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

rajendra82

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The cloudy, pale, golden color, and the foamy head were typical of wheat beers. The aroma was very tropical, with papaya, pineapple, and oranges in the smell. The taste like a orange juice, with a pronounced hop bitterness. There wasn't much aftertaste, and the body was thin. Very refreshingly constructed.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 03:42:09 | More by rajendra82

schoolboy

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This was a real surprise in the SA IPA for the sake of IPA pack. Some of the things in the pack just were not enough of an IPA to call them that, but I don't care what you call this one, I like it.

It has a complex yet easy drinking not-quite over the top AIPA aroma, taste and aftertaste. After about 5 sips I can taste the apricot (I love apricots). It works. And it just gets better as you drink it.

I think I have seen sixes or twelves of just this brew and I may pick some up some time.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 16:54:12 | More by schoolboy

DovaliHops

California

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a bright, straw-orange color that is very murky (like a wheat beer). Medium white head that disappears quickly. Scent is very impressive. Immediately I get strong apricot aromas...very fresh fruit. Kinda like I'm walking right by a fresh-fruit stand at a farmer's market. There is also some grapefruit and pine. There are some wheat-like aromas, along with citrus hops. Taste is just like it smells. A wonderful blend of hop bitterness with fresh, ripe apricots and citrus fruits. Nice grapefruit and lemon flavors as well. Slightly tart as well. Bitter hop resin finish. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied and smooth. Drinkability is very high. Overall, I am very impressed by this one. Great blend of fresh apricots and solid IPA. Really glad I picked up a sixer of this.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 08:49:59 | More by DovaliHops

abgba121

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: pours a hazy olden color just as described by sam adams, about one cm of white head

S: I can smell the faint hops, strong yeast presence, slightly sweet and fruity

T: sweet right at the start, yeasts and fruits are apparent, then the hops come into play powerfully to take over the rest of the taste, piney and resiny with light citrus tones. A great tasting beer

M: average body, good carbonation

O: a great ipa, I like this offering by sam adams, whereas for me their seasonal 12 packs usually disappoint

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 05:49:55 | More by abgba121

NHGrafx

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy orange color with nice head and good lacing.

Smell is wonderful. Lots of fruity apricot aroma. A very nice floral aroma from the hops as well with pine and citrus. Smells very much like the description on the bottle.

Taste has a maltiness with a nice amount of citrus and pine flavor with a spiciness that makes a nice tingly sensation on the tongue. There is some fruitiness present as well, but not as much as the aroma would have me expecting. Nice hoppy bitterness on the finish.

Mouthfeel is pretty smooth and drinkability is great. Overall pretty good. I am not much of a fan of IPA styles, but this one I enjoyed very much.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 01:03:06 | More by NHGrafx

alexgash

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle.

Pours a hazy orange-apricot body with a small finger of creamy, soft beige head. Good lacing. Lots of citrus on the nose. Orange, grapefruit, and lime. Apricots in there too. Spicy wheat malt penetrates the fruit. Nice.

Soft wheat malt up front. Slightly bready and toasty. Mild sweet malt mid-palate, before hop flavor and bitterness take over. Pine, citrus, and tropical (pineapple) flavors combine with a slightly herbal, minty bitterness. Medium body. Slightly creamy feel. Nice and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 21:33:31 | More by alexgash

LiquidSanity

Florida

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ap: Very beautiful hazy, golden-orange color. Very akin to a hefenweizen. It's an interesting color for an IPA but Sam Adams is known for thinking out of the box. Very good amount of lacing with a nice two finger head. Once again a beautiful color.

Ar: Mild citrus notes. Mild piney aroma. Faint presence of oak and smokey finish in the smell. Very faint.

Mf: Smooth, rich yet very thick. Not a very light or watery presence which is expected by ol' Sam Adams. Coats the mouth perfectly and the carbonation is appropriate and not overbearing.

Ta: Here is where it would rate low for most yet high for me. There is a mild presence of citrus with a fading presence of hops. However this beer is extremely bitter. Yes, IPAs can be bitter but are usually offset with a strong floral hop presence. It doesn't exist with this beer. The bitterness is strong and kicking, but I like it. I'm just as much a fan of hops as I am of a good bitter flavor. So for me, it ranks high, but do not expect a hop bomb. Very very bitter.

