Samuel Adams Thirteenth Hour Stout (Barrel Room Collection) - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Damian

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Drank from a 1 pt 9.4 fl oz corked and caged bottle
Served in a snifter
Thanks to my dad for this bottle.

Thinner bodied and cola-like in appearance. The liquid was topped by a dense, frothy, bubbly, three-finger, khaki colored crown. Drippy ringlets of lacing cascaded along the glass. The head slowly dropped to a resilient cap of foam.

The nose was nondescript and quite simplistic. Powdery and dry Belgian yeast notes dominated initially. Slightly roasty, toasty and bready. Touch of cold coffee. Some unpleasant plastic-like notes were also detectible. The nose became a bit more punchy as the beer warmed. A bready, malty sweetness came forth. Some oak, vanilla and spice as well. The booziness also became much more pronounced.

The flavor profile was far more interesting than the aroma. Sweet, bready malts and Belgian yeast notes came through strong on the front end. Somewhat roasty and toasty. Noticeable dark fruit flavors. Raisins and tart cherries were apparent. Some caramel and toffee notes. Touch of coffee. Oak, vanilla and spices appeared as beer warmed. Somewhat boozy and sharp.

The mouthfeel was light and frothy with a crisp, bubbly effervescence. Lively and sprightly on the palate.

All in all, this is a respectable attempt at a rather unique style of beer. If it were available in smaller format bottles, I might consider buying it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 03:40:27 | More by Damian

Mumps

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

My most recent tasting of the Barrel Room Collection.

Poured into a pilsner style glass ( I still need to replace my goblet type).

Color was a dark red, almost black. Exhibited a nice half inch off white head, lasting through the first few sips. Moderate lacing.

Smelled remotely of raisins and some spice, with a malty sweetness backing it.

Tastes almost like smells, some chocolate tones, with light spice and raisins.

Mouthfeel was a little lacking unfortunately. Somewhat thin, and the carbonation was a little to high for me. Not unpleasant, but a little disappointing.

Overall I'd give it a solid 4, and well worth buying again.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 22:21:05 | More by Mumps

RichD

Rhode Island

4.14/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from the cork and caged bottle into a snifter.

A: Poured a pale brown initially. As my snifter filled, the brown became more pronounced with a 1-2 finger tan head.

S: Chocolate covered raisins was the prominent scent that I picked up. Some oak came through afterwards, with some coffee and figs/plums also poking through.

T: The taste follows the nose pretty well. The figs/plums were more prominent in the taste than in the nose. The chocolate and raisins were pretty subdued with the oak and coffee coming through in the finish. There is a fruity taste that seems to taste like brettanomyces, but there was no indication that any brett is in here. Perhaps it's the cosmic mother funk, which would make sense. This brew is very deep. Perhaps the deepest Sam Adams brew I've had so far.

M: A medium to heavy body. There is a moderate to heavy level of carbonation. Overall nothing that blows my mind.

Overall: This is a solid brew. The depth of this makes it extremely tasty and interesting. I'm glad I picked this up to try. As I said earlier in this review, this may be the deepest brew from Sam Adams. I really like this one and I can see myself buying the rest of these Sam Adams barrell room collection beers. Great job, guys!

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 01:00:07 | More by RichD

Bung

North Carolina

3.59/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A very dark cola black pour. Finger of dark cream head. The layer retains quite well. Sticks to the glass ever so slightly.

Aroma, very fruity and figgy/raisiny. Quite a bit of estery "Belgian" notes. Some tartness.

Taste, tiny bit of grape up front. Brown sugar and molasses. There is some earthy chocolate and coffee, but really only after it warms quite a bit.

Maybe medium body, carbonation is just a tick on the higher side. A very faint warming. Drinks pretty well, just a bit thin, like most dark style Belgians in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:03:58 | More by Bung

SLeffler27

New York

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Glows a dark, black walnut from within a wine sampler glass, with a thin, off-white head that provides no lacing.

The aroma is spicy with light, tart, Belgian yeast and plum.

Lightly sweet cherry is balanced by tartness, while notes of plums, cherries, and perhaps chocolate, linger in the background. The finish is short and spicy.

The medium body is lifted by high carbonation while the alcohol is as expected.

This was enjoyed with light conversation and sharp cheddar cheese.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 14:43:55 | More by SLeffler27

Arborescence

Finland

4.28/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Served in room temperature; bought the bottle directly from the brewery. The bottle with a champagne style cork opens up with a loud bang.

