Samuel Adams Mighty Oak Ale - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

3.3/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a deep amber with a small tan colored head. Good lacing and retention.

S- Very rich in mildly sweet malt notes. Hints of caramel and bready scents. Fairly complex.

T- Mostly malt the entire way through. Some peat flavor notes but a bready flavor is prominent throughout. Little to no hop character.

M- Very easy to drink, but somewhat chewy. Weigh is heavy enough to support all of the malt.

Overall, I'm not very impressed with this one. This is just an ok red ale among many.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 21:52:30 | More by boilermakerbrew

Bookseeb

Washington

3.03/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance holds a reddish amber that supports a thin dissipating head leaving fair lace. Smell is light on the nose with the caramel malt, oak and fruitiness from the hops. Taste of the malt, vanilla, with a good balance of hops leaving a lightly bitter dry oak finish. Mouthfeel is light on the medium side with good carbonation. Pretty much a simple amber leaving not much to mull over.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 01:42:22 | More by Bookseeb

Hoptometrist

Oregon

3.1/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served from the bottle into a pilsner glass

A- Poured a dark reddish/brown with frothy dark off-white head that leaves some droppy lace

S- Highly metallic aroma, some dark fruit, and caramel

T- Rich caramel maltiness, medicinal notes, metallic taste, hint of dark fruit

M- Smooth, medium body, moderate to low carbonation

O- A pretty average beer, not very complex. The bottle described the beer as having caramel, vanilla, and oak notes, but I could taste no oak or vanilla notes.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 12:12:34 | More by Hoptometrist

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to my brother tenderbranson69 for sharing this - poured chilled into a tumbler.

The color is copper, clear with thick cream cap and tight bead with spotty lace on the glass. the smell of slight fruit with a creamy yeast odor and slight malty caramel note with gentle vanilla note in the aroma. The feel is mostly sweet with moderate carbonation and mild tannic tinge from the oak with semi-dry finish.

The taste is slightly caramel with mild amaretto-like almond taste with a slight nuttiness and light cherry accent with the tannin and mild toasty malt follows. The yeasty flavor combines with the aforementioned flavors with a bready note and light oaky vanilla in the background as it finishes. Overall a good amber, a good amber w/ mild oak influence in the flavor. This is a middle of the road but I am sure the oak made this better than just the base alone, drinkability is on the low side for the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 16:37:04 | More by Slatetank

Shaw

Florida

3.93/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the Brewers' Choice 12-pack.

Pours a beautiful bright red with a foamy tan head. Very nice.

Mild oak aroma with some nice hops and malt aromas.

I get the vanilla and caramel flavors the brewers mention, though I wouldn't have thought it was from the oak like they say. It's good, with a nice malt sweetness and a hint of hop bite.

Very smooth and creamy body.

Overall this is a fine ale that's worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 02:46:30 | More by Shaw

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The Mightly Oak ale from Sammy A is a nice offering but not spectacular. It is ruby red with foamy white head that is lacing nicely. The smell is typical of most ambers....neat and malty. There is a slight woody/oak twang to the amber. The mouthfeel is medium body with big carbonation. Overall it is decent.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 23:40:36 | More by WoodBrew

bobhall78

5/5  rDev +44.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - Nice dark amber color with no foam.

S - Almost odor less with a slight malt smell.

T - Cool, crisp, no bitterness, a nice clean taste.

M - Exceptionally smooth and cool with no bite.

O - A good everyday beer to drink if you into ales, one of my favorite Sam Adams.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 21:58:54 | More by bobhall78

budgood1

Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

pours out a slightly hazed deep amber colour with a minimal head and slight lace. candy like aroma...sweet maltiness accentuated by some vanilla and oak. upon tasting, the slightly sweet and up front vanilla and oak tinged maltiness hits the tongue and is swept aside by the dry finish. restrained hop bitterness allows the dry finish to assert itself as a key component in the overall profile. it's all balanced and subtley flavoured. medium bodied with a semi-crisp mouthfeel with a certain dry finish that is appropriate for this ale. drinkability is nice. just interesting enough to cause a raised eyebrow, but easy going in a way to quench a thirst.

overall a bit on the simple side, but i'm sure that's what SA was aiming for. pleasant enough.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 22:08:24 | More by budgood1

jmarklan

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear amber. Nice head dies fairly quickly and leaves no lacing.

Smells of vanilla, slight caramel and fruit.

