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

FratyardVines

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle with a surprisingly light orangey-red color and a finger width head that slowly dissipates, when on draft this head lingers longer. The smell is spicy with a little hint of sweet. Boston Lager maintains a malty taste that is quite even in its flavor despite the variety of spices and caramel that excite the drinker. True to its label, this beer really is “rich, balanced, and complex.” As a student in Boston, this has served as a reliable fallback option at bars and restaurants when other Sam Adam’s varieties are unavailable. As Mr. Adam’s most popular brew, this lager can be found in almost every seasonal variety pack available from the Boston Brewing Company and its popularity is certainly well deserved.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 06:32:16 | More by FratyardVines

brewsadedotcom

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Amber color, poured with one inch head

S: Malty with piney hop notes

T: Tastes like it smells. Very malt-forward smooth hop finish

M: Full-bodied, moderate carbonation. Great session beer.

O: This is a great brew and thankfully it's usually readily available at establishments with limited options. Sam Adams has saved me many times from having to drink a BMC product.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 01:34:57 | More by brewsadedotcom

Chris_Cali_2o9

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Sam Adams cup

A- Copper body, 11/2"fluffy off white head

S- Citrus hops, lemon zest, spices, caramel malts

T- Citrus, pils & caramel malts, zesty hop bitterness

M- Medium body, crisp carbonation

O- Amongs the main stream, Sam Adams has always risen above the tasteless and uninspired. Back in my days of budweiser, coors, keystone, and malt liquor 40's, i heard Sam Adams had over 20the different beers, and i grew curious. I grabbed a 6 pack of this beer and it changed everything i knew about beer. I began seeking out other sam adams, opening me up to a world of different styles and flavors, that i never knew existed. This brew is an awesome session, and i owe it alot.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 20:35:22 | More by Chris_Cali_2o9

kshizzle101

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at New Orleans Airport...

A - Hazy orange in color. 2 inch head.

S - Sweet citrus with malty backbone

T - Very sweet for a lager yet also bitter. Like the smell, dominated by citrus and malts, a little nutty

M - Medium body, a little sticky, but in general about right.

Overall - Very good beer by Sam Adams, smooth drinking

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2012 02:54:06 | More by kshizzle101

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

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

Poured into a shaker pint glass.

The beer is a crystal clear amber color. A foamy, sea-sudsy off white head slowly recedes leaving a thick film. Loads of massive sticky lacing coat the glass.

Aroma is notes of nutty, biscuity malts up front. Sweet caramel, and eventually bright piney hops.

The taste profile mimics the aroma quite well. A nice, warm nuttiness comes first, then a smoother, sweeter caramel malt experience. The finish is just hoppy enough to add great balance.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, smooth, slight creaminess.

Overall, just a damn solid beer. Great look, good smell, good taste. I only drink this once a year from the Winter 12 pack mixer. Oh well.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 01:07:01 | More by JuicesFlowing

TheCondor

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It was not until recently that I realized that I had never reviewed the beer that really started it all for me, Samuel Adam's Boston Lager. While you can argue, and I may agree with you depending on my mood, that SABL is not a true "craft" beer because it is so commercialized and successful, that doesn't mean it isn't good. In fact, it's excellent. This is the beer that encouraged me to try new beers in the beginning, and then Founders turned me all the way! That being said, on tap at Conrads into a mug.

Appearance - A nice amber/golden color with a good one and a half finger head with lacing that sticks around. Good pour and presentation from the barkeep. Of course, you gotta love the classic packaging. It looks like they have recently updated their packaging, which I think is a travesty.

Smell - Malts, toasty breads, some barley and some hops. A bit of light caramel rounds out one of the truly special nasal experiences in all of beer-dom. All beers should strive for such a balanced, distinctive nose.

Taste - Another superior example of the care and forethought put into this flagship lager. Smooth malty notes intermingle with breads, which fade into caramel and a bit of hops. Much like the nose, well balanced. Subdued, nothing is too extreme

Mouthfeel - Finishes smooth, medium bodied, medium carbonation. A little bit of hops at the back end, as well as some nuttiness.

Overall - This truly is a special beer. Like I said, this got me going into craft beer. I will still drink SABL anytime, anywhere it is offered. If I can't make up my mind as to what exotic ber I want, I'll say forget it and grab this. Generally, this is a sidenote purchase at the beer gettin' place, kind of a counter balance so if all the exotic beers I get suck, at least I got a sixer of SA out of the deal. Exactly what a beer should be

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2012 02:19:56 | More by TheCondor

Winston_Smith

Kentucky

4.38/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: An attractive copper/amber hue with a finger of creamy beige head. Killer lacing.

