Sam Adams Octoberfest

I figured I would get these posts going before the next beer season rolls around. Samuel Adams is local along the New England area and I'm able to find most of the seasonal brews down in NY. Since there is no issue with variety, it's a brand I can't ignore when they have such great limited edition runs and specialty brews. I did enjoy this beer, it's a bit heavier than the regular Boston lager but not by much, and the bitter bite is pretty mild. This is a beer I wish they had all year round, it has all the qualities I look for in a brew, mid-weight, not too carbonated and on the darker side.

Sam Adams Light

I cannot believe it is December already. Where did 2010 go? The hardest months are usually the ones where everything is rushed but at the same time there is just is not enough time to fit everything in one day. I could go on in length about the time aspect, being a commuter and dealing with transit delays and working on professional and personal projects that soak up every free block of time. I have to say, I have been pretty good this year with random beer purchases, stuck to my guns and did not buy anything that I knew I would just not like for the sake of trying it. I am, however, still a sucker for seasonal beers that are uninteresting but worth trying. The seasons have officially changed, the news reports snow in some areas, and the temperature has dropped considerably to warrant full winter clothing - all this leads to another seasonal beer run.

I am not a huge fan of Sam Adams brews, nothing against them but they are not local to me like how Brooklyn Lager is the standard local brewery in my eyes. When I first saw this, I knew I had to get some to try them because it is pretty uncommon to find an amber colored beer that isn't heavy or a light beer that doesn't have a ton of carbonation. Sam Adams Light accomplishes being a lighter ale with just enough carbonation for a refreshing beer. This could easily be a good replacement for a burger and fries beer instead of a regular lager.

Samuel Adams Black Lager

I think out of the Sam Adams brews I tried this year, I liked this one best because they have the combination of taste, texture, and weight narrowed down to a science in this beer. The carbonation is just right with this beer, it's got the soda pops without the big burps. I prefer darker beers to light ones, and this one was very easy to drink and didn't leave a bitter aftertaste. The alcohol content in this one was average as well. I find that a lot of dark beers have too much alcohol in them that it is difficult to drink more than one of them in one sitting. If you're not usually drawn to Sam Adams brews, but like a dark beer, this is definitely a good one to try.

Samuel Adams Honey Porter

I've never been a fan of any Sam Adams brews. I can't put my hand on what it is exactly but I will try the brews from time to time and still never feel the loyalty to buy them regularly. It's certainly not the brand name or the label, or any association, and I think it comes down to taste. I picked up a seasonal variety pack with all sorts of printed ribbons of excellence on it. The first one I tried was the Honey Porter because normally a lot of porters are a little too bitter to be truly enjoyable, I figured with a touch of sweetness this would be an easy sipper. I was right, this one has the obvious honey taste to it, it's a nice touch to counter the bitter bite and works well with this dark beer. Halfway through the glass, I started to grow used to the sweetness and really did not care for it, but I think this one is definitely a great beer to try because it balances texture, taste, and alcohol content very well.