Merry Mischief Gingerbread Stout - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.48/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into a snifter. Beige head, good retention on a black body. Oily and soapy lacing, tiny bubbles. Aroma includes nutmeg, slight coffee, some faint hop bitterness and a touch of alcohol. Taste has a nice roasted quality with a moderate sweetness, some vanilla and nutmeg, really nice flavor. Thick mouthfeel, very, very easy to drink considering the high abv. No alcohol taste, high abv AND delicious is a very dangerous combination.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2012 03:53:47 | More by KickbacksSteve

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.28/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a New Belgium globe.

The beer is almost as black as tar with only a trace of brown coming through the very edges. A mocha head settles to a film and light sticky lacing coats the glass.

The beer smells strongly of gingerbread cookies right off the bat. A bubblegum sweetness follows, and lastly just a notion of the 9% alcohol can be detected.

The beer tastes like it smells, and it's pretty rich. Burnt malts come out first though, followed by a spicy cinnamon. The body is all gingerbread cookie. Some chocolate comes out in the finish.

The mouthfeel is smooth, rich, silky.

Overall, it's a pretty rich, complex dessert beer. The 9% ABV is almost undetectable. Good, interesting beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 00:43:36 | More by JuicesFlowing

barnzy78

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a 25oz snifter is black like molasses with a frothy tan head, great retention, excellent lacing all the way down the glass. Aromas are spicy like gingerbread: clove, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg as they reveal on the label, not much else - maybe a hint of roasted barley. Tastes are clove, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, roasted barley, cream, molasses, cookie dough seems to be there too, alcohol is well concealed, especially for 9%. Mouth-feel is creamy & smooth, medium body. Overall, good for what it is...it actually tastes like gingerbread. Nice work!

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 23:31:08 | More by barnzy78

Mumps

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +24%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pilsner glass.

Absolute black tar colored with nice 1/4 inch head. Dark enough that my brother in law's flashlight did not penetrate! Good lacing.

Smells like....gingerbread! (imagine that) Cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, like Christmas in a glass.
Made me instantly think of a warm fire and baking in the kitchen.

Taste like is smells. Amazing gingerbread taste. Incredibly warming, the perfect brew for a cold winter night. Alcohol is well balanced, not kicking you in the teeth but sneaking up on you quick.

Mouthfeel was good, very smooth and big. Lets you know its a stout for sure.

Over all a fantastic beer, well suited for the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 15:40:31 | More by Mumps

Braz

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Looks like motor oil pouring into a glass. Absolutely pitch black with three fingers of fluffy tan head. Smells very nice. Cloves, ginger and a touch of citrus strike the nose. Very clean aroma. Very smooth taste. Clove and cinnamon followed by a touch of sweetness with a spiced aftertaste. Alcohol taste is well hidden though I feel a warming effect after the third sip so this is definately strong. Just a touch heavy on the clove I think, and could benefit from just a little more sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 15:20:33 | More by Braz

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark color with a billowing tan head. Good lacing.

Cinnamon and old leather on the most. Pleasently creamy body and relatively smooth. Chocolate and roasted malt upfront followed by holiday spices. Faintly reminiscent of a ginger bread cookie but not as much as you expect. Slightly burnt tasting at times. Simple but has flavors that go together. A nice sweet stout that doesn't push limits or offend. Alcohol is undetectable which is nice. Made for people who drink only Sam Adams but won't venture any further into the craft world.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 02:17:01 | More by jtierney89

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: dark brown in color, 1/4 inch head, opaque, medium-high carbonation

Smell: gingerbread cookie

Taste:roasted malt, ginger bread, and a ginger snap intensity at the end

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy bodied, medium carbonation, sweet with spiciness

Overall: Not the most complex of the Sam Adams special releases, but a quality beer if you like ginger. I could see myself getting this once a winter, but craving it more than that.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 14:48:51 | More by tigg924

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.6/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 22oz brown pop top Sam Adams bottle with nice raised letters, etc and a cool label. Been wanting to try a gingerbread stout for forever; kudos to SA for finally getting it done! Found for $5.99-6.99. Split into two Chimay goblets and split w/my wife.