Smell: Nose is a bit clogged today, but it's not my first time... This stuff is sweet and malty. No bad characteristics in the nose at all.

Taste: Smoooth, creamy texture, without being too thick. Caramel, malts, and hops come out, the former and latter being my favorite part of this brew. A variety of spices are present as well. Very tasty.

Mouthfeel: This is one of the smoother beers out there. Each sip is refreshing, and it's not too carbonated.

Overall: I drink Boston Lager every so often, particularly if it's on tap. I used to think "lager" meant fizzy, yellow, boring beer, and Sam Adam's has shown me different. If you live under a rock, and have never had it, what are you waiting for? It's available in most areas of the United States, and at a fair enough price.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 23:21:45 | More by Winston_Smith

jjamadorphd

Florida

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The Boston Lager is one I've had on several occasions, under very fun circumstances, and it has never disappointed.

Out of the bottle it pour a very appealing dark-golden color, the head is always surprising to me so very white. It has staying power so be careful not to pour to much to fast. Mouthfeel is nothing special, in fact, the more I think about it, I recall it as feeling very carbonated.

Overall, it truly is a special beer. It's nice to know its there after I've struck out with other beers that I try.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 18:59:21 | More by jjamadorphd

BeerDocT

Georgia

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Finally getting around to reviewing one of the beers that started the micro brew movement. Here goes... .

Served in a chilled tulip glass.

-Appearance 3.5: Poured out a deep golden color. OK head: about a 1/4 inch. Nice swirls of foam after head dissipated. Lots of CO2 bubbles floating around.

-Smell 3.5: Subdued bouquet of sharp hops and some barley. Definitely better than your average beer.

-Taste 4.0: Front is slightly sweet and quickly leads into a middle that has noticeable hoppiness and malt character, but is very subdued. Finish is slightly sweet with more of the hops and malt along with a noticeable (and refreshing) sour taste. Aftertaste is of medium length and features more of those delicious hops.

-Mouthfeel 3.25: Somewhat average mouthfeel. Very similar to any macro you can pick up.

-Overall 3.5: Better than average beer that certainly has withstood the test of time. I also know two important things about Sammy A.: 1.) it is a great session beer and 2.) it does not go well with some foods (like pizza). Still, you could do a heck of a lot worse than this brew if given a selection of US domestics.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 22:26:23 | More by BeerDocT

Seekerpilgrim

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of the most beautiful beers I've seen, it pours heavy burnt orange with hints of brown and gold. Floating off the considerably thick head, strong pine notes from the Noble hops are followed by a subtle citrus background. On the tongue, milder that the strong hop scent would lead you to suspect, a slight honey sweetness taking the edge off the confident hop bite, and a quick clean finish that leaves you either refreshed or disappointed, depending on your mood. This is a sold beer, not too complex but hitting all the basics, giving a great baseline with which to judge more unique beers if you so choose to experiment, or just a palate cleanser to go with a burger or fish and chips. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 07:49:57 | More by Seekerpilgrim

mjurney

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
Amber-gold color, Clear. Fairly good amount of carbonation rising. Very thick frothy head, lacing looks very nice on the glass.

Aroma:
Sweet malts, piney, floral, crisp.

Taste:
Malty up front, bready, rich caramel, a little roasted nuts. Hop bitterness is medium, I'm getting piney-floral, slight citrusy. Crisp-bitter finish. Body is full, very crisp, slight dryness in the palate, well carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 02:14:42 | More by mjurney

Etan

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a clear light gold with a nice puffy white head.

S: Fresh grain, light caramel, some mild hoppiness.

T: Crisp, slightly peppery hop bitterness, bright grain, lightly citric hop flavor, slight toffee.

M: Light-bodied with a bit of creaminess.

O: One of my favorite BBC beers. Very tasty malt and hop profile.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 23:36:26 | More by Etan

57md

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a light copper with a finger of head, some of which retains for some time and leaves a decent amount of lacing on the glass. The nose is a blend of malt and hops. The taste is distinctly of caramel malt with a light, but clearly present hop character on the finish.

