Norse Legend Sahti - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clean orange-ish to amber in color with a light tan head. In the aroma, a lighter wood, spice and a citrus note. In the taste, woody, dry citrus and a mellow spice. A spice like bite and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry citrus and licorice in the aftertaste. Lots of flavor and quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 18:33:14 | More by OWSLEY069

Greywulfken

New York

4.25/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: deep burgundy brown with frothy head that retreats into ample lacing - I believe a traditional sahti has such a color

S: malts and herb - predictably, the juniper, and maybe some woodsy notes

T: makes me think of a barleywine with the sweetness replaced by an herbal, earthy flavor - aspects of it are medicinal, with some flavors I associate with yeast and hops, but darker and with a nice bitterness

M: medium body, nice carbonation, teensy bit of astringency, but it suits the herbal nature of the brew

O: look, I've only tried 2 sahtis - this one and Dogfish Head's, and both admittedly took some liberties with the traditional formulation - I really liked the bright, light craft of the DFH Sah'tea, and was ready for this to fall short, but it doesn't - it's clearly just a darker take on the same idea, and not-for-nothing, I think this may be more representative of a traditional sahti. I would definitely buy this again, and would love to do a side-by-side.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 19:32:11 | More by Greywulfken

BDIMike

Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear light red color. A thick white head, that looks very sticky and laces throughout the beer, almost like webbing.
Aroma does not have a ton going on. A clean malt smell is dominated by what I assume is a nice juniper berry smell. I have never seen or eaten a juniper berry, but the smell has a very nice berry smell, which must be those.
Taste is really cool and different. I have never tasted anything like this before. A strong malt backbone is taken over by a very strong juniper berry taste. A good taste, very different than anything I have ever had.
Mouthfeel has a nice thickness but very smooth.
Drinkability is real nice on this beer. A very nice balance of malt and fruit. The juniper berries have a nice undertone and don't overpower like some fruit beers. The undertones make this beer very refreshing. This would be a great beer in spring or summer and I would definitely go out of your way to try this beer. Like nothing I have ever tried before, Sam Adams never disappoints, well done!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 00:39:14 | More by BDIMike

Mitchster

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

$6.59 for a 1pt 0.6fl oz bottle.
30 SRM, OG=17.19, 7.0%ABV, 234 Calories/12oz, 16 IBUs.
Brewed with Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Rye, Special B, aromatic malt and fermented on a bed of juniper berries. Hopped with Hallertau Mittelfrueh.

Pours out to a very clear dark amber, forming a tall whipped and creamy yellow head with superior retention and one solid thick sheet of lace. Very gorgeous brew. Medium carbonation, ~2.5 carbs. Considering that this is brewed with juniper, I can't smell any in the nose. It's got a rather vague and generic beer smell, like Sam Adams Boston Lager with less hops. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, very nice, with a medium dense body. The taste is really smooth and mellow with a exceptionally well balanced caramel malty sweetness and mild bitterness. The Special B adds a wonderful caramel and cola character. The juniper is VERY very subtle, just barely suggesting itself as something out of the ordinary in the aftertaste. Nice hints of cola in the middle with some soft sweet tobacco in the finish.

I've had real Sahti before, and this is nothing like it, but it's still a really good, exceptionally well balanced and easy to drink beer. I would definitely buy this on a regular basis if it came in 6 packs. The subtle juniper in the finish makes you come back for more, always wanting more juniper that is, unfortunately, not there.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 21:58:13 | More by Mitchster

jmendels

Michigan

4.19/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This is the perfect beer for an evening in Skyrim. It struck my fancy when I happened upon it at my favorite beer shop, and so I bought it. I had never tasted a Sahti before, but I was certainly intrigued by the historical relevance of such a brew.

It pours a rather dark red, with a darker head. It smells earthy and herbal, though you can pick up notes of toffee and roasted malts. The flavor proceeds from the smell rather well, balancing the earthy juniper flavors with the roasted and toffee malt characteristics.

This is a rather enjoyable beer and is rather enjoyable in the winter. If you're a dark beer lover or Samuel Adams fan, give this one a shot. You won't be disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 23:33:07 | More by jmendels

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pourer from a 22 oz into a corsendonk chalice- pours a pretty clear dark amber color with less than a finger of head that recedes quickly to very little foam around the edges. A few spots of lacing. Beautiful color.

