Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Scooter77

Ohio

2/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a nice reddish-orange. Smells of sweet cranberry, possibly a little overpowering, but not too bad. Judging by the appearance and smell, I thought this would be a decent beer. Then, I took a drink. Tastes like a mixture of beer and cough syrup, yuk. I barely managed to suck down about half the glass before the nausea kicked in and I had to pour it out. This beer's nothing but a waste of space in the Samuel Adams Winter Pack.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2002 10:50:03 | More by Scooter77

kunzbrew

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +39.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice light copper color with a sexy lacey head. the smell of the cranberry is not overbearing which is nice. The wheat malt is a perfect blend with the hops. The hint of a maple flavor brings you to winter season. The cranberry make the brew sour but there is just something that is missing from a traditional lambic.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2002 08:47:14 | More by kunzbrew

Zraly

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev +35.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

The initial notes lingering from the bottle are nothing exclusive or overly-interesting...just an expected fruit nuance. The foamy head in my glass is a nice, light, tan-tinged sea of bubbles which compliments the reddish-golden brew below.

But, behold!...The flavor is tangy goodness from the get go. There is an "effervescent" sour quality to this drink...it sort of "tingles" on the tongue for a bit. The taste does linger, so it isn't entirely a clean departure, but it is a mild and welcomed lingering.

I think that this particular brew is a fine edition to the Sam Adam's Winter Pack. I must say, though...it is unfortunate that this seasonal brew isn't available in a case in and of itself.

I personally feel that this beer could be rather accessible to non-beer drinkers. I can easily perceive a wine drinker partaking in a few of these with no complaints.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2002 19:28:59 | More by Zraly

BillyBrew

Maine

4.05/5  rDev +49.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer was a very special draught treat at the Sam Adams R+D brewery. A splotchy (non-homogenous colouring and texture) maroonish/plum colour with an active, fuzzy head. Heavy, musty (in a good way) fruit scents, although not neccesarily cranberry. Heavy, hardy wheat and tart flavors swirl in a heady complexity. Heavy body and nearly effervescent.

This brew is so much better draught than its bottled brothers. Who knew wheat and tart could be so great! Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2002 06:26:51 | More by BillyBrew

StevieW

Florida

1.9/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Orange yellow color with reddish hue. Slight beige tan head. Lots of cool-aid like artificial cranberry smell. Taste is a mix of beer and syrupy cranberry flavors. Makes an unpleasant, uneasy, and uncomfortable fuzzy, tart feeling on your tongue. Taste lingers on forever, and can't get rid of it. Only my pride, made me finish this. Not anything like Lindeman's. I had this in the Sam Adams sampler and let's hope we have seen the last of this one. Rubbish.
Ed's Note: From my '01 Christmas Boston trip.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2002 12:25:12 | More by StevieW

Dogbrick

Ohio

2.45/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Let me start off by saying I like cranberries. Cranberry bread, cranberry muffins...but not cranberry beer. The aroma was interesting but I barely finished the bottle, and had to drink it in short doses to get through. Just not my thing I guess.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2002 10:42:45 | More by Dogbrick

beernut7

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +63.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

It is a real shame this one is only available in the winter mixer packs. This is the brew that turned me on to the lambic style of brew and encouraged me to brew a cranberry beer of my own. Nice and light and very refreshing,, this libation has a definitive tone of cranberry, yet does not get carried away to the point of resembling a fruit juice as many fruit beers do. I woul buy out the local store if they stocked cases of this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2002 11:39:05 | More by beernut7

Pegasus

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Hazy reddish-orange color with a medium off-white head, decent lace.

Aroma: Very sweet aroma of cranberries and caramel.

Taste: The taste is quite sweet, brief grain notes, then the cranberries dominate, finishes slightly tart with a brown sugar and molasses taste and spices, although the label states maple syrup is used.

Mouth feel: Soft, smooth and quite full, with just a hint of carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: Very well crafted, but a little sweet for my taste, but also unjustly maligned. A distinctive holiday beer, there is nothing else quite like it.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2002 20:25:21 | More by Pegasus

hbis2gut

New Hampshire

3.35/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Cranberry LAMBIC? Please, there is nothing remotely lambic about this beer. Okay, it does have some acidity and tartness imparted by the cranberry, but! why not call it Cranberry Ale or something campy like Bog Bitter? Kudos for brewing up something unusual though...

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2002 13:10:29 | More by hbis2gut

Jordan

California

4/5  rDev +47.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Orange-amber tint, a light sediment presentation. Tart & tangy, whether or not Sam Adams is using artificial or natural cranberry flavor is unknown to me, however it tastes authentic. I really enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2002 17:17:53 | More by Jordan

ZAP

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

It had been awhile since I had this and I came away somewhat unimpressed. Great aroma..nice cranberry bite on aftertaste...didn't get the brown sugar flavor at all...a nice changeup but I've had much better fruit beers..I drank it out of the style of glass recommended and everything. It was decent but didn't blow me away or anything...

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2001 01:39:04 | More by ZAP

John

New York

3.8/5  rDev +40.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

After not having this beer in quite some time, I was pleasantly surprised. Subtle cranberry flavor with an effervescent mouthfeel. Well done. Nice as a treat on it's own or with food.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2001 10:05:16 | More by John

proc

Michigan

2.73/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Tart to the point of being sour. Some yeast taste mixed in. I think you are either a fan of this beer or you are not. Nice smell due to the cranberries, but beyond that, a very marginal offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2001 15:08:11 | More by proc

AaronRed

New York

4.25/5  rDev +56.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What a lovely beer. I poured this into a wide mouth glass that I normaly reserve for Belgian beers and the aroma was great. It had a creamy head with just the right balance of tart and sweet. This would have been great to drink on Thanksgiving. I will remember.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2001 16:59:03 | More by AaronRed

xXTequila

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +47.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

very crisp and clean...tastes like cranberry jam and homemade biscuits. i don't think i could have more than one at a time. It get's very sweet by the end of the glass.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2001 08:58:51 | More by xXTequila

ThreePistols

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +51.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Light red amber, slightly hazy appearance. Fruity cranberry character; clean and crisp; tart, slight maple note in finish.
This is my first experience with a fruit Lambic, so I have nothing to judge this beer against.
I enjoyed the dry, clean, crisp, tart taste. It was however a little light on cranberry flavor. A very drinkable beer.
Currently available only in the Sam Adams Winter Classics 12 pack.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2001 10:14:16 | More by ThreePistols