I enjoyed this classic offering with a dinner of sumptuous pork chops and candied squash.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 06:14:06 | More by 57md

JWU

Pennsylvania

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

12oz. bottle poured into a pint glas.

A- a clear light/medium brown, with a big rocky off white head that laces fantastically down the glass.

S- nice caramel malts and spicy floral hops.

T- so balanced, it's one of those "any time, anywhere" kind of beers. A really nice sweetness from the caramel malts interplays perfectly with the spicy hop bill.

M- medium bodied, a nice active medium carbonation and a crisp finish.

O- It's the beer that saves you when you walk into a crappy bar and it's only BMC stuff on tap. A classic.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 20:59:19 | More by JWU

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

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

A: poured from 12 oz bottle (bbd Mar 13) into pint glass, crystal clear deep copper color, light head with little lacing, lively stream of bubbles
S: toasted caramel, toffee, floral hops
T: malt up front, toasted bread, caramel, dry clean hop finish
M: medium body with good carbonation, refreshing finish
O: a good place for folks to start enjoying craft, some sweetness without overpowering hops, good balance, refreshing lager qualities make for easy drinkability

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 23:44:29 | More by M_C_Hampton

eric222222

Illinois

3.11/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Boston lager...it's the best tasting thing on earth when it's bought on tap from a restaurant or bar. I have gone to crappy restaurants in the past JUST BECAUSE THEY HAD BOSTON LAGER ON TAP. Sadly, I have yet to drink a boaton lager from a bottle that tastes anything like the kegged version. It always tastes more bitter, and there is none of the bready, sweet malt finish that i get on tap. i had always chalked it up to being skunked by light or from sitting too long on the shelf. That's why I had been anxiously awaiting the new Sam can. No light contamination, brand new product.
Today, I bought a 12 pack. I am sad to say that the experience was a huge letdown. Out of the can or poured into a glass, the beer tasted flat and bitter with an almost sour aftertaste, like vinegar. think i have decided that I am finished with spending money on boston lager from a store. It's just a different beer from what is put in kegs. Even Guinness with their nitrogen tap manages to bottle something that tastes the same as on tap. Get it together sam

Serving type: can

10-28-2012 19:50:04 | More by eric222222

Tuey13

Illinois

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

Poured in to a Sam Adams Boston Lager glass with a golden-amber color and almost a finger of a foamy white head.

The smell is of mild hops, some gains and grassiness, and a bready sweetness from the malts, maybe a bit of a floral scent.... smells refreshing.

The first taste is sweet malts followed by a little hop bitterness, some citrus, and herbs.... such a crisp and rich tasting lager. I could drink these all day!

As with many people this is the beer that introduced me to the craft industry, and still to this day remains a beer that i can always count on for a quality, well balance beer... shocked that i am just now appreciating it enough to review! I have so much respect for Jim Koch and Sam Adams and what they have done for the beer industry. Cheers!!

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 08:02:57 | More by Tuey13

tviz33

New York

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured in to a pint glass

A- Pours a transparent gold with a foamy half inch head that quickly fades with a moderate amount of lacing. A few tiny carbonation bubbles can be seen rising to the top if you look hard enough

S- Doesn't smell like your run-of-the-mill lager. The hops hit me first, but were backed up by a strong presence of sweet malts. The smell is a bit flowery and almost like a bread.

T- Follows the nose quite consistently. Anything I noted in the smell I also notice to the same degree in the taste.

M- Crisply carbonated with a light to medium mouthfeel. Good balance here.

O- For some odd reason this was my first tast of the Boston Lager. I picked up the Harvest Collection but left the lagers alone because I thought they couldn't stand up to the other seasonal beers. I sure was wrong. This one is solid, and I understand why this is one of the staples in the craft world. It seems like it would make a great transitional beer from BMC to craft.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 02:48:54 | More by tviz33

Mojo

Alabama

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

What can be said about Boston Lager that hasn't been said before. It is just one of the classics. It pours up a deep gold/light copper with a fluffy one finger head, some retention, and elaborate lacing. Smell is biscuit and honey. Mouthfeel is okay with decent carbonation. Taste is sweet upfront with a very mild metallic note, but the bitterness on the finish balances it perfectly. Simply a good beer, found everywhere and a sure thing if all that is available is macros or Sam Adams!!

