Samuel Adams Porch Rocker - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

JLeF12

New York

1.7/5  rDev -48.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

I love Sam Adams but this beer was not to my liking. Very sweet, lemony taste too sweet for a beer, it was as if I was drinking a Bud Light Lime.

If you like the lemony taste, drink the Summer Ale. The Summer Ale this year I have found to be particularly refreshing. The Porch Rocker just didn't cut it for me.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 22:52:16 | More by JLeF12

Jesse13713

Ohio

1.8/5  rDev -45.9%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

Third bottle poured into a De Koninck chalice. I have also tried it straight from the bottle, as well as in a pint glass.

Appearance - A very saturated urine-yellow. Bubbly with less than impressive carbonation. Transparent with the straight look that someone whizzed in a glass. I suppose there is a bit of a sunburnt straw look to it as well.

Smell - Very light citrus and of course, lemon. A very faint watered down malt note. The scent of lemon cleaning supplies overwhelms all other smells.

Taste - As I said at the top, this is my third time trying this beer - As well as my third time being slightly dissapointed with it. You are first greeted with a bit of a sour lemonade taste that appears refreshing in the beginning. Unfortunately, that cleaning supply smell transfers over a bit to the taste. Light citrus sparkles on your tongue, but fades quickly into the same-old typical malt you taste in every other Samuel Adams beer out there. Light? Yes. Refreshing? Only when you can prevent cringing when the chemical taste finds you randomly.

Mouthfeel - As explained above, the chemical taste can really get to you. The taste of the beer itself isn't bad, but it is when I leave it in my mouth that I become appalled.

Overall - Another disappointing 2012 seasonal from Samuel Adams this year. To be honest, I loved the seasonals right up until last years Oktoberfest. I'm not sure what happened, whether to blame a taste-change or the brewery, but each Samuel Adams I try is filled with an unbalanced mixture of hops and malt. The lemon in this tastes very unnatural. I was disappointed with the Whitewater IPA this year as well, and Noble Pils hasn't tasted the same to me either. I will not be purchasing this again. It sits low in the fruit/vegetable beer category, and I would much rather drink a Leinenkugels Summer Shandy when it comes to a refreshing summer drink spiced with lemon.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 17:37:51 | More by Jesse13713

Burkbom23

Connecticut

2.05/5  rDev -38.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.25

Bright yellow color, very clear. Slight white head that fades to nothing. No lacing to speak of. Lemon aroma is the main smell you get off this bear. Maybe some slight grain. Pretty clean. Straight up lemon. Too much for my taste. Light medium body. Was hoping for more considering this was my first patio beer of the spring. Most likely will not have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 00:55:02 | More by Burkbom23

redfire89

Florida

2.13/5  rDev -36%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Appearance- Bright, clear yellow with a lot of buubles and a thick head.
Smell- Like lemon dishwashing soap
Taste- It starts with a barely tolerable lemon and malt flavor but finishes with a nasty soap aftertaste.
Mouthfeel- Very watery, would be refreshing if it tasted better.
Overall- I thought this beer would help Sam Adams replace Coastal Wheat but that beer is better. This reminds me of Bud Light Lime, same soap taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 22:34:58 | More by redfire89

mikeg67

New Jersey

2.41/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

12 oz bottle from a variety pack. Pours pale straw with white, long lasting tall head and soda like carbonation, some lacing. Body is medium and crisp. Taste is lemonade and pale malt. Finish is short and unremarkable. This brew does not resemble beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 13:20:04 | More by mikeg67

noel2977

Pennsylvania

2.49/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

This is like drinking sugary cereal - a maltbomb of fruit loops. I feel my teeth aching from the sugar. There is a crispness to it - perhaps this needs to be consumed on a super hot summer day outside without any AC.
S - Lemon - but almost artificial, overwhelming any malt profile.
T - Lemony, with a thin profile of malt behind it. Finish doesnt really exist, except for a underwhelming cloying last of sugar

Ah - I dont like it. Not sure if this is supposed to compete with the lager-shandy crap produced today, but this isnt good. Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:44:16 | More by noel2977

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

2.58/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle served in a Great Divide shaped pint
Best before October 2013

A - Clear pale golden color with a fizzy white head vanishes quickly.

S - Lemon lime soda, kiwi, lemon alka seltzer, honey, medicinal phenolics

T - Follows the nose, lemon/lime soda, artificial honey sweetness, odd floral noes, medicinal characters, herbal hops, lager yeast, chalky mineral notes. Tries to finish crisp but the malty sweetness dulls it out.

