Samuel Adams White Christmas - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Tuey13

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Sam Adams Boston lager glass... has a hazy golden color and a thick foamy white head that dissipates rather quickly, leaving nice lacing on the glass.
The smell is malt and yeast with strong spices and citrus... smells very interesting.
The taste is definitely malt forward with a bit of citrus and then the spices dominate the palate. The spices really take over once the beer warms a bit.
I thought this was a very refreshing, yet warming take on a winter beer... I give Sam Adams props for thinking out of the box... this is a beer i thoroughly enjoyed, while not extreme it was delicate and tasty. Very well balanced in my opinion. I think i will get a six pack of these to enjoy during the holiday season.
Cheers!!

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 22:49:09 | More by Tuey13

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle from Walmart Cicero NY for 2$

Appearance – Hazy gold colour with an average size fizzy/foamy white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation and there is some fairly great lacing. The head lasted for around 3-4 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Grains/wheat, all-spice, citrus

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an above average amount of carbonation. I can taste grains/bread mixed with all-spice, nutmeg, and some fruity citrus notes. Lots of flavour, but well balanced and even slightly refreshing. It ends with a spicy crisp aftertaste.

Overall – A well made and very drinkable beer. The flavours work well together and I could actually drink a few of these. Worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 21:53:00 | More by spinrsx

riversider76

New York

3.78/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poura a cloudy golden orange with a thin white head. Not much retention, and no laceing. Aroma is of citrus, and spice. Body is on the light side of medium with some carbonation. Taste is of orange peel, and spice. Tangy with a crisp refreshing flavor. Some hints of bready malts make this somthing differant,and very enjoyable. Merry Christmas!

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 19:39:08 | More by riversider76

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint Glass.

Appearance
Cloudy straw/orange with 1/2 finger of head that dissipates quickly.

Nose
Wheat bread, nougat, orange citrus and gentle spices.

Taste
Wheat bread, orange juice and nougat. There are some nutty characteristics in there. The spicing is kept light and is a mixture of nutmeg and cinnamon. The citrus character really defines this beer.

Mouthfeel
Light-medium bodied, smooth and crisp.

Overall
This one has a huge citrus character that blends nicely with the wheaty malts. The spicing is not overdone, which is nice. This is easily the best Wit I've had from Sam Adams.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 18:05:55 | More by justintcoons

BeefyMee

Connecticut

2.68/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 2.5

Sam Adams witbier, all right all right. Pours out a dull straw color with a feeble head. Slightly transparent, decent haze. One whiff and I knew I had to take another...because I couldn't smell anything. On a deep inhale, I got some citrus and wet grains. Flavor is similarly nondescript, just a little tang upfront followed by a decidedly more pleasant husky grain finish. Does not really strike me as a wit, more like a mediocre hefe. Not that every wit should be a slave to the bananaclove flavor profile, but if you're going a different route, at least make it interesting. The strongest part of the flavor here is the mellow but long lingering wheaty aftertaste. The most notable feature of the beer as a whole is its incredible texture, which only makes me wonder what could have been if they had nailed the taste.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 23:21:00 | More by BeefyMee

mscudder

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up the new variety pack and served this in a pint.

A - A pale yellow mixed with a rich orange. Thin white head.

S - Orange, clove, touch of nutmeg and some assorted spices. Nothing to make me get excited over, yet not poor.

T - Odd stuff. Had I been blind tasting this I would have told you I was sipping on a lightly spiced cider. An apple sweetness starts it off and progresses with a fruity flavor into some bready notes. Pretty good.

M - Medium body, more viscous than I anticipated. Seems as if there is just a hint of caramel or maple syrup here. Smooth all around.

O - Far from a miss. This beer gives a nice winter-styling to a traditional Witbier. I prefer the more notorious Belgian brothers of the style, but I do applaud this American adaptation.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 04:43:38 | More by mscudder

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.05/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams pint glass. Purchased at Wakefield Liquors in Wakefield, Rhode Island.

A- Pours a very hazy, golden orange with a 2" white head. Little lacing/retention.

S- Oranges and corn. Maybe some faint clove in the background.

T- Oranges and citrus, but really no authentic spice flavor here except maybe a hint of cinnamon. Tastes like a cheap version of blue moon.

M- Medium carbonation, slightly thick.