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 03:13:07 | More by Mojo

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

355ml bottle, poured into Leffe chalice. Bronze colour, clear, one finger head, poor head retention but kept some lacing. Very hoppy aroma, detected some kentish style hops plus the noble hops Hallertau and Tettnang. Tasted fruity, hints of apple, had some sweetness which was balanced out by the long bitter finish. Crisp mouthfull, smooth texture and was well carbonated. Can't add too much more to what has already been said but it was refreshing, interesting and balanced.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 13:02:06 | More by jonb5

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured in Sam Adams signature Boston Lager glass.

A- pours clear and golden with a frothy white head that reduces to a small layer tat skins the top, a but if lace clings to the side.

S- floral and herbal hops, cracker-like malt with a bit if sweetness.

T- sweet caramel malt followed by a crisp Noble hop bitterness. Finishes slightly dry with a biscuity maltiness and just enough hop hops.

M- med-light bodied, low carbonation, perfect creamy mouthfeel, perfect drinkability.

O- a classic in the craft world, so many times this beer has saved me from having to drink macro in bars and restaurants. This is one of the first beers that introduced me to the other side. It will always be a go-to beer for me, and one that compliments Sam Adams seasonal packs quite nicely.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 00:07:09 | More by Treyliff

SpasticKoala

New York

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

Appearance: Golden to light amber. The head pours thick and hangs around for a bit, but slowly reduces to a thin ring.
Smell: Light floral hops with just a touch of toasted malt.
Taste: It's a well balanced beer. Toasted malt and a touch of orange peel from hops..
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with plenty of carbonation
Overall: This is a solid beer that is conveniently available in most places. It's a good default if not much else is available.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 02:09:46 | More by SpasticKoala

woosterbill

Connecticut

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

12oz bottle, best by 12/12, into a Duvel tulip. Thanks to JM for tossing this review sample my way; I can't believe I haven't gotten around to reviewing this yet.

A: A steady pour produces 2 fingers of dense off-white head above a brilliant, crystal-clear amber body. Great retention and lacing. Stunning.

S: Crisp bready maltiness dominates, with caramel sweetness and herbal hoppiness playing supporting roles. Simple and enjoyable.

T: Sweet malts up front, followed by some leafy hops and finally a slightly earthy, yeasty finish. Quite clean in the end, although the caramel sweetness plays a larger role than I'd like overall. Still, I won't fault it too much for being really flavorful - it's a tasty lager.

M: Soft, delicate carbonation in a creamy medium body. Truly remarkable, and luxurious.

O: For being so ubiquitous and mass-produced these days, this is still a really well-done example of the style. Flavorful, balanced, tasty. I don't drink it too often, but I'm always happy when I do.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 23:29:17 | More by woosterbill

GMB

Japan

4.55/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Samuel Adams' Boston Lager pours a deep amber body and a frothy off-wheat head. A handful of threads of fine bubbles slowly add a bit of sparkle in the glass.

The beer's nose is inviting. Floral hops stand out, but notes of toasted, caramel-like malt and hint of citrus are also palatable.

The initial taste more or less follows the nose, but the beer becomes more interesting as its flavors develop on the palate. Its bitterness adds a perfectly balanced finish to flavors of roasted grains, mild caramel, grassy and flowery hops, and a hint of citrus. The citrus flavor harmonizes with the beer's hoppy bitterness and yeast-derived fruity undertones to create the illusion of orange zest. Beautiful.

The mouthfeel is almost perfect; a bit gassier than I like in a beer whose malt is so rich and toasted.

I've tried lots of the Boston Beer Company's offerings, from standard, year-round brews to expensive beers that come in fancy bottles. Boston Lager is its best.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 00:33:10 | More by GMB

tectactoe

Michigan

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

On tap at the Town Pump in Detroit. Poured a light copper color with a pretty thick, creamy looking head that was very inviting. Nice up front hop aroma, fairly mild, along with malts and grains - nice parity among the different smells going on. The first taste hits you with a little bit of the hop bitterness followed by a nice sweet and malty body. Call me crazy, but I tasted just a BIT of faint apple flavors in there, along with maybe some other kind of fruit. By the end, some more floral flavors came out but the malty finish also got stronger. A very crisp beer, thanks to the carbonation with an overall thin body, very smooth going down.

Considering a company as large as Samuel Adams, it's still obvious that they put a lot of care into their brews. As far as the "larger" brew companies go, this is some of the best. Easy to drink and session with and it blows BMC beers out of the water, especially for the relatively low price.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2012 14:44:09 | More by tectactoe