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

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Some malt here Even a bit of hops and flavour? Not too sweet or watery, nice for a lager. Some creamy mouthfeel and balance, crisp and dry aftertaste. Hint of floral aroma.
I had this again 2.5 years later and it was drinkable lager, with some hop in aroma and in taste.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2004 04:00:40 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Golden amber with a hint of orange, capped by a large eggshell colored crown. The head is soft, yet dense, and hangs around a while. An average amount of lace ends up sticking to the glass in the end.

The smell is enjoyable and consists of floral-earthy hops more than toasted malts. Boston Lager is nicely bitter and spicy. There's plenty of toasted, biscuity malt and maybe even a hint of orange peel. The flavor profile is interesting from beer entry to beer exit and the finish lingers. The mouthfeel is medium-full for the style and bubbles are generous.

Sam Adams Boston Lager is very good beer and is my favorite lager so far. I love the fact that it's available locally and it's usually my 'go to' brew in local restaurants.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2004 18:21:55 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Well this is overdue. This is my goto beer in restaurants for a while. Always pours that nice amber brown with a decent head. Smells nicely hopped and the taste is there as well. This is one beer that you can drink all night when you can only get to the local gas station on vacation to pick something up. Would take it over any other macro any day. Will always be the go to beer when nothing else is around, well unless I can get Sierra Nevada :)

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2006 01:50:42 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I've had this beer so many times, but I've never written a proper review for it. Here goes nothing...

A: This beer is amazingly clear. It is a dark golden color with some nice amber notes. There is a large fluffy white head that leaves great lacing.

S: The smell is better than I remember. Spicy, earthy hops take the lead, with a nice malt background and some light yeastiness.

T: The taste follows the scent, for the most part. The hops are mildly bitter, with a nice orange and spice quality. The malt is quite present and provides a good contrast to the hops.

M: This is a nice crisp, clean lager. The carbonation is excellent and the body is a bit light.

D: This is a nice refreshing lager, and I'm not really a big lager fan. There are good, strong flavors, which is great to see in a world full of adjunct lagers. I don't drink this beer as much anymore, but it is a good choice if you're at a restaurant without much of a beer list.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 08:59:57 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Light-to-medium amber color with gold streaks. A good, white head with plenty of lacing.

S: Fairly sweet with some hops coming in.

T: Malty sweetness with some caramel flavors and a European hop profile.

M: Light-to-medium mouthfeel with good carbonation.

D: Highly sessionable. A great all-around brew that always works when you need something quick. Usually the best brew every grocery store carries.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2009 01:53:52 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Ah, BBC's flagship brew! Pours a clear, copper body capped with a half inch of white foam. Fine, webby lacing on the way down.

Smell: Toasty, caramel-scented malt nose with a spicy, floral background note.

Taste: Toasted maltiness with a restrained caramel sweetness. Floral, lightly spicy Noble hops with a cleansing bitterness. Faint hint of fruit, particularly upon warming. Crisp, bittersweet finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Enjoyed many times over many years in various forms, Samuel Adams Boston Lager is always a tasty, light, refreshing lager easily within reach be it at concert venues, humble gas stations, or the dreaded Red Lobster.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2008 23:02:26 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear honey color with a fluffy head that leaves a bit of lacing

Smell: Biscuity aroma, with a smidge of caramel and a very modest dash of noble hops

Taste: Starts out with a nice caramel malt flavor; mid-palate, the bitterness kicks in and provides a nice balance to the malt

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a fair amount of carbonation

Drinkability: Much maligned but nevertheless a decent beer, particularly if you are in a bar that has nothing else but macro lagers

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2006 00:55:57 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.22/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a very nice medium orange/brown with a huge 3 inch head that fades to a nice cap. Excellent lacing as perfect rings form as the beer is consumed.

S - Smells of sweet malts and floral notes.

T - Sweet malts to start with a slight bitter hop finish.

M - Crisp and clean and drying after each sip when the hop taste comes through.

