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

Yo_Millhouse

Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

I finally tried the much anticipated "Can" version of this , and I think the money put into designing this can could have been put to better use, the mouth itself has an opening about 1/4" from the lip and the lip itself was curled out away from the can and the mouth was a little wider than normal cans, that combined with the distance from the lip you need to tilt your head back further to drink it, making it relatively easy to spill on yourself. The beer did not "slide" as it normally does for me. I will be sticking to bottles in the future.

Serving type: can

05-14-2013 22:59:43 | More by Yo_Millhouse

HattedClassic

Virginia

4.01/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance:
Pours a nice and clear amber color with white head.

Smell:
Hoppy with a sweet malt smell.

Taste:
Slightly hoppy with a sweet malt taste to balance out the hops. I also get a nice bready flavor as well.

Mouthfeel:
Crisp and medium bodied.

Overall:
I have to admit that for all the crap that people throw Jim Koch's way, his Boston Lager is pretty good and is better now that it's been canned. I'm glad that I decided to go back and drink the beer that got me hooked on craft beer and I might consider to start picking it up again during the summer because of its taste and low abv, not to mention its flexibility with food pairings.

Serving type: can

05-12-2013 17:54:15 | More by HattedClassic

Mavigo

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

The archetype of Samuel Adams beers, had this many, many times, time to give a proper review.
Served in a chalice.

A: Pours a clear light, golden copper color with a thin off white head with minimal retention and minimal lacing. Slightly bubbly.

S: Smells of wheat, yeast, malts, honey, floral hues

T: Smooth, sweet flavor, wheat, grains, malts, yeast, brown sugars, honey, spices, hints of hops, floral flavors

M: A bit on the carbonated side but doesn't negate the well balanced flavors, good sweetness to it. Medium bodied.

O: This is one of Sam Adams best known beers and for a good reason. One of the best wheat beers you can find, and for a good price. An excellent session beer great for any season. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 23:57:37 | More by Mavigo

catmanben

New Jersey

4.95/5  rDev +30.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer has a very nice color to it and a very nice rich head that stays for awhile. There is a rich and creamy taste that hits the tounge all at once and stays for some time. I do enjot the aroma and the headyness of this beer, I could enjoy this beer with a nice steak or grilled salmon.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 00:20:22 | More by catmanben

kristenspaintings

California

4.34/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

America used to make strong products which were reliable and a value. Now, we mostly produce crap. This beer is a prime example of how things used to be done, with pride. It harkens me back to when American goods were great. From the taste, to the smell or the price, this beer must make the brewers proud because for the first time in a while, I have found a consistent American product to be proud of. Way to go Samuel Adams Boston Lager and God bless America.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 11:32:04 | More by kristenspaintings

doktorhops

Australia

4.15/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

In light of the recent terror attack in Boston I was somewhat hesitant to review this, even though it had been sitting in my fridge for over a week. But then I thought that the brave, resilient people of Boston would be the first to raise a glass in honour of those who didn't make it and toast to swift justice to the perpetrators of this heinous act. To Boston I raise my glass and review this in the hope that we put an end to senseless acts of violence everywhere: Slàinte!

Poured from a 355ml bottle into a nonic pint.

A: A slight murky amber body with a sticky chalk head that laces the glass well.

S: This brew has a great mix of English ale and American hop aromas: caramel base, some sugar syrup (actually comes off with a maple tinge), sour yeast, with earthy but floral hops in the background. This is classed as a lager but it has the fragrance of a classic pub ale.

T: Very good! The aroma carries over with caramel, sugar syrup, sour yeast and those earthy/floral hops. It's got decent body as well - a bit syrupy, and it also manages to be refreshing whilst being sweet. The finish is a medium hop bitterness, showing this to be a very well balanced beer.

M: As mentioned; syrupy, with a medium body and light carbonation.

D: This is one classic session brew. Easy to drink, morish, with enough complexity to keep me coming back for another- I am well impressed. Only thing that might hold it back is the body, it can be a little on the heavy side if I had one compliant, however it is definitely up there with some of the best brews I've had, and a lager to boot!

