Samuel Adams Noble Pils - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

mmva321

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Sam Adams pint glass.

The first Sam Adams product I've ever reviewed. The company is one I've never loved, or specifically, I've never been wowed by.They've always made solid, but somewhat standard, beers that are better than your macro brews but not as inventive, daring or rewarding as most of the other micros I've come to really respect. Noble Pils took me by surprise. Not because it was great, it was... just better than anything else I've had from them. Anyway, here's my review, about a year after initially having it.

A: Perfectly clear body that has a dominating yellow color to it, with maybe a hint of orange.A column of carbonation continuously shoots up to a good two fingers of foamy white head. Biased against this from all the other bland beers that look just like this? Sure. The color is a little more robust though, and it carries off its style well.

S: Hops. Not strong but restrained, to a fault really. C'mon Sam Adams, offend a few people's palettes! A bit grassy but also with a hint of sweeter malts and maybe some orange peel. But I may be reaching.

T: Very grassy. Not earthy, but grassy. Of course this blends with hops x5, but I still get a bit of sweetness as well. That's about it. Not very dynamic but pleasant.

M: Smooth, light, bubbly and thin. Perfectly appropriate if still a bit underwhelming.

D: I guess the overall impression or drinkability should be the strong note of this. Yea it's very pleasant and easy to drink (+4.0), but I can't get past how grassy the flavor is (-0.5). There's nothing to push this beer over the top, but it's a prime example of a beer style with mass appeal.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 06:01:01 | More by mmva321

Erice78

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-22-2013 01:47:53 | More by Erice78

jonkerbaugh

Colorado

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-21-2013 19:27:32 | More by jonkerbaugh

KingBiscuit

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-21-2013 01:57:44 | More by KingBiscuit

TeamMathis

West Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Orangish yellow. Clear.
Smell: Very light bitter floral and lemon.
Taste: Light floral and citrus.
Mouthfeel: Dry. Pretty carbonated.

This is very floral to me, but has the odd bitterness of dandelions in it. It's enjoyable, but far from fantastic. The lemon is in the scent. The taste is something citrusy, but only lightly there. Nice summer drink. I wouldn't get this again with so many better options.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:56:00 | More by TeamMathis

Kingcurio

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-21-2013 01:41:39 | More by Kingcurio

johntfox

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-21-2013 01:37:12 | More by johntfox

seplo

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-21-2013 00:20:38 | More by seplo

makersmarkers

Texas

3.84/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I drank this beer from a double-walled Bodum glass, poured from the bottle.

There are some hops in this fairly clear light-colored beer: floral, piney notes in the nose. Sweetness and bitterness in perfect balance on the tongue and a subtle remembrance of the piney notes when it's gone. Being a good red-blooded American and Texan, it tastes close to what I imagine would be the platonic ideal of beer: balanced, drinkable, indeed, quaffable in large proportions. It tastes good without being too complex. A fine beer if not particularly compelling. A bit too hoppy to enjoy straight from the bottle.

Update: I've had a few more six-packs of this one, and some other lesser beers in between. I think that, in hindsight, I was a little underwhelmed at first by this beer, but it is more than "fine," and it is, indeed, somewhat compelling. My overall rating has jumped nearly a whole point. This is a very good beer and one that I will continue to buy when other options are few.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 23:04:58 | More by makersmarkers

squeakmeister

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

05-20-2013 21:52:54 | More by squeakmeister

Slay40

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

05-20-2013 00:46:44 | More by Slay40

ClayO

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-19-2013 22:18:26 | More by ClayO

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

05-18-2013 22:37:21 | More by Photekut

jbarletto

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-18-2013 14:46:56 | More by jbarletto

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-17-2013 01:32:31 | More by SmellsofMahagony

Iamstryker

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-16-2013 22:16:43 | More by Iamstryker

Carpentiere

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-16-2013 12:15:43 | More by Carpentiere

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-16-2013 01:19:45 | More by calcnerd

Noonan425

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.3%

05-16-2013 01:16:58 | More by Noonan425

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.39/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from The Pot Still, Glasgow (355ml, £3.00):
Clear bodied with a golden amber colour and a thin, foamy white head on top that holds relatively well.

Sweet with some grassy hops, some lemon notes and light hops plus a touch of citrus and lemongrass. There is some apple too and overall the beer is light and sweet on the nose.

Light malts and a touch of citrus to kick things off, this is all followed by some basic pilsener malts and hops. The beer is crisp with a light bitter finish.

Smooth with some light medium carbonation and a similar body, there is a citrus tang and the beer is crisp, refreshing and light bitter at the end.

Not bad really, it was light and refreshing with nice sweet touches and a nice mouthfeel. The taste was a little light but it went down easy enough and had a pleasant, summery feel to it.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 15:03:41 | More by flyingpig

lucasj82

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-15-2013 01:46:07 | More by lucasj82

Nolen12

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-14-2013 19:11:02 | More by Nolen12

carterbt

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-14-2013 03:20:06 | More by carterbt

Beezee

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-13-2013 05:05:11 | More by Beezee

jokulhaps

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

05-13-2013 02:44:12 | More by jokulhaps