larger, more abrasive flavors and is not as large of a contributor to the overall flavor profile.  The caramel seems to grow stronger as the beer warms, either that or I am becoming more accustomed to the bitter hops as I go.  Either way, it's providing more balance even if it is a secondary flavor.  The pine notes also increase with warmth.  The finish has a sharp bitter that earns this the title "Bitterst of the Series," and also shows off more of the pine flavor.  The aftertaste is ink-like in its bitterness and nothing more.

Mouthfeel 4/5
The early, crazy carbonation deducts points, but the head earns some.  Also, this beer seems to fill the mouth more than any of the other varieties, despite its similar body.  It foams up in an interesting way.


Overall Impression 6/10
Not bad, but not thrilling either.  Simpler aroma and flavor than the others, though.  Definitely the bitterest hop of the varieties.  I see its potential in conjunction with other hops, but it offers little on its own.

Total 37/50
I partially believe that this score is based on having all of the essentials of an American IPA, but none of the finer things.  Sure, it's bitter, tastes like pine, has some malt, etc.  However, it misses out on some of the characteristics that truly set apart an excellent IPA like citrus, floral, complexity.  As the score would indicate, this does not make it a bad beer, but there are definitely better our there.


The last is the combination of all 5: Latitude 48

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational purposes only.

 Aroma 9/12
Again starting of with caramel and molasses malts, but slowly evolving into a grass/funk aroma.  This is short lived and evolves again into a more citrusy version (light orange, canteloupe) with an overshadowed pine note.  The final evolution stays (thankfully) and smells very crisp and light.


Appearance 3/3
A repeat of the prior two beer's über-lacing.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 16/20
Creamy up front and peppery (not the first time we've seen that combination), it moves quickly to a lightly grassy/pronounced pine backbone with plenty of malt sweetness and a touch of citrus.  This is a very nice combination of a lot of things that are all going on at once.  The finish provides more pepper and bitter, but follows it with a brief, creamy, sweet wave that never overcomes the two despite is distinct appearance.  The malt is also more present in the finish that one would expect in an IPA, but not necessarily a terrible thing.  The aftertaste allows a fading, sharp bitter to take hold, but it must be truly waited out before it makes its appearance.  As the beer warms it takes on a very nice blend of malt and citrus hop.

Mouthfeel 4/5


Overall Impression 7/10
A caramelly version of the style, but a solid one nonetheless.  Extremely high technical prowess in the brewing process is evident in every aspect of this beer.  A bit more of the citrus to keep things more refreshing perhaps would have been appreciated.  This seems dark, especially for a summer seasonal.

Total 39/50
Obviously more complex than some of the other varieties, but that doesn't necessarily allow the best of each hop to show.  There are characteristics of each present and it's really fun to pick each one out after drinking the whole series.  Perhaps, its biggest fault is to not focus on one or two defining characteristics and instead going for all the the characteristics inherent in five different varieties of hops.  Who is to say which is better, the single flower or the bouquet?

A picture of the top of the variety pack.  Very cool.

And that's the game!! It has been a lot of fun going through the different varieties of hops and really isolating flavors, but eventually there had to be winners and there had to be losers.  Here is the final roundup.

Simcoe: 47/50
Ahtanum: 39/50
Latitude 48: 39/50
Hallertau: 38/50
Zeus: 37/50
East Kent Goldings: 27/50

Hopefully, this helps some of you homebrewers as well!  I know it will certainly aid me as I continue to try new and amazing beers and try to really pick individual flavors out of the beer.  Once again, cheers to Samuel Adams for a great idea that caters to homebrewers and the craft beer community!!

Samuel Adams - Latitude Series (part 1)

No, my friends, the title did not lie to you.  Today's review will be for the whole Latitude 48 series from Samuel Adams.  OK, so it's not really a series, but for those of you unfamiliar with Samuel Adams Latitude 48, here's the scoop.  Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA is made with 5 different types of hops.  This summer, Samuel Adams was selling a "Latitude 48 IPA Deconstructed" 12 pack.  In this twelve pack the individual types of hops are given their own pair of bottles. 2 bottles of the "blend" and 2 bottles each of the 5 different types of hops used: Zeus, Goldings, Ahtanum, Simcoe, and Hallertau.  Whether or not you dig Samuel Adams or think they're "too big," this is a really cool idea and completely caters to the craft beer community.  There is no other place I would be able to easily sample this many single hop beers and compare/contrast them so quickly.  Plus, this is a great tool for developing your palate and being able to single out flavors in future beers!

Two final notes before I pour.  I will evaluate the first beer (Ahtanum Hops) with my customary 5 categories: aroma, appearance, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall impression.  However, since I assume many of the characteristics to be extremely similar (mouthfeel, appearance) I will not be reevaluating those for every single hop variation unless one of those differs from the others.  Wouldn't it be safe to assume the appearance and mouthfeel would be similar?  Well, we all know what happens when one assumes.

