Samuel Adams Winter Lager - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a candied brown, bordering on amber, with a huge fluffy cream head with yellowing notes. The beers body is lager clean, completely free of any haze, and quite translucent, though the beer’s darkness does fight this a little bit. The lacing is fat and sticky, leaving webbing behind on my mug. On the nose, the beer smells spicy, with a little too much cinnamon burn and a note of ginger. Slight citrus notes are found when the glass is swirled, and underlying all the smells is a caramelly smell that is tinged with wheat. The beer tastes abrasively spicy with a clear cinnamon burn that seems to hurt the other flavors. The beer begins with light caramel malts and slight cinnamon before opening into a slightly biscuity malt that is immediately torn out of the mouth by the cinnamon spice which drowns out most other notes and lingers in the mouth. Slight hints of the ginger and orange peel can be felt at the fringes of the palate, and perhaps a touch of grassy hops can be tasted, but this is all below the cinnamon, which is rocking around on the palate like an unwanted elephant. This flavor is much spicier than I recall it being in years past, and is really hurt by the overwhelming cinnamon. Now, when I say it tastes like cinnamon, I don’t mean the nice cinnamon flavors of a baked good, but the burn with a slight bitter flavor that you get from putting too much cinnamon in your mouth… In case anyone was thinking I was just complaining about the taste of cinnamon… On the mouth, the beer feels medium bodied with a slight chew to it. Carbonation gives a little bite in the beginning, and then mellows over the tongue to provide a clean drink, though the spices punch nasty burns on my tongue. The mouth is left dry with a spice burn after the beer has left, with saliva only on the very edges of my tongue. Overall, this is a very heavy handed beer. I’ve had a couple of this year’s batch, and I have to say that the Boston Beer Company really overdid the spice this year. On their site they claim they searched far and wide this year to bring the best cinnamon sticks all the way from Vietnam, and while I applaud them on finding cool foreign ingredients, I wish they would stop playing with a recipe that tasted perfectly fine last year. This beer needs to tone down its spice so that other flavors can be enjoyed. I am a little weirded out that no one else has said anything else about the spice for this years version, so maybe it was just my pack, though that would be very strange... Perhaps its just my palate? Anyways, its cheap and easily found so try it for yourself, don't trust my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 00:52:49 | More by Maxwell

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

2.3/5  rDev -36.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass.
A- pours to an amber color. A very light head appears, about 1 1/2 fingers high, and leaves good lacing.

S- Like a wheat not much else going on.

T-Slight Caramel,hops,wheat and Malt.

M- Very watery feel, lacking flavor.

No fan. But not really fan of Lagers to begin with but there are better ones out there then this.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 21:37:57 | More by Damian74Shensky

NilocRellim

Minnesota

2.93/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The lager poured out of a bottle into a pint glass and had a clear amber colour to it. It had a typical 'lager' smell of hops and barley, with a hint of ginger and other spiced I could not quite pinpoint. There was not much of a spice taste to it, nor anything unusual. Slight bitter finish and a slightly sweet aftertaste, but nothing suggestively strong or lingering.

Would I buy this beer again? Probably not.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 04:43:36 | More by NilocRellim

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.78/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass.

Appearance: Dark brown light bubbles on the body.

Smell: this is a winter beer that wreaks of flavorful hops...I can absolutely go to sleep and not complain.

Taste: Hops and malt all the way, lightly spicy you can feel cinnamon but this is truly a "go-to" and I am truly appreciating for what it is. ?

Mouth: Light malty after-taste with a hoppiness texture that just lingers when you want it to.

Overall: Not good beer is is quality beer, i had had this for years and will keep having it knowing that the quality that i am drinking is quality worth having. Go to a bar or your local shop and treat yourself to what you know what is true to yourself. Salud!

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-28-2012 09:35:26 | More by BlurryVisi0n

Arborescence

Finland

4.05/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Clear, deep copper. Pours a creamy one finger head that persists for a while; brownish tint.

