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

ChapaTX

3.4/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance= light and kind of hazy like a hefe

Smell= citrusy

Taste= definitely has and orange peel citrus taste

Mouthfeel= easy to drink and enjoy.

Overall= If citrus taste is your thing this is for you, however I'm not the citrus type. I can see why its a spring seasonal for that reason.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 11:28:20 | More by ChapaTX

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

3/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Not my personal favorite, if you like citrusy beers, you willl love this one. Somerwhat like the Sam Adams Summer Ale, with an extra carmel note to is, which was a plus for me. This just isn't my style of beer, so my openion is based on that, keep that in mind.

Citrus, floral , caramel, easy to drink beer

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 20:38:49 | More by FlatRabbitRed

Weston19

3.54/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

A: Beer pours a golden color. The beer is a bit foggy but I imagine it's because it's not filtered. Has about a finger sized head which slowly fades into a thin lace.

S: Citrus, malt, spicy hops. Smell is pretty average and is well balanced.

T: The citrus comes off immediately and finishes with a nice sweet taste. Kind of reminds me of a caramel taste. After taste remains relatively sweet.

MF: Very smooth beer. Pretty well carbonated and goes down smoothly.

OA: I really enjoyed this beer. I wasn't too excited about it first because I was concerned about it being a little to bitter but it's actually well balanced. You get the nice citrus taste but it finishes sweet which gives it a really neat balance. I'll definitely be drinking another one of these.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 00:07:59 | More by Weston19

fsimcox

California

4.09/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a cloudy off-golden color, with a white fluffy head that dissipates slowly. Some lacing.

Smells of earth, malt, subtle hops and a hint of citrus. But not overpowering.

Taste is sweet malt, with some hints of citrus, and just a slight hop finish. A hint of hops in the after taste with lingering malty sweetness.

Mouthfeel has some creaminess up front, some carbonation and a full-bodies finish. Very smooth, and easy to drink.

A very nice beer. I was a little surprised that this is a Keller beer. It reminded me of a Helles, but the unfiltered style gave it some interesting subtle notes. I will buy this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 20:31:22 | More by fsimcox

Amish_Ambush

3.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Golden, cloudy yellow. Pours a frouthy white head with some staying power.
Smell: Major notes include citrus and spice, with salt water taffy in there somewhere in there.
Taste: Spices, orange, orange peel and a slight hint of malt.
Mouthfeel: Smooth with some body. Very surprising for a lager.
Overall: High drinkability. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 00:50:26 | More by Amish_Ambush

Tuey13

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Pours a hazy golden color with a thick white head.
Smells very crisp and malty with a little hop scent... also some spice and citrus.
Tastes very nice, a little stronger than i expected... has a bit of light honey sweetness and malts, then a hit of a hop bitterness that gives some great balance to this. Finishes very clean in my opinion.
I agree with what the label says... can be great in cool weather or in mild weather... has a great taste that i could session very easily by a fire or in the warm sun.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 00:48:09 | More by Tuey13

silverking

Florida

3.99/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Alright, It pours a hazy light amber with a nice white head that fades fast but leaves a thin layer of foam with nice lacing. The aroma is very refreshing. Hoppy notes of citrus and pine with a nice malt backbone. The taste is citrusy with a strong grassy malt finish. It has a crisp mouthfeel with moderate, prickly carbonation. It isn't an overly complex brew, but it gets the job done.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 19:08:04 | More by silverking

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.44/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

serviceable lager at the JFK sports bar. Big head, deep yellow,Lacey,a little cheesy, and aggressive carbonation. ok drinkability.Reminds me of the premium lagers available many decades ago pre-big brewer. A zwickel? Not as good as the Creemore version.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2013 05:38:00 | More by northyorksammy

mattkoon

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

alpine spring from samuel adams pours a nice lemony gold color. the smell is hoppy like an ipa, maybe not as intense, with a lemony citrus freshness. the taste is pretty similar to the smell, its hoppy with a good bit of lemon...really fresh tasting. the hoppiness isnt too bitter either, which makes it smooth. i could drink lots of these.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 12:31:20 | More by mattkoon

tomcarling

3.76/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very light for my tastes, but that aside I enjoyed it very much. Smooth and well balanced with a fruity tang.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 03:46:56 | More by tomcarling

adamette

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Live review. Served on tap at ruby Tuesdays. Poured into a Sam Adams glass

