And its Sam Adams Wee Heavy that’s my special treat. It wasn’t until just a few months ago that I discovered the Scotch Ale category of beer. With a Founders Backwoods Bastard in my snifter, I had truly crossed into uncharted territory. It was unique, it was complex, it was just plain good. So for Sam Adams shot at the style, I had this high benchmark in my mind.

It poured dark, not quite stout, but almost, a surprising tone for what I thought a Scotch Ale should be, and it was crowned with a nice top of fluff. The sweet scotchy-caramely goodness was on the nose. I loved sniffing it in again and again, hopeful that the flavor would be equal to the scent. There were hints of a warming alcohol on the nose as well, giving me a yearning for an autumn day where that warming would be just right. There was a dryness too, mixed with a yeast, or perhaps it was even the yeast itself. My sip was a bit of a surprise. Remembering the Founder’s creation, it was hard to climb to that pinnacle of flavors. This version lacked complexity and subtlety, it was more in-your-face flavors of liquor and heavy burnt malt. It was clumsy almost, overdone to prove a point and the finish was dry and too malty. There was a bit of dark fruit, again clothed in the sweetness and malt.

I admit, this Wee Heavy had a big task ahead of it. To prove itself to me as a comparable brew to one of the most interesting beers I had consumed to date. While it was decent it came up a…wee bit short.

So today, with the first Chicago snow still gently falling outside my window, Jessica Simpson (I know) belting out something about decking the halls and my wife joyfully wrapping gifts, I decided it was time to open my present and see just how generous ol’ Sammy had been.

The porter was a deep mahogany, with its core even darker, but not quite black. A nice, tan, frothy head formed and blurred my pint glass like snow on a windshield. The scent was simple, but pleasant, like a cheerful child. Maltiness presided, with wisps of sweetness, brown sugar and slight chocolate. The taste again is malt forward with a sting of sour and a bit of dark-chocolate-bitter on the finish. Its not chewy, but the mouthfeel is solid, more so than many porters I’ve sampled, and lingers in a good way.

Thank you, Mr. Adams, and Merry Christmas.

When SA brewed this beer they did it under the umbrella of a schwarzbier which translates “Black Beer”. Coffee brown would be a better description of the color. But black is close. From there you get a foamy cream colored head that died quickly and a pop like aroma that doesn’t draw you in. Light and watery to mouth with some carbonation gives you the sense that is a sessionable beer and the ABV confirms that. Molasses is the dominate first impression. My wife took a taste and grimaced at the overwhelming molasses. But if you like molasses this is a beer for you. The molasses kept me from experiencing any hops or malt which was disappointing. It finished easy and left no after taste. Not the beer I’d order up on a gray day with the fire roaring but it did get me in the mood for a good stout that will meet my expectations.

I didn’t know what to expect, really. I don’t think I’ve ever had a beer of this style, so if you’re a Bock-aholic, you may want to find an opinion infused with a bit more experience. I digress. From this point of view, this bock is black. Even held up to the light, all I can see is my reflection in the marble-like surface. An uneventful head was present initially, turning into a boring bit, floating like an ice ring in the holiday punch. Expecting chocolate, my nose got some, but not pure and straight, rather a little, well, off. It wasn’t malty either, but instead almost as though chocolate had been warmed, maybe burned a little and then doused in sugar. It was intriguing, so I held judgment until the sip. That’s when things got a bit more interesting. While not particularly complex, it most definitely matured on the scent. The malt foundation was there, with a stinging core of dirty chocolate and molasses. It was a bit boring, flat like a root beer out in the sun too long, and finished both earthy and bitter. An average choice, it seems like a middle child, an unexciting alternative to many better choices.

This beer pours a clear orangish-brown with a thin head that didn’t last very long. Carbonation was strong in the beginning but faded quickly. There was a smell of bready malt and caramel. Pleasant enough. Caramel is the advertised distinctive and it comes through both in aroma and taste. There seems to be more malt than hops. The taste is caramels, toast and a subtle metallic in the background. The mouthfeel is somewhat smooth but not creamy. Not watery but not much substance. Not a beer I’d buy but certainly would take as a gift.