Not too much on the smell- maybe a bit of juniper and malt sweetness. Could be more.

I think it tastes really good- very smooth and sweet but not too sweet by any means. Not a traditional beer at all. Juniper on the front of the tongue and lasts for a long time. Malt sweetness and a little booze in the middle.

Mouthfeel is nice- medium bodies with a little creaky carbonation. Pretty refreshing. I like it but from what I've read about the style, nit exactly how it should be. Give it a try.

Paired with some norwegian goat cheese- excellent.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 02:41:13 | More by Hopdaemon39

BeerMeInMS

Mississippi

4.13/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drinking Date: June 7th 2012

Glassware: tulip

Appearance: very deep amber with a clingy, sudsy white head.

Smell: some sweetness and bread-like aromas...very mild reminded me of the outdoors....

Taste: A completely unusual taste [unique to me] very woodsy/earthy; also like baked bread or maybe wood-fired pizza crust with a little sweetness... Hard to explain, as is evident, but very interesting. Seemingly no hops which fits with the style. While I would not say the taste is complex, it is deep..

Mouthfeel: medium-bodied; low carbonation and a kinda sticky afterfeel.

Overall: so intriguing... Nothing to compare to. This feels and tastes like something other than beer [although it looks like beer]. My first of this style... Definitely worth a try, I love it for its unusualness and earthy/outdoors taste and feel.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 03:40:45 | More by BeerMeInMS

ronniebruner

Arizona

4.13/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful light brown caramel color with a tinge of foam that evaporates very quickly. Aroma is of sweet and sugary grains and hops. Tastes sweet, but not overdone, leaves a nice zip on the tongue as it goes down. A beautifully decorated bottle as well.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 06:46:34 | More by ronniebruner

Eddxii

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Norse legend pours a clear but deep redish amber color, a truly gorgeous shade that looks marvelous under light. There is little to no head on the pour and only a thin lacing along the sides of the glass.

S: The aroma presents itself modestly. There’s sweet malt, slightly yeasty but also bright and clean.

T: The beer begins like a very fresh malty red ale and finishes with a darker juniper sweetness (along with some other botanicals that I cannot immediately place…certainly some citrus notes). It becomes bolder and more delicious as its temperature warms, so I recommend enjoying this sahti just a little below room temperature.

M: It drinks along the thicker side of the spectrum, remaining smooth throughout.

O: Norse Legend is not overly strong with the sharper juniper flavor (it’s not gin, after all), yet it is also not so syrupy sweet as to fit in with the fruit beer species. There are juniper-ier sahtis out there, but it’s quite clear that the goal of this brew, in true Boston Beer Company form, is to introduce the sahti style without going full-hog into an obscure drink enjoyed hundreds of years ago among Vikings.

Essentially Norse Legend drinks like a really well-made red ale with some herbal, primarily juniper, elements added it. For those of you in the Boston area, there are some overlapping features with the on-tap-in-Boston-only Boston Brick Red, also from the Boston Beer Company. Norse Legend is a very well-balanced beer that has taken a rarity in the beer world and made it into an immensely drinkable treat. It’s quite enjoyable and would be appreciated by a variety of beer drinkers. This is a beer worth your time.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 20:29:18 | More by Eddxii

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from signature series bomber into a pint glass.

Pours darker reddish amber with some residual foam. Malty smell, plus fruity hints - the juniper I suppose. Taste is an intense fruit. Full rich flavor, like fruit juice trapped inside a beer. Tasty blend of fruit, citrus, malt, and a mild hop close. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 19:26:19 | More by KTCamm

