Belgian Session - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Another initial review harkening back to a previously-tasted brew, this time one that brought some decent joy in the midst of a Lucky Monk burger on the patio. It pours a clear sunset amber topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises ripe banana flesh, light clove, light cinnamon, flowers, and some mildly-bready toffee. The taste brings in more of the same, but it's all o'erpowered by a general fruitiness led by oranges and mild lemons. Part of me wishes the flavors echoed the smell, but it still works, so I'm not gonna spend too much time fretting. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish that borders on crispness. Overall, an enjoyable little taste of relatively-low-ABV Belgian-ness. I could easily see drinking a few of these on porches and patios in the coming warm months.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 06:24:07 | More by TMoney2591

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.86/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I've had this beer countless times, and can't believe that I am Bly reviewing it now. It is a clear, straw-gold color. Its smell is spicy, with clove and bubblegum, lots of yeast and some malt scents. Sweet smelling. The taste is not as sweet. It is grass and hay-like. Drier than expected. Malt and spice dominate the flavor. The finish is light and peppery. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 02:51:29 | More by Suds

mactrail

California

3.64/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Attractive clear amber in the tall Stella Artois glass, with a fine-textured white foam. Another sudsy nicely-carbonated lager-like beer from Sam Adams. Reminds me of a delicate Saison, or more likely a Witbier. Tangy and slightly dry with a touch of warm malt.

Modest malty taste with a light body. The real flavor is with the yeast. There is a distinctive clove spiciness just like a Hefeweizen. I didn't taste any banana until it warmed up, along with a hint of orange. Certainly well-made in the lighter style, though I got tired of the cloves. From the 12 oz bottle. Now Albertson's supermarket in San Diego has random singles to make up six packs from.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 04:39:53 | More by mactrail

TeamMathis

West Virginia

2.79/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Clear and golden. A chunky and bubbly head developed and then quickly dissipated into a very thin foam that remained for the duration of the drink.
Smell: Banana, bubblegum, and light citrus.
Taste: Banana, bubblegum, light citrus, floral, and wheat.
Mouthfeel: Smooth and light carbonation.

The very first smell reminded me immediately of a Leffe, and this made me quite sad. However, the smell did have some citrus in it so that was nice. The taste is only ok. When it was cooler, the banana, bubblegum, wheat, and light citrus were the most pronounced. Then as it warmed, the floral aspect took over with the remaining banana and there was a slight tangy aftertaste.. Oddly enough, the taste really began to disappear as it neared room temperature. I would not get this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 04:15:44 | More by TeamMathis

TheSixthRing

California

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

Appearance - Pours a clear, bright orange with an off-white, 2 finger head. Good retention, leaving a thin layer of microbubbles covering the surface. Lacing is fair, with good stick.

Smell - Clove spice, malt grain, faint banana and a touch of bubblegum.

Taste - Light banana and clove spice character upfront. Somewhat bland mid-taste. Moderate notes of mild lemon zest comes through on the back end, imparting a slightly sour, slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - Thin, nearly watery body with moderate carbonation. Goes down easy enough.

Overall - A decent brew from Samuel Adams. IMO, a little too watery, but the flavor is respectable. Decent summer brew, but I'd grab the Firestone-Walker Solace 10 times out of 10 over this.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 01:25:57 | More by TheSixthRing

roundthewaygirls

Virginia

3.03/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

poured into a pint glass from the beers of summer variety pack.

A: gold color. a little hazy. half a finger of white, foamy head.

S: banana up front, mild notes of belgian spices and yeast. clove.

T: light and fruity. banana. pale malt. hint of spices and yeast. white grape in the finish.

M: smooth and mellow. kind of watery, but refreshing.

O: interesting attempt by the boston brewing company. enjoyable, but not a masterful brew. pretty mild. i would drink it again, but i wouldn't seek it out.

