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

Gavage

New Jersey

3.71/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: pours a hazy yellowish color with a 1" head that breaks apart quickly.

Smell: yeast,coriander, and a bit of ginger are mild but detctable.

Taste: mild malt profile with coriander, lemon, ginger, and cracked pepper are well balanced. Bitterness is mild.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Lightly crisp throughout. Short lasting aftertaste.

Overall: an enjoyable wittier that is easy to consume.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 22:26:35 | More by Gavage

Damian

Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Drank from a 12 fl. oz. bottle
For brewery-fresh taste, enjoy before month notched FEB
Served in a pint glass

Thanks to my dad for saving me one of each beer from the Winter Classics Variety Pack.

The beer poured a cloudy and turbulent yellow ochre color. A surprisingly small, frothy, off-white head capped the liquid. The head quickly fell to a thin film that had decent lasting strength.

The aroma was pleasant but rather subtle. Sweet, doughy malts were apparent. Good amount of winter spice notes. Slightly citrusy and tart. Ginger came out as well.

The flavor profile was punchier and more enticing than the nose. Semi-sweet on the front end with a healthy dose of pale malts. Spicy in center. Ginger was noticeable, as were hints of orange zest. The beer turned lemony and tart on back end. Crisp and quite refreshing.

The liquid was slick and creamy on the palate and contained a very fine and mild effervescence.

Although this beer did not blow my socks off, it was highly drinkable and unique as a winter seasonal. I would love to see more breweries integrate a spiced witbier into their winter lineup, as the flavors pair perfectly with many foods served during the holiday season.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 03:14:02 | More by Damian

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.76/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into Sam Adams glass.
Soft yeast aroma with wheat grain and mild fruit. Not bold, but pleasing.
Huge white head prevents full pour in glass Slightly cloudy yellow with loads and loads of rising bubbles from the nucleation.
Very soft flavors too, but again quite pleasing. Mild bitterness blends nicely with the yeasty flavors. HInts of hops. Bits of fruit - they taste red. KInda of a vanilla laying on the tongue. The spicing in not heavy handed, but accenting in a favorable way.
Fullness from carbonation and at least moderately heavy. Enjoyably creamy.
This is alright. Not classic but pleasing in multiple ways and a very easy drinking wit.
Thanks Dad.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 20:43:21 | More by garymuchow

monkbrewed

Michigan

1.63/5  rDev -53.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

One of the worst Sam Adams offerings. Awful, almost sickening smell and a taste that matches it. Putrid odor. Not sure why these guys thought drinking potpurri would be a good idea. Looks like any other Belgian Wit beer, in terms of color and clarity. Mouthfeel and carbonation are all completely normal, but the smell combined with the flavor profile make this absolutely off-putting.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 18:57:32 | More by monkbrewed

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.4/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz long-neck poured into a mug.

A: Hazed gold with a ton of carbonation screaming to the top and a quickly fizzling white head.

S: Bready and wheaty right up front. Citrus, nutmeg, other spices. Maybe lemon peel? Pretty malt-driven.

T: More orange peel on the palate with cinnamon and nutmeg emerging as it warms. Plenty of light bready wheat notes to accompany the suggestion of Christmas wassail.

MF: Medium to light bodied. Pretty standard stuff.

O: Nothing special to me, though I readily admit this isn't a style I seek out. It is what it is, and its a spiced Wit. Nothing more.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 15:51:34 | More by Scotchboy

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.43/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The label recommends enjoying before the month notched, which is “APR.”

Appearance: Poured into a 300 ml weizen glass. The color is hazy straw. Two fingers of dense, off-white head dissipated slowly.

Smell: Just what I would expect from a festive witbier. White bread, cinnamon, ginger, lemon, and herbal hops. It has a light nuttiness, as well, so I suppose there is a little nutmeg in there. It gets pushed to the back by the spice, though.

Taste: Very nice, full-bodied mouthfeel for a witbier, which is a surprise. (I thought that kind of body was reserved for real wheat beer.) The white bread dominates but is well-spiced by cinnamon, ginger, and clove. At the end if offers some lemon and orange citrus, but nothing too substantial.

Drinkability: It is decent and there is nothing wrong with it. However, there are a lot better winter seasonals out there — some of which I am sure are brewed by Samuel Adams.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 04:49:24 | More by TheQuietMan22

RickS95

Indiana

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

One of the best looking Sam Adams beers I can recall. Mostly resembles the style with a milky golden, cloudy yellow pour. The head is a bit of a letdown as there's not much of it to begin with and it lacks good retention.

The spices mentioned on the bottle are present, though cinnamon dominates and forces everything else to play second fiddle.

The nutmeg is the key player in the taste bug game, maybe a bit too much so. I can almost taste the orange peel, but again the nutmeg won't relinquish dominance, so I'm not quite sure if I taste it or just remember reading it from the bottle...though there is a citrusy too it.

It's all about the spice. Nothing is really offensive, just a bit rough around the edges. The tanginess from the wheat was a nice addition. It's most crisp from beginning to end and there doesn't seem to be much evidence of hops.

Overall, it's not a bad beer. This beer might need to age a bit for the ingredients to play nicer with each other, but I'm not sure how long you can cellar this stuff. It's fairly easy to drink, especially around the cold weather months, though a bit more alcohol and heat would be welcome.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 03:13:33 | More by RickS95

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

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a hazy yellow color. Not super pale. It has a coarse white head that keeps on dissolving.

Smells like a spiced shandy. Coriander and grain of paradise is here, but it's overblown with a weird aroma of cheap, artificially-sweetened lemonade. Wheat malts are grainy and dull. Not so hot, so far.