Overall I was unimpressed with this one. I had to choke down the last few sips. Not a winter style in my opinion, either.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 02:19:30 | More by gcamparone

acevenom

Louisiana

3.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Samuel Adams perfect pint glass. Pours hazy yellow orange with a thick white head and lots of tiny bubbles. The head dissipates slowly. Poured into a Samuel Adams perfect pint glass. Pours hazy yellow orange with a thick white head and lots of tiny bubbles. The head dissipates slowly. The flavor is an interesting taste on the classic witbier. The wheat malt backbone is there with juicy orange flavor. I get the cinnamon and nutmeg, but they are not overpowering. The spices instead complement the flavors of this beer well. The body is light to medium with moderate carbonation. The beer is very smooth and highly drinkable. This is a very good beer. Like a previous reviewer, I agree this beer gives us a reason to enjoy a wit in the winter.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 02:01:44 | More by acevenom

Kooz

New York

3.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Limited edition, and an interesting idea. Sam takes a traditional white ale, which I associate with summer, and adds in the spices I associate with fall/winter beers (cinnamon, nutmeg). I'm expecting a punch of spices and a lingering citrus taste at the end.

This looks great. Nice tight head over a cloudy, pale orange beer. I can't wait to imbibe!

I smell orange and cinnamon, which have no business being in the same beverage, but somehow work here.

I'm getting the citrus and some wheatiness. It's nice, but not what I expected at all. The body is nice as well. It coats the inside of your mouth with a warmth that lingers slightly and has some sweetness that isn't sticky. It's a nice flavor.

It's just weird to me. The spices make this something warm and cozy, but as a result, all the fresh, crispness that comes with a traditional white. It left me confused, even though it is good. I would certainly have this again though.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 01:49:52 | More by Kooz

Jparker37

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a weizen glass. Best before March '13

A - Light golden with a great haziness to it. Medium sized white head falls to a small cap. Little bits of lacing left on the glass.

S - Get a nice aroma of sweet orange peel and a lot of wheat. Floral with a bit of coriander here. Medicinal phenols.

T - Slight bit of sweetness right away. Grainy malt gives way to big twangy wheat character. Flavor dries up towards the end and has a well crafted spiced finish. I get that pseudo pumpkin beer quality. Allspice and nutmeg are easy to pick up on but don't overwhelm.

M - Medium-light body works perfect, medium-high carbonation, semi-sweet.

O - A lot of wheat crammed into this brew. Aroma shows good complexity and traditional wit characters. Taste is dominated by wheat but finishes with a cool curveball. Great feel and appearance to the beer. Throws a good switch to a common summer style, a good excuse to enjoy wit in winter.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 02:06:54 | More by Jparker37

Brad007

Vermont

3.83/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

They already have a white ale. Why another?

Pours a cloudy whitish-gold color with a thin head into my glass. Very straightforward for the style.

Creamy and spicy with light citrus and clove notes. Fairly average here. The spices add a bit of variation to the base.

Ditto for the flavor. Very creamy once again. Lots more clove with some buttery malt. Very clean with optimal carbonation.

Lingering creaminess and sweet malt make up the mouthfeel. Not much of the wheat base remains.

An interesting varation of their white ale with spices and a mouthfeel that while very unique, doesn't quite fit the style all the way. A worthy effort regardless.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 02:00:57 | More by Brad007

Halcyondays

California

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A couple 12 oz. bottles from the mix-pack,

A: Pours a classic yellow to goldenrod with a small white head. Good head retention, solid spotty lace.

S: Lots of cinnamon, nutmeg and orange, almost smells like a spiced cider. Some bready wheat notes tells me that I'm smelling a beer though. Nice use of winter spice.

T: The taste as with the nose has a bit of a spiced cider thing. Maybe it's the overt cinnamon tricking me, there is no tartness, heavy fruit or other hallmark of winter cider I get aside from the cinnamon, so I'll leave it at that. The spice is very nice and blends with the wheat and malt for a nice tasty spiced witbier. Very good stuff.

M: Medium-bodied, seems a bit richer than the 5.8%. Very creamy, glides across the tongue on the finish. Elegant.

O: This is a really nice unique spiced beer that's a great addition to the Winter mix pack. Too bad I only get 2 of them in this thing.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 06:17:45 | More by Halcyondays

tvljr

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An unfiltered white ale with a distinct aroma unlike most other SA products.

Appears cloudy and golden as you'd expect with an unfiltered white. Carries about a fingers depth head that soon sinks down to a light cover over the top of the beer.