M - Low stingy carbonation, wet body with a semi effervescent finish.

Kinda reminds me of sprite without less carbonation. The odd sweetness dull out any attempt of a crisp feel. I wont be revisiting this.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 02:00:32 | More by StaveHooks

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

2.59/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2

Clear gold with an insta-vanish thin white head. My beer is naked. Naked on the porch.

Smells like smooth lager pale malt and initially apple juice caramel. Lemon becomes more discernible after some warming.

Tastes like a solid Helles with some herbally lemonade as an afterthought.

Needs more lemon. Or less. As I see it SA could have gone two ways with this - a great Helles with a mild hint of lemon or a lighter beer bursting with lemon. They took the middle and the beer and the lemon compete rather than merge.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 00:36:33 | More by donkeyrunner

Zorro

California

2.61/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Clear yellow beer with a medium sized white head that doesn't last long. Looks like PBR.

Smells of lemon and grain with a little sweetness to it. Smells like a Radler.

Starts out sweet and tart with a strong lemonade flavor. Lager with lemonade, all you have to know about this beer.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Overall more soft drink than beer, not a favorite.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 02:31:28 | More by Zorro

chinchill

South Carolina

2.7/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle near the end of the best by date on the label: Nov. 2012.

It pours a clear, golden-amber color, The small head has weak retention and leaves little lace. Lemons dominate the background of wheat malt in both the aroma and flavor. More lemonade than beer, it has a rather sugary taste.

O: [2.75] This is a high (for style) ABV radler with, I think, more lemon flavor than average. I feel it is a little too sweet, with lemon flavor that seems too artificial. In addition it lacks sufficient balance from hops.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 00:49:41 | More by chinchill

mactrail

California

2.76/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

Starts out with a nice foamy head, but it dissipates into some coarse bubbles. The smell is more like lemon verbena. The mouthfeel is just a quick zing of carbonation followed by flatness and an oily touch.

It has been years since I had a lemon-flavored Snapple but after one gulp of this, it was like I had one yesterday. Lemon iced tea is the main flavor, though apparently there is some beer here. The citrus flavor is not unpleasant, just too much of a good thing. Lemon peel aftertaste with some bitterness. From the 12 oz bottle bought at Ralph's Supermarket in San Clemente.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 05:34:42 | More by mactrail

jlindros

Massachusetts

2.78/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a huge fizzy 2 finger head that rises right to the top of the sa perfect pint glass, fades semi slowly as it's reinforced by lot of bubbles rising from the bottom, nice lacing, crystal clear watery pale lemonade color.

Nose is like lemon cereal, sugary, cereal grains, fake candy fruit, light lemonaid. Reminds me of leinenkugels.

Taste is more of the same, very light overall beer, more lemonaid. Light sugary fake fruit cereal like taste, light cereal grains, juicy lemonaid. Finish is dry and kinda icky, fake lemon and fruit, bone dry, light cereal grains lingering.

Mouth is lighter bodied, decent carb.

Overall bleh, fake tasting beer that I would expect from a macro company, not sam adams, but then again this is probably more to get the ladies from leinenkugel to switch to this, but not my cup of tea.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 02:57:52 | More by jlindros

bluejacket74

Ohio

2.78/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle, best before November 2012. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a clear straw gold color with a half inch off-white head. Head retention and lacing are both average. Aroma is mostly lemon peel and lemon candy (like lemonheads?), along with a bit of sweet malt. But it's mainly an artificial lemon aroma, not that it smells bad at all. The brew tastes like slightly sour lemon candy, and there's also some sugar substitute noticeable. Tastes a little worse the longer I drink it. Mouthfeel/body is light, it's easy enough to drink, I guess. Mostly average overall, I only tried this because one of my friends gave me a couple bottles. I wouldn't pay for this brew, but I wouldn't turn one down if someone gave it to me, either.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 23:49:37 | More by bluejacket74

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

2.78/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz Bottle from CJ's NY for 1.75$

Appearance - Clear yellow colour with an above average size fizzy white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for around 2-3 minutes.

Smell - Corn, bread, lemons

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste bread/wheat mixed with lemon and a touch of ginger. I'm not getting any of the hops advertised on the bottle. It ends with a grainy lemony slightly bitter aftertaste.

Overall - Reminded me a bit of a bud light lime. It's better though.. but not by much. It's drinkable but not something I'd buy again. It's probably good for the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 23:29:16 | More by spinrsx

kylehay2004

Florida

2.8/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: no head on a clear bright golden body.

