Samuel Adams Whitewater IPA - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

JG-90

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a hazy golden-straw color with very heavy lacing and an extreme amount of floaters. Smells of yeast, piney hops, white bread, and citrusy hops. Complex smell that combines the amerianc IPA and belgium IPA but seems a little muted, though.

Tasts starts with piney hops, then lemon and orange, with a piney-bready-yeasty finish. Definitely taste the spices throughout as long with a hint of apricot. Not as much hop aroma or flavor as I would hope for though. Mouthfeel is light with moderate-heavy carbonation. A nice mix of Belguim & American IPA's, this is one of the better BBC beer i've tried so far.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 23:58:32 | More by JG-90

beertunes

Washington

3.38/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured into nonic. Poured a cloudy pale yellow color with 1/2 inch of white head that had good retention and lacing.

The aroma had some piney hops upfront and a bit of a yeast note acting in support. The malt profile was very hidden. Across the palate the pine hops were again the features aspect, with the yeast playing a notable support role. There was a bit of a surprise at the back of the tongue, as a hit of citrus hops lingered for a spell.

The body was good, fairly typical for an IPA, and was very clean on the finish. Drinkability was good, it was a quick quaff, and reasonably enjoyable. Overall, a nice enough brew, and at under $8 for sixer featuring 3 hop focused SA beers, a decent value. Worth trying when you see it in your store.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 18:45:04 | More by beertunes

SaCkErZ9

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz. Bottle poured into a pint glass. White, semi-foamy head recedes at a brisk pace leaving some lacing. Aroma is somewhat hoppy but I get no real American or Belgian influences; smells kind of English. Lasagna, oranges, and grassiness. Tastes kind of bad honestly. Acrid, sour, chalky, very earthy, not great. A huge disappointment from Sam Adams. I am generally a fan of theirs but this one stinks.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 21:51:44 | More by SaCkErZ9

socon67

New York

3.78/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Cloudy, hazy amber color. Lacing on this beer is fantastic with thick rings. Minimal cabonation. Foam is soapy and rises high but settles fast.

S - Smells of dried fruit, spices, and wheat with some lemongrass. Great spring\summer beer.

T - There is certianly a sweetness from fresh apricots providing some tangy feel tot his beer. The hop profile is a blend and adds an earthy, dry quality. Really doesn't come across as an IPA. Spicy notes of cinnamon and clove.

M - Very sessionable and has a good balance. I paired this with a spicy habanero cheddar and it really added depth to the beer.

O - It is a different take on the IPA but not one that really stands out. This is a beer for those who like spice, and to pair with those barbeques that pack the heat.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 23:58:20 | More by socon67

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from the Hop Tour 6 pack bought in Dade City, Florida. From notes.

A - Poured golden and hazy. Lot's of floaty bits and a nice 2 finger fluffy white head. Nice spotty lace rings and a good full finger of retention.

S - Nice hop prescence with citrus and grass. Some spice too.

T - Fair bit of spice, citrus, a little grass. Hop forward as it should be. Both styles make themselves known and are balanced for the most part.

M - Appropriately bitter, good carbonation, and a medium to full body.

O/D - A nice blend of the styles, but it doesn't break down any barriers. Tasty and sessionable though.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 12:45:56 | More by tbeckett

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A very active swirling pour yields two fingers worth of stiff rigid off-white froth comprised of lots of big chunky bubbles with a slightly whimsical rocky top... Stellar retention... A very deep haziness... The color is an uber pale straw color... Loaded with swirling micro-sized moderate to rapid paced carbonation... Some sediment can be seen floating about as well...

S - The nose is subtle yet elegant... Loads or orange zest... A mild wheat component... A very light mix of earthy and floral hops... A touch of lemon... Very nice, but a bit too understated... A bit more umph would make a big difference...

T - The nose was a terrific indicator of what to expect on the palate... A big slightly spicy wheat component to start... Loaded with orange zest as well... Some light lemony notes as well... The hops rise on the finish and take on a slightly earthy and floral mix...

M - On the lighter side of medium bodied... Sleek and smooth... Clean and crisp... Starts lust... Mostly sturdy throughout... Finishes with a sharp dryness... Also a bit gritty and chalky on the finish as well... Brisk sharp carbonation...

D - A rock solid "American IPA..." That's in quotes, because I'm not 100% on board with the style classification... Regardless this a very easy drinkable, ridiculous quaffable offering from the Boston Beer Company... I would gladly knock a couple of these back on any nice spring or summer day... Heck, I may even grab a six pack on occasion when the mood strikes... A pretty tasty and enjoyable brew here...