ABV: 5.5%

Grade: B-

The Cherry Wheat is one of my favorite go-to brews, but unfortunately I have to say that Sam Adams sort of drops the ball on its remaining wheat beers. The White Ale, Coastal Wheat, Blackberry Wit, and Summer Ale all taste very similar with the exceptions of various spices and fruit ingredients. Checking out the profiles for each of these beers on their website, I found the grain bills to be exactly the same. Cherry Wheat is the exception since Munich-10 malt is utilized giving it a toasty quality closer to the Oktoberfest. I’m a little saddened to see this. In all honesty, I was hoping that each beer would somehow be a unique all the way down to the base malted used. Enough about my personal likes and dislikes and onto the beers which is currently getting warm.

Blackberry Witbier is exactly that…a sweet smelling fruit beer. I’d recommend it for those hot, sticky summer BBQ parties where having a couple drink options might be a good idea. There is a very noticeable blackberry aroma that wafts up during the pour. Characteristic of the Witbier style it has a substantial head, but lacks the yeast left in the bottle. Upon inspection I noticed that it looked filtered as the beer had a clear almost Pilsner-like color. I did not catch a hit of blue, red, or purple from the berries used.

The taste is smooth and easy. The wheat malts provide a creamy mouthfeel and the blackberries give a pleasant sweet taste to them. I will say that the berry addition/content is almost borderline too much. It reminds me of biting into a fresh blueberry muffin and getting only berries. The finish is laden with the blackberry flavor, but it does go down clean. I would urge all to drink this while it is nice and cold in order to keep it a quick refreshing beer more than anything.

I never thought I’d say this, but Sam Adams came up short on this one.

ABV 5.5%

Grade: C-

Recognizing this national resource, the brewers at Boston Brewing Co. decided to utilize these cherries in a brew. Now, some of you might think that fruit in your beer is “pansy” or “disgusting.” I would argue that fruit, when properly used, can compliment a beer and enhance its overall enjoyment. I have had beers where all you smell and taste is the fruit, which does serve as a turn-off … I will not lie.

However, Sam Adams does such an awesome job at balancing a remarkable wheat beer with just enough cherries to create what I think is one of the most palatable beers on the market. It quickly became my favorite beer of all time (and I don’t even like cherries). Even after sampling over 400 beers in 2+ years, I find myself coming back for the following reasons.

• Interesting hazy straw-gold with foamy off-white head and an ever-so-light red hue
• The nose pops with notes of fresh picked cherries over a grainy wheat backbone
• Mouthfeel is light and satisfying
• The taste is a mixture of fruity liveliness harmonizing with subtle wheat beer qualities
• Finishes ridiculously crisp and distinct – I credit this to the cherries which are not overpowering, but provide a slight tartness
• The aftertaste is the best part of the whole experience – the wheat malt leaves a delightful breadiness on the palate
• It’s a great beer for all seasons – refreshes on hot Summer days, pairs well with Fall meals, fights Winter blues, and welcomes in Spring
• Both tasty on tap (will have more pronounced wheat flavors) and in the bottle

Do you find yourself many miles away from Michigan wishing to experience its grandeur? All you have to do is pour yourself a Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat. It is pure Michigan in a glass!

ABV: 5.35%

Grade: A

Taking their inspiration from the Czech Pilsner, Jim Koch and gang took in one step further. Normally, Pilners are brewed with one hop variety known as Saaz. This brew utilizes all five noble hops…hence the name. These hops are valued for there aromatic qualities. Most of them are grown in Germany with the exception of Saaz which is grown in the Czech Republic. The five are: Saaz, Hallertau, Hersbrucker, Spalt, and Tettnang. Their flavoring characteristics are different from US and have a lower alpha percentage (the higher the % the more bitter the hop). These hops impart a wide range of aromas and flavors, but I would say that the all have a common denominator of being earthy, subtle, and smooth.