Aroma: Caramel malts, just a hint of sweetness, ginger bread.

Taste: Robust and rich, malty flavour. Some herbs and hop bitterness in the aftertaste, but mostly this is just malty delight.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied, creamy and smooth; very nice!

Overall: A positive surprise! It's a nice rich lager with some proper flavour, but not too overwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 16:34:39 | More by Arborescence

NuclearDolphin

Minnesota

2.95/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a Pilsner Glass

Appearance - Clear Dark Amber color with quite a bit of carbonation. Good head retention

Smell - Caramel, Malts, Barley, and Yeasts. Not really a complex scent but it rests quite well on the nose.

Taste - Caramel, Wheat, Yeasts, Hops and Malts. Strong resin aftertaste, even by bock standards. Aside from the resin aftertaste and slight caramel flavor, there really isn't a whole lot here in terms of flavor.

Mouthfeel - Light bodied and not really any carbonation. Comes off as very watery.

Overall - It doesn't taste like anything really, aside from the slight hop and caramel taste. There are better bocks and winter ales out there than this.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 04:13:02 | More by NuclearDolphin

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a chalice, head is tan, pretty dense about 1/2 inch thick, color is amber.

Smell is toasted and caramel malt, light fruitiness, hints of mild spices.

taste is toasted and caramel malts, light fruit, understated spices, more pronounced than in the nose, but very tasty. The taste from the bottle is much better than I remember the most recent draft version.

Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, good balance in the sweetness and light bitter flavor.

Overall, this is a nice tasting brew, perfect for cool winter evening and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 23:00:59 | More by mvanaskie13

NuclearSoAndSo

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a beer mug.

Appearance- Pours amber to brown with a two to three finger off-white head.

Smell- There is some vague citrus in the aroma, the smell is weaker than I expected.

Taste- Tastes like a lager with some citrus notes. Has a sort of floral aftertaste.

Mouthfeel- Relatively light body and very smooth; medium carbonation. A sessionable beer.

Overall- Not a bad beer. I probably wouldn't seek it out or anything, but I wouldn't pass it up if it was offered to me either.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 14:50:18 | More by NuclearSoAndSo

acelin

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pilsner glass.

Dark amber with ruby highlights, small creme head that leaves some lacing.

One can smell biscuity malt, some dark toast, Christmas spices, no hops.

Taste is bright - lots of clean dry malt, with some biscuit, Christmas spices. Nothing offensive here, very tasty but very sweet. Easy to drink. Mouthfeel is light, slightly creamy with high carbonation. Overall a great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 04:09:32 | More by acelin

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a standard pint glass. Samuel Adams is one of the few crafts you can bring to any setting and not really have anyone be "scared" of it, so I picked up their seasonal pack for the family.

Appearance: Dark amber color with a decent off-white head.

Smell: Didn't pick much up from this bottle, usually pick up some trace spice and decent malt scents from this beer.

Taste: Malty lager with a nice mix of spices added to have it fit the season/holidays. Nothing is very accented here though. This is Sam Adams' safest winter seasonal.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium, but keeps enough carbonation for me to enjoy it and be able to knock quite a few back.

An incredibly plain beer, but not a bad beer. I remember loving this to death a few years ago, now its not too exciting. It's still pretty good though. Above average, but not by much.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 03:48:20 | More by ColdWaffles

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.2/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This dark coppery lager poured a half inch frothy head. Quite fetching in appearance the head dissipated quickly and there was no lacing.

The scent was unremarkable. A sweet metallic or maybe a tinny malt I felt it lacked the strength and character it should.

The taste was slightly malty with a bit of ginger but it was very weak. I found a hint of cinnamon but it was sparse and fleeting. This is not the best entry from Samuel Adams and my least favorite in the Holiday Sampler.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 23:02:07 | More by KYGunner

pkalix

California

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

must be the marketing. i keep buying this stuff and it's mostly always the same.
amber-red pour, minor billowy head. smell is kind of bland. taste is of the same kinds of malts they use for most of their brews. hops too...
overall, a rather plain, but drinkable brew. a little bitter finish, but easily sessionable. if you like sam adams.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 00:25:23 | More by pkalix

kshizzle101

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into 8oz taster glass

A - Clear amber in color with a one inch head.