Appearance: Very dark, with a slight ruby tint. Pours a bubbly head that recedes immediately. Carbonation evident.

Aroma: The carbonation prickles the nose a little. Alcohol is clear. Malty chocolate, raspberries -- chocolate cake with raspberry sauce! Intriguing.

Taste: Chocolate and malt are the first things you taste, but alcohol soon follows. Warming and heavy, like a Christmas fruit cake.

Mouthfeel: Oily, medium to heavy body. Almost greasy. Fairly heavy carbonation.

Overall: The beer is a dessert in itself. I think it would manage with a little less alcohol and carbonation, but I can see that Sam Adams wanted to go all out. It's a special oak aged beer, but I don't detect much oak in it, nor coffee (which they mention in their own tasting notes). A tasty and rich beer, I'd recommend sharing the big bottle (I don't one if it's available in anything else except the 1pt 9.4 fl oz bottle) with someone though!

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 23:38:49 | More by Arborescence

superspak

Michigan

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into snifter, 2012 release. Pours fairly pitch black color with a 1 finger dense and fluffy khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with some light streaming carbonation. Aromas of raisin, tart cherry, prune, chocolate, oak, coffee, pepper, clove, toast, roasted malt, light funk, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of malt, oak, and yeast ester notes. Taste of raisin, cherry, prune, pear, chocolate, light coffee, roasted malt, oak, floral, pepper, light clove, toast, herbal, and yeast earthiness. Lightly tart fruitiness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark fruits, chocolate, light coffee, oak, floral, clove, herbal, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Good balance and complexity of malt flavor with fruity/spicy yeast esters; with stronger fruitiness over roasted flavors and zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a fairly creamy, slick, and lightly crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good Belgian stout style. Good balance and complexity of roasted flavor with fruity/spicy esters; and very smooth to sip on. This was not nearly as robust as I was hoping for considering the style, but it was still a nicely enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 05:23:04 | More by superspak

SHODriver

California

3.75/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: pours a deep brown, nearly black with a finger of dense light tan head that retains well but slowly fades to a collar into a snifter
S: smells of caramel, slight spice, dark fruits, candi sugar and a bit of funk. slight hint of sourness but very sweet on the nose
T: tart at the front, with a blast of funk shortly afterward, a bit of spice, slight dark fruit and a bit of caramel with a hint of bitter chocolate roasted malt flavor. slight sweetness and candi sugar on the back end and the swallow is roasted malt and coffee and some oak with more spice on the finish
M: full in the mouth with slightly prickly carbonation. smooth on the palate as well but a bit too lively. slightly drying finish
O: a very complex and interesting beer. I'm not too sure what to make of it. At first it was overwhelming but it opened up quite nicely. Sam Adams describes it as a belgian style stout which it fits much better than a belgian strong dark

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 03:21:32 | More by SHODriver

ilikebeer03

Texas

3.51/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750 ml poured into a snifter.

Pours a very dark, brown. Not quite black. You can tell it is highly carbonated right away. It produces a fair head which fades in a minute or two and leaves a tanish, bubbly ring around the edge.
S: dark fruits up front. big time. slight tartness. a bit of chocolate too.
T: The dark fruits are very strong, in my opinion, over powering the other flavors. Tartness covers the tongue. I pick up just a bit of oak. Not too much. Less than I would like. Alcohol is masked well.
M: highly carbonated. Too highly in my opinion to be considered a stout. I would compare it to a german hefe. (which make sense because it is supposed to be a "dark belgian style stout").
O: Not terrible. My biggest complaint is too much carbonation (personal preference). Probably would not buy again. Havent sampled many of the "sour" beers, which this is supposed to be(ish) (The tag says it is blended with "Cosmic Mother Funk") to be able to give a good judge of how accurate a representation it is of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 20:42:10 | More by ilikebeer03

socon67

New York

3.74/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Dark brown pour with a red tint. Visible carbonation and an active foam that retains. Lacing is minimal at best.

S - Scents of grape juice, currants, and light coffee notes. Has a bit of a tangy yeast aroma.

T - Slightly disappointed in that the taste really takes on a fruit medley of sugar and grape notes that seems to overwhelm the subtle notes of coffee and spices. There is some wood notes that give this a reserved flavor of aging.