A. Hazy light butterscotch yellow body under a light creamy head that sticks to the inside of the glass.

S. light hefeweizen wheat grain smell with some light citrus notes.

T. Citrus sweet malt and minimal hops. Delicious.

M. Smooth with a nice fullness.

D/O. Drinkability is very high. Overall this is a fine beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2013 23:51:18 | More by adamette

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Samuel Smith tulip-pint.

Appearance: Pours a very hazy dark orange-red color ans has a small white head that sticks around for a good while. Laces the glass pretty well, too.

Smell: "Crisp" lemony scent. Smell fits the aesthetic they're going for with the bottle and description. Overall though, the scent is pretty muted.

Taste: A crisp, enjoyable lager. Starts and ends lightly bitter and with nice hop flavor. Sweet and citrusy in the middle of a mouthful with what may be a hint of spice.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and well, but appropriately, carbonated. Medium to light body.

Actually, since this debuted, it's probably my favorite "regular" Sam Adams seasonal. An enjoyable and not incredibly complicated crisp lager that fits the Winter-Spring transition well. I think they hit the mark for what they were aiming for. Good on tap too.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 23:30:47 | More by ColdWaffles

aubuc1

Florida

2.68/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle dated best before June (hopefully 2013) poured into an imperial pint glass.

Pours a hazy yellow with a nice thick white head that is slow to recede.

Smell is pretty subdued. Hint of straw and butter.

Taste is pretty watered down. Nothing really stands out. Maybe some grass and some slight citrus. I just bought this, but is there a chance it is a leftover from last year?

Mouthfeel is pretty thin.

Overall this is an easy drinking beer with no discernable qualities otherwise. Maybe the wife will like it.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 00:29:49 | More by aubuc1

ckraft77

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very great tasting. Easy on the palate. Not a lingering after taste. Would be great with dinner or just a nice summer night or winter night in a hot tub! Light beer. Good aroma. Would buy again! Taste good straight from the bottle or a frosted glass.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 22:55:28 | More by ckraft77

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Alpine Spring pours a hazy golden color, with a nice large forthy head. The smell has alot of spices, and hints of yeast. The taste is overall very crisp. Some Belgian like spices come through, and there is a rather strong yeast taste. Good full flavor. Overall I am not very experienced with this style, but I rather enjoyed this beer, no flavors were overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 03:56:07 | More by vette2006c5r

GregBlatz

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - golden light orange in color. Snow white head that laces in a very sticky fashion. Hazy and cloudy.

S - Lemon, metallic and bready.

T - Sweet and citrusy. I get a little custard flavor as well.

M - Light to medium in body. Spritzy.

O - This is a nice refreshing beer. I like it a lot. I think it may have a bit more specialty grain than needed. If they toned that down a bit the hops might come forward and nail the 'juiciness' that I think would work perfectly.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 01:00:18 | More by GregBlatz

Craigory

South Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From the 'Spring Thaw' mix pack. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Pilsner glass.

A-- A gentle pour yields lots of billowy white head that sticks around for a while and leaves spotty lacing as it gently recedes. The beer in the glass is a slightly hazy, honey-gold colour, and a steady stream of bubbles replenishes the head. A nice ring remains on top of the beer throughout.

S-- The nose is pretty one-note; basic, non-offensive lager 'funk,' with maybe a hint of honey. This is pleasant enough, but nothing exciting. As the beer warms, I get just a little citrus from the hops, as well.

T-- More going on here than the scent lets on. There is a brief burst of bitterness from the Tettnang hops, but this is quickly overtaken by a light citrus, which itself quickly gives way to malt sweetness. The honey-malt sweetness lasts for a while, remaining heavy on the tongue long after the sip is done. A slight bitterness creeps in again after a while. I happen to like some honey-sweetness in my beer, so I quite like the flavor here.

