Samuel Adams Alpine Spring - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

jondeelee

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Alpine Spring opens to a nicely hoppy nose, the initial aromas consisting largely of fresh pink grapefruit and light pine. These fade after a second, and while they are still present, are joined by a grainy underbelly, bringing toast crust, biscuit, Grape Nuts cereal, and wet wheat. As the hops continue to fade in the open air, a few light apricot and orange fruit esters rise, along with a touch of brown sugar. Eventually the hops almost fade into the background, and a light bread and fruit base is all that remains. As a whole, the initial hop aromas were pleasant and full, but their fading nature is somewhat wanting for potency. The breads and fruits are nice, but on the light side, and could also use a bit more oomph.

On the tongue, the beer is more sugary than expected, with berry, cherry, orange, and apricot fruit esters mixing well with brown sugars. The hops add further sugary citrus notes in the form of pink grapefruit, with just enough grapefruit rind and light pine to add a balancing bitter edge. Some toast, biscuit, and cereal grains linger in the background, adding earthiness and depth. In subsequent sips the sugars do fade slightly, but are still nicely present. However, the toast crust and wet hay notes increase in strength, the wet hay especially strong and grassy. The hops continue to bring grapefruit and pine in good quantity. The aftertaste is a strong wet hay remnant, with a decent amount of sugars and hops left over, and lingers on the tongue for a decent while. Mouthfeel is medium-light, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is a nice lager, and does carry a good range and complexity of flavors. Given the name, it’s easy to see drinking this on a mountainside, perhaps in a ski lodge, as a refreshing, flavorful beverage that won’t get you hammered before the next run. The beer does have weak points, especially in the nose, and the flavors as a whole could use more power and nuance to help set the brew apart. Still, not a bad offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 20:46:43 | More by jondeelee

RickS95

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I'm not a fan of American lagers for a variety of reasons, including the way macros look. However, this is a nice change from the ordinary. The pour is a soft peach color, but it's cloudy and hazy as opposed to the ultra clear crap I normally see from Sam Adams. The head is a frothy white mixture of foamy bubbles. Retention is good and lacing is thick.

Like most lagers, the scents aren't strong and this is no exception. There's a crispness from the wheat and a slight citrusy note, but I can't pinpoint the fruit.

There's symmetry between the smell and taste. Wheat and citrus dominate with an earthy note from the Noble hop.

For a lager, I like the feel in that there's more than just a crisp bitterness. Both a tanginess and a spiciness are present in each sip. It's medium bodied with a nice hop bite in the finish, though it lacks carbonation.

I don't like much from Sam Adams and I don't typically care for lagers, but this was pretty good. Not as aggressive as an ale, it's fairly full-flavored.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2013 02:55:12 | More by RickS95

cgarcer

Georgia

4/5  rDev +13%

06-20-2013 02:39:32 | More by cgarcer

Fargrow

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

06-19-2013 20:37:37 | More by Fargrow

ValpoExpo

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

06-17-2013 18:50:00 | More by ValpoExpo

Justinn13

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

06-16-2013 17:16:34 | More by Justinn13

307x

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

06-16-2013 16:39:14 | More by 307x

Paccamacca

California

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

06-14-2013 19:20:34 | More by Paccamacca

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

06-14-2013 00:48:00 | More by leprechaunandfatman

djre4orm

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +27.1%

06-13-2013 20:22:28 | More by djre4orm

femond

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

06-13-2013 01:47:19 | More by femond

utopiajane

New York

3.46/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pretty honey gold. Cloudy with great retention and lacing. Really engages the eye. Nose is soft. Yeast, a little floral and citrus hops, not really bright. Considerable malt profile in the nose. Bread and biscuit, sweet honey, cracker and lots of doughy malt. Hops come back to the nose with some sweet citrus as it warms and a little earth. Opens up with orange and lemon. The taste is grassy hops, the tart fruits in back of the hay and earth and hardy with toasted grains and doughy breaddy malt. It’s lightly dry, soft and pleasant enough. But, while it drinks friendly, it is a little bland. It doesn’t really linger and seems to be a kind of mix of styles. Looks like a belgian, smells like a lager, drinks like a bit heavy pils. Nothing really stands out as excellent but it is rich and smooth. Low alcohol content and if you like malt you could drink a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 09:02:15 | More by utopiajane

Cleaver35

Oklahoma

2.75/5  rDev -22.3%

06-12-2013 00:41:34 | More by Cleaver35

MPSTARR

Florida

3/5  rDev -15.3%

06-12-2013 00:06:58 | More by MPSTARR

freebirdbm14

New York

3/5  rDev -15.3%

06-11-2013 19:00:33 | More by freebirdbm14

deadliest

Texas

4/5  rDev +13%

06-11-2013 02:31:45 | More by deadliest

neckbeered

Montana

3/5  rDev -15.3%

06-10-2013 23:56:42 | More by neckbeered

mketchen

Massachusetts

2.5/5  rDev -29.4%

06-10-2013 21:22:39 | More by mketchen

movieman7

New York

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

06-10-2013 14:03:45 | More by movieman7

bvlaminck

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -15.3%

06-09-2013 20:31:16 | More by bvlaminck

skloeff

Missouri

3/5  rDev -15.3%

06-09-2013 18:41:28 | More by skloeff

Paul_Apsley

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

06-09-2013 13:25:20 | More by Paul_Apsley

Mike151014

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +34.2%

06-09-2013 08:58:37 | More by Mike151014

jjboesen

Maryland

3.86/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Once poured into my special Samuel Adams Lager Glass, it appears a cloudy amber capped with a spongy marshmallow crown. The nose is a mish-mash of banana and mango esters, while the palate is greeted with a cloying hint of lemongrass and malt.

The mouthfeel is light and crisp, much like the usual kellerbier would taste; this is a spectacular beer to quaff on a hot day: a splendid sessional beer; sweet and citrusy.

Just the way we like it. Jim Kocj strikes again.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 00:16:30 | More by jjboesen

Jimbo4430

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

06-08-2013 23:30:31 | More by Jimbo4430