Appearance: Black beer with a big medium-tan cap that shows nice retention.

Smell: In terms of the spice balance (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger), SA has this one absolutely pegged. Not gingerbread-like or 'kinda like gingerbread', but dead on. A few swirls bring out a wisp of smoke and a hint of booze. Everything's stellar with the exception of the smoky note; I guess it's kind of Christmassy, but I'm not sure about it with all the sweet spice.

Taste: Unfortunately, the spice profile does not come through NEARLY as strong in the flavor as it does in the aromas. There is some spice, and the profile is pretty spot-on, but it's almost completely annihilated by the booze (a bit rough) and roasted flavors. The closer this gets to room temp, the more the spices come out but, unfortunately, the booze burn becomes reminiscent of vodka. Some toasted brown bread notes on the finish as this approaches room temperature.

Mouthfeel: Awesome. I read some reviews that complained that this was thin, but the oats here make this creamy, full, and rich. Quite nice.

Conclusion: The only thing holding this back (even if it's a major gripe) is the heat. I think that this could have been SPECTACULAR if they'd kept the same basic concept, but ratcheted the strength back to around 6-6.5%. At this price, I'd probably pick up one a season, but no more.

83 = B

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 03:14:31 | More by BedetheVenerable

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours proper stouty black, with a nice big tan head on it. The bubbles are tight and creamy, but the body is pitch black and opaque, but looked relatively clear as it went into the glass. The lacing on my glass is really quite droopy and thin, leaving little dots across the glass. On the nose, the beer smells sweet and spicy with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and a touch of ginger, which really isn’t surprising seeing as how those are the spices that were used in the beer. The cinnamon is the strongest in smell as far as the spices go, but below the spices sits a strong helping of roasted malts and a touch of black coffee, which is really quite inviting. Hot alcohol is also present and accentuated with the spices, though that isn’t really a bad thing. The slurry of all of these smells helps to suggest slight dark fruit notes in the beer, as well. The beer tastes terrifically bizarre and spicy. The beer begins with roast mingling with dark raisin notes, these flavors continue (especially the roast) but the rest of the beer opens into ginger bread hints that quickly build and climax in the middle of the taste, before petering out into a stale cinnamon flavor. The aftertaste is of watered down spices, and comes far too quickly, making me wish the gingerbread flavors would stay for awhile. On the mouthfeel, the beer is creamy and smooth. The body is medium, with hints of being both lighter and thicker, and after the beer passes, the mouth is left slightly dry with pooling spittle just barely ebbing over the tongue. Overall this is a great holiday beer with a nice gimmicky flavor. I do wish the gingerbread flavor would stick around longer, but I get the feeling that would be very difficult to brew in a balanced way. A solid holiday brew from Sam Adams, and definitely worthy of a taste, or a Christmas tasting.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 01:32:46 | More by Maxwell

jwc215

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black with thin brown head that lasts. Lacing sticks as it progresses.

The smell is of gingerbread with some roast, chocolate and a hint of alcohol.

The taste of gingerbread is strong but not overpowering, allowing a fairly complex and very tasty stout to come through. Sweet gingerbread and chocolate notes with a balancing espresso, and a mild English hop touch. A hint of alcohol warmth comes through in the finish.

It is smooth despite abv. It reaches full-bodied, but not thick.

A very nice winter "sipper". Alcohol well-integrated. It has nice stout features. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 22:49:08 | More by jwc215

Norfawkers

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Black color with a creamy/foamy tan head; ample lacing.

Smell: Sweet, spicy, and yeasty--not too strong.

Taste: Sweet malts up front but resolves to a roasty finish. Some spices in the middle; not too much gingerbread flavor (very faint in the middle).

Mouthfeel: A bit thick and coating.