Nobs (as I call it) has all the makings of a perfect Pils. It has a light gold color, consistent carbonation, an eggshell white head that is replenished, a sweet malt aroma, and a pronounced, crisp hop aroma. The hops provided a great opportunity for beer drinkers to learn and explore the noble varieties. With its complex nose I received hints of pine, citrus, honey, herbal spiciness, and it was a slight earthy pungency. The hops were both floral and fruity.

The taste was similar to Pilsner Urquell, but had more depth in the hop category. With a classic Sam Adams smooth finish I was left with a wonderful blend of earthy bitterness from the hops and a honey-like sweet malt aftertaste. At 5.2% ABV you could drink this all night. It does a great job of lifting away greasier foods and providing a crisp, refreshed palate.

ABV: 5.2%

Grade: A

Sam Adams Utopias! A collectors item more or less. Out of the 12,000 copper brew kettle shaped bottles made, I got lucky bottle #3313 (I was even given an engraved snifter glass for presentation). It was first released in 2002 and then again in 2007. In the Fall of 2007 I was able to tour the Boston Brewery where I literally saw and touched the barrels containing Utopias in its final stages of aging. Defying the limits, you could consider this the ultimate extreme beer. With an ABV of 25% it seems more like a Cognac, Brandy, Sherry, Port, or something Clark Gable would drink as a night cap while lounging in his smoking jacket not giving a damn.

Building on the foundation of Caramel and Munich malts they used three noble hops Spalt, Hallertau and Tettnang along with several yeast strains (one of which was a Champagne yeast). It is then aged for a number of years and blended together. The fact sheet that came with the bottle says that some barrels are aged for up to 13 years. The casks used for aging were no doubt varied. Single-use Bourbon, Sherry, Brandy, Cognac, and Madeira barrels each impart their unique characters.

Aroma: I’ve had this on a couple occasions and every time I take a waft the dominate notes are of maple syrup, raisins, and a strong alcoholic presence. I decided to explore the aroma in more depth and found hints of caramel, oak, rich wood, sherry, figs, prunes, dates, maybe some vanilla or cinnamon, and a slight nuttiness.

Appearance: Deep amber/mahogany, no carbonation, liquid clings to the side of the glass like light syrup.

Taste: Maple syrup was the strongest flavor. I could not pick out the malt or hop aspects, but only the bi-products from all the barrels. It literally was a blend of all the liquors mentioned above. Not sweet, but rather sharp on the tongue at first. Very big raisin and prune highlights.

Mouthfeel: Thick and syrupy. Rolls on the tongue and coats the entire palate. Finish has a warming effect from the alcohol and it did not go down as smooth as I hoped. The aftertaste leans towards dark fruit notes with a small hint of almonds. Served at room temperature.

ABV: 25.0%

Grade: C-

This dark wheat lager is a caramel colored brew that is clear and inviting. It smells of caramel, orange/citrus, possibly ginger along with other spices. It tastes nutty with hints of citrus which impressively meets the demands of my taste preference in the winter months. There is a nice balance of flavors in this brew which allows it to slide right down with a smooth finish. The beer seemed a bit flat, however, this did not distract me from fully enjoying this winter beer! After the first one was gone I had to have another…I think most of you will too!

Good brew, good price and perfect on a cold winter night! Grade: B+

Michael: Winter is here. Officially. No, there’s no snow on the ground and its not because a certain date has past or a specific temperature has been reached. Its because The Boston Beer Company has released their Winter Sampler Pack. For $20.99 at Costco. Now that is a reason to love winter.

My first pick from the litter was the Winter Lager. The body of the beer was a rich mahogany, the way mahogany is supposed to be, not too brown, not too red. The head was a single finger, somewhere between eggshell and tan. The scent was rich in spices, cinnamon and yeast. The taste was slightly disappointing. While it was meaty and rich, it was basic, a no-frills, straight-and-narrow-type vibe with no variation or surprise. The center of my sip was bubbling with carbonation and orange peel, melting into a grainy, malty mix. There was a metallic flavor at times and an unpleasantly alcoholic finish. It had a caramel aftertaste which was rich, sticky and lingering. Grade: B

ABV: 5.6%

Overall Grade: B