Vanilla upfront, fruit in the middle (cherries), very slight grain in the end.

Feels pretty thin, kind of watery.

Overall: Interesting. Not spectacular, but a decent beer that's worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 06:59:59 | More by jmarklan

bsp77

Minnesota

2.68/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into pint-like glass.

Appearance: Rich amber without much head and no lacing. Looks flat a couple minutes after pouring.

Smell: Cherry, caramel and vanilla. Very mild.

Taste: Tastes like a too sweet amber ale with a hint of vanilla. Virtually no hops.

Feel: Moderate carbonation, medium light body, very little dryness on the finish.

Overall: Maybe someone else can make a low abv oaked ale, because this is not really any better than a macro such as Michelob Amber Bock. Actually, I would rather have Amber Bock.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 21:20:53 | More by bsp77

rlee1390

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Clear amber, not much carbonation, one finger head

S-Caramel, toffee, malt and some nuttiness

T-Caramel, toffee, not much bitterness, nuts, some spice and then some vanilla and oak as it warms

M-Light to medium bodied, smooth

O-Another decent beer from the mix pack. Too bad Alpine Spring is the seasonal when Whitewater and Might Oak are better.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 16:04:08 | More by rlee1390

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Crystal clear copper body, reddish highlights, topped by a slim off-white head that quickly dropped to an oil slick.

Aroma of caramel and vanilla. Big sweetness. Something different.

Taste begins with huge dollop of caramel oozing down the tongue. Bits of toast. Earthy noble hops ride on top to the swallow. Not getting the vanilla I had in the nose.

Very prickly mouthfeel, particularly at the swallow. Tingles in the afterglow.

Not a beer I'd have on a regular basis, but an interesting one off.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 20:02:44 | More by RonfromJersey

yesyouam

New York

3.3/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Samuel Adams Mighty Oak Ale is a very clear amber ale with a thin white head that fades to a blotch and leaves decent lacing. It has a faint aroma of sweet caramel, vanilla and oak. It's medium bodied and starchy with a dry, scratchy finish. It tastes pretty sweet with loads of oak. There's a strong note of dark cherry, vanilla and caramel. There's some herbal bitterness in the finish. It's not what I'd call a refreshing beer, but it has a reasonably complex taste. I personally would prefer something like this to be balanced out with more hops, but that's not the focus of this one. It all revolves around the oak.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 15:29:01 | More by yesyouam

marlinsfan4

Maryland

2.68/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I find it odd this beer doesn't have the usual Sam Adams logo on the label and instead the name of the beer.. interesting. Pours an amber/red, smallish white head to it. Faint caramel aroma. Decent mouthfeel, thin bodied, some caramel malts, quite watery. Really don't taste any 'oak' in this one, clean finish. This one was a big 'meh' for me, way too thin and watery and the taste just isn't there. Guess they all can't be winners... drinkable but not much else.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 02:48:03 | More by marlinsfan4

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.48/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle served in a glass beer mug.

L - clear amber color with a beige head that thinned leaving a few spots of lacing.

S - sweet caramel malt with a hint of oak.

T - a little more of the oak comes through in the taste which is sweet and malty.

F - medium bodied with a smooth feel.

O - a good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 18:21:55 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

cyclonece09

Maryland

3.65/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a darkish red color with a small whitehead that dissipates, but leaves nice lacing. Smells of sweet roasted malts and slight hoppy aroma. Tastes of dark roasted malts with not much complexity. Is light to medium bodied, carbonated properly, with a good finish. Overall, a slightly above average red ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 00:35:06 | More by cyclonece09

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a reddish orange with a good foamy creamy colored head. Some retention, no lace.

Caramel, vanilla, some wood, fruity notes, a little perfume floral note.

Caramel and toasted malt up front, some fruit, leading to moderate bitterness and loss of sugar in the finish. You get the woody note in the flavor.

Medium body, standard SA carbonation.

Overall, I think I'd tire of this after a couple. I like the take on the style, and the layers of flavors. A decent fruity ale with some nice accents.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 22:26:17 | More by OtherShoe2

tvljr

Virginia

3.28/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

Medium reddish hue a slight dirty lace on the glass after a couple of quaffs.

Sweet and a little overpowering on the first drink. Settles in as you get used to the malt with a hint of vanilla.

One of the drier beers I've had in quite a while.

Came with two in the Brewer's Choice 12 pack. That's probably enough for me. Don't think I'd need to get six.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 21:38:33 | More by tvljr

CMUbrew

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A: Poured with half a finger of white head that faded immediately. Crystal clear copper color. No lacing.

