Samuel Adams Blueberry Hill Lager - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

BryanCarey

Texas

3.54/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Starting with appearance, this lager has an orange- colored, cloudy, unfiltered body, a nice amount of fluffy white foam that tends to stick around, and a nose that reminds me of blueberry cereal. There are some other fruits lingering in the background, but the scent of blueberries dominates.

Blueberry Hill Lager is a fruity beer and, as expected, the taste of blueberries dominates. But there are other flavors going on here, flavors such as light citrus, honey, and lightly toasted malt. Bitterness is subdued and fruitiness shines through, even though still malty enough to taste the way a beer should.

This beer has a creamy mouthfeel and while not the best balanced fruit beer I have ever tried, it is still good enough to earn a passing mark. It does seem like a good summertime brew and it’s a nice addition to the Samuel Adams 12- pack summer sampler.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 01:22:36 | More by BryanCarey

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.38/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured from bottle (dated best by Oct. 2013) into a pint glass

Appearance- The beer pours a lightly hazed orange-amber color with a one finger thick white colored head. The head fades over a moderate level of time, leaving a good level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is massive of blueberries with it hitting the nose immediately after opening the bottle and being even more potent after pouring. This huge blueberry aroma is quite authentic smelling with a delicious fresh blueberry smell. Mixed with this aroma is a very light aroma of lemon and an almost pastry like smell overall producing a very tasty smelling brew.

Taste – The taste starts out with a big bready and light blueberry flavor upfront. Some other sweetness of a candied sugar taste joins the flavors upfront with a lemon flavor developing more as the flavor advances beyond the initial taste. While the lemon comes to the tongue, the blueberry flavors increase in intensity. In the end the blueberry gets somewhat potent, but dries out some and is joined by a slightly stale biscuit flavor leaving a blueberry and bready flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is on the average side in terms of its thickness and creaminess with a carbonation level that is rather average. A bit less body and more carbonation may have been better for all the blueberry flavor as it would have produced a more crisp and refreshing brew.

Overall – The look and aroma of the beer were quite awesome, but unfortunately the taste and flavor didn’t live up to the former. Even so it is still a decent blueberry lager and at least is one to try.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 00:39:27 | More by Darkmagus82

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Gotta say that this one looked real nice. It was a little cloudy, tan with tinges of orange, and had a real nice white head that just didn't want to go away. Five minutes after pouring it still has a real nice 1/4" dense white head.

I get a pretty nice blueberry smell from my glass, and this is the primary aroma. Everything else takes a backseat to the blueberries, and this follows into the taste. There's an ample malty backbone that doesn't overpower the fruitiness at all. Hops are light but there's enough bitterness to leave a nicely balanced beer.

The body is light and it's very drinkable. A moderately sweet, fruity aftertaste lingers.

Overall it's a nice summer beer, and one that goes well with the summer mixer 12 packs. I could personally do with a touch less blueberry, but I think that's more my tastes than anything flawed about this beer. Sam Adams probably nailed their intentions on this one perfectly. Anyone who like blueberries, blueberry beers, or even just fruity beers or lagers will probably enjoy this brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 23:23:47 | More by AlCaponeJunior

atr2605

New York

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A-pours a yellow straw color with a white foamy head with nice retention
S-lots of blueberry, bit of malt and hop aroma lingering in the background
T-sweet malt coupled with more strong blueberry with hops proving bitterness but not lending much in the way of flavor.
M-medium-light bodied, easy drinking
O-Pretty much what I expected, a blueberry dominated easy drinking brew. I'm not a huge fan of fruit beers, but its your typical brew

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 00:15:38 | More by atr2605

secondtooth

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy golden, with a nice white head and lovely, ornate lace.

Aroma is, unsurprisingly, heavy on the blueberry. Refreshing, light, and enticing.

Taste is nicely blueberry, but it's a pleasant natural flavor, rather than a weird or artificial one. Indeed, this one's summery, light, and very enjoyable. Sure, it's not super complex or heavy-duty, and seasoned hop-heads and beer nerds will turn up their noses here, but I like this Blueberry Hill Lager just fine, thanks.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 23:21:40 | More by secondtooth

Mavigo

Michigan

3.08/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Got this out of the Summer pack from Costco, figure I'd try this one out. Served in a tulip.

A: Pours a clear orange, amber color with a half inch off white head that dissipates fast with good retention and ample amounts of lacing.

S: Smells of wheat, grains, blueberries, yeast, barley, malts

T: Meh, tastes alright, a bit sweet, hints of yeast, a bit of blueberry, wheat, grains

M: Kind of over carbonated, medium bodied, yeah, too much carbonation, not enough balance and flavor.