Definite taste of cinnamon and nutmeg, a little too much for my taste but not as overwhelming as many of these "holiday" beers.

Refreshing, low carbonation mouth feel.

A good addition to the Sam Adams line. Better than some of their other special beers. I may buy a six pack to see how it last over a full evening.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 21:31:07 | More by tvljr

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-Cloudy orange. Huge, downy white head. About an inch and a half of height. Leaves mild lacing. Body is far more orange than the pale white normally associated with a Wit.

S-Orange peel and coriander. Spiced wheat. Mulled cider. Quite spicy. I quickly notice the sweetness that I will soon be experiencing. A spicier Witbier.

T-Sweet and spiced. Toasted wheat. Nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. A tickle of pepper? Gingerbread. Caramel covered nectarine skins. Consistent maltiness.

M-Fuller bodied Wit. Massaging carbonation. Slick and semi-sticky.

O/D-Sam has put out a couple neat beers recently. This one is more dud than stud. 85% Witbier, 15% Winter Warmer. Weird little guy. Damnit, I can see two or three bottles from this six-pack becoming refugees in the fridge for a month or so.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 04:16:35 | More by VelvetExtract

PintOHops

California

3.15/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Glass - Pint

A - A hazy apricot colored brew with high carbonation and lots of haze. Small head fell quickly. No lacing.

S - Sweet bubblegum upfront with soft cracker and grain throughout. I get a bit of zest and subtle spice like quality in the way of cinnamon. That bubblegum like aroma is pretty over powering to me.

T - Wow, just about as sweet as I expected. Bubblegum, cinnamon, banana, and bread upfront. That cinnamon really comes through in the taste, a bit too much almost. It finishes with bread, cracker, malty sweetness, and a touch of bright citrus. Bitterness is almost absent.

M - Nearly full bodied with a smooth and chewy like feel. Carbonation is medium.

O - I think the beer is good. I can't say I would buy it again though. Tasty, looks good, smells inviting. The whole cinnamon/winter spice thing in a white beer come off a bit strange to me. Sam Adams makes it work decently though. Worth a try. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 00:41:04 | More by PintOHops

JosiahS

California

3.8/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

a: Hazy orange/peach color. 1-1 half finger white head, fluffy.

s: gym socks, light clove, apricot, bubblegum, orange peel, spicy and generally malty.

t: Bright orange, bubblegum and clove, finishes with orange peel, cinnamon and bready malt.

m: medium body with some slickness to it. Medium carbonation.

o: Spices come through well, any more and it would have been too much for me. A bit sweet for my taste but nice.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 00:38:49 | More by JosiahS

BDIMike

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Apperance is amazing on this beer. A very bright golden color with a nice haziness to it. A very refreshing column of bubbles rises up and and creates a thick, fluffy white head that doesn't go away at all.
Smell is fantastic. All the usual Christmas spices of nutmeg, cinnamon, and citrus. Really solid smells.
Taste is great. So much better than all of the other Christmas ales on the market. Instead of the usual stout base, there is a strong wheat and citrus base. The spices feed off that very nicely and become the star.
Mouthfeel has a nice refreshing crispness to it.
Drinkability is awesome on this Christmas Ale. A great load of spices with a lower alcohol than most, makes this beer one to drink a 6 pack or more of. Great selection that I am glad I got a 6 pack of. I need to get to the store to get more before its out.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 01:51:19 | More by BDIMike

mckenziac

3.85/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams Boston Lager glass. Taken from a Sam Adams "Winter Classics" variety pack.

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden color. Has a small, fizzy head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing.

Smell: Smells wheaty and yeasty with strong winter spice notes, especially cinnamon. Has a slight citrus smell as well.

Taste: Slightly hoppy up front. Starts wheaty and yeasty with strong citrus flavors. Finishes spicy with cinnamon and nutmeg predominantly.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated.