Ov: It almost tastes like a milder version of Sierra Nevada torpedo. I love SN's pale ale over torpedo sometimes because it is bitter without all the citrus notes. Their pale ale remains bitter with a decent amount of hops. Sam Adams has given me a beer that basically has the bitterness of SN's pale ale with the citrus notes of SN's torpedo. The hops however took a back seat. For many this is a turn off. When people think IPA they immediately think hops. I also think bitter and this brew is very bitter with a touch of citrus. If you can dig that, you can dig this. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 14:19:24 | More by LiquidSanity

GilGarp

Colorado

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle best before October 2012. Served cold into a pint glass.

Whitewater is a hazy straw yellow color with thick white head. It settles slowly, turning rocky, and leaving some great lacing behind.

Aroma is fresh and hoppy with sweet floral and citrus elements.

Flavor is bitter but not overpowering. It has the same lemon citrus as the nose but with added grapefruit and grass.

Mouthfeel is light in body and crisp on the tongue. Nicely carbonated and well balanced for an IPA.

Overall a good white IPA. Not as good as some of the bolder hop-forward beers but a nice lighter version of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 01:27:48 | More by GilGarp

mckenziac

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams Boston Lager glass. Taken from a Samuel Adams "Hop Tour" mixed sixer.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, light amber color. Has a large, fizzy head that dissipates slowly and leaves behind some nice lacing.

Smell: Has a citrusy, piney hop aroma to it backed by a spicy wheat smell.

Taste: Moderately hoppy with Cascade and other West Coast-style hops. Has a light yeasty, wheaty balancing to it. Finishes spicy and slightly sweet.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and medium-bodied.

Overall: An interesting combination of styles. Definitely not my favorite IPA out there but certainly one I don't mind having time and again. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 19:07:48 | More by mckenziac

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Hazy, golden-yellow with a big, frothy, white head.

S: Citrus notes with hints of pine and some malt. Very enjoyable nose.

T: I was pleasantly surprised by the first sip. Big rush of fresh, citrusy, woody hops balanced by a good dose of malt in the finish.

M: The hops are fresh and full of flavor. Oils and resin tend to become cloying after a while. Very dry and bitter.

O: I thought this beer was pretty stellar. SA may not have the best beer in the world but because of their size, I feel they received some unwarranted hatred from BA's. It's like their scores start at a "4" instead of a "5." Recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2012 00:25:12 | More by Gatch

jsh420

Illinois

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bottle notched JUN 2012

pours cloudy yellow gold with a frothy white soapy head that had decent retention and left spotted lacing

smells of fruity pine hops and bready caramel malts

tastes of citrus orange pine apricot hops and has a nice bready malt backbone - very balanced ipa but with plenty of hop flavors

mouthfeel is a light medium body with plenty of carbonation that gives it a very crisp yet creamy feel

overall this might be the best ipa i have had from SA - i can see this becoming a full time beer just like noble pils - no matter what time of year this beer would hit the spot

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 04:26:45 | More by jsh420

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Yellow golden tan, 1/2 inch creamy head and plenty of lacing.

Smell - Citrus piney hops, orange, lemon, some malts and spices. A little wheat and grassy aroma. Didnt pick up on the apricots untill i read the bottle.

Taste - Really nice hoppy pine bite with some malt backbone. Huge lemon and citric hop resin with minor alcohol warmth in each drink. Malts are somewhat sweet but are masked under the upfront citric hops. Some grapefruit and apricot at teh finish.

Mouthfeel - Hops coat and bitter whole mouth. Tounge and palette are coated with piney citric hops. Aftertaste is bitter, and tounge is left with a hop resin.

Overall - Pretty good, but the citric feel is a little bitter and perfume-like aftertaste that hurts this a little. Overall this is really hoppy and tasty. I woudl drink this agian for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 00:50:10 | More by wvsabbath

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy orangish yellow with a thick layer of white head that has great retention. The nose has an intense floral, piny aroma. The flavor is faintly malty with an intense floral, citrusy, piny, bitter hop finish. There is a sweet, citrusy, lemony finish that doesn't quite mesh well with intense bitterness. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, well carbonated, and very smooth.

This is a nice beer, but a little disappointing. It's not as good as the Latitude 48 but I do appreciate the fact that they put an IPA in the spring mix pack.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 21:58:28 | More by tdm168

jsanford

Georgia

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass.

