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

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

2.59/5  rDev -22%
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

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.34/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Yellow gold in color. Fizzy carbonation has all but completely exhausted itself. Looks... like a shandy?

Tart lemon, tangy aromas, and beery malts. Nothing to talk about here. Is what it is. Smells pleasant enough.

Pale malts and tart lemonade. Some low-lying citrusy hops, but overall, some decent summer suds. Not as tangy as others I've tried. Lemon flavor is legit, if not a bit oily. Perfumey.

Slick and a bit oily Pastiness from the stick on the lips. Genuinely smooth and easy. Medium-high carbonation.

A good experience from a style I typically have bad experiences with. Recommended for all you Radler-lovers out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 13:53:08 | More by thecheapies

BucannonXC5

California

3.7/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Karl Strauss pint glass
From: VONS in Normal Heights (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $12.97 (w/ VONS card) for the summer variety 12-pack
Purchased: March 25, 2013
Consumed: April 5, 2013
Misc.: Enjoy by Aug. 2013

Poured a honey golden hazy color with two fingers of cream white head that dissipated almost right away. Lots of bubbles in the beginning, but that gave way to the surprisingly murky and not clear look. No lacing on the sides on the way down, very bad retention.

Smelled citrus notes, got lemon, lime and peach. Lemon zest and lemon/lime juice. Also some honey and clean, crisp grass hops. Reminded me of the days of cleaning a Mexican restaurant. Just those lemon and limes on the Corona’s and margaritas.

Tasted similar to the nose. Sweet lemon and sweet lime. Almost like a sugary, sweet cider or a Zima, but better. I’ll admit this is my first Radler type, but it’s nice and refreshing. Almost like a liquor mix.

Light body. Thin texture. Average-to-soft (below average) carbonation. Clean, crisp and refreshing finish.

Not a bad beer for the type. Definitely different and definitely good for summer.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 04:53:27 | More by BucannonXC5

TheSixthRing

California

2.84/5  rDev -14.5%
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

Mitchster

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +34%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased as part of the mixed 12 pack. Brewed with "Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend". Hopped with Tettnang Tettnanger. Fermented with a lager strain, then mixed with lemonade.
6 SRM, 4.5% ABV, 8 IBU's, 161 kcal/12oz

Pours out to a brilliant medium golden, forming a tall whipped white head with superior retention and beautiful lacing, no part in thanks to it's brisk carbonation, ~3.25 carbs or so. The nose is forward with lemon, with some zest component. Cleanly fermented, no off-aromas. The taste is great...the lemonade opens, but then is followed by grainy malt, which is nicely balanced and adds a complexity that makes the beer more than just a lemon-flavored beer. The hops are very mild. Mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing with a light body, but it's not too watery. In addition to the mild hop bitterness, there is a pleasant lemon peel bitterness to it as well which lingers in the aftertaste.

I'm really digging this one. and am pleasantly surprised. It's tough to pull off a beer like this that isn't one dimensional and unbalanced. I would definitely buy it again. A perfect beach beer, and because of the lower alcohol, something that won't ruin your day as you enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 19:28:49 | More by Mitchster

TeamMathis

West Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Extremely clear. Yellowish gold.
Smell: Lemon and citrus. Fruity.
Taste Slightly tart. Lemon juice and citrus.
Mouthfeel: Light carbonation.

I really enjoyed this. It doesn't pack any spectacular punches, but it is rather refreshing. The smell and taste both compliment the same, citrusy lemon effect. I think this would be best enjoyed served quite cold on a very hot day. Give this to a non-beer drinker as I did. She said, "This doesn't taste like beer at all!" I would possibly get this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 01:59:49 | More by TeamMathis

scratch69

Missouri

3.06/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I poured a bottle into a Sam Adams glass.

Appearance- Clear, golden color with almost a fingers worth of head. No head retention or lacing.

Smell- Lemon aroma with a little hint of grain.

Taste- Strong lemon flavor with little beer taste. Tastes like a lemon drop in liquid form.

Mouthfeel- Light bodied with a low amount of carbonation.

Overall- Not bad tasting but not what I would call a "beer." If I was blindfolded a given this, I would never guess this was a beer. Reminds me more of a hard lemonade.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 21:47:37 | More by scratch69

Zorro

California

2.61/5  rDev -21.4%
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

mactrail

California

2.76/5  rDev -16.9%
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

justincolts

Indiana

2.96/5  rDev -10.8%
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

kojevergas

California

2.86/5  rDev -13.9%
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

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured out as a yellow golden color, very clear looking with a white head on top. Thin retention on top and a light lacing. The smell has plenty of lemon on the nose. Definitely smells like a shandy. The taste of the beer is sweet and has plenty of lemon flavors in there. The malts are hidden in this beer, you can't get too much from them. The mouthfeel of it was decent, lighter bodied, nice carbonation. Overall this needs to be enjoyed in the heat of the summer for sure, I think this beer will be much better on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 12:34:37 | More by Knapp85

MickeyBeer

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle that I had in a Sam Adams variety pack

A- Pours into a pint glass, it was a clear golden color with about one finger of head that dissipated right away.