Overall: An interesting new offering from Sam Adams. It's an interesting concept to remove the normal witbier spices, like coriander, and replace them with winter warmer spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg. I think it mostly works here and this is a beer that I definitely wouldn't mind having again or seeing in the mixed packs.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 12:16:46 | More by mckenziac

hosehead83

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass
Cloudy apricot in color, with a moderate head of fluffy foam.
Aroma-Citrus zest, subtle nutmeg
Taste-Orange peel, nutmeg, cinnamon, spicy wheat. An interesting "lighter' take on a Christmas ale. Not overdone, and pretty refreshing and drinkable for a holiday brew. Flavor gets a little muddled upon warming. Not a great fireside brew, but suitable for a holiday "refresher" or opening gifts on a warm Christmas day in the tropics.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 18:17:05 | More by hosehead83

Domingo

Colorado

3.03/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Oh Sam Adams. Just when we think we're getting rid of the abundance of random wheat-based seasonals, another one comes out.
This one is essentially a holiday spiced witbier.
Looks more or less like a standard witbier. Light in color, foamy, cloudy. No issues here.
The nose has a little cinnamon and nutmeg, plus a distinct wit cirtus-y sourness. Maybe this won't be bad?
The flavor department is really where this one falls apart. Strong cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg hit right away. It's like a pumpkin or holiday beer gone wild. the problem is that on the back end, there's the Sam Adams wheat roughness that only works in a few beers (like Summer Ale). Here it doesn't. Instead it's all spice on the front, wit sourness in the middle, and all husky bitterness on the back end. I don't mind spiced beers, but this one is all out of whack.
No problems with the texture, and I suppose if you're really really into massive spice notes or don't mind that weird back-end, this might be drinkable for you. Maybe non-beer drinkers would like it, too.
A novel idea that just doesn't work. I really wish Boston Beer would stop with the forced wheat seasonals. This might work as a blonde, lager, or porter but as a wit it just doesn't...at least for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 17:22:47 | More by Domingo

kneeland

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

I was worried when I poured it. It looks like cloudy beer that's been sitting in a solo cup for a few days. But the head has a good lacey consistency, and it sticks around.

The taste is good, considering I was scared to try it. Nutmeg, wheat, a little citrus, other spices.

It came in the Sam Adams winter pack, and overall I like it, but I'm not positive I would go buy a six pack of it.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 17:13:50 | More by kneeland

TheSixthRing

California

3/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance - Pours cloudy, pale orange with a white, half finger head. Subpar retention results in sparse lacing.

Smell - Smells of pie crust, nutmeg and cinnamon.

Taste - Follows the nose. Heavy on the nutmeg and cinnamon spices, with a pie crust malt flavor. Faint hint of coriander as the beer heads for the finish, and a subtle wheatness peaks through at the tail-end of the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Light in body, with an almost fizzy carbonation.

Overall - Not very impressed. Reminiscent of their Harvest Pumpkin ale, minus the hints of pumpkin. Is it drinkable? Yeah, but I wouldn't want to buy it again, and I'm hoping it's a one-and-done in the Winter pack.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 01:50:33 | More by TheSixthRing

shand

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It's 84 degrees out here in Florida. Christmas? Why not! White Christmas pours a golden-white color with a finger of head. The aroma is heavily spiced with all the usual suspects - cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc. There's also a strong orange aroma here as well. The flavor is very well-composed, the bouquet of holiday spices interact well with the strong orange flavors. The aftertaste is the nicest part of the beer, with the orange, a touch of wheat, and a bit of lingering spice leaving a very good impression. The mouthfeel is light and moderately carbonated, and the drinkability is good. Overall, White Christmas is a nice holiday beer. I'm not sure it needs to be with the fairly similar Old Fezziwig and Winter Lager, but it's tasty and well-done. Balance is the name of the game here.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 19:04:14 | More by shand

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Walter Payton shaker pint glass.

I think it's way the hell too early for Bing-o to be crooning his signature at me, but that's a vain argument for another time. This stuff pours a hazy golden straw topped by a finger of white foam. The nose comprises orange zest, coriander, light wheat, and a pinch each of black pepper and clove. The taste brings in more of the same, along with some brown sugar and some fairly strong ginger. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, though nothing is necessarily outstanding here, this beer was pretty tasty and enjoyable. The spices are definitely present, but they're also balanced against the citrus-y wheat so they don't get out of hand. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 14:14:26 | More by TMoney2591

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy straw color, moderate head. Scent is very pale with notes of pilsner and wheat malts, giving a little grainy tang to the nose, some faint seasonal spicing and a touch of lemon peel. Taste is light as well, faint notes of wheat and pilsner malt, lemon rind and seasonal spicing and faint as well. Lighter side of medium. Drinakable - yes, memorable - no.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2013 16:32:03 | More by rfgetz