S - smells of malts. also very bready. some spiciness as well but overall not getting a ton off the scent

T - light hops at the beginning followed by roasted malt and bread flavor. A little kick of spiciness at the end.

M - light to medium bodied but well-carbonated for this style of bock

Overall - honestly a little plain. nothing really stands out all that much. not a bad beer at all, but nothing exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 05:27:04 | More by kshizzle101

Cavanaghty

Maine

4.03/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a tall beer glass.

Appearance: Reddish amber with a thin off white head, thick leaving.

Smell: Mild smells of malts and carmel.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth medium bodied. Taste of malts and light carmel. Some peppery notes as well.

Overall: Average winter brew. I always enjoy a few every year.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2012 23:21:46 | More by Cavanaghty

eaddy-p

3.55/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

So unfortunately, my nose is plugged up so I didn't get the full experience but I get the wheat/bread/smoky flavor and I enjoyed the mixture of spices all in a dark brew. Quite enjoyable winter beer, even if it is a bit strong on the aftertaste. Very filling.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 21:03:23 | More by eaddy-p

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Nonic pint glass at cellar-fridge temperature.

L – Deep amber with a 2-finger bubby tan head. Pretty good retention but not much lacing. Very clear with an average amount of carbonation bubbles.

S – Bready, toasty, grainy, and caramel malt with some wheat and maybe a hint of the spices that are mentioned on the bottle, mainly cinnamon.

T – Taste starts off sweet with bready and caramel malt, progressing to some toasted malt and grainy wheat, then hints of spicy cinnamon and ginger, and finally finishes with subtle earthy hop bitterness.

F – Medium-bodied with good carbonation, a smooth and crisp mouthfeel, and a slightly bitter, slightly spicy, but mostly sweet finish. Some sweet caramel malt flavors linger for a little bit.

O – This is a pretty good lager. I’m not sure how much it fits the bock style, but the toasted and caramelized malts are there. As it is, neither the seasonal spices nor the malts really dominate the aroma or taste. I wish at least one of them would be just a bit more pronounced and take center stage. Regardless, this is a tasty and very drinkable beer that is well-suited to the season.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 04:09:36 | More by BlackBelt5112203

jmbranum

Oklahoma

4.33/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was very surprised by how good this beer was.

Incredible enchanting spice-laden aroma with some maple notes. Pours a clear brown liquid with a huge head.

Flavor is good. Rich and malty. A little bit of spices. Reminds me a little of Salvator.

Medium to full mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 16:58:09 | More by jmbranum

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into a pint shaker...

A: Clear dark amber/gold body...head is light and so is the consistency of the lacing...

S: Big toasted grain and bready malt aroma...didn't think this was a bock but its definitely got that nose...hints of caramel and a discernable layer of earthy hop bitterness...searching for the spices and orange peel but I'm not finding...

T: Again, upfront with the bready malt component, flavors of toasted grains, earthy nuttiness, lightly roasted malt, even caramel sweetness...finish levels out with the faintest suggestion of spice...

MF: Thinner mouthfeel, probably medium bodied but it feels a bit lighter...

O: Not special really. Not particularly flavorful and I really didn't pick up and spices/clove/ginger/orange peel...

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 16:11:14 | More by Scotchboy

TappaKeggaBrew

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Clear, dark amber, with a finger of frothy head the color of whole-grain bread; retention was fair, but without much lacing.

S: Toasted gran dominates, with herbal hops notes. there's a hint of orange, and maybe a hint of allspice (but not as much as I'd expected based on the label).

T: Hops isn't overwhelming, but it is present throughout, starting tangy and turning bitter. The toasted grain I smelled is certainly present. Not much sweetness, although there is some date and orange peel. Again, less spice than expected for the holiday season.