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 02:12:46 | More by philbe311

iSip

Colorado

1.84/5  rDev -48%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Sam Adams Whitewater IPA: Nice foamy head on top of a dirty straw colored brew. The aroma is acrid and chemical. The flavor -- ick. This mix of Belgian whit and American IPA does not dance. Pass on this one. The Decshutes Chainbreaker proves it can be done, but Sam Adams missed the mark.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 00:23:57 | More by iSip

StoutTilDeath

California

2.65/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5

This beer should not be labeled an IPA. It is a wheat beer with hops. I saw this new offering at my gas station, saw IPA, and decided to give it a try. It wasnt poured, straight from bottle, but still got the gist of it.

As an IPA lover, I have to call this one false advertisement. Putting a hint of hops into a wheat beer does not an IPA make. Id drink this again if it were free, sadly I cant get my 10 bucks back though. Id only recommend this to wheat beer enthusiasts who like a bit of hops too.

If youre an IPA drinker expecting a good hop experience, head the other way.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 14:21:03 | More by StoutTilDeath

Spikester

Oregon

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

Hazy amber with two fingers of eggshell head. Clouds of lacing. Still has some head more than half way to the finish.
Smell is pine oil with a touch of cat spray. Also a slight citrus component.
Taste is a monotone of bitterness. Likely a combination of the multiple hop varieties and the corriander. No hint of the apricots.
Mouthfeel is full with enough carbonation a dry bitter finish.
Overall I did enjoy this beer in spite of my comments. The relentless bitterness was a bit much though. This was a quite fresh bottle so I will probably save one for a few months and do another tasting then.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 05:03:20 | More by Spikester

Wasatch

Utah

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

Pours a very nice cloudy yellow color, nice carbonation, with a nice one-finger creamy white head, with lots of sticky lacing left behind. The nose is hoppy, slightly yeasty, kinda fruity. The taste is a unique blend of hops and yeast notes, slightly malty, with some fruit notes. Medium body, with a nice bitter finish. Overall a very tasty brew, exactly what I would expect from SA.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 00:29:23 | More by Wasatch

BeerEngineer

California

3.63/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

General - This beer was from a bottle with a best buy date of August 2013. I poured this into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass (I'm still on the border about this) thinking that it was a traditional IPA, not the case. This is a wheat ale with american hops, not a traditional IPA as I believed originally, had I read the bottle closer before I may have chosen a different glass.

Appearance - The cloudiness is expected from a wheat beer but with the IPA label it was surprising. The head was white and held very well. The glass had legs continuing throughout the glass as I was enjoying it.

Smell - There are some light citrus scents in the front but a grass scent that comes near the end. There is a slight touch of pine in the initial smelling but it seemed to diminish quickly as the tasting proceeded.

Taste - Interesting and surprising when expecting an IPA. This is clearly more of a wheat beer than and IPA. There is a distinct coriander hit up front on the palate which is an interesting combination with the orange flavor. The orange is very slight, you need to be looking for it to notice it. The combination seems to me to be more of a grassy flavor, faint but distinctly grassy.

Mouthfeel - Moderately light mouthfeel with a refreshing finish. A touch bitter on the finish as expected from a wheat ale.

Overall - As an American Wheat Hybrid (6D for BJCP folks) it is a good example. It meets the requirements of the category very well but has IPA on it's label. it completely through me off at the beginning when I hadn't read the entire label. I got this beer in the "Hopology" pack and I'm not sure that it belongs in there. It's hop forward for a wheat, but by no means it is IPA hop forward.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 04:45:16 | More by BeerEngineer

JMad

Texas

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

It pours a cloudy golden yellow color with a thick, foamy white head that clung to the glass.

Smells of fresh oranges with a hint of pine and grapefruit with a hint of caramel.

The taste is slightly bitter up front with mostly pine and citrus peel and a bready aftertaste.

It's medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a dry but refreshing finish.

This is a pretty solid brew from Sam Adams I would definitely drink this more, especially since it it widely available.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 00:39:13 | More by JMad

Nugganooch

California

3.91/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle as part of the IPA Hopology pack – BB Aug. 2013
*Notes from 04/02/13 – Standard pint glass

A: Pours a light golden straw color with quite a bit of haze on it. Streaming and lively with bubbles. Billowing top of khaki thickness that retains for minutes and leaves a mass of spun cotton lace all down the glass.

S: Smells of fruity hops met with orange peels and apricot. I am getting a light dose of yeast spice and a bit of sugary pale malts there as well. Pretty nice nose with some fruit forward aromas.