Food match: Everything that you can find that is honey-glazed; ham, chicken, pork chops, carrots, potatoes, pecans and pears, ground to a fine paste on toasted bread.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 10:54:43 | More by doktorhops

JesseMurdock

Hawaii

3.79/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

This was my gateway beer. Before trying Boston Lager, I would drink only lagers a notch above american macro adjuncts, like stella, heinekin, kirin. SA BL introduced me to the pleasure of hops. While retaining the crispy mouthfeel that makes lagers so drinkable, this beer has a much stronger and more interesting malt character as well as some bitterness from hops. The nice amberish color and thick frothy head give this beer a great appearance, especially for a lager.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2013 21:52:57 | More by JesseMurdock

TeamMathis

West Virginia

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Clear amber. Leaves a paper-thin head for the duration.
Smell: Light caramel. Maybe honey and very light floral.
Taste: Maple syrup and caramel. Light hops.
Mouthfeel: Smooth with a balanced carbonation.

This is such a good lager, and one of the most recognizable. It has a nice maple and caramel taste to it, and a bit more bitterness than other lagers. If you're in the market for a good, standard lager, look here. I will get this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 01:59:47 | More by TeamMathis

Roguer

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A beautiful dark beer, clean, low amount of bubbles. Mine had a thick head (~3 fingers) which left little residue on the glass, but looked beautiful after pouring.

S - Very mild; nothing particularly strong.

T - Bright, hoppy (but nothing like an IPA, obviously). Slightly crisp, very clean. Complex, with a mild taste of pine, and notable caramel malt. Eminently drinkable; this makes a decent beer to just taste, but can easily be a volume drink.

M - Very nice. Just thick enough to swirl around, thin enough for easy drinking.

O - My first experience with Boston Lager was years ago, before I'd become accustomed to hopped beers, and I didn't like it. Well, tastes change, and after downing my fair share of pale ales and trying a number of beers, I decided to give it another try. I was not disappointed. The hops are clearly present, but really just introduce you to the rest of the beer, instead of overpowering it. Behind that, the mild amount of malt and the rest of the flavors come through cleanly.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2013 20:45:21 | More by Roguer

MikeAAL

Wisconsin

4.61/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a very complex beer. Excellent also.

It has a thick, white head and a copper body.

A rich, hops smell with some hints of citrus. A floral smell too.

It has a strong hops flavor, malts and a hint of citrus.

Light mouthfeel with medium carbonation. Clean, crisp, dry finish.

I love this beer. It's no wonder this beer opened people up to craft beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 18:39:26 | More by MikeAAL

Immortale25

Florida

3.21/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Poured into a Dogfish signature snifter. Notch on label indicates Best Enjoyed By Aug 2013.

A- Pours a clean medium amber color with a 3/4 inch off-white head that retains well before slowly becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a center patch of surface foam. Slick lacing leaves a frost-like ring behind on the glass.

S- Sweet bready malt with a light trace of hops.

T- Also bready and smooth with a very clean refined finish. Aha, there's what's always bugged me about this beer: There's a distinct metallic aftertaste that throws off the entire profile for me. Very unpleasant and bitter in a bad way.

M- The metallic aftertaste also affects the feel. While smooth and crisp at first, things go downhill as the palate recoils in distaste. Medium carbonation and a substantial body for a lager.

O- I've never liked this beer. Such a shame since I was born in Boston. I thought now that I knew beer better things might be different, but they're not.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 01:16:45 | More by Immortale25

Rast

Maryland

3.09/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25

Bottle at Double T Diner in Catonsville, MD after the Easter Vigil.

I've heard this being poured in so many-a radio commercials. Now I have it (for the 80th time). The appearance is quite lovely, deep copper coloration with a thick, slowly dissipating head. Rising carbon bubbles remind me of the Easter mysteries having just been celebrated. Nose is alright, nutty malt. Mouthfeel was unusually runny from what I'd remembered abt Sam Adams. Plenty of bubbles tho, and a modicum of richness. Taste reveals malt and nuts, once again, but also a tinge of nut.