S: honey, ginger, wheat and pale malts. a lot of lemon.

T: another alcoholic lemonade beer. I dont really like these. tart, some wheat comes through

M: light body and ridiculous carbonation

Overall: not a fan of this one at all. simple and not really a beer. more of a mike hard watever variety.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 02:19:12 | More by kylehay2004

TheSixthRing

California

2.84/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75

Appearance - Pours a clear golden yellow with a white, half finger head. Sub-par retention. Spotty lacing with little stick.

Smell - Aroma smells of lemon-lime and alcohol. Anyone remember Zima?

Taste - Strong lemon-lime upfront and throughout, grainy malt bill comes through mid-taste while a touch alcohol character hits near the finish. Simple, straight forward flavor.

Mouthfeel - Light, crisp and refreshing. Goes down with ease. By far the strongest element of this beer.

Overall - Meh. Tastes like someone spiked my beer with sprite. In a way, it's kinda what they did. Waaaay too sweet. Think Bud Light Lime with stronger 'beer' character, and you've got a general idea of what this beer is all about. Not a fan.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 02:45:30 | More by TheSixthRing

TGZ32

Michigan

2.85/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a Sam Adams 25th anniversary glass..

A: A clear / yellow tint, can see thru it pretty much 100%

S: Smells like a hint of lemon.. mild citrus here .. not too much going on.

T: First sip is sub par to me vs other recent Radlers Ive tried.. Second sip is a bit more complex and you can taste the lemons.. but still kinda.. Meh! was expecting so much more!! The flavor dissipated rather quickly.

M: Respectable, but nothing that holds your taste-buds for too long, quick and crisp.

O: Was expecting more flavor, got a pretty flatline taste.. drinkable beer however, just not very BAM! to the point where it stands out vs. the competiton. . . only way Id try it again would maybe be if it was on draught ever.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 00:27:19 | More by TGZ32

kojevergas

California

2.86/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I've had a lot of radlers I hate, a precious few I like. Reviewing this as a Radler. "Limited Release." "Beer with Natural Flavors Added." Enjoy before September. 4.5% ABV confirmed. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard branded pressure cap served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are below average given current ratings.

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 4-5 finger beige colour head of decent soft cream, decent thickness, and good (~5 minute) retention. Body colour is a solid pale yellow-copper; nicely vibrant. Translucent and clear. Appealing in a general sense. It's not straw yellow or dull. Uneven lacing as the head recedes. About what I'd expect from a radler - except for the transparency. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Oh boy. Artificial lemon flavoring is pungent and rampant. Artificial sugar sweetness. Pale malts. Zest lemon citrus twang. A bit of crystal malt. Some floral hopping. Pleasant if you can get past its inherent artifice. An average strength aroma. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable.

T: Lemon twang. Pilsner and pale malts. Crystal malt. Straw. Light citrus. Not as artificial as the aroma suggested; thank god. Light floral hops. Balanced and lemon forward, if simple. It's pleasant and enjoyable, but there's not much happening. I don't like the artificial lemon, but it could be far worse executed.

Mf: Surprisingly soft, actually. I like that. Light and pleasant to drink. Good carbonation. Somewhat coarse, but smooth overall. Wet. Refreshing - which is exactly what it needs to be.

Dr/O: Quite drinkable, but I wouldn't want more than one due to how artificial it is. For a Radler, it's not bad. I'd prefer they just brewed a straight lemon forward witbier with less artificial character, but this is a pretty average tasting radler. I've had far worse. Refreshing. Hides its ABV well. A middling offering from Sam Adams.

C

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 03:27:48 | More by kojevergas

BEERchitect

Kentucky

2.95/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

If you designed an adult beverage around the warmer days of summer, nearly all of them will become a fruit derivative of wheated ale. Since lemonade is already synonymous with the season, there's a predictable marriage to be found.

Pouring the expected hazy straw color, the beer's partly fizzy, partly froathy head speaks to the schizophrenic nature of the beverage. Light on head formation, retention, or lace it's probably not fair to compare to strict ale.

Lemons and simple syrup aromas abound with a slight rebuttal from white pepper, orange peel, and an obvious citrus character. A background of wheat malt seems somewhat bready but not as pronounced as even American wheat ales- the lemonade aromas just take over.