S- Aroma is like a sweet malty beer combined with lemonade. Smells nice and refreshing.

T- Very citrusy with a strong lemon flavor. Also has a good deal of malty sweetness. Very similar to the Lemon Shandy by Leinenkugels, but better in my opinion.

M- Light bodied, smooth and crisp. A great summer brew to be enjoyed in the sun.

O- An enjoyable beer that is perfect for drinking outside on the beach or on the boat. A solid beer for the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 23:59:42 | More by MickeyBeer

chinchill

South Carolina

2.7/5  rDev -18.7%
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

drabmuh

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Some day I might find a shandy I like, this was not it. Served in a Sam Adams perfect pint.

Beer is yellow and hazy, really light in color, head, big bubbles, no retention, moderate to high carbonation, no lacing.

Aroma is lemons.

Beer is light and watery on the palate, aftertaste though, too sweet, too much like refined sugar and lemons. Odd beer although not as bad as some I've had in the past.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 19:39:14 | More by drabmuh

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.15/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A late summer arrival beer by Samuel Adams, I have only found this locally at one store. According to the label, "Inspired by traditional Radlers that mix beer with German-style lemonade, our brew blends a Bavarian lager with lemons for a fresh-squeezed lemon taste, effervescent sweetness, and a refreshing finish. A malt note and hint of hops balance out the unique lemon character." Date ticked on bottle is November 2012.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to my Samuel Adams perfect pint glass. Served at 44º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Aggressive pour yields a crisp fizzy cream white head with below average retention, settling rapidly. Surface cover is bubbly and thin and the lacing is nonexistent. Body color is a pale straw yellow with some mild gold hues in the depth of the beer. Carbonation appears plentiful and excited. Overall, its an unimpressive appearance with rather poor head quality and faint color, although the head quality can likely be expected with a lemon-forward beer. 3

(Smell) Grassy hops and a mildly sweet pilsner malt base with a prevailing tart heavy lemonade character in the background. Quite well blended, there's aspects of both the beer and the lemonade, although the latter is most dominant overall, aside from the mild sweetness that is a bit unsuspecting of lemonades. Potency is medium. 3.5

(Taste) Tart lemons with a mild lemon cookie finish and some pepper. Mostly lemonade- it's very drinkable but not completely accessible to the beer-anticipating crowd, as the beer aspects are shallow and underdeveloped. I found the beverage enjoyable but was looking for more of a 50-50 blend of beer and lemonade. I found a lot less of the malt character and hop profile than I had hoped for. 3

(Mouthfeel) Mildly crisp, could be more so. Body is light for the style, light overall. Alcohol presence is light-medium. Body could turn up a bit without sacrificing drinkability in light of complexity. Decent texture makes for a good pairing for the style. 3.5

(Overall) If you like lemons, you're probably home. This beer is certainly a nice session choice for the summer months, a little less impressive for those who are looking for something of complexity and depth, but that may be asking for a lot of the style. Either way, it could have been improved with a more substantial malt body. While I wouldn't turn this down for the average beer-drinker, I wouldn't get it again in light of the many other summer offerings that are tried and true. 3

Boston Beer Company's
Samuel Adams Porch Rocker
3.15/5.00

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 01:10:41 | More by Jadjunk

neenerzig

Ohio

4/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into my pint glass, this beer pours a nice clear medium golden color with lots of little bubbles rapidly rising up nice white head that is about 1 1/2 inch thick when poured that quickly settles to 1/4 inch surface coating. Pretty good lace. Stong aromas of lemon citrus zest and some malt sweetness. Flavorwise the lemon citrus and hints of sweet caramel malt dominate, giving way to just a slight touch of hop presence on the back end of the tongue. Has a crisp, smooth, medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation and a clean, dry finish. I think that maybe this beer should be classified in the database here as a Shandy and not a Fruit/Vegetable Beer, as this is spot on style wise for a Shandy. For what this beer is supposed to be it is pretty good. Not something I'd go out of my way to drink repeatedly, but certainly worth a try and a good beer to enjoy in the hot summer!

Eric

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 03:30:30 | More by neenerzig

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle - $1.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours out a crystal clear, light yellow-hued body with a medium-small, brief, white head.

Smell: Sweaty lemons mingled with the modest, mild, effusive maltiness. It smells lemony, what else do you want me to tell you?

Taste: Particular mild maltiness with a sliver of sweetness. Hint of lemony flavoring that, with the thin mouthfeel, fizzy carbonation starts to feel kind of soda pop like. A touch of Sprite, a hint of Squirt and it's gone.

Mouthfeel: Thin-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation. Fizzy and a tad watery.

Overall: One of those it is what it is beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 22:46:03 | More by ChainGangGuy

RickS95

Indiana

3.38/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nothing special to look at, if you've seen an American macro, you get the picture. Only difference is this has a huge fluffy head that resembles soap lather.

Citrus, cracker nose. Slight malt note as the bottle suggests. Again, nothing special.