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into small snifter. Off-white head atop an amber body. Clear lacing, sticky. Aroma includes sweet caramel and brown sugar. Taste is malty sweet and caramel with maybe some toffee. No bitterness to speak of but none expected considering the style. Very easy to drink, no alcohol taste anywhere of note. Very tasty brew, interesting and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2012 07:00:43 | More by KickbacksSteve

vickersspitfire

Texas

4.09/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

The first thing that hits you as you pour it out is the sharp aroma of brandy, strong and sweet with plenty of fruit undertones. Raisins and light breads smells also come through and there is that slight definitive smell of alcohol. It pours out a dark murky brown color and is topped off with a thin head that quickly forms a small ring around the glass. The lacing is thin but very covers every inch of the glass. It taste is rather surprising, it’s light and tart, very refreshing; it bitter around the edges of the mouth and you can pick up some woody flavors, mild berries. This is a very refreshing find and I’ll definitely be buying this one again.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 03:27:55 | More by vickersspitfire

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - a vigorous pour wells up half a sten of beige head that slowly reduces to golden brown elixir with sticky, slow carbonation

S - the first note is malt, with a unusual twist, the juniper. Without knowing exactly what a juniper berry tastes like, I can pick its influence out. piney, resiny, and woodsy. The bottle blurb is not wrong.

T - I found the rye! The pine tree-osity blends with the rye quite well. The malts take up a complementary role, and perform masterfully.

M&D - thick and viscous, this flavors of this beer remains on your lips after a sip and you get another burst of flavor when you lick your lips. the viscosity lends a smoothness that makes the unique flavors of this brew easy to drink. One of the better of this unnamed Sam Adams' series.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 23:56:42 | More by sinstaineddemon

GilGarp

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle served cold into an imperial pint glass.

Norse Legend is a deep amber brown with good clarity an thick white head. It has good retention and lacing.

Aroma is rich, malty, and slightly spicy.

Flavor is sweet up front but turns out to be fairly well balanced in the end. Toasty, caramel, pine, and slightly fruity. It's an unusual beer but enjoyable. Similar to a bock in the malty sweetness.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied an nicely carbonated.

Overall and interesting style and I'm glad I tried this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 02:22:59 | More by GilGarp

tdm168

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - dark caramel amber with a big, thick, dense, brownish head that has great retention

S - big bready aromas, cake batter, some caramel, a bit sweet

T - bready, sweet caramel, some faint pepper, some earthiness, the juniper berries are there but faint and mostly in the finish

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

I'm not sure what I was expecting going into this beer, but I'm not disappointed. It's very malty and a bit earthy. The berries are there and play nice with the malt bill. I would definitely recommend this. I'll probably buy another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 17:19:43 | More by tdm168

lwillitz

Florida

4.03/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22-oz bottle into New Belgium globe

A - 3 fingers of khaki foam over a transparent body of red amber, a few rising bubbles of carbonation

S - spice, cherry-like fruit (juniper?), malty sweetness, yeast

T - peppery spice, caramel sweetness, fruity/herbal notes; sweet pink grapefruit and booze in the finish

M - thick medium/full body, medium carbonation, very smooth

O - I wasn't quite sure what to expect of my first Sahti, but I think I like it. Would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 00:13:10 | More by lwillitz

Halcyondays

California

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a translucent red brown, with a medium white head. Solid retention, real nice lace.

S: Juniper, herbal, foresty nose. Hint of mint, aromatic and appealing, nice.

T: Sweet malt with a definite herbal character. Nice mix of flavour. Not super-traditional, but a nice hybrid of a sahti-like ale and an old ale. That's really what it tastes like.

M: Medium to full-bodied, soft carbonation, creamy, crisp at times.

O: Not completely tradtional, especially with what I've had from Finland, but I did quite enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 05:25:33 | More by Halcyondays

tigg924

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass

Appearance: 1/3 inch head, red/brown in color, high carbonation, clear

Smell: wood, berries, and light caramel--very pleasant but not overpowering

Taste: wood, earth, and berries dominate, there is a touch of grassy hops at the end and a taste of lavender throughout.