O: Meh, this was alright, not really a fruity beer kind of guy. This was not horrible, it was alright, it just was not exciting or enticing to me. I'll have no problem finishing the pack but I probably won't seek them out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 21:24:18 | More by Mavigo

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.49/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

LOOK: Golden colored brew with a chill haze. Solid frothy foam forms and leaves a good amount of lace.

SMELL: Blueberry, crusty bread, lager yeast.

TASTE: Lager like with bread and faint toffee, fades to blueberry cereal. There is a balancing citrusy, herbal bitterness. Wheat perhaps was used. Firmly malty. Finishes with a note of blueberry skin.

FEEL: Medium bodied, smooth, creamy and well carbonated.

OVERALL: For a lager, it's full enough. For a fruit beer, it's fruity and fresh enough. Wasn't amazing but I quite liked the bitterness from the Tettnang hop variety used here. Helped the flavor a bit.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 01:10:11 | More by Stinkypuss

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

2.96/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Samuel Adams mixed 12 pack shared six ways.

The beer appears a cloudy orange hue with a half inch of white head. The aroma brings blueberry sweets, sugar, malt, alcohol. Sweetened artificial blueberries dominate the aroma and flavor. One dimensional and unrefined. This tastes like a large batch operation, lacking the beauty that real fruit can bring to a beer. Sweet throughout. my body is threatening me with a headache if i continue. This is perhaps not as bad as I may have made it out to be, but certainly not my cup of tea. If you prefer sweeter offerings, this may be worth a try. A few ounces was plenty for me, however.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 20:37:34 | More by Huhzubendah

StoutHunter

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I picked up a bottle of Samuel Adams Blueberry Hill Lager in their summer variety pack last week for $13.29 at Meijers. I thought I would give this years summer variety pack a try and this was the first one that I randomly picked out, so lets see how it goes. It was notched best by September. Poured from a brown 12oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A- The label is pretty plain and typical for most Samuel Adams beers. It poured a lightly hazy golden color that took on some nice amber hues when held to the light with two and a half fingers worth of clumpy white head that died down to a thin layer that stayed till the end and left some nice lacing behind. This is a good looking beer, I have no complaints at all.

S- The aroma starts off with a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness with loads of berry aromas coming through with blueberry sticking out the most but there's also some other mixed berry like aromas in the background. The blueberry has a pretty natural like aroma. Towards the end I get some grainy, bready and cracker like malts with a slight bit of yeast towards the end. This beer had a nice aroma, the blueberry was showcased nicely and there were some decent lager aromas in the background.

T- The taste seems to be pretty similar to the aroma and it starts off with a medium amount of sweetness followed by some nice berry flavors, blueberry sticks out the most but there are still some nice generic berry flavors in the background. It tastes natural and not overly sweet or artificial. Up next I get some nice lager flavors that stick out just enough and impart some grainy, biscuit, and cracker like malt flavors with a slight bit of yeast. On the finish there's pretty much not bitterness at all with some more blueberry that carry over to the aftertaste along with some cracker malts. This is a nice tasting beer, the blueberry isn't overpowering or artificial and I can still pick up some of that lager base.

M- Very smooth, crisp, clean, refreshing, on the lighter side of being medium bodied with a slightly higher amount of medium carbonation. The mouthfeel was nice and worked well with this beer.

Overall I thought this was a nice beer and a good example of Blueberry Lager, I'm not the biggest fan of blueberry beers and I think they go best with stouts, but this one was different and I enjoyed it much more than i expected, so far it's the best non stout blueberry I have had so far. This beer had good drinkability, it was very smooth, clean, refreshing, and the flavors did a decent job at holding my attention, I could drink a couple of these on a warm summer day, but the blueberry might wear on me after that. What I liked the most about this beer was how nicely the blueberry was showcased, there wasn't any point were the blueberrys felt artificial. What I liked the least about this beer was nothing, it was great for what they were going for and I can't think of anything that was wrong with it or that I wish was changed, it was nice just the way it is. I might buy this beer again if they sold it on it's own, i wouldn't turn down one of these on a warm summer day and I think it would be a nice beer to keep on hand for people that aren't too experienced with craft beer, I would recommend it to anyone who likes fruit or blueberry beers, even the regular lager drinker might enjoy this. All in all I was happy with this beer, I started to expect the worst since I haven't had the best track record with Blueberry beers, but this one was surprisingly nice and it may change how I feel about the style. Good job Sam Adams, you guys nailed what your were going for and I have no doubt that this will make a great gateway beer into the craft beer scene for a lot of people, nice work.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 03:47:22 | More by StoutHunter

Murrhey

Montana

2.2/5  rDev -34.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25

Poured from a 12-oz standard-pressure cap bottle into a Kronenbourg glass. Reviewed live.