Overall: A decent holiday beer although for something advertised as a gingerbread stout, I was looking for more gingerbread flavor. The malt seems to cover up the spices a little bit. Comparable to a decent pumpkin beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 21:16:34 | More by Norfawkers

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass

A- pours black with a solid, two finger brown head that fades pretty quickly. Very solid head with no real breaks, solid lacing as well. Looks very nice

S- smells like the description: a gingerbread stout. Tons of gingerbread in the nose, along with some smoked malt and a very slight bit of chocolate

T- the gingerbread flavors aren't very strong at all, which is a little disappointing. The finish is pretty sweet, which gives me the impressive there's some lactase in here. Overall, pretty underwhelming

M- body is very thin, especially for something that's supposed to be 9%. Absolutely no thickness whatsoever

O- it's not necessarily bad persay, just not exactly what I was expecting overall. Wouldn't mind seeing this thrown into the holiday mix pack, just wouldn't buy a bomber again though

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 01:42:15 | More by bigfnjoe

kristiekatk

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Merry Mischief Gingerbread Stout, a 9% ABV milk stout, pours black with a creamy 2-finger mocha head, with thick, sticky lacing. The aroma is more subdued than what you would expect though; toffee, toasted malts, and very light gingerbread.
I guess I wanted a creamy, spicy stout bomb. What I got was, well, it was comparable to taking a pumpkin beer, an English ale, and a milk stout and shaking them around in a beer snowglobe.
Flavor is very heavily spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger; almost like pumpkin pie spicing. Roasted malts, a mild and earthy hop bitterness, caramel, and a hint of lactose round out the flavor. It’s well-carbonated, the body medium-light, but lacking some of that smooth and full-bodied creaminess that I look for in a milk stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 22:25:23 | More by kristiekatk

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a very thick, dark brown coloring that borders on black, with an opaque character that is devoid of highlighting colors. A small, low profile head of dark tan rests on top, but quickly settles into a sparse, filmy coating as the beer sits for a bit. Good looking beer. Aromas of sweet gingerbread, roasted and baked dough, a spice profile rich in ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, some banana sweetness, and a touch of booze, as well. Smells like a rich, warming brew. Flavors are round and robust in mouth, and gingerbread is in the forefront. Nutmeg and ginger quickly coat the taste buds, with an underlying boozey backbone that flows over and then whisks the palate clean. Molasses sweet in the background, with a hint of roasted coffee, as well, but both are subtle and supporting. The beer is smooth and light in mouth, but the flavor profile packs a wallop on your sense of taste. A very fulfilling and grandoise brew. The aftertaste is very mild compared to what has been experienced thus far, with a touch of ginger, buttery bread, and a hint of sugary sweet all blending together. The finish is clean and smooth, and the higher ABV helps to once again clean everything up. Very strong stout, both in flavor and substance. Very tasty, and a great wintertime imbibe. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 01:06:36 | More by GarthDanielson

mdfb79

New York

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From 12/11/12 notes. Picked this up a few weeks ago at City Swiggers in NYC for $8.49. 16.6 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

a - Pours an almost black brown color with one finger of light tan head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks very nice.

s - Smells of spruce, pine hops, roasted malts, cinnamon, gingerbread, spice, and pepper. Too much pine and spruce for me; smells like a Christmas tree.

t - Tastes of pine hops, roasted malts, chocolate, gingerbread, cinnamon, pepper, spice, spruce, toasted malts. Better than the nose and less spruce.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Body is smooth and easy to drink.

o - Overall I wasn't a huge fan of this one and my girlfriend hated it. Too much pine and spruce/christmas tree in the nose for me, and it lingered in the taste as well. Seems like people like it but I probably wouldn't look to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 15:01:32 | More by mdfb79

sommersb

Tennessee

4.23/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On: 12-12-2012
Freshness: Batch No. 1
Packaging: 22 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Tulip pint
Purchased: Single from Midtown, Nashville

A: Giant, creamy tan head sits on a solid black and opaque beer. Head retention is excellent with attractive rings of lace.

