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

kojevergas

California

2.55/5  rDev -31.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

33cl brown glass bottle served into a generic hefeweissbier glass in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live.

A: Pours a four finger head of nice cream lacing, decent thickness, and pretty good retention. Colour is a solid black, though it might in actuality be an extremely dark ruby.

Sm: Caramel, light roast, and caramelized malt. I didn't pick up the noble hops per the label. Aroma is mild in strength.

T: Generic barley, very light cream, and maybe some caramel. If roast is there, it's extremely light. It's a very simply built beer and isn't particularly balanced. A faux-rauchbier light as hell smokey note is barely detectable on the climax. Meh.

Mf: Smooth and wet, but a touch too thick. Could use a lot more cream.

Dr: It's very easy to drink but is also bland. The ABV is average. As a schwarzbier, I guess it's a minute success. I won't be purchasing it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 07:12:14 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

4.43/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark black color with a one finger head. Aroma is smooth and malty, with roasted characteristics that are reminiscent of a porter. Taste is very smooth and roasty, flavorful and yet, finishes clean just like a lager. I'm loving the aftertaste here. A second sip confirms more of the same. Mmm. So smooth, roasty and very much like a lager as the style dictates. I love this beer. One of Sam Adams' better efforts.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2007 00:02:47 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Review copied from notes taken last week.

Pours a very dark brown color with a finger of slightly tanned head. Has a sweet nose with a hint of yeasty chocolate. Quite a bit of lacing to be found and the head does not retain long. More smell of malt sweetness. Taste has a medium to light body with slight bitter crisp finish. Can taste notes of both chocolate and coffee. Low carbonation and medium mouthfeel welcomes a second beer. As it warms it takes on some toffee taste as well.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2009 18:17:51 | More by stakem

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown, almost black with a decent head and very spotty lacing. The nose is lightly sweet and malty followed by lightly toasted grain. The taste is similar- nicely balanced maltiness and toasty grain, but relatively dry. The mouthfeel is soft, rounded and creamy. Even though there is a little sweetness in this one, no real stickiness. Nicely done, and a very nice session beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2007 17:50:10 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Editing this review: originally on 9-18-2008 to 5-11-09

Poured into Sam Adams Sensory Glass.

Pours a dark bronze black color. Pours a 3/4 finger tan head. head fizzles down quickly leaving very little thin lacing.

Aroma is very pleasing for a lager. Dark coffee, caramel, chocolate. Very roasty.

Taste is very roasty and malty. Caramel and chocolate. At the very end comes the coffee.

Mouthfeel is crisp but a little creamy. Ends with a coffee flavor aftertaste. Medium bodied. Low carbonation.

Overall this is a very tasty lager. Big on flavor and body. I enjoy it, but I think I will switch to another beer after this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2008 03:22:33 | More by mothman

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a brownish-black color with a medium thin light tan head and thin lacing. Aroma of chocolate and coffee as well as a hint of nuts. Medium-bodied with a sweet malt and chocolate flavor. Trace amounts of coffee and hops are present too. The finish is smooth and dry but not too flavorful. As with many of Sam Adams’ one-offs, this is above average.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2005 04:23:49 | More by Dogbrick

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Shadowy dark tarnished brown with a big billowing light cocoa hued head of foam; lightly fluffing and spongyness ensues as it grows up fast from a heavy pour. Fades off moderately to a good solid skimming and lacing of all kinds lightly grab the glass.

Nice aroma of dry black malts with a mild touch of chocolate sweetness and vanilla cookies. Very aromatic and appetizing to wiff in.

Flavors are just as nice, a bit more sweetness intersedes the front end with some black and chocolate malt, middle is seemingly like Oreo cookies, finishes with a nice leveling of moderate dry bite of slight roast, chocolate powder, and light Noble-like hopping. Very nice finish, did I just eat an Oreo?

Feel is fluffy, carrying a sweet front, drying most ways across from there, slight crispness to its body as well. Body is about medium to medium/light with a favorably low carbonation making for some kicked-back, sliding-down-the-Ol'-gullet, easy goin' drinkability. A big time session beer that actually has a different taste then most other session types. A nice version of a hard to pin down style. This may be close to rivaling Black Bavarian.
Way to go BBC! Nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2005 22:34:07 | More by tavernjef

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.22/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Opaque and sable, it looks like a porter or stout. Aroma is stouty and inviting - strong roast smell with overtone of molasses and a hint of salt. Flavor has both malt and hop components with smoky and coffee tones and just a whisper of sweetness. Though it does not have quite the nice thick feel of a good stout or porter, it is very satisfying and enjoyable. Very different from any lager I have ever tried!

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2007 01:15:54 | More by Cyberkedi

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark brown with ruby highlights. The glass is filled with bubbles, initially creating an appearance similar to a highly carbonated cola. The bubbles and head recede after a few moments, leaving a fair amount of lacing on the glass.

S: The aroma is considerably weaker than the taste. Sweet malts at first, with a subtle hint of roast.

T: This beer is a pleasant surprise, and certainly more enjoyable than I had hoped for or expected. There are nice flavors of cocoa, black coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt. The beer finishes with a nice hop bitterness, which helps to round out the overall flavor presentation. Well done.