S: Mostly wood with sweet bready and slightly caramely malts.

T: Oaky wood dominates the flavor. Malts make this quite sweet, but the small amount of hops just keep it from being too sweet.

M: The body isn't as thin as it looks. The carbonation is pretty nice and combines with the barrel aging to give it a medium body.

O: This was a pretty good beer. It's quite heavy on the oak flavor and has a lot of sweetness behind it. Not sure if I would buy it in a six pack if it existed, but I'm glad I tried it.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 04:53:38 | More by CMUbrew

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours out a clear, amber-hued body with a brief, sudsy, off-white head.

Smell: Bread, very gently toasted at the far edges with a low, ineffusive hint of caramel, small oak note, and a bit of sweet cherry.

Taste: Bready pale malts with sweetish touches of caramel and brown sugar. Slight cherry, berry-like fruitiness. Mild vanilla tone from the oak. English hops give a little bit of spiciness though not much bitterness. Sweetish, toasty finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Overall: Feels a bit like their Irish Red with a modest oak character. But that's just me!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 23:26:56 | More by ChainGangGuy

Arborescence

Finland

3.88/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Ruby red. Pours a medium head, but it recedes very quickly.

Aroma: Malty, but with some fresh hops too.

Taste: Very nice and malty, rich but easy drinking. Quite sweet too. Hops are not very evident, but there's a hint in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, round and smooth.

Overall: A good red ale, but a tad too sweet for my taste though.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 23:02:34 | More by Arborescence

MattyG85

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a deep and clear amber orange with lots of rising bubbles. Solid three fingers of off white head with very good retention. Lots of lace sticking to the glass.

Smell: Deep aroma of sweet caramel malts with notes of toffee and brown sugar. Oak and vanilla are fairly subtle but there. Also some light hints of dark fruit and some earthy hops in the background. Kind of smells like an oaked bock.

Taste: Sweet bready malts with lots of caramel and toffee. A little sugar and hints of dark fruit. Subtle hints of oak and vanilla towards the middle with a light hint of wood lingering into the aftertaste. Finishes with some hints of earthy hops. A good malty taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Creamy, slightly syrupy, and very smooth.

Overall: A nice tasting beer. Good use of malts although the oak could of been a little stronger.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 05:17:44 | More by MattyG85

wspscott

Kentucky

3.4/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle in Sam Adams glass
best by June 2012

A: A dark, but clear red color with a very thin white head that doesn't leave much lace.
S: Caramel sweetness and not much else
T: Not as sweet as I expected from the nose, the oak definitely helps keep things in line. The oak is interesting here, it doesn't dominate, but it is very apparent. I think the underlying beer could use a little more malt character, it comes across as one dimensional.
M: I think this would come across as watery if not for the oak. The woodiness seems to add a little body although it is not overwhelming. Is it the tongue-coatingness of the tannins? Don't really know.
O: The oak is the most interesting thing here, the underlying beer seems to be on the simple side. I appreciate that this is just oak and not bourbon soaked oak, but it needs something else. Glad I tried it, but I won't go looking for it. Hopefully, the recipe can be tweaked and we can see Mighty Oak version 2 in the future from either Sam Adams or another brewery. More oaked beers please.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 01:07:46 | More by wspscott

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.35/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass.

Appearance: This is your darker amber beer, very transparent though, with a 1/4" white head.

Smell: Super light smell of hops. Nothing spectacular or new here.

Taste: Caramel, light bitterness. This is a notch sweet, not your soda sweet but your beer sweet.

Mouth: Medium to heavy, not bad at all and it's smoothness is what keeps this beer ticking.

Overall: Not a bad brew, this is your "everyday" type of ale so don't expect nothing out of the ordinary. I grabbed in a variety pack and wasn't disappointed. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 18:53:11 | More by BlurryVisi0n

Yoda22

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Pours a clear copper with about 1 finger of head that quickly dissipates; little lacing.

S- Woody and malty smell - pretty good! A bit sweet smelling and no hops but appropriate for the style.

T- Leaves something to be desired...just kind of a weak/dull woody/malty combo that finishes dry.

M- Medium body and solid carbonation.

O- It has it's highs and lows, the oak character is good but doesn't stand out enough. Finishes too dry and the taste just doesn't wow me.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 23:39:58 | More by Yoda22