Flavors are even more balanced toward the lemon flavor and sugary taste. Medium sweetness allows the true character of lemon to shine. Delicious yet one-dimensional, the beer offers too slight of a peppery balance or earthy hop notion to make any meaningful impact. Only a rise of bready wheat malt in aftertaste remind me that this beer is at least partially a beer.

Sugary sweet to texture as well. The syrupy feel coats the palate lightly but much less clean than most beers. The carbonation helps with the creamy impersonation but the lack of alcohol dryness, hop dryness, or developing malt character keeps the beer as much wine cooler-like as it is beer-like.

I really enjoy these beverages but on a completely different level than beer. This Sam Adams version is perhaps less sweet and slightly more beer-like than most but it's still a beer coctail and likely deserves separate criteria.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 05:00:36 | More by BEERchitect

BeTheBall

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle. Nice pale color with lots of carbonation. The smell was for me of grass and lemons. Taste was good, for a lemonade, but this is beer? If I want lemon I'd buy a Mike's. For a beer, this didn't do it for me, and I don't even understand the point of brewing this. The mouthfeel though was pleasant, and as a drink in the summer, I did like it. I however am reviewing this as a beer, I think?

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 12:56:18 | More by BeTheBall

MarkQ617

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This taste like someone poured lemonade into a slightly above average helles. Poured from a bottle into a pilsner glass. The color is a bright gold that I'm not certain should exist from natural elements. The mouthfeel is mellow, as expected for they beer type, but doesn't add. It's a bit sweet and the fruit is a little overpowering for me I guess.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 23:35:23 | More by MarkQ617

justincolts

Indiana

2.96/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Pours a nice golden color with a decent head that sticks around a little while. There is a lot of activity. Has a pretty solid smell, my olfactory is always messed up so take it at your own risks, but a subtle lemon crisp scent is there. Man, this beer is still active as I type this. The mouthfeel is a little weak, smooth, but no necessarily in a great way. The taste is maybe just a little to fruity for my taste. I would like it to be a little crisper, and a bit more subtle. The bottle says the inspiration was from German cyclists who mixed beer and tart sparkling lemonade. This Porch Rocker was inspired by that. I wish it would have been crisper, a bit more tart, that would have added a little more substance to it.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 19:51:31 | More by justincolts

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

2.98/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Clear golden yellow. Two inch white head disappears quickly. Thin rings of lacing stick to the glass.

S: Freshly squeezed lemonade. Pilsner and light malts. Slight Noble hop aroma. Very clean.

T: Lemon zest and lemonade at the outset. Tastes of wet grain and stale bread follow. Touch of grassy hops with a spike of citrus bring bitterness that almost gets lost in the lemon. Lemon zest, lemon peel, and that wet grain taste in the finish.

M: Light in body. Strong, aggressive carbonation has a real bite to it. Mildly creamy, but thin overall and really lacking character.

O: Guess the Boston Beer Company wants a piece of the Radler/Shandy pie. They're going to have to do better than this if they want to compete with Miller and AB. Really a lackluster attempt.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 05:01:00 | More by ryan1788a5

Suds

Pennsylvania

2.99/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Although I've never been a real Radler fan, kudos to Boston Beer for making a valiant attempt at a drinkable version. It's a clear, utterly clear, light golden color. The head quickly disappears, and long chains of bubbles rush up through the brew. The smell is notable even from a distance. Huge Lemon scents....It smells more like a lemon soda than a beer. If you hunt, there is a bit of malt underneath, but but not a lot. The taste is similar...very reminiscent of lemon soda, with a little hop finish. Interesting...not bad...but not quite beer either. It's got huge flavor...lots of lemon, some grass and grain, hops in the mid-taste through the finish, and a little malt underneath. Interesting, but not my style. Light in body. I bet this would be a thirst quencher if it were 90 degrees and sunny.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 01:24:16 | More by Suds

Gmann

New York

2.99/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a slightly hazy straw color with a short wispy white head that settled into a light cap. Looks like fizzy yellow beer.

The aroma is of sweet lemons. Very similar to lemonade. It is a refreshing aroma but doesn't remotely smell like beer.

A slight bready malt base, perhaps a touch doughy. The rest of the flavor is lemonade. Again, its is refreshing but really borders on being a beer.

Moderate feel with fizzy carbonation. Drinks fantastic which a radler should do.

A lemony beer soda, which it is supposed to be. Its tough to rate just due to the style. This is not a real style on this site. The lemony flavor is very enjoyable but it really doesn't have enough beer characteristics. I guess a good change of pace beer during the summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 01:19:34 | More by Gmann