A- Half-finger white head with long retention on a cloudy orange body with heavy carbonation.

S- Blueberry, golden malts and not much else. Fruit beers suffer from this sometimes. Fruit and nothing else.

T- Tart blueberry, rich (surprisingly so) malts.

M- Smooth and creamy. Wet finish.

O- Honestly, this beer is making me a little sick. It really isn't so terrible, but man all together it does not do itself any favors.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 03:53:07 | More by Murrhey

MarkQ617

Massachusetts

2.86/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Had this out of the Sam summer seasonal pack, poured out of the bottle into a pint glass. The color is pretty nice, an orange-copper with a big head. The taste is...blueberry. It's sweet with just a touch of tart, most of of the flavor comes through with the finish. Again...not a big blueberry beer guy, but there are worse ones out there.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 00:05:44 | More by MarkQ617

UCLABrewN84

California

3.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best before 9/2013.

Pours a murky orange with a foamy off-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt and blueberry jelly aromas. Taste is much the same with blueberry muffin flavors on the finish. There is a very mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is suite drinkable with a solid blueberry presence in the aroma and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 22:53:51 | More by UCLABrewN84

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a large white head that fades slowly and leaves a spotty lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains blueberries, light caramelized malts and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out with a strong blueberry sweetness up front and the lack tartness indicates the use of blueberry extract (just a guess). Then some breadiness from lager yeast and a thin malt character comes in. The hops presence is mild but about where you typically find it for this type of beer. The after-taste is slightly sweet and maintains the strong blueberry flavor.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style, it’s not the type of beer I typically drink but if I did this wouldn’t be too bad of an option.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 23:27:01 | More by TheManiacalOne

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.46/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A - Mildly hazy bright yellow beer with a rocking full inch of head and fairly decent lacing.
S - Mild grain bill, sweeter malts, and a touch of tart/sweet blueberries.
T - Doesn't really get too tart or sweet comes off somewhat artificial with a touch of cereal grains and some sweet malt finish. Somewhat enjoyable.
M - Light and crisp, spot on for a fruit beer.

Overall it has some decent blueberry flavor, grains are mild but balanced, and its enjoyable. I have one left but I really couldn't see getting a six pack of this.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 01:58:50 | More by DrDemento456

HalfFull

California

3.48/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Standard pry off bottle poured into a pint glass, the Blueberry Hill pours a lightly hazed deep straw in color and with half an inch of soapy white foam. Offers fair retention and some sticky lace.

Aroma of pale malt with some light citrus accompanying the more pleasant than anticipated blueberry character. Flavor follows suite with a subtle berry grain flavor, a lightly chalky aftertaste followed by a brief cleansing sweetness. Blueberry notes don't come across as artificial and are present yet not overdone in my view. Decent feel with a light grain character and ample carbonation. Interesting brew and not overdone. Subtle and pleasant yet with enough fruit character to keep it interesting. For a while anyway.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 05:48:22 | More by HalfFull

stella77artois

New York

4.28/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

At first I thought to myself "Ok, just another beer w/ fruit flavor added". Not a bad thing, as I like SA's Cherry Wheat and others, but I've never had one that's outstanding. This beer however, is pretty close.

Poured nicely and produced a good color. Typical lighter-Sam Adams smell with hints of blueberry, and even a cinnamon-ish smell.

Taste was excellent. Taste of the berries isn't overpowering like some batches of Cherry Wheat seem to be, nor is it barely there as is the case in with other "fruity" beers I've tried. A smooth, yet very flavorful and strong taste. Typical SA taste w/ a healthy hint of fresh-tasting blueberry flavor.

A darn good beer, wish I could find these in 6er's or 12er's. Don't think they do that, though. One of the few highlights of this year's Summer Variety Pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 15:19:26 | More by stella77artois

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I just got done cutting the grass and Sammy A's blueberry hill lager is great! The beer pours a hazy orange copper with white head that is lacing. The scent has the typical Sam Adams base with hints of blueberry. The first swig brought memories of blueberry pie...a biscuit base with blueberry fruit adornments. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall I think it is a great fruit style beer with without being over the top!!

