Samuel Adams Cream Stout - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

clemtiger8202

4.4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured black with a thick tan head that produced a lot of lacing and stuck around solidly. Smelled of burnt malt, coffee, and a hint of coffee or espresso. Tasted of espresso with a little bit of unsweet chocolate. A slight hoppiness that balanced the roasted malt and kept the beer from being too sweet. Had a creamy (as the name says) mouthfeel as a milk stout should.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 18:14:50 | More by clemtiger8202

metter98

New York

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is near black in color—traces of red are visible near the edge of the glass when it is held up to the light. It poured with a thin tan head that died down but left a large patch of bubbles on the surface.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of lactose in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste has flavors of lactose along with some hints of chocolate malts.
M: It feels a bit shy of medium-bodied, smooth and creamy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very easy to drink and rather flavorful for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 16:26:34 | More by metter98

TheSixthRing

California

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours jet black with a tan, 2 finger head. Good retention, resulting in a consistent, sticky lace.

Smell - Notes of smokey malt roastedness. Subtle hints of coffee and chocolate.

Taste - Follows the nose. Starts with smoked, roasted malts with coffee and subtle chocolate notes that shine through on the backend. The hops are near unidentifiable, but do well to give this stout some balance.

Mouthfeel - Lives up to it's name: medium to full body with a supreme creaminess accompanied by a near perfectly matched carbonation. Goes down almost unfairly smooth.

Overall - Microbrewers take note, this is a fantastic stout. Smooth like Guinness, but with a far superior flavor profile. A for sure future buy.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 04:11:56 | More by TheSixthRing

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours an opaque very dark brown bordering on black in color with some lighter brown at the edges when held up to the light and light amounts of visible carbonation near the surface. The beer has a quarter finger tall light beige head that quickly reduces to a very thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light amounts of roasted malts, chocolate, and a significant amount of lactose.

T: Similar to the smell, there is a solid body of roasted malts and chocolate malts which contribute a light amount of bittersweet chocolate flavor. Also, there is a moderate strength presence of lactose contributing to the sweetness of the beer.

M: Just shy of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and creamy.

O: Easy to drink and enjoyable but not amazing. I could easily have a couple of these in a session.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 01:22:07 | More by dbrauneis

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a beer mug.

A: Pours a very dark brown color that could almost pass for pitchblackness. The head is a one finger lighter tan color with lowish retention and texture, but nice lacing.

S: A bit milky smelling, with a great backbone comprised of hazelnut, chocolate, and roasted barley. A very enjoyable aroma, but a little weak.

T: Initially, notes of milky cream open things up well, before giving way to a midtaste dominated by roasted barley and a chocolate undercurrent. This also seeps into the finish, blending with light coffee and ash notes. It's a light stout and knows it, but I'll be damned if there aren't occasions where it gets away with coming across as something bigger.

M: Nicely creamy, but I want a little more finishing roasty dryness. The light ashyness is pleasant (unlike in ST's 2X Stout) and it goes down easily enough. Though I think the carbonation could be toned down a hair.

O: This is probably one of SA's best regular offerings, and the fact that it's available practically everywhere is a plus. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 21:43:23 | More by ThisWangsChung

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from session notes.

Deep dark brown with a tall fluffy head with decent retention and lacing. Smells and tastes of a blend of dark and milk chocolate, a dash of coffee and cream, and a hint of toffee sweetness. Medium body and carbonation levels, creamy smooth texture.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 03:31:15 | More by WastingFreetime

kagent777

Utah

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle with a best before date of Nov 2012 purchased from the Utah system poured into a perfect pint.

Appearance: This is a pretty beer. The cap was three fingers tall and settles to one finger with loads of lacing, all on top of a very nearly black beer.

Smell: Roasted malts! General, rather than specific, coffee and chocolate notes. A dark bread sweetness mixes nicely with some earthy hop bitterness.

Taste: Roastiness and bittersweet tastes dominate. A very light dried fruit, cherry or prune, note. A bready taste reminds me of dark chewy pretzels.

Mouthfeel: The body is not too heavy, but the taste is very rich so it coats the palate well. The carbonation is on the lighter side.

Overall: This is a rich beer, heavy in flavor, but not so heavy in the body or alcohol as a big Russian Impy. This beer and style fit in a nice sweet spot, very solid offering.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 03:38:30 | More by kagent777

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

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

A: Beer pours a dark roast color with a 1 inch cream colored head that leaves some good lacing.

S: Smell is of dark chocolate, roasted malts, caramel, coffee, and a hint of dark fruit.

T: Nice roasted malt bite at the front, followed by some dark chocolate, coffee and dark fruit like an apple or some kind of berry.

M: Very smooth and creamy beer, has a bit of a kick. Too dark to notice any carbonation, but very drinkable.