M - Easily sessionable and went very good with appetizers for Easter dinner. Leaves a sugary feel on the palate. Medium bodied and smooth. Balance on those sugars could be better.

O - Pair this with some dry cheeses. I had some aged manchego and it enhanced the experience. This was a nice beer but there are better examples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 13:39:24 | More by socon67

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Grabbed a bottle a few months back at Wegman's. Reasonably priced at $10.99 or so.
Pours like a coca cola, dark brown with some fizzy head with no spotty lacing.
Aroma is decent. Dark figs, brown sugar, sweet malt, and sadly, grapes.
Taste is where this one goes down hill for me personally. It's not a bad beer at all, but chocolate....? Nope. Coffee? Negatory. Oak? Not finding it.
Description is very misleading.
Fairly high carbonation, but not distracting....just a bit higher than I would have appreciated.
Finishes fairly clean.
Not a bad beer, but falls short based on my expectations after reading the label.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 23:21:16 | More by warriorsoul

mattkoon

South Carolina

4.46/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

found these sam adams barrel aged beers and i was excited. i have like sam adams' specialty beers whenever i had tried them, so i was interested to try these barrel aged ones. this beer pours a dark cloudy golden brown- looks black but if you hold it to the light you can see accents of gold. the tan head grows steady after pouring, until it was thick. the smell is dark and fruity, with maybe a slight smoke. the taste reminds me of a sweet sherry. the dark fruity notes are bold in the flavor. the bitterness is even across the whole pallet, not just coming at the end- which for some reason makes this beer seem pretty mild and fairly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 16:20:34 | More by mattkoon

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.99/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

The corked, caged bottle. Sampled on March 15, 2013.

It pours charcoal black but not jet black with a moderate beige head that lingers and laces.

The aroma is more oak and dark fruit heavy than with esters of chocolate and coffee. I did not get that "stout" aroma that In usually get with stouts. There's a little yeast and malt but it is downplayed.

The body is medium to full with a certain acidity.

The taste is a step up from the aroma with a slightly more forward malt and yeast character but the oak and dark fruits tend to supersede it. Low to moderate bitterness at the end that does not last.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 21:17:01 | More by puboflyons

FlemingVSKing

Florida

4.83/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Just a wonderful collaboration.

Compared to other dark beers, say Sublimely Self Righteous Ale, this isn't the balls to the wall flavorfest, but a more subtle yet equally complex flavor combination. It is comprised of a collection of fruit notes over a well rounded stout background. Vs the other brew I mentioned, the hop tones are more subtle, which is very likely the primary difference and it provides what could be considered an overall more drinkable beer. A very very enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 07:45:08 | More by FlemingVSKing

jsulko

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a snifter glass

Pours a very darkish brown with reddish hints. Decent off white head.

Smell has dark fruits and some roasted maltyness.

Taste has the dark fruits and some coffee notes. Roasty flavor also comes through. Yeast makes itself known a bit on the finish.

Didn't wow me. Not enough going on to go out of the way for.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 03:22:42 | More by jsulko

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.16/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a dark ruby brown. Tan fizzy head and lots of it.

This beer tastes more like a sour than a stout. A lot of sour/tart cherries. Roasted malts and chocolate. Belgian yeast flavors. Some oak and toffee.

Lighter bodied with a high amount of carbonation. Doesn't feel like 9%.

I thought this beer was fairly average. Just not really digging how sour it was. I probably won't drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 01:08:49 | More by mothman

cjgator3

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A- Poured into a tulip glass. Pours a dark brownish black color with a tan head with great retention and lacing.

S- The aroma has some sour funk with oak and dark fruits and roasted malts.

T- The taste is dark and roasty along with some dark fruits, oak and a yeasty finish.

M- The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a high amount of carbonation.

O- Overall, I really enjoyed the Thirteenth Hour. It was a great new beer from Sam Adams.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 04:00:00 | More by cjgator3

vickersspitfire

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter, it’s almost pitch black at first sight, but as you hold it up to the light, beautiful dark reds and amber colors shine through. The head is thick, dense and very creamy, very active with popping bubbles and it’s all very tempting… and it sticks around for quite some time too, making a great companion as you drink this beer. Lots of dark fruits in the aroma, raisins, figs, grapes, mild apple, slight roasted malts and spices are all present. The flavor is just as pleasing, malts are more present and the spices take the backstage in this part. Its slightly bitter overall and the sweetness comes out as you swallow. The spices are also more evident in its aftertaste, the alcohol is well hidden. This is one smooth beer and a great tasting one at that too.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 05:48:02 | More by vickersspitfire

stephens101

Oklahoma

4.1/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A full tan head covers a pitch black brew. It settles quickly.