S: Very pleasant spice aromas of nutmeg, gingerbread, egg nog, allspice and cloves.

T: Taste is sweet, with toasted malt and coffee bitterness to round it out. Other flavors include spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. Very well done in terms of balance between the chocolate malts, earthy hops and spice profile.

M: Full-bodied and creamy mouthfeel. Some alcohol warming but not too hot. Finishes with chocolate, coffee and spices -- not sweet or dry but just right.

O: Better than expected blend of milk/sweet stout and spiced holiday brew. Recommended

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 05:37:11 | More by sommersb

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch No. 1:

Into a pint glass:

A: dark black colored body yielding a beautiful two finger dark tan head that lasts for at least a good two minutes. As the head starts to dissipate, some nice spider web lacing appears around the sides of the pint glass. Some rings eventually appear. The body is too dark for any carbonation to be seen rising.

S: "Christmas" in all sorts of ways with ginger, pumpkin, nutmeg, cloves and allspice all up front giving a nice punch in the nose. Some nice roasted coffee and chocolate come out more so as the beer warms a bit.

T: takes all of those previously mentioned flavorings and combines very nicely for a bitter/sweet/dry taste that meets a robust sort of taste that meets a bit above the standard for the season.

M: heavy, a nice small sipper that will make me satisfied for the rest of the day. It has a fairly smooth dry finish. Though a fairly high ABV, still the alcohol is slightly undetectable.

O: this turned out better than I thought it would be, perhaps I was thinking this was going to be a malt bomb, but it still had some nice bitter/dry aspects a good "stout" should have. I would say this was good for the style and for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 21:02:34 | More by kangarooAdam59

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle poured into a snifter.
9.0% ABV, "Enjoy now or age."

A - Molasses black in color, the beer seems to pour just about as thick, topping off with a tall but short-lived tightly packed mocha foam. Specks of lace ride the side of the glass in a Calvin and Hobbes toboggan ride-like zig-zag.

S - Merry Mischief smells like opening a Christmas tin of ginger snap cookies combined with a pumpkin pie; ginger and molasses notes with big clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Roasted malts give the beer a singed pie crust nose followed by a pinch of mocha and hint of espresso coffee grounds. Lactose sweetness doesn't appear quite so strong but seems to bury the malt aromas a bit on the finish.

T - Forward spice reiterates the classic ginger snap cookie flavor while the other aforementioned spices pile on memories of the recent fall desserts; pumpkin pie! Lactose sweetness and soft wheat withhold the more aggressive attributes of the "stout" side of this beer. Roasted malt, molasses, and coffee peek through but this beer remains approachable even for it's boastful alcohol percentage.

M - Smooth, robust and full-bodied, Merry Mischief is a playful beer that combines soft wheat and a round sweetness feel with sharp spice, gritty roasted malt, and mellow alcohol for a satisfying and warm, soothing finish.

O - With a nicely blended, not over-the-top, mélange of spices and full base of roasted malt, Samuel Adams Merry Mischief puts a welcome spin on an imperial stout that's not so imperial feeling. If you find yourself spending extended time in the cold this winter season, trade in your mug of hot cocoa for a delectable Merry Mischief when you get back inside.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 21:58:51 | More by BeerFMAndy

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep, dark brown, almost black color with less than one finger of brown fluffy head.

The scent is of gingerbread spice, roasted malts, some spice.

The taste is of gingerbread spice, cocoa, nutmeg, roasted malt, some alcohol.

Fully body, smooth and syrupy, low carbonation.

This was an ok stout, there was some good initial flavor but the syrupy texture was too much to make it enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2012 20:50:20 | More by BeerCon5

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance: dark brown. Not quite opaque. Some ruby highlights creep through when held to direct light. Pretty thick, messy tan head and lacing.
smell: As advertised, gingerbread up front, and all the spice associated. Very nice blend of mellow sweetness and gingerbread.
taste: Just like the nose. very nice blend of gingerbread and sweet stout.
overall: very pleasant surprise. Didn't exactly knock my socks off only because I don't really think a gingerbread stout no matter how well done would manage that. That said, I can't imagine a better gingerbread stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 22:56:19 | More by cindyjeffsmith

Schwerzpunkt

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Serving type: Bottle poured into a snifter.