T: Flavors open with a bit of peppery spice and crackery malt. Perhaps some rye or even pilsner mixed in with the wheat. I get lots of grapefruit in zest and a helping of apricot juice to go with. There is a dash of spicy Belgian yeast character. Nice danky herbal note intertwined with a citrus peel accent on the finish. Moderately high bitterness to the beer and no alcohol to be found in the flavor. Very light and refreshing with some hoppy goodness and nice fruity notes.

M: Very light body with a smooth texture overall a nice light drying crisp action on the finish. Has a hit of hoppy pucker with a sticky resinous after feel.

D: Very light, hoppy, and refreshingly drinkable. A perfect summer time brew. Nice fruity citrus and apricot flavors with a subtle cracker malt base. Balance again is on point. I thought this was the most successful brew of the Hoptology pack actually and one of the better BBC creations I have come across.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 23:26:58 | More by Nugganooch

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

3.54/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz into pint glass. High 40s into low 50s.

Beautiful pour. Somewhere between Wit and IPA, for sure. Very cloudy golden body, with a short off-white head. Great lacing.

Aromas are fresh and citrusy. Orange peel, pine, and sweet tangerine. Very inviting.

Somewhat "dirty" mouthfeel - good, cutting carbonation, but plenty of film. Flavors contain significant bitterness... mostly lemon rhind. Tons of lemon flavor up front. The fresh, sweet tangerine in the aroma gives way to old, naval oranges in the flavor. Some wheatgrass in the middle. Plenty earthy. But a little too much aftertaste, given the ABV.

This is a very nice - and fairly unique beer. But a total tease. The look and aroma draw you in hard. The flavor and MF leave you wondering whether you picked up the wrong glass. I could enjoy one or two in company, but not sure I could enjoy a few on my own.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 22:27:33 | More by BeerImmediately

bmwats

Louisiana

3.66/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a hand glass.

A: Hazy, hay color. Pours a cascading, frothy, white head 2 to 3 fingers high. Settles slowly, and unevenly. Dry peaks and craters form as is disintegrates, leaving behind dry sticky residue as it does. As you drink it down, plenty of beer ring lacing remains.

S: White bread, with a little lemon citrus and honey.

T: White bread, and slight notes of lemon citrus, and maybe a hint of clove or oregano. Almost a vege tone like maybe a little celery.

M: Light and very crisp. Slightly bitter, steely aftertaste.

D: Drink with enthusiasm.

Atmosphere is really solid. Nice hue, with a giant head, and plenty of lacing. Nose is fairly simple combination of light malt and citrus components. Tastes like it smells... light and bready, with some citrus and savory spice notes. Overall, this is a good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 05:14:27 | More by bmwats

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a hazy blonde with a tall, thick white head. This is a nice take on the wheat IPA, I like it and would have another. The hops character has a balance, and delicious, mix of grassy lemon with tropical fruit, which probably also comes from the apricot addition. The flavors blend seamlessly though, as they should. The finish is dry and spicy with a lemon rind and grapefruit tang. This is one of my favorite Sam beers, and an all-around pleasant beer for any occasion.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 02:05:54 | More by tempest

stephens101

Oklahoma

3.94/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A bold, off-white head conquers this hazy pale orange brew.

Earthy hops and a melange of spice to the nose up front, followed by some mincemeat, pine, rosemary and orange. This sucker packs an aromatic punch of the sort I'm unaccustomed, and I'm loving it.

Taste isn't as off-the-chart, but still quite intriguing with citrusy hops, a bit of caramel, coriander (of course) and a bacchanalian lemon/orange/pine extravaganza.

Medium bodied with an edge going down that just keeps you from chugging. The alcohol content seems perfect and is barely noticeable.

This beer colors outside the lines and makes a very creative, yet palatable drink while doing so.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 01:36:03 | More by stephens101

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.66/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Picked up a single bottle of this at the Total Win in West Orange a few weeks back. I never had this before and wanted to see if the string of winners that I've had recently would continue here with this beer. While it's not as good as Dogfish Head or Stone's offerings, this was a solid IPA that was easy to drink while being just a bit easier to stomach when it came to the bitterness and booze present.

The pour to this was nice, with a golden hue, extremely fluffy head, and lacing that nearly matched that. There could have been more aroma to this, but thankfully, that was made up for in the taste. A nice, earthy hoppiness was present from start to finish followed strongly by orange and pine, which was to be expected in a beer like this. It was a bit heavy, but nothing overwhelming and there wasn't a strong burn in the aftertaste. This wasn't terribly strong in terms of booze or taste, so it felt more like a solid Pale Ale than an IPA.