"What kind of nuts?" asks my lovely wife.

Pondering it a moment, I reply, "Walnuts."

Goes down relatively crunchy bubbly. I think I'd better stick to fresh Boston Lager on tap.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 15:09:41 | More by Rast

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.89/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Colour is a coppery caramel gold colour, with good head retention and quite good lacing. Low carbonation, but good clarity and looks pretty decent.

Smell is mostly of caramel malt. Dry malt, with some apple fruitiness, some lemon citrus. Fairly nondescript, but good balance.

Taste is caramel malty, some dry pepper, hops do come through with dryness and a slight 'woody' bitterness. Some lemony citrus, earthy, with a good amount of roast malt with some residual sweetness and its all balanced rather well. Easy drinking but not much complexity.

Mouthfeel has a good refreshing carbonation. Mild malty body. Finish is dry and crisp. Satisfying finish. All round refreshing- light body. Definitely drinkable.

A beer that has a rightful place in starting the move to craft, I can certainly see why it would make converts of macro drinkers. The malts and hops come through to give this beer some actual taste. It is a decent drinking lager style that does up the game. Won't be my favourite beer, not overly complex and despite the good balance none of the ingredients really makes a good case for making a really flavourful beer. Good session beer, tasty and not a beer you have to think about too much.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 18:52:36 | More by mick303

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into Sam Adams pint glass.

A - Clear amber with a fluffy white head.

S - Sweet biscuit malt, earthy/floral hops, toasted grain, slightly fruity lager yeast.

T - Nice blend of toasted bready malt and mild citrus hops. Light nutty and earthy notes throughout. The finish brings somewhat of a hop bite and lots of burnt grains.

M - Relatively smooth, creamy, light-medium body. Lots of carbonation, perhaps a bit too much.

O - A very flavorful, balanced and drinkable lager. This is definitely a nice session beer and pairs well with steak. I like the fact that it's available at almost any bar or restaurant, as it easily beats out all the other macro lager options.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 02:58:01 | More by mooseo

beershrine

California

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

Poured from 12oz bottle. It settles down quickly with a fine fizzle on top. Great color with a mild malt+alcohol smell. Taste -soft noble hops upfront-sazz or hersbruker maybe? good filling mouthfeel. 4 star beer with good flavors. I love this stuff, not a geek beer for sure but you won't go broke with this one + available everywhere.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 23:55:44 | More by beershrine

dougfur

New York

4.14/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice ambery color, with a good head. Smell is just a nice lager smell, but the taste, while clean, nice, lagery, has a certain nuttiness, or breadiness that I really enjoy. Carbonation, mouthfeel, all nice. While I'm not a huge lager guy I've had enough American lagers to recognize that this one is pretty well brewed and I enjoy the unique taste it has. I think there are some reviewers here (in my humble opinion), who forget to do it based on the style of beer. If you hold this up against the greatest American ales of the day, it's not going to do well, but for what it is, this is good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 21:00:07 | More by dougfur

MShirokov

Illinois

3.36/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

There seem to be many people like myself, who after drinking cheap crappy beer in college realize that maybe there's something better out there and try a better beer. Sam Adams was that "better beer" I tried back in the day (and have had on many occasions since). Compared to Miller Light &co when I tried Sam Adams this beer seemed fantastic. But after trying different craft beers for a few years I now see its place in the beer hierarchy and it's a good above-average beer. This is what a good normal beer is supposed to taste like, but there's nothing particularly special about it that makes it stand out.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2013 18:15:12 | More by MShirokov

dougbassett

Pennsylvania

3.29/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

One of the "1001 Beers to Try Before You Die" -- #18 of the ones I've reviewed here.

A very famous beer in America -- came up with the craft beer revolution and has risen to the point where now it's probably the best mass-produced beer in America. I've never been in a bar that didn't have it, anyway.

I don't think it's a great beer, but it's okay. Pours a kind of bronzish color, with not much of a head. The mouthfeel here is sharper/more effervescent than I seem to remember it being, that may have something to do with the little notch at the side of the label telling me I bought this a couple weeks past it's "brewery fresh taste" deadline.

