Samuel Adams Stony Brook Red (Barrel Room Collection) - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

3.86/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I'll admit it -- I'm not a huge fan of Sam Adams. I respect what they do, and recognize that they cleared a lot of trail for the American craft brew industry, but every time I drink one of their beers, I end up wishing they would take a little more risk. Their beers always end up on the safe side of interesting. So when my local shop told me they had a Sam Adams "Flanders Red", I was ready to take a pass.

However...

It was priced too low to blow off -- less than half the price of any other sour in the store. And the flip side of playing it safe is that Sam Adams has a high floor. At minimum, this beer won't suck, right? Only one way to find out.

A vigorous pour into a goblet produces a foamy, almond-colored head over a murky, mahogany and blood orange liquid. This quickly reduces to a thin head, leaving little lacing.

It smells like a sour. I'm also picking up cherries. And maybe it's just the power of suggestion, but now that I've written about the color, I smell almonds. This is supposed to be barrel-aged, but I'm no picking up any oak at all. As it warms, the cherry begins to take on a Ludens cough drop quality.

I don't catch any almond on the tongue. The cherry flavors are still abundant, however. And now I get a hint of the "toasted oak" promised on the label. Unfortunately, this just isn't sour enough. And I end up with a not entirely pleasant aftertaste.

If this had a more complex nose or more acid, I would probably be happy with the mouthfeel. But now I feel like being picky, so I'll say it: I wish it were more carbonated. On the other hand, it hides the 9% alcohol quite well.

I know I criticized Sam Adams for playing it too safe. With this beer, they show that they can color outside the lines just a little. It's pretty drinkable. I'm definitely going to buy some more, just to see how it ages. But for now, it's not going to replace any of my go-to sours.

EDIT: 2013-03-20
I keep finding this beer on the shelf at a price way too cheap to pass on, so I keep buying it and drinking it. It has grown on me considerably. It reminds me of before-the-best-after-date Dissident. I am nudging the taste and overall scores up a little.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 04:46:49 | More by DaveAnderson

cuy50

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

05-16-2013 02:44:33 | More by cuy50

russwilliam

New York

3/5  rDev -21.1%

05-15-2013 03:18:11 | More by russwilliam

Boilerfood

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-11-2013 18:49:44 | More by Boilerfood

bluckbeyes

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-10-2013 01:03:43 | More by bluckbeyes

mhbarber

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-10-2013 00:11:31 | More by mhbarber

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Building upon the ales of the Belgium Flanders region, The Sam Adams brand captures the essence of those valleys with a distinctive fruity ale with a ton of those complex earthy tones that beers from that region demand.

As the beer pours a russet ruby-brown color, it fills with unadulterated haze that promises full flavor and aroma. As the ale settles into the tulip, it builds a fluffy white pillow of foam above. Sturdy in its retention, it laces spottily as the beer fades with each drink. It does what those Flemish Reds do, but maybe with a little more malted character.

Aromas do even more- they capture the scent of sour and black cherries in a modest candied form. Exemplary complements of cider, balsamic, and candied sweetness both balance and support the cherry aromas. Earthy, toasty and spicy- like fine red wine- all make the mouth water with anticipation.

The taste of the ale actually prefers a more simple flavor profile than the nose suggests as the malty sweetness of "sour patch kids" candies are met by toasted oak, wine soaked vinous notes and robust black cherries. Its sweeter and more savory taste shies away from the crisper and drier versions of Flanders but rewards the palate with slightly more heft and a sweeter balance.

Its firm yet medium body is assured and confident with a fully malted backbone that's slow to dissolve and so is slow to dry. But its wine-like acidity is pleasantly cidery, semi-dry, and savory into its extended finish and aftertaste.

Overall, its dryness and balsamic notes aren't as pronounced as the classic versions of Rodenbach- it does side with some of the more "careful" versions like Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge, Steenberg's Monks Cafe, and Bacchus. But without the authentic Belgian rusticity, we'll call Sam Adams' version a "Flanders Red on training wheels".

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 07:04:24 | More by BEERchitect

scott2269

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

05-06-2013 00:04:16 | More by scott2269

FliryVorru

Alabama

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

04-29-2013 17:37:48 | More by FliryVorru

Cavanaghty

Maine

4.34/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a Sam Adams Glass.

Appearance: Deep red almost brown color. It had a beige head that was about 3 fingers thick, and then went down to about 1 finger thick and it lasted a long time. No lacing.

Smell: Fruity and Spicy. Hints of cherry, citrus, hops, maybe pepper too.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth medium to full bodied. Taste fruity up front with cherry and citrus, some peppery and sweet after taste. Definatly can taste some alcohol.

Overall: Another great brew from Sam Adams! I would buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 19:32:33 | More by Cavanaghty

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.99/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up a couple months ago. Brought it to a bottle share today. Poured into a snifter.

Pours a rusty mahogany, with slight reddish edges. Small beige head. Nose is oaky, some vanilla, cherry, strawberry, alcohol. Smells more sweet than tart.

Nice bubbly mouth, though subtle. It's crispness brings the flavors to the forefront. Slightly tart at the onset, but with a sweet kick on the finish. Lightly drying from the oak. Vinous grapes, cherry, brown sugar. A little acidic on the back end, but this is a really mild sour. I liked it though. A decent one to covert the curious.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 02:19:20 | More by Onenote81

WynnO

Florida

3/5  rDev -21.1%

04-27-2013 16:28:30 | More by WynnO

DrunkinYogi

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

04-27-2013 13:22:12 | More by DrunkinYogi

mhaugo

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

04-25-2013 05:49:26 | More by mhaugo

Herky21

Iowa

2.25/5  rDev -40.8%

04-23-2013 12:21:12 | More by Herky21

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Had this on 2013-04-21 in Columbia, PA

A - Ruby with gold highlights. Different colors depending on the light. Very short tan head. Some alcohol legs.

S - Red wine, oak, orange blossom, smells tart. Plenty going on. Nice.

M - Tart cherry, nice light roast malt body, moderate oak, white pepper, touch of alcohol. Finishes tart, not too sweet, light bitterness. Dries nice.

T - Light-medium body and almost no carbonation. Wine-like but seems to work for this style.

O - Flavorful and dangerously drinkable beer. My wife and I both enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 20:43:35 | More by Tucquan

BlueMoon10

Mississippi

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

04-21-2013 03:09:46 | More by BlueMoon10

alex_hart

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -27.6%

04-20-2013 16:11:29 | More by alex_hart

Metalaero

New York

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

04-20-2013 13:47:36 | More by Metalaero

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

04-19-2013 00:52:46 | More by Molson2000

largadeer

California

2/5  rDev -47.4%

04-17-2013 06:27:18 | More by largadeer

bmoney

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

04-15-2013 01:26:40 | More by bmoney

TheLevi4000

New York

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

04-15-2013 00:23:46 | More by TheLevi4000

bigbeers84

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

04-14-2013 02:45:25 | More by bigbeers84

prisoner1572

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

04-14-2013 02:42:46 | More by prisoner1572