I would have preferred a bit more alcohol in this, just to kick it up a notch or two. While this wasn't a bad beer, it just felt a bit underwhelming. Like the other recent additions to the Sam Adams portfolio, this would be a good choice for someone trying out this particular style for the first time. It won't win anyone over, but there's enough here to like for just about anyone.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 09:10:17 | More by JerzDevl2000

burnerfinger

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

bought myself one of those choose six singles six packs -
poured from the 12 oz bottle into my new belgium goblet:

A Color is like straw just like the macros - but the has no clarity at all - held up to the light this is very cloudy. Blanch white head of about 2 fingers with nice generous lacing but the head settles quick

S- AHH YES sharp hoppiness, honeslty this is better than I expected from sam adams. and that's saying a lot. I am thinking Pine flavored hops

T - really nice sharp hops

M - not too thin - really OUTSTAnding ipa - CONGRATS sam adams!

D- so sad I only got one - this is GREAT and a good session brew

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 03:38:59 | More by burnerfinger

msondel

Massachusetts

3.54/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a tulip glass. Cloudy beer with a nice smell. I'm not a big fan of white, wheat or fruity beers, but this one did have a nice bitter taste. I have it as part of the mix pack and wouldn't order it separately, but a decent beer and as described on the bottle. Seems like most people like the white ale type of taste or the IPA taste, so not sure this would ever have a huge following...trying to do a little too much to please everyone.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 21:49:33 | More by msondel

chilidog

Ohio

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

As part of the hopology tour. It pours a hazy, cloudy gold. A nice white head that does lase well.

Aroma of citric pine hop.

Taste of grapefruit, hop citric like orange peel, grapefruit with hints of apricots.

Mouth if coated with hop oil and citric grapefruit taste.

Overall a good citric brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 22:33:23 | More by chilidog

MadScientist

New York

3.83/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: A somewhat cloudy golden beer with a persistent, rocky, white head.

S: One of the hoppier smelling beer I've had from S.A. and very good smelling IPA in general. A moderately-strong citrus hops aroma with a fair amount of pineapple notes. There is a moderately-light wheat aroma and light fruity ester.

T: A strong citrus hops flavor with moderate hops bitterness dominate the flavor. Not far behind is some of the orange peel flavor and bitterness with a light bit of malt and wheat sweetness. The balance is moderately bitter with a fairly dry finish. The aftertaste is of a lingering hops and citrus peel bitterness.

M: A fluffy beer with a medium body and moderately-strong carbonation.

O: The mouthfeel and citrus peel let you know that despite the strong hop flavor lets you know this is not an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 00:25:37 | More by MadScientist

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

2.79/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is unfiltered to the point of opacity. A bright, hazy, orange-yellow coloring with a thin, filmy, bright white surface coating. This almost looks like Orangina. Slow, steady flow of carbonation bubbling throughout. Aromas of basil and pepper spicing on a green and dry hops character and a heavy hand of citrus zest and sweetness. Interesting nose. Flavors are a bit more citrusy. Okay, a lot more citrusy. Very tart lemon character with a hint of sweet orange; this blend barrels over any of the hops and malt that may have been present. Some searching through the palate and you can pick up hints of oregano spice and a touch of a bready backbone, but barely. The tart flavors build as you drink, so it makes it difficult to further explore flavor profiles. The aftertaste is the bitter and tart citrus character once again, almost with an acidic edge. Quick, dry finish with a linger to the citrus. This one gets tough to drink towards the end.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 20:59:15 | More by GarthDanielson

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.31/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

A-cloudy gold with a nice foamy white head

S-smells like sweet herbs such as mint leaves and even some vanilla. Just a slight hint of citrusy hops. Definitely some lemon in there.

T-comes in with an odd flavor of cooked vegetables and an odd sweetness plus some classic Sam Adams hops. The ending has a bit of bitter cereal to it. Odd beer.

M-medium creamy carbonation with a watery finish

O-this isn't a good beer. I was excited when I saw this was a white IPA. The style intrigues me, but this doesn't taste all how I think one should taste, or how any beer should taste for that matter.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 03:50:24 | More by AdamBear

johnnybgoode

Pennsylvania

3.26/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A Wheat IPA flavored with Apricots and Spices. Yuck - My expectations were that this would be a cloying mess. Actually it has a nice hoppy aroma when opened, and luckily the hops outshine everything else - the apricots are well in the background where they should be - actually, they should not be anywhere in sight, but experimentation is good, right? Just like cloves in cigarettes, I guess. The apricots and spices are unnecessary, but not overpowering, so I will reluctantly tolerate their presence. A "nice to try once" beer - maybe I can pawn the rest off on my unsuspecting friends when they come to visit. The trouble is, the hopheads will object to the apricots and spices, and the folks that like all of those fruity beers will object to the hops. Truly a beer no one will want to be friends with.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 19:15:00 | More by johnnybgoode