O: This is a slow sipper for me as with all stouts. As to how it measures up to others in its class, its right up there at the top. One of Sam Adams finest creations, cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 00:46:47 | More by SouljaSaia17

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a Dead Guy Ale pint glass. Pours a deep black with a tan two finger head. Looks delicious. Leaves an odd spiderweb like lacing all throughout the glass once finished. The smell is of dark chocolate and coffee. Not a fan of dark chocolate, But whatever, smells good. The taste starts off as medium toasted malt, Met in the finish by a rich, chocolate flavor and ever so slight coffee beans. Tastes like a big ole Chips Ahoy Cookie. The mouthfeel is pretty much the same, Once swallowed it feels as though you just took a big bite out of a cookie with chunky bits of chocolate chips. It also has an extremely creamy finish and is as smooth as velvet. Would I buy it again? Yes, Oh yes

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 02:01:05 | More by SometimesIfart

sethcroisant

Nebraska

4.23/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- 1-2 finger light brown/tannish head. fairly persistent lacing

S- coffee, chocolate, roasted malts, hints of caramel

T- tang up front from roasted malt and a hint of hops. immediately countered by flavors of chocolate and caramel that add incredible balance. the roasted malt is joined by tones of black malt that linger

O- oh my...this may be the best beer, for the price, i've ever had. one of the finest offerings from sam adams.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 02:00:55 | More by sethcroisant

Nugganooch

California

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle to a nonic tasting glass - Best by July 2012
*notes from July 3rd.

A: SA Cream Stout pours a dark root beer brown that sits near black when in the glass. Produces a large amount of loose fitting dark tan head that craters out at an even pace. Leaving some irregular ribbons of lace down the glass.

S: Smells of roast malt with a bit of earthy oak-like character. Gives way to dark chocolate covered caramels, licorice, and a bit of grainy oats/cereals.

T: Tastes offers up dark roast grain and burnt caramel toffees met with some toasted cereal and oats. There is some chocolate noted with a dash of dry roast coffee. It has a slight tart acrid finish. Low to moderate amount of bitterness as expected for the style. Has all the right components but somewhat lackluster in depth and intensity of flavors.

M: Feel is a tad watery for me with a somewhat smooth and light creamy texture. Carbonation is fine. A bit dry and acrid in the finish.

D: Above average cream stout that is light and easy to drink but has that "mass produced" sort of feel. There are much better craft options available.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 23:22:51 | More by Nugganooch

tdm168

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - dark brown bordering on black; thin brown head that has little retention

S - caramel, chocolate, roasted malts, faint coffee, faint lactose

T - roasted malts, coffee, lactose, faint caramel

M - smooth, well carbonated, medium bodied but a bit thin at times

This is a pretty solid beer. It's got good flavor and great drinkability. It's definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 22:43:22 | More by tdm168

lwillitz

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12-oz bottle into angled glass mug

A - several fingers of tan head atop a black body with brown highlights; very nice trail of lace rings

S - rich coffee and chocolate with a pleasant lactic quality

T - coffee and chocolate, touch of smoke, milky and earthy, bittersweet finish; very good balance between the malty sweetness and the bitterness from the hops and the burnt malts

M - full-bodied, high carbonation, moderately astringent, thick and creamy

O - a very decent milk stout

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 23:27:02 | More by lwillitz

vonnegut21

New York

3.28/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep brown color with a thick, tan head. Roasted malt and residual sweetness dominate the nose. The beer tastes roasty and chocolatey, with significant sweetness. There's also a mild astringent flavor. Sort of like a poorly sanitized homebrew. Possibly a bad bottle? The beer is full bodied with fair carbonation. Overall a decent stout, other than the lingering off-flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 00:22:40 | More by vonnegut21

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear and dark mahogany , with decent coffee-coloured head, minimal lacing. Mouthfeel not as silky as I’d hoped from the appearance.

The aroma is almost stunningly of chocolate milk - something I don't think I've ever enjoyed in a beer aroma before! Dark malt undertones mean it doesn't smell purely of "dessert". Flavours of chocolate and coffee are very prominent in the taste; I'd guess a very extensive dark, roasted malt bill. Less lactose in the taste than I expected from the aroma, but enough to be well balanced. The finish is musky and dark and lingers for an impressively long time.

All in all, a much more complicated beer than I'd expected for 4.9% ABV. Well done, Sam Adams!

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 01:51:23 | More by hopsolutely

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep dark brown color with 2+ fingers of tan head that lasts for a couple minutes before receding to a cap

S: Lightly roasted and malty, with a hint of lactose sweetness and some chocolate and coffee notes

T: Follows the nose. Starts off very roasty and slightly astringent, and then goes into a nice lactose and chocolate sweetness. Get some burnt coffee towards the end with more light sweetness

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Creamy and smooth

O: A very nice, easy-drinking cream stout with just the right amount of sweetness. Definitely on the sessionable side and at a nice price point and availability. Probably doesn't get the attention it deserves because of the size of SA/BBC

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 03:20:06 | More by BEERMILER12

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. Thin head on top of black.