D - A very good go to beer that seems to be everywhere at this point. In some places this would probably be the only good option on the menu. I am very glad that this alternative option is quite tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2010 04:50:03 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a deep copper color beer with an above average size foamy white had with good retention. Aroma is hoppier then expected with a good clean sweet malt presence. Taste is quite sweet with a nice mix between sweet malt and a clean crisp slightly bitter finish. With more character then expected, this is a quite good session lager.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2006 14:18:48 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.33/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Probably the pick-of-the-litter at a local seafood resturaunt that sells ok seafood for a rediculous price. They also sell beer that way too. Kinda disapointed with the SA Boston Lager. I often have this on tap, but from the bottle, it seemed to loose much. The maltiness never came through with the bready, toasty, rich character in flavor or texture. The taste was all spice, and the feel was almost prickly to the toung. Aromas were nice (after the beer warmed to above freezing), of American hop character--very Sierra Nevada Pale Ale-like. Finished with a (dare I say) grain-hull bite-ey-ness. Basically under-bodied, under-malted in comparison to what I'm used to in this beer. May have been past its prime.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2006 12:45:52 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

nice balance of hops and malt,I believe the best readily availabale lager u can get,great with all foods.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2002 18:41:23 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

To be honest I'm not sure if it's me, but I remember this beer as having more bitterness and hop character. I distinctly remember being able to pick out some light hops in the nose and yet I don't find any now. And I know that my palate has become accustomed to hop bitterness over the years, but this is definitely softer than it once was! The label is notched April of 2003; Boston and Rochester, NY. Whether it's been reformulated, or this is just a slightly varied batch I don't know, but this is what I find...

It pours a deep amber body topped by a full and frothy ivory head that holds well. It eventually drops to a creamy collar and thin surface covering, but also leaves some spotty lace about the glass. The nose is surprisingly limited with just some dextrinous malt, a mild fruitiness, and a background note of acetone. A very fine-bubbled and zesty carbonation combines with a firm medium body to create a creamy mouthfeel. What I recall as being an assertively hopped, but well-balanced beer now appears to offer only a lightly caramel-tinged sweet malt that's barely supported by understated bitterness. The finish is simply a diminishing of the flavor that's found in the mouth. It's lightly drying, but basically the maltiness just fades away into nothingness. No hop flavor is present.
Still, I guess it's fairly enjoyable and has a good drinkability - it's certainly not challenging! If this has been reformulated in the hopes of becoming more accessible to the 'common' beer drinker, it's certainly hit the mark. If it's simply a bad (and even "off") contract brew, then shame on Boston Beer for losing quality control. I'm certainly going to try this beer again - on draft and in bottle - with the hopes that I'll find the wonderful lager that once thrilled me.

Re-review 03/07/03: Although this bottles is no fresher (notched May 2003), it is much cleaner. There's definitely no "background note of acetone". It does have a slight hop flavor, but no more bitterness. Still, it remains very much the same.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2003 14:49:55 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a chilled mug.

Pours a straight clear copper with a finger of frothy off-white head that laces quite well. The smell is a nicely balanced mixture of citrus, pine, and toffee. The taste holds a hoppy bitterness, malty sweetness, and a light dose of creamy caramel. The body is lightly moderate, and the somewhat heavy carbonation keeps the smoothness from achieving its full potential. Overall, a nice, tasty, drinkable brew.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2010 05:30:38 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Color is a pale amber, and a thick white head tops it off. Aroma is fresh and clean, sweet and malty, with herbal hints. Malt texture is excellent. Hops are in short supply, but there are enough to provide a little play on the palate. This lager is really all about the malt, though and it's quite tasty, with a comfortable mouthfeel. Body is thoroughly on the thin side, and not 1/3 through the pint I'm feeling awfully bored. Not enough of what I like in a beer, but then I don't normally drink this style. Well-constructed, and worth it's popularity and prominence.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2003 10:52:56 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a dark golden color with a 1/4" creamy white head. The aroma is clean with the scent of light malts. The taste is good. It's smooth and refreshing. It has a light caramel feel to it. The mouthfeel is fine. This is a low bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a great drinking beer. A good sessions ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2003 12:15:01 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

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

OK, free beer event tonight and despite the hundreds of gallons of this beer I've drank, I've never bothered to review it. Time to change that.

Beer is poured from a bottle into a shaker pint. Beer is amber / brownish and clear. Forms a thin head of off white bubbles and has moderate carbonation. Head leaves very little lacing on the glass. Looks fine.

Aroma is kind of nutty and malty with some minimal earthy hops. Definitely hops in the aroma but not strong or bitter smelling.

Beer is medium in body and has mild sweetness up front, some bitterness in the back but mostly a malty feeling throughout. The sweetness up front give way to some carb on the palate and the late bitterness. Mild aftertaste overall a fine beer. I've had it hundreds of times and I'll have it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2010 03:01:44 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a yellow-amber color with a white head. The aroma is toffee with some grassy hops mixed in. The flavor is heavy on the toffee and grassy hops, with a light amount of citrus mixed in. I also get a bit of caramel malt. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Very easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 04:20:44 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out an orange/amber color with a white, one finger head. Not much in the way of lacing.