Appearance: Very dark brown nearly black, with a thick, pale-brown head. Head diminished rapidly, as did the moderate lacing left on the glass.

Smell: GINGERBREAD. Smells just like a gingerbread man. Scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, etc. Also detecting hints of roasty malts.

Taste: Just like the aroma, it tastes like a gingerbread man. Very sweet and heavy on the spices. I'm also detecting notes of coffee and roasty malts. The alcohol is also noticeable in the taste.

Mouthfeel. On the lighter end of full-bodied (probably considered light for the style). Low-moderate carbonation. Fairly smooth and pleasant.

Overall: Hit the nail on the head with this one. Pretty accurate representation of the style, and definitely a gingerbread stout. Too sweet for my liking, and it got sickening near the end of the bomber, but I difinitely got what I paid for.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 03:17:54 | More by Schwerzpunkt

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A billowing cascading pour yields three fingers worth of audibly fizzy tightly packed and uniform dark brown colored head... Retention is more than respectable and lasts for quite a bit... The color is a deep dark brown... Limited carbonation with just a couple of quickly paced stray bubbles streaking towards the top of the glass...

S - Gingerbread... Assorted other spices... Some lightly roasted malts... Not much else going on...

T - The palate is much more pleasing and complex than the nose... Ginger bread... Molasses... Light roasted malts... A hint of chocolate... Additional holiday spicing... The flavors ebb and flow and create very nice complexity making each sip slightly different than the last...

M - On the fuller side of medium bodied... Moderate carbonation... Smooth and slightly sleek... Even and consistent... A bit sticky on the finish...

D - Excellent appearance, taste and mouthfeel... The aroma is a bit of let down... The net result is a very nice and slightly unique holiday offering from the fine folks at Boston Beer... Surprisingly quaffable and hides its 9% ABV rather well... I'll gladly indulge this one each holiday season, but may drink more if it came in 12 oz bottles...

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 03:03:14 | More by philbe311

shand

Florida

4.3/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Merry Mischief pours out a very deep brown with a sizable mocha head. The aroma is awesome, it's really got a nice gingerbread spice thing going on here. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The taste is really gingerbread all the way through. Beneath the nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves from the nose, there's a bit of a brown sugar flavor, vanilla, and chocolate. The mouthfeel feels a little thin to me, I wouldn't mind a little more chewiness on this. The drinkability is solid. Overall, this is a great beer that delivers on the first part of the label. There's plenty of gingerbread here and less traditional stout flavors. Tasty!

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 00:49:51 | More by shand

Brad007

Vermont

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pretty strong ABV for a non-imperial.

Pours a dark brownish-black with a thick brown head into my glass. Good presentation for the style. Darker than it seems at first.

Gingerbread spice dominates the aroma. Can't really smell much of the base beer itself so I do wonder. Hmm.

Doesn't quite drink like a milk stout. Sure, there is a sweet, milky base with a touch of molasses, cocoa and spice. However, I can't quite tell what's wrong with this.

I figured it out. The mouthfeel is too thin. The carbonation is also too high for the style. Well, for my liking that is. It comes off as boozy.

Meh. After a few sips, I can't stand the mouthfeel. I'm going to go with a drain pour, even if the ABV should allow some aging.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 16:10:03 | More by Brad007

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a perfect pint glass.

Pours a very dark black with brown foam. Sits a top. Some lacing. Smells like a gingerbread man (shocker!) -cinamon, nutmeg, ginger. Taste is lightly sweet, cookie-ish, with a light hop finish. Roasted at the end too. Nice blend, good seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 15:25:58 | More by KTCamm