M: Plenty of carbonation initially, although that left very quickly. Slightly chewy. No noticeable "booziness." Moist from start to finish.

O: Not bad, but not up to my standards for a good winter seasonal beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 02:26:14 | More by TappaKeggaBrew

deebo

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a finger of bubbly off white head that breaks down rather quickly leaving a ringing around the pint glass. Clear with an attractive amber color.

S-Malty-toasty nutty sweet with a wheat like character present.

T-Caramel/toffee malt with nice hints of spice-cinnamon and a bit of citrusy orange. Finishs with some clean hop bitterness. Complex, with a clean crisp finish.

M-Light bodied for a bock, highly carbonated with a fairly quick slightly bittered hop finish.

O-An interesting combination of ingredients used here and overall I think it works. Unique and tasty with plenty of different malt flavors with subtle spicing that enhances the taste. Well done. Enough flavor complexity for a December night with a fresh foot of snow on the ground (like today) yet light enough for several in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 02:16:27 | More by deebo

brewsadedotcom

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured into my Bogota Beer Co pint glass. One inch of head but disappears quickly. No lacing to speak of. Amber Color.

S: Grassy and Malty. Did not pick up any of the spices mentioned on the label.

T: Heavy toasted malt flavor. Copper metallic aftertaste.

M: Full bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: Its ok. Not my favorite of the Sam seasonals but its decent.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 22:48:09 | More by brewsadedotcom

Murrhey

Montana

3.28/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Last 12oz bottle of a six-pack, reviewed on the fly.

A- Dark auburn color with a toasty head. Decent retention and nice looking body.

S- Warm spices, nutmeg and other brewing spice notes. Warm and inviting, if maybe a bit plain.

T- Tasty, sharp and warm. Slight bitterness from earthy hops and toasted malts.

M- Heavy carbonation and lighter feel. Finishes wet.

O- Toasty. Kind of turns to ashes in my mouth after half a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 02:35:33 | More by Murrhey

kyleelton

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I don't remember if I'd had this one before or not, but if I did I certainly didn't remember it being a wheat bock. Not sure what makes it a bock if uses wheat. (The yeast?)

Not a lot of head retention, but enough. Especially for a lager. I'm not very good at placing what I'm getting in the nose, but its sweet. Maybe some hops.

Clean crisp mouthfeel, supposedly from the wheat. Some banana also from the wheat. I'm also tasting the malt unless if the bock, so I guess I get it. Wheat probably just supplements the the malts. (Perhaps).

Nice beer for a seasonal from our Boston brethren. Especially for something I can get at a chain restaurant.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2012 01:28:14 | More by kyleelton

davecavemaster

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This winter lager pours with a beige head that is at first very foamy, but recedes quickly. Very soon, you are down to no head at all. No lacing to speak of.

Aroma - The first thing that hit me was a bready, malt smell. Also get hints of the cinnamon and orange peel.

Tasting this brew, I first got the bready flavors of the malts. That was followed by the spices, and a slight bitterness form the hops. Nice solid flavor.

Not much carbonation, but it does have a pretty full body for as clear as it is.

So this is a nice winter brew. It's heavy enough for drinking on a cold winter's day, but light enough that you have no problem being able to put down a few.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 02:42:44 | More by davecavemaster

Winston_Smith

Kentucky

3.43/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

No date on this one. Poured it into a tulip.

Appearance: Looks medium dark, about as a bock should be. No head to speak of. No lacing at all.

Smell: Mild spicy aroma, and malty.

Taste: Better than the smell... Malty richness with the expected winter brew spice flavor. Aftertaste is my favorite part of it, with a nice malt character. Some hops at the end.

Mouthfeel: A pretty smooth drinker, with a mildly oily finish and a medium body.

Overall: This is an average beer. I'm beginning to think that winter spicy lagers aren't really on my desired beer radar. It wasn't bad, just not something I'm going to spend my money on again.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 23:36:21 | More by Winston_Smith