The second thought is that I may be drinking these beers a bit too late.  As is common knowledge in the craft beer community, time breeds passive hop flavors.  This was proven to me recently in my Hop Juice Black that had lost its bite since its purchase only 2 months ago.  Needless to say, that episode definitely increased the urgency with which I wanted to sample this variety pack.  I only hope I didn't wait too long again and spoil what could have been an otherwise excellent exbeerience.

Let's pour!

First up, the Ahtanum Hop:

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 9/12
As the head arranges itself, a strong aroma of molasses comes forward and then melds into hops as the head settles.  The hop aroma is more complex than I would have assumed for a single hop!  A grapefruit citrus is first (and bold), but eventually settles into a wonderful blend of citrus, floral, and light hints of grass.  Quite nice and a challenge to those who wish to naysay against Samuel Adams.

Appearance 3/3
This brew is becoming more and more impressive.  It pours a fiery, brilliant copper and a lasting cream-colored cap.  Little lacing and high clarity are also of note, but do not capture the attention like the prior mentioned characteristics.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 17/20
An initial assault of prickly carbonation makes it difficult to pick out flavors.  The beer does start out with the molasses from the aroma and some crystal malts.  The sweetness is brief and takes a back seat to our featured hop.  The hop flavor is almost nothing like the aroma.  The sweet, nuanced blend of the aroma is gone, and instead we are given a strong pepper and resin mix.  The pepper is primary to the resin, but both do allow an underlying sweetness that is more akin to caramel than molasses.  The backbone also features a slightly-higher-than average hop bitter.  A nice touch to see in the middle, when many lesser IPAs wait until the suds wash over the back of the tongue to relay their bitter notes.  The finish here is almost a lighter bitter than the backbone (odd!), but after a few moments a second wave of bitter comes and is a neat surprise when you thought it was all said and done.  Aftertaste is light, but bitter and lightly resinous.

Mouthfeel 3/5
As you saw earlier, I couldn't even wait until the appropriate section to note this beer's initially inappropriate amount of prickly carbonation.  It falls dramatically (and thankfully) throughout the bottle and eventually compliments the beer quite nicely and maximizes refreshment.  Speaking of refreshment, this is a bit heavier than I would have anticipated by being just barely over what I could consider a "medium body," but it is partly caused by the dramatic fall in carbonation.  It seems a narrow window in which to drink this beer, being either too carbonated or almost too flat.

Overall Impression 8/10
A surprising offering from Samuel Adams considering the amount of "poo-pooing" that is often aimed their way.  This beer proves that they are not too big to make good beer.  A wonderful, though far from strong aroma, superb appearance, and a substantial flavor all make this beer worth buying.  It is also a strong argument to seriously consider their next seasonal variety.

Total 39/50
Good for you Samuel Adams!  This beer alone should shut some mouths about you being "too big," and I haven't even gotten to the rest of the variety pack yet.  This is pretty impressive.  I'll admit, I too don't exactly dive into the cooler to snag a Sammy Light, but I would for this.  This is hoppy, tasty, and well made.

Next up: the East Kent Goldings

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 4/12
The initial aromas are not attractive at all.  This is funky.  It's a battle to tell if it smells more like boiled vegetables or the well water from your grandmother's tap.  Thankfully, that fades away eventually though not completely.  Eventually a very sweet malt smell arises from it that seems to include some honey.  Crystal malt is again present as is a light, fleeting "tea" aroma.  I neglected to mention the tea aroma in the first review since I thought it was just a brief misstep on my part.  It was not, as it was present in this beer as well.  Virtually no hops present in the aroma, unless they are responsible for the earlier funkiness.  Not a good sign in an IPA.

Appearance 2/3
Head is not nearly as generous (1 finger), but it does leave better lacing.  Clarity is also higher.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 13/20
Again with the distracting carbonation.  I had to let it warm a bit.  There are lots of pale malts of front that charge headlong into a backbone of light pepper, lighter floral, a faint sour citrus, and hints of smoked meat.  Notes of the funk show through, but they are largely kept in the shadows.  The smoked meat becomes a lot stronger in the finish and joins a bitter than is intense, but not particularly abundant.  The aftertaste is a bit smoky and more the bitter from the finish.

Mouthfeel 4/5
Still ridiculously prickly in the beginning, but more creamy overall.  It also seems to hold its carbonation toward the end of the bottle a bit better than the prior bottle.

Overall Impression 4/10
Unusual flavors presented in a mild way.  Tea aroma, peppery backbone, and smoky lingerings are an unusual combination to say the least.  However, this is not to say that it could not be done in an enjoyable combination.  This simply doesn't seem to be said combination.

Total 27/50
I can see this hop's place and unfortunately it is not by itself nor surrounded by crystal and caramel malts.  This could really add to a rauchbier or a other beers requiring a smoky/peppery styling and a concentrated bitter finish.  Looking back, I could probably name several beers that have utilized this hop that I thought were a bit unusual.  The hop has potential, but its setting is dramatically holding it back.


Third will be the Hallertau Mittelfrueh

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 10/12
Starting out strong with rich, bready malts this beer quickly transitions into caramelized orange rind and other sweet citrus tones.  This is quite nice.