Mouthfeel: sweet start and body with slight bitterness towards the end--the taste lingers quite a bit, high carbonation, light body

Overall: I admit I have not had a lot of shati's to compare this with, but it is damn tasty. Very interesting and complex. One of the better small batch brews Sam Adams has come out with. I wish the bitterness was left off the end, but I would grab this again.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 14:52:21 | More by tigg924

CampusCrew

Florida

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First stab at this style and yes I had avoided DFH's. Had this at Peles in Jax, FL on draft. Poured nice and dark with fliffy head. seems of bitter berries and wood dominate. It also has that elderberry type of flavors. Hop profile is low which is great so you can taste the earth and berry flavors. nice job SA for introducing me to this style.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2012 21:17:43 | More by CampusCrew

BEERMILER12

Maine

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours an amber color with a finger and a half's worth of bubbly tan head that settles down to a nice layer that retains well

S: Very fruity, mostly juniper and light berries with a hint of light malt. Also get some spice. Not sure if it's from the rye or something else

T: Follows the nose, with the rye coming out a bit more. Full juniper flavor, along with the rye malts and berries. Don't really get any hop presence aside from maybe a hint of citrus

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation

O: I really like what the rye does with the juniper in this beer. The berry flavors, although mostly juniper, provide enough sweetness to go great with the spiciness of the malt. Not sure how some reviewers are calling this weak in the smell and taste, it's pretty damned aromatic and flavorful. Solid job by SA on this one

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 06:30:38 | More by BEERMILER12

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a fairly clear copper-red with a thin finger of frothy off-white head. The head fades down fairly quickly leaving behind some lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet caramel and bready malts with some juniper berry and a bit of spice and wood.

T - Starts off with a mix of sweet toasted caramel malts with some juniper berries and a bit of spice. Through the middle, some more bready malt comes through with a bit of wood and some more caramel flavor. The finish is a mix of sweet bready malts with some juniper, spice, and some brown sugar.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet and spicy finish.

D - Very drinkable. A pretty good example of the style. Balance is pretty nice. Would have liked a bit more juniper flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 05:22:02 | More by ngeunit1

MattyG85

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 650 ml bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass. Batch No. 1.

Appearance: Pours a very deep brownish amber orange with lots of rising bubbles. Big off white head giving about five fingers. Good retention and lots of lace around the glass.

Smell: Upfront aroma is very bready and malty like a Doppelbock. Big hints of caramel, toffee, and biscuit. Big hint of the juniper berries and some other dark fruit. Some rye like spice. Also some wood and a hint of citrus fruit. Brown sugar rounds it out. Smells pretty good.

Taste: As expected from the smell, a big malt profile. Lots of caramel, toffee, biscuit, and some dark fruits. The juniper berries are pretty noticeable and add a nice kick. Spice, wood, and citrus all from the berries according to the label. Also some brown sugar. A pretty nice spicy and fruity taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy and somewhat chewy and syrupy.

Overall: A pretty good brew. The spices and wood are a nice balance to the sweet malts. Nice to see a old style kept alive.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 06:31:42 | More by MattyG85

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a half inch opaque Naples yellow/beige head with a relatively short life. The body is a lovely clear amber both in masstone and held to the light. It smells like rich and malty is to come. Taste isn't quite as bold as the smell hints but yes it's still rich, there's still malt, and a fairly long finish. I'd call this similar to a Scotch ale but richer. Nice product.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 13:28:33 | More by MoreThanWine

Suds

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a chestnut colored brew...slight head. Wood, malt and citrus are present in the aroma. I'm not sure that I discerned juniper, but it does have a resin character. The taste has some toasted malt character and a solid bitterness. Wood and resin in the finish. Not overly hoppy. Full mouthfeel and lingering aftertaste. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 02:57:02 | More by Suds

rodney45

New York

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deeply crimson inlaid amber, with a cream colored thick head that dissipated quickly but laced the glass with a web of norse style runes.

S: Deep chocolate malt profile, with crystal malt overtones. Slight hint of munich malt and plum.

T: First taste is malt all the way, crystal, munich, and chocolate. Secondary flavors are a lemon, walnut and pecan, which is pretty sour oddly enough. Third notes are non overwhelming english style hops, with a dry finish that has an ever so slight hint of gin ( grassy/juniper-esk flavors)

M: Overly thick and creamy, definitive of the style. Moderate carbonation, and no alcohol ethers present.

O: My first Sahti, and i feel that this may not have done an adequate job of defining the style. It seems a lot more like a belgian double, or a quad, than anything else. Enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 11:46:03 | More by rodney45