M: Medium bodied and thicker feeling than I expected from a >5% beer.

D: A good representation of the style. I would drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 03:08:50 | More by Huhzubendah

RoyalT

Ohio

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance – This was a dark brown in color as it should be with a deceivingly growing off-white foamy head.

Smell – The subtle roasted malt aroma is mixed with some lightly burnt yeast and a smidgen of raw sugar. The grain smell here is dark but nothing is pungent. There’s a smoothness to this bouquet that is quite nice.

Taste – The yeast comes out a bit more at the taste and the sweets step back a tad, but otherwise the driving force is the subtle roasted grain that I caught in the nose. The flavor forms a crescendo on the palate, flowing nicely from burnt toast to roasted malts smoothed by dark yeast then petering out with a mild sugariness.

Mouthfeel – This is between light and medium-bodied with a harmonious feel in the mouth and not at all bitter.

Drinkability – This was a tad off-style but is an excellent drinker and incredibly smooth. It’s an obscure style but Sam Adams gave us a nice rendition here.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2006 03:40:11 | More by RoyalT

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a deep amber to a black color with a tan head. In the aroma, light roasty coffee, yet still lager like. In the taste, hints of coffee, dry chocolate, and a hint of caramel sweetness. A small bite, with a light to medium bodied mouthfeel, with a semi dry coffee and light caramel stickiness in the aftertaste. Still quite lager-ish, ok, but nothing too exciting.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 15:20:49 | More by OWSLEY069

avalon07

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a flute glass. Had a black color and a somewhat thick texture. Not much head at all, but some OK lacing.

S: Smelled of malt and hops, but little else.

T: Had some roasted malt, but also, bitter hops to round it out. Not the most dynamic of flavors, but decent.

M: A fair amount of carbonation and a kind of slick finish.

D: On the whole, this isn't a bad beer, but it really didn't knock my socks off in any particular way.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2008 14:30:58 | More by avalon07

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

LOOK: Dark brown with an amber hint. Off white foam.

SMELL: Roasted malt and bread. Cocoa.

TASTE: Roasted malts and a simple herbal/lemony citrus hop. Chocolatey and a note of raisin/plum. Coffee like at times. A faint smoke. Well balanced.

FEEL: Medium bodied and well carbonated. Solid overall feel.

OVERALL: A solid dark beer option, and in the same vein of some of my favorite import schwarzbiers. This still tastes like an American take on the style. Tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 02:26:30 | More by Stinkypuss

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12 ounce standard brown glass bottle with a “Sam Adams” embossed shoulder. Classic Sam Adams label design with a black on golden-yellow coloring and the word ‘Black Lager’ on the main label. Has a nicked “April 2006” Brewery Fresh date.

Appearance: Deep brown body, pellucid with some streamers when closely examined, but depending on the incandescent light it can project a black stout look, but held to the window it is more like an Olde style Porter. Soft tan colored head looks good and creamy, it leaves some nice ring type lacing. Good conditioning and a decent appearance.

Nose: Roasted beans and malts, but the odors are middling in strength. Some bakers yeast and a burnt crusty bread back end.

Taste: Roasted coffee with a bitterness that depresses any sweetness in the front half. Middle has a burnt bread dimension, like charred toast, bitterness and some light rescinding instant coffee. Chocolate coffee sweetness emerges in the finish. Some hop bitterness as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Fair to middling Mouthfeel is never that big, but it does lend a decent enough body that does its job. Creamy with a nice burnt bitterness, dry as well.

Drinkability: A reasonable drinker, a refreshing brew to boot to so it is more than able to quench any thirst. I snaffled two bottles of these from a mixed pack and had one straight after the other; in fact I topped up the remnants of my first bottle with the second.

Overall: I don’t get to drink that many Black Lagers, I’d be hard pressed to name more than a couple of US versions of the style, so this is a solid change of pace and it is nicely done. I would but this again. Enjoyable!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2005 22:07:34 | More by TheLongBeachBum

ZAP

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I found this to be very enjoyable...nose borders on a 4.5 as it is very nice with milk chocolate and caramel...body is medium...clean...good flavors...sweet milk chocolate...a little bit of camael...just a very fine noble hop finish...the more I drink this the more I like it....not my favorite style but I'd buy a sixer of this on occasion as a changeup...

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2005 21:55:53 | More by ZAP

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured in my Spaten lager glass at a very cool temperature.

A - Very dark brown, almost black with fluffy light tan head resembling swiss cheese that left minimal lace.

S - Sweet malty, slightly salty aroma. Bready, slightly burnt rye toast scent. A slightly tea like roastiness reminiscent of earl grey. Aromas of yeast with a nice bavarian malt scent.

M - Light, but substantially malty. Very carbonated but not to the point of excess. Silky and luxurious finish gradually releases a pleasant caramel essence.

T - Roastiness and effervescene snap to attention as the milky sourness with pilsener malt sweetness and nutty brown malt flavors comingle.