Appearance 3/3
A bit more orange than its counterparts, with a good amount of lacing from only a finger-sized head.  Its clarity matches that of the Goldings hop.

Picture is my own.

Flavor 15/20
Again with the carbonation.  This is a bit more of a crisp opening than the last two with their heavy crystal malts.  It also doesn't provide the sweetness, leaving a bit of a flavorless entry into the backbone.  The primary flavors in said backbone are a rush of spicy and bitter, but calmed by a second wave of biscuity malt, a caramel, and a citrus backdrop.  In an unusual twist, it almost becomes salty while sitting in the mouth.  The finish is creamy and bitter with the aftertaste bringing out a bit of pine plus some some concentrated bitter notes, even if the bitter notes' abundance (again) is somewhat lesser.  A quicker sip refocuses on the  main themes of orange, caramel, and bitter flavors.

Mouthfeel 4/5
Initial carbonation aside, everything is par for the course and similar to the other varieties.

Overall Impression 6/10
An average offering.  It tastes like an overly bitter amber ale.  Granted, this ale has more orange and not just the straight amber malts (an nice twist), but an citrusy sweet (yet not tart/sour) amber ale nonetheless.

Total 38/50
OK, so I'm a little embarassed to say that I just discovered that the descriptions of the hops are on the backs of the individual labels.  However, I'm glad I trusted my palate because the flavors that are stated to be in this beer are not detectable at all.  The label claims flavors of lemony citrus (I'll allow that) and resinous pine.  There was no pine to be found in this bottle.  Granted, that could be confirming my fear that I didn't drink these IPAs soon enough, but I stand by my taste buds.  Whether I read it or not, the song remains the same: caramel, citrus, bitter.   In that order.


In closing, I find that I should deviate from my plan to review all six Latitude 48 varieties in one sitting. I feel that 3 of them at 6% ABV each on an empty stomach, is not only getting me a little bit tipsy (not a bad thing), but effecting my writing and ability to clearly convey what I am experiencing.  That said, this will be Part 1, with part 2 to follow in the near future.  As it stands currently..


Ahtanum: 39/50
Hallertau: 38/50
East Kent Goldings: 27/50

To be continued...

Sam Adams - Noble Pils

I know this is not exactly a "rare" beer.  However, Samuel Adams still accounts for less than 1% of beer sales in the United States (kinda sad, really) and I have not done a review of a Sam Adams to date.  Also, in my defense, I have heard many good things about this beer and appreciate Sam Adams dedication to quality and making "non-macros" brews.  They have been more focussed on good beer than good profits for some time and that says something.  Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 6/12
The theme of the aroma is definitely the sour, citrusy hops.  Underneath, there is the aroma of true, almost piney hops, but they were not as present as one would expect in a beer that boasts 5 types of hops.  Then again, this is "just" a pilsner and perhaps one should expect a lighter, more subtle aroma.

Appearance 3/3
The picture says it all.  Does that not look like a perfect pilsner?  It is a bright, clear yellow and has a sizable  head that comes roaring out of even the gentlest pour.  The head retention was phenomal and the lacing was more than I expected out of a pilsner as well.  Top marks all around.  Cheers!

Picture is my own.

Flavor 17/20

There is no insane flavor waiting for you in this bottle.  However, this is a pilsner and so that not only is OK, it is appropriate.  A sweetish, grainy front is the introduction.  This leads to a balanced structure that does favor the "hops" side.  The bitter of the hops combines with a light spiciness that is quite nice.  This is not the "death by hops" amount of hops that are often insisted upon by many west coast brewers.  The hop flavors are present and enjoyable without beating one about the head.  The bitter and spice in the mouth are a departure from the citrus that was present in the nose.  The citrus is all but absent in the backbone.  The finish is true to its pilsner roots; clean and crisp.  The aftertaste again revisits the bitterness of the hops and leaves a dryness that does not alter the refreshing nature of this beer.

Mouthfeel 5/5

Very drinkable for a beer themed by hops!  A tad heavier than the average pilsner, but the "average" pilsner is often a thin macro offering.  This is a welcome change.  Noble Pils' body is still appropriate to style as is the near-sparkling carbonation.

Overall Impression 7/10

A technically sound beer that not only is a great quencher, but also a great introduction to hops without being overwhelming.  A bit simple in its flavors with only the hops, spice, and malt truly present.  A bit more of the citrus notes from the aroma or any other complimentary sweet flavor (honey, sugar, etc) would have been welcome and suited this seasonal beer.

Total 38/50 (Excellent)

I originally had this beer scored lower due to a personal bias: I enjoy intense beers.  It should come as no big surprise that a pilsner is not a huge glass of flavor and I rated it accordingly.  However, the more and more I drank, the more I realized that this beer is an excellent representation of the style.  Not only that, but it still manages to add a little something extra in the way of body and hops.

Kudos to the boys at Sam Adams for not only being technical enough brewers to hit this style dead-on, but also to offer some hops that do not feel like a punishment to drink.  This offers a taste of hops, a great spring thirst-killer, and a thorough understanding of the (American) pilsner style.  It may not have been my personal cup of tea, but I cannot give it a lower rating in good conscience.