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-

[Show as slideshow]

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

[Show as slideshow]

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

[Show as slideshow]

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-

[Show as slideshow]

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+

[Show as slideshow]

Allow me to sweet talk you into trying one of my favorite beers for the cold winter months. Sam Adams Honey Porter is packed with flavor, complexity, and enough sweetness to make Walter Payton jealous (too soon). It pours a deep mahogany color with substantial tan head. The aroma is of highly roasted/lightly burnt grains. This lends various coffee, chocolate, and dark toffee notes as you embark on your first sip. I was able to pick up on the honey after taking a couple sniffs. It is dry hopped with East Kent Goldings hops that impart a herbal element.

The taste is unbelievable! You get robust Porter flavors that are true to style. There is a good bitterness from the brunt grains as well as the hops. These however, have a spicier, earthy taste since they are UK hops that have more floral/herbal characteristics. Simply judging on the Porter qualities this beer has high marks. Throw in the honey aspect and it surpassed expectations. The honey is produced from Scottish heather which compliments the spicy, herbal notes of the hops, yet gives enough sweetness to balance out the roasted grains. Everything works together to give you highly balanced beer that is full in flavor and body. The aftertaste is worth savoring as you get both sweetness and bitterness dancing harmoniously on your palate.

Grade: A

[Show as slideshow]

Apparently, quite a lot. Since 1989, Samuel Adams has proudly brewed its own Marzen style beer as an autumnal season release. And although it’s hard to dislike most any Octoberfest brews…boy, did brewmaster and founder Jim Koch hit a home run with this one. From the first pour, the golden amber lager pays homage to the season. Heavily malted, with very distinct caramel and toffee notes, its smell might deceive a newbie into thinking they’re in for a sugary treat. I mean, who doesn’t like a good Skor or Heath bar? But what really knocks this beer out of the park is its balance…not too sweet, not too bitter. A perfect blend of hops and malt with an incredibly toasty aftertaste. Who knew a lager could have so much potential?! Oh right…the Germans.

Next time October rolls around, you’ll most likely find yourself in some familiar places: raking leaves on a brisk fall morning, sitting around a campfire toasting s’mores, or waiting for the ring of the doorbell to signal the next round of trick-or-treating toddlers. So do yourself a favor. Pour a Sam Adams Octoberfest or two and make the mundane memorable again. Just don’t forget to thank Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria.

Grade: A

[Show as slideshow]