It's a Vienna Lager and generally follows that path. I detected a somewhat bready nose but that might be the age of the beer. Some hops, and some caramelly-malted sweetness -- not as much as you get in other, more famous examples of it's type but it's there. A reasonably crisp finish.

I would call this beer "okay". It's a good "okay" beer -- if you're looking for something to drink, and the place you're at doesn't have much, they'll probably have this. And while it won't wow you, it'll be...okay.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 00:24:58 | More by dougbassett

screamking

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

22oz bomber poured into pint glass.

This beer pours a nice even amber color with a thick two-three finger creamy head. Looks a whole lot nicer than I remember. This beer also has some of the best lacing I've seen in a lager, up and down the whole edge of the glass.

It's pretty average when it comes to aroma, just your common run of the mill lager smells, although it was a tad bit fruiter then most. Taste wise this thing is in the top tier of American lagers. Runs a bit dry at times but overall is at the head of the class.

I'm very glad I decided to try this beer again. After many years of passing it by on the store shelfs this will be one I pick up more often.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 03:21:20 | More by screamking

Burkbom23

Connecticut

3.94/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear deep golden color to light copper. 1 Finger thick white head that lasted a little bit. Some lacing but not very klingy. Medium ammount of carbination. Fairly aromatic, strong smell of citrus in the nose with slight ammount of hops coming through. Tasted the sweet malt upfront. Grainy flavors, with a hint of bread and the citrus that was noticed in the aroma. Not a ton of bitterness or hop flavor, but hint of carmel. Medium to light body has good feel in the mouth. Not a ton of bite on the finish. Good balance and overall enjoyable lager. Could see myself sitting down and drinking a few of these!

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 14:05:48 | More by Burkbom23

delta490

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured a 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams glass. Poured a a nice amber, with a big creamy head that lingers around and leaves nice lacing. Aroma is big, with notes of fruit (raisin maybe?), caramel, and little bit of hops. Taste is a little dialed back from the aroma, as those aroma notes are present, but more blended together as opposed to being distinct, as they are in the aroma. Still, a nice flavor to it, with a very slight hop bitterness on the finish. Fairly carbonated and a slightly thinner mouthfeel. A good craft fall-back.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 08:22:37 | More by delta490

jjclick17

Indiana

4.24/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Golden, copper color and very clear pour. Very hoppy aroma

Slight hint of citrus in the taste along with the hops. Excellent balance of taste and filling. Great flavor without it feeling like i just ate a can of beans. Probably my top choice for a 12 pack.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 02:46:29 | More by jjclick17

Utica_Brew_Review

New York

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Great golden amber color with decent head. Sweet hoppy aroma that might benefit from added depth and complexity, but definitely pleasing. Citrus and hoppy notes, with a surprising depth that you might not expect from a lager. Slight bitterness that adds to the beer. Balanced mouthfeel. These two bottles are a bit more bitter than usual, but the expiration date is far into the future. Good true finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 04:57:03 | More by Utica_Brew_Review

Goosehunter75

Missouri

3.66/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Pour a very clear deep gold color with a slightly off white head. There wasnt alot of head and it didnt hand around long

S - You can definately small the malts in this beer. Very pleasant and there is a hint of hops aroma as well

T - Very flavorful lager. You get a good dose of the malts up front. I have had this beer many times, but it wasnt until I started reviewing beers that I noticed the hops on the finish.

M - Smooth as water. Very light as easy drinking. Could put back several

O - I like this beer. Its a great lager. I love lagers. This one has flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 02:25:44 | More by Goosehunter75

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Clear orange-tinted copper with two-finger, white, foamy, frothy head that lasted more than several minutes. Pretty good lacing.

S: Toasted malt and citrus. Very mild.

T: Light sweetness and light bitterness. Toasted malt and mild citrus just like the nose.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Smooth.

O: Above average lager. Nothing too special, but drinkable and easy to find.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 01:24:03 | More by SolipsismalCat