Samuel Adams Summer Ale - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine July 2007.

This seasonal is seeing its 12th summer. It's a sort of like a twist on the Belgian White Ale (being a spiced wheat ale) that sports lemon zest and grains of paradise--if you didn't know already.

Very cloudy--let's say murky--orange-ish color. Ample froth after a quick pour, with bubbly and very sticky lacing: a sign of good retention. Aromas of lemon and sweet malted wheat come forth with underlying suggestions of vanilla, white pepper and cherries. Smooth and creamy with a slick, medium body. Malty for starters, with both wheat and barley battling it out. Lemon and spicy flavors try and push through, with hints of pepper and vanilla in the back. A kiss of hop bitterness goes against a flash of fruitiness, as well as hints of cherries and pears. Earthy, almost woody semisweet finish.

This beer is more complex than a summer seasonal needs to be. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it's a pretty bold move to put out a murky, com- plex ale for a summer seasonal while everyone else is lobbing their crystal clear Blonde Ales into the market. Maple-glazed jalapeño turkey burgers with potato salad stood up to this very well.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 21:02:13 | More by BeerAdvocate

Jason

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 oz brown bottle with a freshness date ... different label from before, no more sail boat. :-(

Super foamy with a dense white head. A cloudy haze of orange-straw color.

Slightly soapy aroma, malt sweetness, hops and some odd spicing going on. Hint of wheat and lemon in the nose as well.

Wheat is evident on the palate, fuller bodied than one would expect from a summer ale. Odd spicing and an all around orange-ish flavor in the middle. Mild hopping goes well with the maltiness.

I want to like this brew but the flavors just don't meld ... it just does not do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2005 22:22:43 | More by Jason

Todd

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is just a nice beer to have around in the heat of the summer ...

Pours a cloudy light amber beer with a creamy white lace that sticks and retains well. Aroma is grainy, spicy and citric. Mouthfeel is creamy and coarse. Flavour contains dry crisp grain, lemon zest that lends a nice sharp bitter twang, and a soft touch of caramel and malt sweetness. Finish is grainy, faint musty yeast and dry with grain tannins.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2002 15:23:58 | More by Todd

Wally

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-23-2013 00:08:20 | More by Wally

ChrisMon02

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

05-22-2013 22:57:27 | More by ChrisMon02

Pacioli1445

South Dakota

3/5  rDev -10.7%

05-22-2013 22:28:16 | More by Pacioli1445

zacky_U

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +33.9%

05-22-2013 21:01:16 | More by zacky_U

Rdc67

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -10.7%

05-22-2013 19:41:48 | More by Rdc67

DeekNayvuz

Montana

2/5  rDev -40.5%

05-22-2013 19:15:07 | More by DeekNayvuz

Erice78

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-22-2013 01:49:39 | More by Erice78

hdf561

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Had it out of a bottle in a make your own 6 pack at my local grocery store

Can smell the lemon peel right off the bat as it is very strong to the nose, a little hint of the wheat as well but the lemon really over powers the nose.

Taste is smooth no bitter, no real after taste and a very drinkable beer. This to me is a great summer beer and I recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable summer beer to drink. It is not as light as a bud light coors light etc. but if your looking for a lighter beer with some flavor then this is the beer for you

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 00:44:36 | More by hdf561

JMS1512

New Jersey

2.5/5  rDev -25.6%

05-22-2013 00:33:33 | More by JMS1512

HopsConley

Rhode Island

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

05-21-2013 21:52:34 | More by HopsConley

jonkerbaugh

Colorado

4/5  rDev +19%

05-21-2013 19:30:17 | More by jonkerbaugh

MarkQ617

Massachusetts

3.54/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Totally decent wheat beer for summer. Had this poured from a bottle into a pint gass. I've always liked the soft hazy yellow-gold of a Sam Summer, I think it has a color that is less pale and hazy than a lot of wheat beers, but isn't too gold. Just a somewhat unique appearance. The lemon flavor is...a bit strong, but not so bad as to be a turn-off.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 18:50:06 | More by MarkQ617

johntfox

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-21-2013 17:59:18 | More by johntfox

ChaseBacon

New York

3/5  rDev -10.7%

05-21-2013 13:28:30 | More by ChaseBacon

Lucoli

New York

2.5/5  rDev -25.6%

05-21-2013 01:11:06 | More by Lucoli

JP412

Maryland

3/5  rDev -10.7%

05-20-2013 23:21:26 | More by JP412

thampel09

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-20-2013 20:14:41 | More by thampel09

Bikeboy1

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-20-2013 20:14:12 | More by Bikeboy1

MJSJr

Ohio

2.75/5  rDev -18.2%

05-20-2013 16:25:57 | More by MJSJr

ppvora

Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Appearance: This beer was on tap at a local restaurant. Got myself a 16 oz. glass. Nice gold color, but hazy, with plenty of bubbles. One finger of head that took a couple of minutes to dissipate.

Smell: Mostly malty smell. No hops and no complexity.

Taste: Malty taste. Refreshing summer ale. Very little in this beer that harkens to what made Samuel Adams famous. No hops, no complexity.

Mouthfeel: Very consistent with the taste of the beer -- no big change.

Overall: Refreshing malty beer. No hops, no complexity. It appeared inviting, but...c'mon...I expect greater things from the brewery that brought us Sam Adams!

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2013 14:35:02 | More by ppvora

sparx1100

Minnesota

2.5/5  rDev -25.6%

05-20-2013 03:16:46 | More by sparx1100

GreesyFizeek

New York

3.75/5  rDev +11.6%

05-20-2013 00:58:49 | More by GreesyFizeek