Tastes like it's supposed to, the lovechild of a bland German lager and lemon soda. Biscuity, peppery taste with a lump of lemonade added.

Light bodied, watery feel early on; then some acid and spice with just enough hoppy bitter to kid you into believing it's a beer.

Not bad for the type, certainly not the worst I've had and as advertised, a good summer drink. Low alchol and palate-stripping clean taste make for a decent drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 02:06:36 | More by RickS95

womencantsail

California

3.15/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

The pour is a clear golden straw color with a short lived white head. Definite lemon on the nose with a strong sweetness. Light tartness, so sweet bready malt, and a very light floral hop aroma. Very fresh lemon note to this. The taste is actually very lemonade like. Sweet and sour flavors with some hints of grass, light bread, and a touch of hop flavor. Ever so slight biscuit malt notes, too.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 07:01:56 | More by womencantsail

TheOtherBob

New York

3.3/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

When I first encountered this beer, I thought "flavored Sam Adams? Oh no, it's going to be another Cherry Wheat." (For those who haven't had the pleasure, that stuff tastes like a beer that just kissed cough syrup.)

But I was pleasantly surprised. Not overwhelmed -- this is a beer for a very particular summer afternoon, and I doubt I'll be drinking a ton of it -- but surprised. It's actually quite good, in its way. It reminded me of college for some reason, and I don't know why -- it must taste like some sort of cheap mixed drink that I used to have when I was "21," but I can't for the life of me think what.

Now, you have to know what you're drinking -- if you take that first sip thinking "mmm, beer," you'll be disappointed. It's beer-esque, but there's no doubt that it tastes mainly of lemon. But once you recognize that, it's pretty decent.

I served it from a bottle into a glass, at a pretty cold temperature, and I think that's probably a good choice. Heck, I might even put ice in it next time, and I'm not even kidding.

Appearance is light brown. No head to really speak of after the first few seconds.

The smell is lemons, but not overwhelming. Lemonade, rather than, say, Lemon Pledge.

The taste is lemons. Lemons lemons lemons. If this beer did a movie, it would be Grumpy Old Men. If it did a TV show, it would be 30 Rock. Loooots of lemon.

The mouthfeel lets me down a little -- so much lemon seems to get in the way of it feeling like, well, beer. Which, as much as I can get on board with the lemon thing, I do miss when drinking this.

Overall, it's hard to grade this -- it's just kind of a unique beer. If you're the sort of person who can't get enough lemon, you'll be in heaven. If you like your beer to just be, you know, beer, it might not be for you.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 05:00:51 | More by TheOtherBob

damndirtyape

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

12oz bottle (best before Nov 2012) poured into a Shaker Pint glass.

Appearance: Pale clear bright golden yellow. Plenty of carbonation coming up through the beer. White head died back fairly quickly to just leave a ring at the edge. Occasional island of lacing here and there, but most of them slid back down and disappeared.

Smell: Lemony - very lemony but not overpowering. Maybe a hint of malt in the back.

Taste: Exactly like someone blended lemons into a lager. The flavors muddle together and it's hard to pull much out besides lemonade with some beer flavors. Tart up front, with some sweetness in the middle and some bitterness at the end. Interesting, but odd.

Mouthfeel: Strong carbonation, almost fizzy. Good thickness under the carbonation though - maybe a bit sticky and creamy at the same time.

Overall / Drinkability: I've not had a true Radler before so it's hard for me to rate it according to that style so let me comment on it as a beer with a lot of lemon in it. It works for about half a glass, and then it kind of loses its charm. I think it would be better if it was hotter or I was outside enjoying this. Inside and after a meal it's just okay and not that drinkable - one is enough.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 22:51:50 | More by damndirtyape

UCLABrewN84

California

3.2/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Best before 11/2012.

Pours a clear golden color with a 1 inch foamy bone colored head that fades to nothing. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt/grain and lots of lemon, lemon juice, and lemonade aromas. Taste is of malt/grain, yeast, and lemonade flavors on the finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer mainly for the fact that it's crisp and refreshing even if the aromas and flavors are not all that exciting.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 05:20:28 | More by UCLABrewN84

Apellonious

North Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A- pale gold, bubbly, thin head that bows out quickly

S - lemony, like the old tequilza beers. Or, should I say, malt beverage?

T - lemon up front, chewy malt on the finish and some strange sweetness.

M - slightly thin and on the slick side, light on the carbonation.

O - tolerable, especially if its super cold and it's very hot out. Otherwise, I would steer clear.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 00:41:19 | More by Apellonious

jsanford

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear light gold with a sudsy white head that settles to a thin cap. Moderate aromas of fresh lemon, crisp grain, and slightly doughy malt. Very crisp and fresh. Taste is similarly lemon-forward, nice and fresh, with more light, grainy malt and clean yeast. Lemon flavor is nice and authentic, not sweet and fake like other Shandys on the market. Mouthfeel is light and crisp, with a thin body and good carbonation. Overall a very refreshing and welcomed addition to the Sam Adams line-up. Hopefully this will be out again next Summer!

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 03:48:15 | More by jsanford