Sometimes my pocket book affects what goes into my cart. Call me a sellout or a beer heretic, but occasionally as I look with lust in my eyes at that expensive vintage bottle of on the top shelf, I feel the pinch in my pocket and end up choosing something I normally would not gravitate towards. Case in point, this past weekend I removed the “create-your-own-six pack” of six different U.S.-continental ‘Oktoberfest’ style beers that would have cost me fourteen dollars, for the discounted twelve pack; a seasonal Samuel Adam’s sampler, the Harvest Collection, that included the Boston Lager (surprise, surprise), Irish Red, Cherry Wheat, Dunkelweizen, Oktoberfest, and Brown Ale. Besides the cost efficiency of my decision, I was interested in the Dunkelweizen.
Sam Adam’s is good right? Considered a craft brewery?
Regardless of how a beer geek answers those questions, typically some degree of respect is levied for the brewing giant that holds big brewers to a higher standard. Besides, it had been quite a while since I sampled something from the Boston Brewing Company’s typical line of beers. I needed to connect with my roots. After all, I hold a deep respect for the Boston Brewing company. They put out several world class beers: Utopias, Chocolate Bock, and their Hallertau Imperial Pilsner, to name a few. Many will credit Jim Koch for raising the bar when it came to American Beer.
Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, the Sampler came with two Cherry Wheats. I wish I had noticed that in the store. I’ll put those bad boys away for when I have a bad cold and am craving the flavor of a Luden’s Throat Drop. But I was ready to try the others:
While the Dunkelweizen was certainly the best, there was a flavor in it, and a few of the others (most notably the Brown Ale and Oktoberfest) that I just couldn’t shake. In fact, as I drank it I wondered, “am I crazy for tasting this unwelcome and offensive flavor?” The flavor I picked up on was the funky sweet flavor that comes from the use of fermentable additives. I am thinking of maltose syrup or other such agents. The same flavor I have picked up in other beers that try for craft status and/or higher alcohol content (i.e. Baltika Extra 9, which is is horrid compared to these Sam Adams products).
It had been quite a while since I indulged in some of Sam Adams’ standard line up–the last product I had was their Double Bock (and found it to be tasty!). But after drinking this batch, I asked, “what is going on here?” Sam Adams helped convert this Light American Lager guzzler into a certifiable beer geek. Have things changed, have I, or both?
I was sorely disappointed with the pack, yet still esteem the Boston Brewing company and hope to get my hands on the coveted Utopias one day. I did hope that any readers of this site could weigh in…did you pick up on this sugary syrupy, stale flavor that I did? Or did I have an bad/old case. Or am I just crazy?
We don’t get Sam Adams north of the border and I have always wondered what the ‘giant of craft’ is doing. Can you even call it craft anymore? I guess that might hark back to something I wrote haha. That said it is good to hear that the brewery is making good efforts still and not just relying on being ‘better than the big boys while moving major units’.
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For most of Sam Adams’ brews, there is a flavor (a consistent one) that just puts me off. Mind you, I will always choose their beer over a light lager, but…) Haven’t had Cherry Wheat in a long time. I recall liking it, thinking it one of their better offerings. Call it the opinion of a craft beer novice. I’d say it’s been more than 5 years since I’ve had it, and I KNOW that my tastes have matured. I have yet to sample one of the budget breaking special brews. I’d like to, but haven’t to this point.
One notable mention… I’ve had their Triple Bock. I recall that beer as offensive. Great aroma, but hard to swallow.
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I like the triple bock but completely understand what you mean about it.
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I’ve not had the triple bock, but that seems to be the consensus. I googled around for reviews…
…as far as the cherry wheat goes, I had it on tap last year and it tasted much better than in the bottle…less of a dum-dum’s sucker cherry flavor.
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I’d say its probably the beer as you found it consistently underwhelming across the varieties. Your taste has probably changed over time and having tried so many beers in the meantime, you’ve gotten the feel for what you really like. The cool thing is you are able to get those thoughts into words – I still have a way to go!
If all you drank was Sam Adams, that’s what you would like best Its the only reason I can think of why many people only drink certain macro-lagers and such, they don’t know anything else!
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And I was curious to try the dunkelweizen. I actually like their Oktoberbest and think it is a pretty authentic tasting marzen.
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@scott: I thought about that…but I still enjoy Sam Adam’s lager. the dunkelweizen was very good>
@ Mike: I hope you try the dunkelweizen. by far, I prefer many other brewries’ versions, but it was still decent. I think you can only get in the harvest pack…but I could be wrong.
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Sam Adams, to me, is a prime example of the brewery whose regular line-up is solid but boring. But then you factor in the one offs and seasonals and their ranking goes higher. They have hits and misses but that tells me that they are still trying to craft beer not homogenize it.
The last Sam I had was the Longshot pack and though not technically one of their beers, they were well made and a nice mixture of styles.
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