Great smell of roasted malt and dark chocolate.

Tastes almost perfect. Good cream, roasted malt, and burnt malt too. There's an underlying bitterness that balances the malt nicely.

The texture is great. Smooth and creamy, low carbonation, medium to heavy body.

A great drink. Tough to beat for everyday.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 23:14:54 | More by Fatehunter

CowsCanBark

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into Samuel Adams pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a solid black with a two-finger brown head. Sticky lacing lines the glass.

Smell: Sweet, creamy, chocolate, light hops, very malty.

Taste: Much lighter tasting than I had expected, but good nonetheless. Notes of chocolate dominate, with a subtle cream flavor, slight bitterness, almost coffee-like in flavor. Slight metal taste.

Mouthfeel: It's lighter in mouthfeel than I was expecting; light to medium bodied and moderate carbonation. It could be a bit more creamy.

Overall: A pretty nice brew that is hampered by its light taste and body, but still worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 04:16:03 | More by CowsCanBark

ShaunNewman

Florida

4.23/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bought a six pack and poured into a glass.

A- Very dark brown can can only see a hint of light when held close to one. Tan head with some lacing.
S- Chocolate with just a slight hint of lacing.
T- Mildly sweet with notes of chocolate and roasted grains
M- light carbonation and lightly creamy feel.

I'm slowly turning into a stout fan and this one is going to help.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 01:26:23 | More by ShaunNewman

tjacobs610

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Very dark in color, with a very thick foamy caramel colored head and lacing. The head is about three fingers

Smell: Roasted malty smell, chocolaty, caramel, toffee, and very earthy. Has a very complex smell, more so than most of this group

Taste: Very full beer, with a very smooth creamy taste. Has a malty roasted flavor, with bitter malts. Also has some chocolate tones with sweetness

Mouthfeel: Very creamy feel, not overly carbonated. Has the perfect mix of carbonation and creaminess.

Overall: Very easy to drink, and with such a bitter bite makes it even better. This beer is only something I will drink if it’s fresh. It is still one of my favorite stouts.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 16:17:53 | More by tjacobs610

rlee1390

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Black in the glass, a deep brown while pouring, two finger light tan head

S-Some roasted malt and slight coffee flavors

T-Roasted malt, some milk, a little coffee.

M-Medium bodied, thin, not creamy at all

O-It could be that Creme Brulee ruined all other Milk Stouts for me however it isn't that sweet, I didn't get any chocolate and it was thin.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 01:18:50 | More by rlee1390

acevenom

Louisiana

4.88/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours dark brown with a finger length light brown head. There's an aroma of roasted malts and coffee. I can also smell some chocolate. The first sip delivers the roasted malt flavor as well as the coffee and hints of chocolate. There's a pleasing mild bitterness. The flavors linger on the palatte. This is mildly carbonated and abundant lacing is left on the glass. This beer is medium bodied and very smooth and creamy. This is a well balanced, top notch beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 17:52:04 | More by acevenom

scratch69

Missouri

4.58/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I poured a bottle into a mug.

Appearance- Dark brown with a fingers worth of tan head. Little lacing.

Smell- Roasted malt, chocolate, and caramel.

Taste- Roasted malt with slight chocolate notes. Slightly bitter at the finish.

Mouthfeel- Medium bodied with an average amount of carbonation. Smooth and silky on the tongue.

Overall- This one of the better stouts that I have tried. It is going to find a place on my go-to list of beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 21:33:15 | More by scratch69

hopfacebrew

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle best by September 2011 poured to pint glass.

A - The beer pours a deep deep dark brown basically black color with deep dark mahogony edges when held to the light. A huge 3 finger bubbly tan head with tremendous retention and lacing.

S - Huge roasted malt character immediately on the nose. A bit of chocolately sweetness with a bit a smoke character. No hint of alcohol.

T/M - The beer starts just where the nose left off with huge roasted malts on the tongue. Mild bitterness. Chocolate and black patent malt flavors. Mild sweetness and smooth. Well balanced. Finishes smooth. Roast dominates the palette.

O - The beer is very good. As a big stout fan I can appreciate this beer but I find the roast a bit much, slightly. A good beer overall, but in my opinion a bit harsh on the roast.

Note: This review was a re-post from my former account, jmkratt, which was hacked and I lost all my reviews...sorry for the redundancy.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 03-26-2011 19:44:30

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 22:25:41 | More by hopfacebrew

Fadefury

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Coffee black, a 1/2 inch shady white head that lasted for a while

S: Roasted malts with hints of chocolate and caramel

T: Medium Sweetness, with very slight bitterness near the end. Creamy milk smooth for the most part

M: Mild carbonation. Slightly more than I'd have liked.

O: One of my favorite Sam Adams, and Stouts in general. Very drinkable, and a great beer for desert.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 22:28:23 | More by Fadefury