M-- Crisp but moderate carbonation, with a lighter body that maybe hits the lighter side of medium. Good mouthfeel for an easy-drinking lager.

O--A nice, refreshing lager that would work well on a warm day, but still hits the spot as I drink on a cold, cloudy day in January. Alpine Spring is simple, but tasty and honey-sweet. I wouldn't shell out for it in its own 12-pack, but it makes a nice 'team player' here in the spring mix pack. Good, not great.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 18:32:44 | More by Craigory

SouljaSaia17

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Its not even the first day of the new year and Samuel Adams is already thinking Spring with their new Spring Thaw variety pack, featuring 3 new beers. This is a review of last years February release of their new signature seasonal.

A: This is an unfiltered beer, pours a bright, hazy orange color with a solid 3/4 inch creamy colored head with lots of tiny bubbles on top. As the head settles, the beer leaves some significant lacing on the glass.

S: Initial aroma is floral based with lemon peel and hops. I also get some toasted grains, lager yeast and some honey. Smell is a little more faint that I would have liked, but is pretty earthy from what aroma is there.

T: Flavor consists of initial lemon zest and maybe some orange citrus, that is accompanied by some hop character and floral notes. A nice sweetness to the taste with earthy flavors that stick to you palate all the way through.

M: Dry and crisp is what I would describe in the mouth. Has decent carbonation and character.

O: I enjoyed this beer, had some good earthy aromas and flavors. I was hoping for more of a kick in the hop department, but this beer is still pretty cold. So if you enjoy after letting it sit for about 30 minutes, flavor and aromas should enhance that much more. Very sessionable beer!

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 03:23:30 | More by SouljaSaia17

Ford

Texas

3.4/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into pint glass.

Color is orangish.

Not a lot of smell going on.

I picked up two of these in the Spring Thaw pack that just hit stores.

Drinking it right after trying the White Lanter wit style beer. I like White Lantern better though there are some similarities here.

You can taste orange in both. Both are smooth and easy to drink. This one has a bit more of a bitter finish, but it's not real strong.

The more I drink this the more I like it. It's a good beer, not great, but nothing to talk bad about.. probably not something to talk up to friends either. Another good beer from Sam Adams.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 03:08:29 | More by Ford

pkalix

California

3.85/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

nice, bright color, little head; is that sediment i see in there?
smell is citrus-y, or like a spent meth pipe after drying- take your pick. okay, maybe a bale of hay....
taste has the citrus-y, bitterness that it advertises on the bottle.
mouthfeel is same as all the rest....
overall, i suppose it's worthy of the BA 82. this was left in the frig from the 6'er in spring. wasnt special then, isnt special now. does anybody else feel ALL the SA beers use the same hops, use the same malts, or are they just getting the same old taste from the stills? i've honestly never been a fan of SA, but given them many opportiunities. this one is just another sa example of them trying to market yet another type of brew. i couldnt even find it on their website. i went through the 'seasonal collection' and the 'barrel master collection' but just gave up. it's drinkable- they all are. but nothing really special. you're either a 'clone' who praises the brewery, someone who cant afford the bit-higher prices and doesnt drink it, or someone who knows it's just a gimmick. sorry for my rant. that's how i really feel.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 01:13:59 | More by pkalix

connecticutpoet

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It's been a while since I've written a review, although I've been keeping notes faithfully. But tonight, I thought I'd try this one, and I'd forgotten how much fun it is to review as you drink the beer.

This one poured out nice and yellow, with a clear body topped with a two finger head. The head was composed of fine bubbles, somewhat rocky, and it persisted for most of the glass.

Aroma was definitely German influenced. There's a characteristic hop aroma that can't be mistaken. Floral notes dominated, but citrus was present as well. Toasted grains and lager yeast came through too.

Taste was wonderful, especially since it's been a month since my last beer (gasp!). Bready/doughy malt flavors, with floral hop overtones. Long, slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel was excellent. Crisp and smooth, with the right amount and kind of carbonation. It does coat the tongue a little, however. That part was kind of odd.