A - Pours a cloudy orange-gold with a dense, soapy white head that settles to a thick cap and leaves lots of sticky lacing.
S - Nice, fresh aromas of citrus hops and apricot. I'm liking this nose quite a bit, the apricots enhance the base hops nicely.
T - More citrusy hop flavors of orange peel and grapefruit with a lingering apricot/peach character and a moderately sweet biscuit malt backbone. Crisp and refreshing.
M - Smooth and a bit creamy, with a medium body and good, sharp carbonation.
O - Overall a nicely drinkable IPA that benefits from the unique addition of apricots. I wouldn't mind seeing this again next Spring.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 00:46:13 | More by jsanford

keanex

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Stella Artois glass from a fresh 12 ounce bottle.

A: Hazy amber body, almost brown with an iced tea look, with a large light tan pillowy white head. Very nice looking.

S: Instantly this reminded me of marijuana actually. It opened up a bit with lots of tropical hints, pineapple mostly with some strawberries that blended well with the piney bitterness coming from it.

T: Very nice actually, well balanced with a nice slight bitterness to it from the piney hops.

M: Medium bodied with good fresh carbonation.

O: I'm impressed with this actually, it saddens me I can only get this in the variety pack as it's probably one of Sam's strongest offerings, at least to me.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 04:18:17 | More by keanex

Chaney

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best by June 2012.

Poured into a FFF shaped glass.

I've gotta say, 5.8% is fairly low octane for an IPA, but then again, there is Masala Mama, right?

A: Poured a very hazy, tangerine color, with a finger or so head that clung to the glass and then some. Yep.... looks like an IPA!

S: Pretty intense on the pine side of the house, with a strong hints of grapefruit, pine, and maybe a touch of yeast.

T: This is definitely one of the hoppier SA beers I've ever tasted. Hell, I didn't even know they had it in them. Who knew? Grapefruit, mandarin orange, and lemon zest is what I got.... and it was presented in a very nice way.

M: Carbonated enough, bitter enough, and definitely laced enough! The sweetness was kept in check by the hops for sure.

O: It blows my mind to read some of the reviews on this one. To each his or her own I guess, but as for me, this was much, much different than I expected... and on the good side of that.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 22:12:26 | More by Chaney

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. This was part of the Sam Adams spring pack.

A: A real hazy dark straw color with some orange hints. Glass lacing was full and sticky.

S: Wow, I did not expect this level of hoppiness on the nose. Citrus was abound mixed with some yeastiness and a tad floral. Not getting any apricot as it states on the label.

T: This is a nice hoppy beer, surprise! Huge amounts of grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, grassy tones and some floral hints that mix with the bready sweetness. I pick up some yeasty flavors but not overly done and they mix nicely with the hops. Finish turns bitter but smooth. Nice.

M: Medium mouthfeel with perfect carbonation and no trace of alcohol.

O: A real nice SA beer that I really enjoyed. This was a keeper for sure and one of the hoppier offerings I've ever had from Boston Brewing. Winning!

This is the beer that should be the new spring seasonal release instead of the Alpine Spring which I was not nearly impressed with. This one however is a beer SA should be promoting more. Loved it.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 15:11:09 | More by Kadonny

gregb13

California

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Trying this for the first time tonight out of the "Brewer's Choice" 12-pack. Whitewater IPA looks very nice in the glass, with a thin, sticky head comprised of tight white bubbles. Smell is all apricot and hops. Taste follows the nose. I do not get much of the white beer qualities; the apricot really dominates the palate, but in a good way.

This tastes similar to Magic Hat #9, just hoppier with a touch more apricot. It is a very good offering from Sam Adams.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 04:35:28 | More by gregb13

J23hc

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours hazy orange gold, piney hop nose, taste is bright lime, spice, kind of sour. Crispy and creamy feel. Good overall, an interesting ipa, different from most. Slightly lacks malt balance and the mouth feel falls off just slightly but can't deny an original flavor

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 22:06:17 | More by J23hc

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Samuel Adams' Whitewater IPA has a soft, yellow-orange body, with a good-looking white head that has solid retention and lacing.

The aroma is very fruity, but it's tough to separate actual fruit from the hops. A bready, malted wheat base comes through as well.