04-10-2013 21:36:10 | More by roundthewaygirls

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.58/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- pours a bright golden color with just a bit of haze and small white lace

S- Belgian yeast with some floral notes, a bit of banana, fruity and some toasted notes

T- toasty malt with fruity yet peppery yeast, a bit if lemon with a dry finish

M- light-medium body with crisp carbonation, creamy mouthfeel and finish

O- verry sessionable and good for a hot day. Just enough flavor to keep you coming back.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:06:48 | More by Treyliff

scratch69

Missouri

3.55/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured a bottle into a Samuel Adams glass.

Appearance- Golden yellow color with a fingers worth of head. Fair amount of lacing.

Smell- Strong spice aroma with some yeast and lemon.

Taste- Yeast and clove flavors at the start that blends into a sweet malt taste, then finishes with a mild lemon tartness.

Mouth feel- Medium bodied with an average amount of carbonation.

Overall- A decent, drinkable beer but not my favorite from Samuel Adams.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 22:44:11 | More by scratch69

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.36/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

This poured out as a clear color color with a white head on top. The retention is decent but hardy any lacing. The smell of the beer is yeasty, there is some citrus and a touch of spice. The taste of the beer is bready with some spicy citrus. The mouthfeel is light bodied with a good carbonation. Overall it a decent beer, drinkable dry, not too bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 00:57:57 | More by Knapp85

MickeyBeer

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Picked up a summer variety pack at the grocery store and this was in there. I had never had it so I figured I would give it a try.

A- Pours a golden orange color with about one finger of white head. Left a little bit of lacing on my pint glass.

S- Smell is sweet and citrusy. Lemon peel aroma, slightly medicinal, and the faintest bit of hops.

T- Nice crisp lemon taste. Overall, pretty sweet with a medicine-like aftertaste.

M- Smooth and crisp. This one is pretty light and would make a nice session beer, especially outdoors in warm weather.

O- A solid BPA that I could drink all day long. Doesn't blow me away, but it is tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 23:28:50 | More by MickeyBeer

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a bright golden color with a big, fluffy white head with decent retention.

The taste is of toasted bready malt, some floral hops, notes of sweet fruits.

The taste is of sweet fruits, some apple, notes of citrus, some toasted bread, and notes of yeast.

Light body, crisp and a little creamy, moderate carbonation.

This was an ok beer, I thought there could have been more to the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 20:25:53 | More by BeerCon5

brewcore

South Carolina

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

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Aggressive pour yields a two finger creamy, white head. Copper orange in color with a slight haze and good amounts of carbonation rising. Good lacing.

S: Caramel malts and belgian yeast spice aroma (clove).

T: Malts are very clean and cracker-like. A little bit of hops up front but quickly followed by some melon and banana esters. The session description is accurate.

M: Moderately thin body with moderate to high carbonation. Very refreshing.

O: This truly is a session Belgian. It has most of the qualities of a good Belgian but ridiculously easy to drink. Would drink again, but won't be hunting it down. If you are a Belgian fan and want a beer you can knock down, this is your beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 21:36:08 | More by brewcore

hosehead83

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Chill-hazed copper/gold in color, with a short head of white foam.
Aroma-Orange peel and spices
Taste-Faintly spicy orange peel, a bit watery and thin-bodied. Slight metallic note-quickly fading flavor. Not terrible for a session ale, but much better examples of the style are out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 17:28:22 | More by hosehead83

tjacobs610

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Golden amber color, partially hazy with a minimal white lace

Smell: Hints of yeast and citrus. Also has hints of bread mixed with spices. Very nice smell

Taste: Very clean and crisp, has a dry taste up front and ends with a tea like taste

Mouthfeel: Very light bodied and also fairly smooth. Has good carbonation as well

Overall: Actually a really nice beer. Nothing flashy but it’s a good basic beer for this type of beer

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 06:29:28 | More by tjacobs610

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high dense white head that has good retention properties and left a quarter finger high head on the surface and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of lemon citrus in the nose along with some notes of Belgian yeast and hints of pale malts.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and also has some hints of clove. No bitterness is detectable.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and somewhat smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: As its name implies, this beer is very sessionable, especially given its low alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 02:13:14 | More by metter98

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Last of the summer mixed pack I picked up not too long ago.