Overall a good beer, and one worthy of the company. I like most of their beers, but this one stands out a little above the pack.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 22:54:36 | More by connecticutpoet

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes

Appearance: It has a nice cloudy golden/orange color to it. It has a nice off-white head that dies down moderately and leaves nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of lemon zest, citrus, bready malts and some spices.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has that lemon zest and citrus along with some grassy hops, sweet bready malts and light spices.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas. Very refreshing!

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 19:22:07 | More by SebD

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle served in a pint glass.

pours a light amber / golden yellow tone while yielding about a 1" off-white head, modest retention and lacing. nose isn't the most dynamic aroma you'll come across but offers a decent hoppy melange of pine, grass, and citrus, followed by a subdued though discernible malt presence.

flavor delivers more of the same. pine, citrus, and some grassy hops balanced by toasted malt and a hint of honey in the finish. not bad. medium-light on the palate with average carbonation.

i feel like i say this in all my sam adams reviews but it applies again: nothing spectacular but an easy-drinking, relatively tasty offering. you could certainly do a lot worse.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 21:01:00 | More by BostonHops

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew is labeled as "Spring Lager" in Canada
A - hazy golden organge, two fingers of fizzy head bubbled away slowly to a thin covering
S - citrus and toasted grain up front, mild raw honey, and light greens
T - pleasant orange citrus and floral hops dominate, raw and toasty grain malt, light fresh greens and mild buttery flavour
M - light body with medium carbonation, finishes tart and slightly dry
O - a tasty and easy drinking warm weather beer, nice compliment with my fish dinner

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 03:50:14 | More by joemcgrath27

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It's been a little while since I've had a Samuel Adams offering, so this is the long awaited Alpine Spring, which hopefully will still be fresh. Date on label is marked to mid-July.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to the Samuel Adams Sensory glass. Served at 45º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Head consistency is pale cream colored solid foam. Retention is slightly above average, and the lacing is thin and spotty. Body color is a very hazy pale golden amber, clearing significantly at thinner points of the glass. Carbonation is spritely and plentiful but with very small bubbles. Appearance is quite nice with many impressive visual qualities, although head and lacing quality can always improve, the beer looks largely appetizing. 4

(Smell) Aromas of medium caramel malts make this reminiscent of a bock, although the dominant smell is certainly the hops, which bring a bold lemony zest to the nose along with bitter orange peel and a touch of light bready yeast to round it all out. Alcohol smells are faint but somewhat noticeable behind the bright scents of citrus. The drink overall manages to come off as a bit tart overall but has plenty of flavor within. With a tweaked aroma balance, the aroma would be an excellent quality of this beer. 3.5

(Taste) Up front there's a good deal of tart lemony citrus fruit flavor among a pale german malt, making a decent malt profile, almost like a lemon cookie. Yeasty notes contribute to a light cracker essence and a tiny hint of spice. Finishes like a glass of tart lemon water with a touch of medium caramel malt emerging at the very tail end. It is certainly an interesting beer, one of the most bitter lemon-forward beers that I have ever had with a tart, nearly sour quality finish, although not quite "sour" enough to go down that route. It's questionable whether I enjoy it or not, as the body is lacking a bit on the whole, although most notably at the end. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture has high levels of spritely carbonation for an active, yet not harsh crispness. Finishes with a mild stickiness and some resiny flavors, semi-dry. Alcohol presence is low. Body is low as well, perhaps just a notch too low, and the beer could benefit from a more rounded flavor without sacrificing drinkability with a slightly elevated malt bill profile. Overall, a decent pairing. 3.5

(Overall) I think that this beer is worth trying regardless of my recommendation or the recommendations of others. It is likely to either be a hit-or-miss with the majority of beer drinkers, depending on who favors or dislikes tart lemony qualities to their beer, which is a dominant feature of this beer. Overall, I enjoyed it although I did not find it nearly as drinkable as I was hoping I should, and a malt bill body lacking a bit. Perhaps next year they may tweak the recipe a bit to give it a better balance. 3.5

Boston Beer Company's
Samuel Adams Alpine Spring
3.53/5.00

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 02:13:32 | More by Jadjunk