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

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355 mL single bottle from the LCBO; best before May 2013 and listed at 5.5% abv.

Pours a cloudy straw yellow with a slight orange tinge. Seated atop is one finger of frothy white head that quickly vanishes, leaving behind a soapy film on the surface and a creamy collar. The aroma is a bit muted, but otherwise enjoyable - bready wheat malts are a little too dominant, with lemon citrus and peppery spice struggling to be detected through the malty sweetness.

Actually a bit tastier than the aroma let on. Bready wheat malt sweetness comprises the backbone, with notes of honey, lemony citrus, white pepper and herbal, grassy hop dryness coming forward during the sip. Spicy, grassy finish that scrubs the palate clean and doesn't linger long. On the light side of medium-bodied, a bit of chew with heavy, biting carbonation; almost a bit too high, but it works well here with the spice so I can dig it. Easy to drink quickly, and a perfect summer patio drink.

I wasn't sure about this stuff, but the first sip intrigued me enough to look a bit further. This is a seriously great summer refresher, with just the right levels of lemon zest, spice, and chewy wheat sweetness. I decided to just get a single bottle of this rather than an entire six-pack, but I am sort of regretting that decision having tasted it.

Final Grade: 3.8, a solid B+. Easily one of the best American-style wheat ales available in this market. I tend to be more of a hefe/wit guy, but this is a nice changeup that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend, or purchase again. A solid brew that is well worth picking up, particularly if you are a fan of wheaty beers in general.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 06:45:27 | More by thehyperduck

HiWire

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-19-2013 06:59:35 | More by HiWire

LeahM

New York

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-19-2013 03:23:39 | More by LeahM

mjurney

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance:
Golden color, some amber highlight, hazy. Lots of bubble rising up. Thin frothy head.

Aroma:
Lemony, spicy, bready, crisp and clean.

Taste:
Grainy, grassy, hay, bready. There some black pepper and lemon zest. Bitterness is mild. Finish is very dry and chalky. Medium bodied, dry, wet.

Overall:
It's mediocre beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:09:47 | More by mjurney

Knuckles_Nuclear

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-18-2013 23:13:24 | More by Knuckles_Nuclear

ebenicr

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-18-2013 21:32:26 | More by ebenicr

Sturmthis

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

05-18-2013 20:48:53 | More by Sturmthis

jbarletto

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -10.7%

05-18-2013 14:48:36 | More by jbarletto

geedub11

United Kingdom (England)

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-18-2013 13:51:43 | More by geedub11

BRYeleJR

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +19%

05-18-2013 12:32:13 | More by BRYeleJR

andjusticeforale

Connecticut

2.81/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Hazy yellow gold in a Duvel Tulip. Soapy head that dissipates and has moderate stickiness.

lemony bread in the nose, some citrus fruity characteristics, spicy yeast , faint malt and vanilla scented alcohol.

the first sip reveals a light body, a crisp finish, wheat bread aftertaste. There is a nice spiciness, a very nice lightness to the body, no cloying sweetness. Obviously this is a ubiquitous summer beer, usually served in a pint glass. the swirlability in a tulip improved this beer tremendously. Its a nice summer offering, a party beer sure to please those looking for a not too imposing wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 03:53:43 | More by andjusticeforale

Punky_Brewster

Ohio

2.36/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Relatively complex for a "summer" ale. Orangish cloudly look. Decent mouthfeel. The smell was very lemony and the taste followed suit. It just had too much lemon taste for me. I was expecting more from this beer, but the lemon flavor overpowered everything else.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:32:42 | More by Punky_Brewster

Dat

Texas

2/5  rDev -40.5%

05-17-2013 17:11:03 | More by Dat

jburd19

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-17-2013 01:43:30 | More by jburd19

somethingcreative

Indiana

3/5  rDev -10.7%

05-17-2013 01:01:32 | More by somethingcreative

kkmiller76

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

05-17-2013 00:22:19 | More by kkmiller76

Iamstryker

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%

05-16-2013 22:17:04 | More by Iamstryker

verge

California

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-16-2013 22:07:10 | More by verge

bigbutter

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +11.6%

05-16-2013 20:20:37 | More by bigbutter

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-16-2013 16:29:12 | More by Slatetank

ajtorres311

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -18.2%

05-16-2013 15:54:47 | More by ajtorres311

JoshFrierson86

Arkansas

3.75/5  rDev +11.6%

05-16-2013 12:41:14 | More by JoshFrierson86

Carpentiere

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-16-2013 12:16:10 | More by Carpentiere

Zbeetleman

California

2.75/5  rDev -18.2%

05-16-2013 03:07:06 | More by Zbeetleman

TwoForty

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-16-2013 01:21:18 | More by TwoForty