S - It smelled sweet and of malts. Some grassiness.

T - It is malty and has a little hop kick. Nice sweet flavor, too.

M - It was crisp and smooth. A light to medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a very nice beer. A good session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2007 04:41:43 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear light amber in color and has a light amount of carbonation. It poured with a thin head that died down and left lacy patterns of bubbles consistently covering the surface.
S: There are moderate aromas of grainy malts and floral hops in the nose.
T: There are flavors of caramel and biscuit malts in the taste underscored by a milt amount of bitterness. A little bit of sweetness is noticeable, particularly as the beer warms up. The finish is slightly bitter.
M: It feels medium-bodied and very smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer is rather easy to drink and is quite sessionable given its low alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 05:13:20 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.2/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I’ve had this beer on-tap at several places and have finally decided to officially write a review on it.

A: Pours to a deep gold with a thick, foamy white head, which fades slowly and leaves a thick lace.

S: The aroma is hoppy but not overpowering with little bit malt and alcohol.

T: The taste has the robust hops intensity of an IPA but a very different flavor, a little more floral and a just little bit breadier than that style. Leaves a nice bitter hop after-taste too.

M: Very crisp and smooth, medium body and medium-to-high carbonation.

D: Flavorful and not-to-filling, goes down easy and is the type of beer you want to just keep throwing down.

Around here, most places have this beer as the only alternative to macros (if they have one at all) and it definitely seems to be to me the perfect transition from macro to micro, which is what has made Boston Beer Co. what it is today.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2006 05:41:52 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Boston Lager, it's a classic brew. The beer has an attractive mahogany color with a light tan head on it. The head settles but still leave a decent lacing. The aroma has a nice balance of hops and malts. The taste is hoppy which I like. Its got enough malt to keep it in the Lager category. The mouthfeel has a bit of a stinging sensation on the tongue. Overall it's a great beer to drink and enjoy with several friends.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 00:11:24 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

usually your only friend in some hostile parts of the states. This bottle is a cut above ( the way mr koch wants them all to be I bet )most in my memory, but her goes the review

Pours light amber with a thin white head that retains on the pour side. Average lacing

Smell: Fantastic saaz hop nose. slight fruitiness

Taste: Floral hops, malt, alcohol and sweetness. Dry finish.

MF: Very well blanaced beer, carbonation is perfect. Slight pricliness

This beer &SNPA set me on the road to redemption, Good session beer drinking that takes me back to the mid-90s, still satisfies. But never tasted one beer in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or CZ that had this hops taste, weird

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2006 06:27:12 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ah Boston Lager, this beer has saved me in more dive bars than I can count. Not the greatest, but not bad in a pinch... be it a dive bar, bbq, or baseball game.

Pours a bright orange copper color, perfect clarity and saturated tone. Creamy, fluffy head of foam at first that dwindles after 10 minutes or so. Plenty of lace in the glass, and a thin skim eventually.

Smells slightly sweet, toasty and biscuity. Lightly fruity apple and pear notes slide in too.

Flavors are similar, some bready malt sweetness, fruity yeast. Feels a bit more full bodied than many lagers. Lingering toastiness with a slight floral hop note. Little to no hop bitterness present. Easy to have a couple with food. A pretty versatile, above average lager.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 01:19:43 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

24 oz. bottle, bought at the Seagate Liquor in Huntington Beach, CA,

A: Pale, light amber, with an average white head, with fairly good retention.

S: Malty, big pale and caramel malts, toffee and butterscotch, as well.

T: Very malty, some caramel and toasted bread notes, upfront, with some, floral, noble hop bitterness, a light bitterness, that complements the beer well.

M: Medium-bodied, smooth, crisp, with a bit of a dryness, from the noble Bavarian hops.

D: A good lager, you can find it almost everywhere, this beer would be a good session choice, a quality macro-micro beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2007 03:37:14 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a nice amber color with a medium head. The aroma has some hops and fruitiness. The beer is medium bodied, very smooth, and nicely carbonated. The malt and bitterness are well balanced, and some fruit tones linger into the aftertaste. Extremely drinkable and satisfying. This usually ends up being my beer of choice when restaurants offer nothing beyond the usual macros and imports.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2003 00:12:42 | More by Gavage