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:38:30 | More by WoodBrew

NatetheGreat

Nevada

3.74/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Creative attempt (and success IMO) at a fruit beer in a lager style. Works very well. The blueberry is present in the nose more so than on the palate - doesn't overpower but melds nicely with the lemony-citrus note from the hops and the cereal notes from the malts. Nothing jumps out but there's an overall understated flavor profile that offers a brew that is easy drinking while still being unique. My first in the Sam Adams Summer pack was a success!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 21:34:58 | More by NatetheGreat

jwc215

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best by Sept. notched on label:

Pours golden with a thin, lasting white head that leaves lacing.

The smell is of blueberry bubblegum.

The taste is of blueberry juice and bubblegum. There is a cracker-like quality and a mild hoppy citric character in the back to give it a "beer" quality. Sweet, but has a tart touch and a mild dryness in the finish.

It is light-bodied with snappy, but not too fizzy, carbonation.

It has more character than just blueberry flavoring. Not a bad fruit beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 16:11:06 | More by jwc215

mjurney

Texas

3.79/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance:
Gold color, a little haze. Good amount of carbonation rising up. Thick frothy head.

Aroma:
Blueberry, bubblegum, some sweetness.

Taste:
Blueberry through out the taste, it's not overpowering. Pale malts, bready, grassy. I get some orange citrus and spice towards the finish. Body is medium, crisp, semi-dry, refreshing, smooth.

Overall:
Really good for a fruit beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 01:41:07 | More by mjurney

CaptJackHarkness

New York

4.14/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From twelve ounce bottle freshness dated: September 2013.

Fruity aroma , a bit citrusy. Pours cloudy orange yellow with large white foamy head. Retention is good, with spotty lacing. Taste is more citrusy and biting than berry sweet. Slightly sour acidic aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 23:36:40 | More by CaptJackHarkness

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle, no bottled on date present, but the label is notched at best before August 2013. My fifth and final new beer to try from the Samuel Adams summer sampler variety pack.

Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Fairly gentle pour yields one finger of bone white froth, the same appearing head on pretty much all of the beers in this sampler pack. Body is a murky lemony orange color, the same as most of the others also, with what appears to be some blueberry sediment floating around.

S - Smell is of authentic blueberries, I will give it that. Although, while authentic smelling, it is more of a blueberry juice concentrate type aroma. Faint grain aroma lurking in the background. Not a very strong aroma, but still nice for a "lager".

T - Taste is of fruity blueberries, grainy corn, some citric qualities presumably from the Noble hops used in this, and maybe some bubblegum malt taste in the finish, although that could be some blueberry aftertaste.

M - Feel is of sticky fruit sugars, with a dry chalky finish.

Overall, an interesting new take on the style by Samuel Adams, definitely glad to have tried it. While it might not be epic or world-class by any standards, it definitely achieved what it wanted here.

Samuel Adams Blueberry Hill Lager ---3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 21:54:37 | More by mfnmbvp

Ruger

Kentucky

3.19/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A - Pours with a thick three finger white head with good lacing. The color of the beer itself is a light amber.

S - Malt and blueberries not the best smelling blueberries but they are there and stronger then anything else.

T - Blueberries, and slightly bitter afterwards nothing really there. Its a lot different then I expected it to be, when comparing it to my favorite blueberry beer. Really disappointing in that aspect.

M - Refreshing and light bodied with moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 00:46:49 | More by Ruger

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Peachy gold and hazy. Thick soap scum head melts into a stalwart skim of retention. Lace like foamy, skeletal fingers emerging from my beer.

Bright, fresh blueberry muffin and orange zest aroma.

Tastes like blueberries and lager. Which it is.

Probably the best blueberry beer I've ever had (though I'd have to have DFH Black and Blue again to say definitively) . The blueberry comes across as fresh and natural and the lager does just enough to contribute without getting in the way.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 02:13:48 | More by donkeyrunner

ZAP

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I'm a bit hesitant as I first take a whiff of this "blueberry lager"...smells much too artificial as if some blueberry shake mix from Dairy Queen was added in.

But surprisingly the taste is a bit more subdued. Oh the blueberry is still strong and I wouldn't necessarily call it natural (they say aged on a blueberries). No doubt this has some other form of blueberry flavor added.

Still, it's drinkable and I actually like a blueberry flavor beer from time to time. For what it is designed to be it is solid enough. Good strong blueberry notes imprinted on a lager like backbone similar to Alpine Spring (which I find enjoyable). I think the quality lager characteristics supporting this make it drinkable. For example: Imagine a blueberry Hamm's? Exactly. This one works well enough.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 04:34:06 | More by ZAP