D - A great american black lager. Sweet, supple and bready flavors make for a brew that is quaffable, delightful, sessionable, and easy to enjoy in a variety of settings. I happened to enjoy mine with a cheesesteak pizza.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2007 00:07:20 | More by Slatetank

cokes

Wisconsin

3.48/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A copper shade immediate adjacent to black. It's clear and sports a sturdy sandy cap.
Burnt odors of grain and baker's chocolate, sweetened with whiffs of caramel.
Begins with a drenching caramel nougat sweetness, then washes with milk chocolate. All sweet and candybar-esque. It also hints strongly at a much more modest version of their Chocolate Bock. Turns grainier towards the middle, as ember of ash and char fly around, and the chocolate grows darker. Still, though, images of Caramello linger. It ends with a pinprick of woody hops, and almost no associated bitterness.
Semi-thick in the mouth, with very slight carbonation, this seems too fat for it's pants.
As a style that I love for it's character as well as it's drinkability, this come up partially short. It has some flair and up-side, but it's limited by a heavyhanded, undying sweetness, and thus is a chore to drink in succession.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2005 23:34:41 | More by cokes

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very nice Schwarzbier. Poured into a glass at just below room temp.

Head dissipated fairly quickly, with just a fine lacing on the side. Pleasant smell of roastiness followed by excellent roasty flavour with hints of chocolate. Plenty of complexity and still a smooth drinker. A very good candidate for a session beer, imho.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2005 16:48:35 | More by Bitterbill

Tone

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, dark brown color. 3/4 inch head of a pale tan color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of sweet malt, oatmeal, slight hop, hint of roasted malt, and a hint of yeast. Fits the style of a Schwarzbier. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of hops, sweet malt, oatmeal, slight coffee, and hint of roasted malt. Overall, good appearance, body, blend, and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2010 13:01:02 | More by Tone

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been eyeing this stuff for some time, never wanting to commit to a 6-pack "sight unseen". I finally got a chance to buy a single bottle as part of a mix-you-own 6-pack so here I am trying it. It pours a nice dark brown-black color with a thick head. The aroma is roasted malts, not quite burnt. The flavor was pretty good, a little chocolate and roasted sweet malts, a hint of bitterness at the end of each drink. Very good schwarzbier, at least comparable to the very few others I've had.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2007 16:32:17 | More by TurdFurgison

nickfl

Florida

3.35/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - One finger of brownish-white foam on top of a black body. Head retention is kind of weak.

S - Clean, weak malty note, slight hint of raisins. A little coffee like roastiness.

T - Clean flavor of roasted malt/ coffee with just a hint of hops.

M - Light body with high carbonation.

D - Easily drinkable but not a lot of flavor or complexity. It is quite clean, however and overall it is a decent example of a black lager.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2007 02:54:37 | More by nickfl

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a Pilsner Glass. Notched date of June.

A - Opaque black with ruby hints to it. Small tan head slowly goes down to a little lacing and a ring.

S - Right roasted malts that smell dry with a good helping of light coffee and cocoa. Smells viscous yet light. Great contradiction.

T - Robust roasted malts with a slight coffee bitterness and a dry cocoa powder feel.

M - Smooth and medium in body, this schwarzbier goes down nicely.

D - As schwarzbiers go, this one is very decent but a bit more viscous than I'm used to for the style. Its still a drinkable veer but I think it sits a bit heavier while still lighter than it would appear.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2009 05:07:08 | More by BeerFMAndy

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Standard pint glass shows a nearly opaque black brew with some vague ruby highlights when held to light. Thick creamy head even with a gentle pour...the nice lacing is worth noting.

I smell black cherries, a bit of oatmeal, biscuits and a touch of honeydew melon. A nice aroma.

Somewhat unexpectedly fruity flavor greets the mouth with burnt coffee taste. Interesting combo of flavors. Slightly astringent, bitterness stays on the tounge well past the swallow.

This beer is decent, there are not too many schwarzbiers to choose from that are widely available, but there are some better ones out there. Probably would not buy a whole sixer of these, but it was nice to try a couple and certainly would not turn one down if offered!

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2008 05:25:09 | More by twiggamortis420

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.53/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle. Pours black with a thick light tan head that left decent lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted malt, some diacetyl. Flavor of roasted malt, light bready malts (only faint though) and diacetyl but it didn't ruin the beer. Nice, smooth, full palate. Easy drinking too. Pretty enjoyable!
7/4/7/4/14 (3.6/5)

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2009 16:38:04 | More by LilBeerDoctor

smakawhat

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass. More Samuel Adams festing continues I guess...

A good solid large three finger head off the pour and an off tan color, but with some light foamy consistency and not much retention. Body is at first appearance extremely black walnut but to the light is a very dark red, even clear.

Bouquet, is a mild ripped grain and light roast. Small coffee sense typical of a schwarzbier. Small but quite decent.

Taste overall is a little lacking but still manages to deliver flavor. Palate hits in the finish with a little milky malt almost milk stout. Dry roof top dry mouth on the finish for feel. Leaves also some dry mildly burnt coffee almost on the swallow which I actually kind of like.

Overall fairly decent and surprising, tastes like a schwarzbeir to me and not too bad for one either.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 04:01:41 | More by smakawhat