A- Poured into a can shaped glass with an amber body. Just a slight haze to it and a foamy white head forms nicely to about two fingers. Good head retention and lace all down the glass. It leaves thin webs all around.

S- A blend of light caramel, fruit (something like cantaloupe) and some spice (clove, pepper) notes. Not a ton going on I have to say and it fades slowly with time and each sip.

T- Opens up mostly with a sessionable mix of fruit and malt flavors. A blend of cantaloupe, banana esters, lemon zest, caramel and cracker notes. Hints of spice, clove, coriander and grassy hops also make it into the mix. It all balances nicely and drinks easily.

MF- Creamy light body with a nice, silky moderate carbonation. Very light bitterness hits the palate in the finish.

Admittedly more enjoyable than what I expected. The yeast lends nice fruit and spice notes while malts balance it all out with just a touch of hops. Not a blast of flavor but I think it delivers what they advertise here.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 01:09:24 | More by cbutova

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Available in Samuel Adams' Summer Styles Variety 12 Pack. This is brewed in the Belgian Pale Ale style. According to the label, "A crisp, refreshing version of a traditional Belgian beer. Fruity, slightly spicy flavors from the Belgian yeast are balanced by toffee and caramel notes from our blend of malts. The hops provide a citrus character that rounds out this enjoyable brew. Cheers!" Date ticked on the bottle is Mid-September 2012.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to my Samuel Adams Sensory Perfect Pint glass. Served in the upper-middle 40'sº Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) An aggressive pour yields a towering creamy white head with slightly above average staying power over a crystal-clear orange-amber body, slightly darker than anticipated. There's a lot of active carbonation. Lacing is spotty and light. Appearance is nice overall. 4

(Smell) Yeasty bread tones, spicy hop notes, Belgian spices and a hint of mild fruit. Spices and bread are the most dominant aromas, strikingly potent and overshadowing the subtleties. Spicy hop resins and toffee are also notable in trace amounts. A slight metallic aroma and some funk lingers in the background. Not terrible, although the balance could have been a bit better. Based on the aroma alone, the spices and flavors smell a little less "sessionable" than the beer calls itself to be. 4

(Taste) This is where the session kicks in. A clean, cracker pale malt with a touch of banana and citrusy zest on the end. There's a much lighter malt profile here than the nose gave off, and the spices and hoppy characters although present, are subdued as well. The toffee and caramel are quite hard to find in the light body, notable at best in very subtle quantities. It's actually a bit disappointing that the taste didn't match the aroma, although I would agree that the flavor matches my expectations of a light, quaffable brew better than the nose did, making the flavors far more "sessionable" than the nose predicted. Unfortunately, I'm not really a fan of the light flavor and expected much more from the beer than I got. Either a bigger bready base or some more Belgian spice presence could have beefed up the flavor a bit more without sacrificing any drinkability, but the end result is purely drinkable for most. Ultimately, it's not the most exciting beer I've had by Samuel Adams, but decent by most accounts. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Thin malt profile, slightly chewy with medium carbonation. Body is light for the style and light amongst beers. Alcohol presence is low to none. The carbonation is just about right, perhaps a bit too much for some, but OK by me. Again, the shallow body is expected for session beers, which this is advertised as, so I can't dock much for it, but I was hoping for a bigger body. 3.5

(Overall) You want a sessionable Belgian ale? Here it is. I felt slightly misled by the bolder aroma and was therefore a little let down by the remainder of the experience, but this beer would be a decent option for those looking to tiptoe into the Belgian pale category. The flavors are mild and inoffensive and the beer is clean and highly drinkable, so kudos to Samuel Adams for a decent Belgian option. I would consider Belgian Session a one-time thing, but that's only because there are so many excellent Belgian Pale Ales out there to enjoy. For the starting Belgian drinker, I'd consider giving this beer a shot. 3.5