A thin medicinal wall is noticed aromatically up front, but is quickly broken by notes of milk chocolate, a bit of vanilla and grape juice.

Smooth on the tongue with palpable notes of cherry followed by more milk chocolate, various other dark fruits, vinegar and light hops. The oak is noticed as an afterthought.

Medium bodied with a tickle of alcohol heat at the end.

You would be hard pressed to find a more delectable and well-balanced "bigger beer" than this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 00:07:37 | More by stephens101

MAJPhilson

4.16/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wasn't sure what kind of stout I was drinking. Complex flavors, with a very long after taste. Not one of my favorites, but I would drink it again. Little pricey for the quality though. I guess I expected more from SA, but still, not a bad stout.

A: was dark, but not as dark as most stouts. Light does come through, but still, dark enough to classify as a stout.

S: definite hints of chocolate, coffee and spice.

T: tried at two temps. First cold: as a colder brew, had a very bitter taste. But I let it warm up to room temp. Room Temp: brought out all sorts of flavors, rich coffee, deep spices and the aroma changed slightly.

M: oily is the best way I can describe this. It certainly has a very long aftertaste on the palate, but not at all unpleasant.

O: not bad at all. Not my favorite, but not bad. I paid $10.99 for this beer, which was way too much, but...you only live once. For that price, and from SA, I expected a little more.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 06:50:13 | More by MAJPhilson

Bfarr

Washington

2.74/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Black with a tan, frothy head and great retention. Light oak, yeast and a metallic aroma. Strong Belgian sugar and yeast with oak, sweet chocolate, and earthy stone fruit notes. Earthy finish and linger. Semi-dry, thin, and neutral feel with a light fuzz.

Subtle and interesting flavor but metallic notes persist and linger. Ultimately, an okay but rather boring beer with no outstanding qualities and a few problems that would be okay to share small pours with a few people. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 19:59:34 | More by Bfarr

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.51/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured this into my snifter to enjoy during the Super Bowl. There wasn't any metaphorical resason... just thought it looked good to sip during the game.

For a stout, this beer should have been darker. You could get a decent amount of light through this one. The smell is interesting. I would say that the bouquet is like a mix of stout and saison. There is the coffee, as you would expect. I also get some spices, sweetness, and a decent amount of sour. It is an original smell, but the balance is a little off.

The flavor is complicated and challenging. You get a lot more of the sour. There is a lot less coffee at this point. I would say that this is more like a dark/black saison.

Overall this made for an interesting experience. It wasn't bad, but t doesn't rise to the point of being a "must find" beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 03:18:31 | More by ummswimmin

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.34/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This pours a dark brown color with a light brown, foamy head that leaves behind some decent lacing. Aroma is yeast, malts, some cocoa, and sweetness. There is a lesser robust taste than expected with a decent amount of spices mixed with sweet malts. The texture is very Belgian indeed. Probably the most interesting of the Barrel Room Collection brews.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 17:00:38 | More by Lemke10

gpogo

California

3.86/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

A- Dark brown body with a tan/cream colored head.

A- Sweet cola like initial aroma. Fruits and a belgiany smell.

T- Sweet dark belgian up front taste that gives way to a very sweet chocolate with hints(very light) of coffee. Finishes with a spicy feel and a hot alcohol air.

M- Medium body that sticks to your mouth and leaves a nice reminder taste and feeling of the beer. Moderate carbonation.

D- Quite enjoyable, probably one of my favorites of the "barrel series."

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 05:44:22 | More by gpogo

maleman

Mississippi

3.1/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A - poured from a pint bottle, thick and dark with an tan-colored, creamy head. Good amount of lacing.
S - heavy malt, caramel and coffee.
T - not nearly as much bite as I would have expected. more phenol than malt.
M - kind of weak considering the characteristics. Oily, with only a bit of aftertaste.
O - had high expectations, but they were not met. just not indicative of the genre, IMO.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 23:28:54 | More by maleman