Whitewater IPA is one of the better hoppy wheat ales that I have come across. A good dose of hops, with c-hops leading the way with tons of citrus flavors and a good bit of bitterness. The citrus from the hops blend nicely with the additions of orange peel and apricot. It's hard to tell at exactly what point the hop flavors turn into fruit flavors, but I notice that it does happen, and the bitterness dies to give way to a little bit of sweetness. Next comes the malt, which tastes like a mix of pale and wheat, bringing a little twang from the wheat and a variety of light bread flavors, sweetness and a little bit of cracker. Mixed with the wheat is a peppery flavor in the mold of coriander.

Pretty active carbonation, but still a nice smoothness to this this medium bodied beer.

I definitely give Whitewater IPA a thumbs up; my buddy's fridge didn't have anymore left when I had gone.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 14:45:10 | More by Hojaminbag

mikeg67

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle from a variety pack. Pours hazy golden-orange with a long lasting, foamy, white head. Aroma is of citrusy hops followed by apricots and caramel malt. Body is medium and tangy. Spicy, citrusy hops dominate the flavor with apricots, orange fruit and malt in the background. Finish is long, dry dominated by grapefruit. I like a lot of hops in this Wit.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 21:29:27 | More by mikeg67

hoplover82

Texas

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a very hazy golden color with a medium sized, creamy, rocky off white head that had good retention and lacing.

S-The aroma is very grapefruit and pine right off the bat with some tropical fruit notes, but I don;t really know how much of the apricots are coming through. There is a strong, herbal/floral hop notes in there as well. And I also can't tell whether the spices are coming through.

T-The flavor is like the aroma, lots of grapefruit and piney hops (which I love) some mild hints of tropical fruits that could be coming from hops as well, it doesn't seem like they used enough apricots here. The hops shine through well, which is how it should be, but to use fruits in an IPA, I think Dogfish did it the best with their Aprihop beer. It's a well done IPA, but not much spices or apricot come through imo.

M-The mouthfeel really gets better as the beer warms. It's very smooth, easy drinking, medium bodied beer with a long, slightly dry and bitter finish.

O-Overall, I like this beer very much. Just don't think they achieved what they wanted it to do. I don't pick up on the spices or the apricots very much.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 01:47:28 | More by hoplover82

Brent

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is very nicely hopped, but I don't think it makes it into the American IPA class - more of a well-hopped pale ale. Body is moderate, leaning toward light with clean malt. Hops have a very pleasant fruity floral character that is refreshing. ABV might be touch high to call this a session ale, but it hits the mark it shoots for - a flavorful but easy-drinking ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 15:57:53 | More by Brent

Scotchboy

Idaho

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle dated best before June 2012 poured into a Rogue pint glass.

A: Very hazy though the yeast was left in the bottle for the most part, must be unfiltered. Nearly opaque hazy gold with a soapy off-white head.

S: Fruity notes right up from, yeast esters and hops; apricot, hint of banana, citrus zest, tangy wheat, spices, clove...very bready, spiced and tangy. Hops seem to be earthy and citrus-driven.

The nose is a bit jumbled but it almost meshes...there are definitely Belgian Wit notes and IPA-like hops.

T: Follows the nose, with a touch more banana to complement the spices...citrus and apricot, orange peel, with a touch of black pepper.

MF: Lightly creamy, with a light-to-medium body., light dryness, lower bitterness for a hop-forward offering.

O: A good summer offering, not overly unique but quaffable. With the wheat and Belgian notes I'm pretty sure this should be classified as either be an APWA or a Belgian IPA. Recommended to try, but wheat beers aren't something I could drink a lot of.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 15:43:42 | More by Scotchboy

Samp01

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A hazy orange amber with a good medium lasting beige head, with good lacing. Aroma of biscuit malt citrus, light yeast, piney hops, grapefruit with some apricot notes fill the senses. Taste is of fruity citrusy notes, some light yeast, followed by some citrusy piney hops, grapefruit and some apricot flavors. A nice medium body with good carbonation and crisp mouth feel on the palate. Finishes with a sweet biscuit malt, fruity citrus and apricot flavors, some light yeast, ending with some good slightly spicy citrusy piney hops for balance. Overall a well done, tasty and nicely balanced IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 20:28:24 | More by Samp01