Boston Beer Company's
Samuel Adams Belgian Session
3.3/5.00

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 20:27:27 | More by Jadjunk

clemtiger8202

3.18/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An agressive pour yielded a white head barely a finger width and dissipated quickly. Beer was pale gold, honey color with visible carbonation and clear. Aroma had a spicey/citrusy flavor similar to a Belgian wheat. The taste had a slightly fruity flavor with a slightly spicey bite. The beer finished very clean with no real lingering flavor. Definately a session beer with the low alcohol and clean finish, but it seemed to fall short to me on flavor.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 19:09:56 | More by clemtiger8202

mhaugo

California

2.95/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle. “Enjoy by” dated November 2012. Decanted into a pint glass.
Appearance: The color of a freshly minted penny. Low carbonation and no head to speak of. Just a thin white coat on top.
Smell: Spices and minerals.
Taste: A little spice, a little banana, and a little fruit. All pretty mellow and easy to drink.
Mouthfeel: Sweet, but not too heavy on the tongue. Pretty clean overall.
Overall: It may not be perfect, but it's definitely easy to drink. I don’t know that I would buy a six pack of it, but I certainly won’t throw away the four that came in my mixed case.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 03:38:53 | More by mhaugo

dacrza1

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

glassware: Ayinger pokal...Occasion: celebrating the first official day of school...appearance: fizzy, clear, copper-colored body that floats a finger-thick white head....aroma: bright, puncy zest and floral notes--attractive....palate: medium-bodied, moderately bubbly mouthfeel; a bit crunchy on the teeth...taste: a bit sour on the tongue; crisp and clean...overall: refreshing and appropriate for late August heat.... highly drinkable as advertised, with a bit more body than a kolsch...

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 03:23:35 | More by dacrza1

godlessape

Georgia

3.6/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured this into a DFH pint glass. The body is a clear amber, like iced tea or whiskey, and the head is a full finger of dense off white creaminess, that sinks down and lays thin within a few minutes.
The aroma is a just a tad yeasty, but has loads of sugary, fruity notes as if someone slide a banana split under your nose.
The taste, much like the nose is sweet and fruity with just enough spice to make things interesting but not overwhelm.
The mouthfeel is medium bodied, smooth and creamy. Very nice.
Overall this is a good brew, from a great brewery.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 04:05:10 | More by godlessape

artdob

California

2.88/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours an attractive dark, rich orange color. Modest head dissipates leaving small white foam remnants reminiscent of suds on the beach after the waves leave.

Nose is very light.- getting very mild citrus notes on a bed of yeast.

Mouthfeel is crisp. Interesting as the overall taste diminishes very quickly on the palate. However, more than on average, this one continues to resonate in the olfactory areas with quite a lasting dimension. As far as taste itself, not knocking me out. Again, light citrus notes, but there is a breadiness that remains in my nostrils, and I am liking that part of the finish.

Hits the spot on this summer night. Doesn't go to my repeater list; that said, I am still enjoying this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 04:02:57 | More by artdob

wcudwight

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Darker than I expected. Amber with some gold mixed in. Fizzy head rises nicely but fades fast. Caramel and toast aroma with a hint of spice. Taste like banana toffee bread. Not bad, pretty good. Thin mouthfeel but for a summer beer that's not necessarily a bad thing. Good sessionable ale. Nothing really noteworthy but it's a good beer for the beach, pool, or cook-outs.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 03:00:57 | More by wcudwight

rlee1390

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Nice bright yellow gold, two finger head that doesn't last long.

S-Wheat with clove banana. None of the grassy/spice notes I expect from a BPA

T-Very similar to the nose. Not much bitterness. But the wheat and banana mix well and taste sweet.

M-Medium bodied, not much carbonation, possibly on the watery side as well.

O-An easy drinking summer beer however the are so many other options in the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 22:47:24 | More by rlee1390

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Average across the board. Poured gold tinged with caramel. Overall reserved in the Belgian yeast profile, but enough to provide a distinctive Belgian character. Funky note went a bit medicinal at the end, throwing the flavor profile out of whack. One of those "I'll drink it because it is in the mix pack, but won't buy a six-pack" sort of beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 17:48:51 | More by WoodBrew