Wheat grain, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel, and lemon peel; almost exactly as descripted. Still not a good ratio of additives. The cinnamon, now, is really heavy. Nutmeg is strong, too. The citrus elements aren't fresh, nor fermentedly tart. Just tang on tang on tang. Dusty spices, albeit heavy, offer little relief. Too punchy.

Mouthfeel is interesting. Tough to rate, because I don't enjoy drinking it. However, it doesn't hold its own. The body is too thick. There's some stickiness on the lips. And, the carbonation is too weak to make any kind of difference.

I have to hold Boston Brewing responsible here. This is a poorly executed holiday ale. Throw me an Old Fezziwig or a Holiday Porter any day over this.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 13:30:42 | More by thecheapies

HalfFull

California

3.45/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from a winter mix-o-case poured into a pint glass. Pours a hazed deep lemon with a nice inch of whitish foam. A bit golden orange in the light. Shows moderate retention and light lace.

Nose is predominantly spice driven with cinnamon and nutmeg/pepper. Yeast influence is minimal or simply crowded out by the added spices, emerging to a small degree with exposure and warming. Pleasant and not overdone nonetheless.

Taste begins with some soft wheat notes followed by a brief middle with sweet orange. Spices swiftly sweep the palate and offer a decent linger to the finish. Rather light in malt profile and overall depth of character. Decent and with a spritzy carbonation throughout the glass though a bit thin overall in feel. Overall an interesting take on a holiday spiced brew though not in a striking way.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 04:18:32 | More by HalfFull

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A-hazy golden color with a nice white head and decent lacing

S-yeasty bread, orange peel, spices, hints of sweetness

T-malt, orange, honey, spices with no particular standout, a little too sweet with nothing that really grabs your attention

F-light to medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth

O-average and not really what I would consider a winter seasonal ale, needs something more

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 02:29:35 | More by MDDMD

Arithmeticus

Maryland

2.68/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured chilled in tall lager glass

A: cloudy peach, good carbonation, thin head, not much lacing
S: strong yeast aroma; not very appealing
T: sweet; fruity and estery; some modest spicing--allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg;
M: decent

Not bad for a party beer; not much special about it

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 21:30:35 | More by Arithmeticus

hoplover82

Texas

3.83/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a hazy light golden color with a small white head that quickly fades into nothing and leaves no lacing.
S-The aroma is so beautiful, tons of christmas spices, perfect for this winter season. To me the nutmeg really stands out along with cinnamon and cloves and some faint lemon zest, way in the back, (background).
T-The taste was a little disappointment from how it smelled. I get alot of the spices but not much else. I was expecting more but was let down.
M-Very one deminitional mouthfeel. It seems to be right on for the style, but not impressive at the same time. Very medium body with lively carbonation with a slightly dry finish.
O-I deemed this beer to be decent. I really enjoyed the spices in this beer, it's great for Christmas time but other than the aroma this beer was not to impressive to me, but very glad I had the chance to try this. Although, I would reccomend this to other beer loving friends.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 02:01:53 | More by hoplover82

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.45/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a weiss-vase, the beer is an unfiltered, pale, yellowish coloring with a thin, sparse, filmy coating of white on the surface, with a little more substantial build up around the edges. Aromas of cinnamon and coriander on a bready backbone. The nose is subtle, other than the spices. Flavors of rich bread, with a heavy dosing of the clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and coriander spicing. Very well blended in the spicing, but very spice heavy overall. The backbone of toasted grains and bread support, but get somewhat overshadowed. The aftertaste is warming, with the spices blending around on the palate, leading into a clean, quick finish. Tasty, light beer that would be a crowd pleaser during holiday get togethers, but there are Witbiers out there that have more to offer.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 23:11:04 | More by GarthDanielson

57md

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy straw with half a finger of head that dissipates almost immediately. The nose has some citrus notes in it. This offering tastes like a standard wit with a touch of nutmeg and other holiday spices added. The finish is rather basic as well. Nothing special here.

The name is the only thing about this beer that justifies its inclusion in the 2012 Winter Classics pack. There is nothing winter Seasonal about wits and it replaced the Black and Brew which I thought was an above average coffee stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 03:59:45 | More by 57md

brentk56

North Carolina

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

Appearance: Pours a cloudy honey color with a rather modest head; the retention was not very impressive nor was the lacing

Smell: Banana, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg; more sweet than spicy

Taste: Overripe banana and spice cake flavors, up front, with increasing sweetness developing in the middle; though the orange peel was detected in the aroma, it is only vaguely present in the flavor profile, as this is much more about the banana and holiday spice flavors

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation

Overall: Wits aren't my favorite style and this is not one of my favorite Wits

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 00:30:14 | More by brentk56

LeRose

Massachusetts

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

Poured a hazy orange color with about an inch of foam that spent itself quickly. Sme decent lacing in a Sam's pint. Aroma was typical wheat beer, very faint on the spices. Noted orange, nutmeg, cinnamon, maybe cardamom?, coriander. Taste was average. Nothing outstanding, but nothing bad either. Some spice notes, typical wheat beer haylike flavor. Lingered a bit on the tongue, but somewhat thin mouthfeel overall. Nice carbonation level. Wife liked it...

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 00:26:59 | More by LeRose

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass

A- white head settles into a nice lacing above a pale golden hay colored beer.

S-Malted grains, wheat, orange, spices, cloves and more.

T- spices dominate taste with a little bit of the malts coming through

M- Spices upfront , sweet maltiness dry bitter finish.

A nice spicy winter beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 21:53:15 | More by Damian74Shensky

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The White Christmas can in a Holiday mixed pack...a much better replacement to the Cranberry Lambic. The beer pours a cloudy yellow with thin white head that is not lacing. Definitely smell the orange peel....not so much the nutmeg and cinnamon. The taste starts with a crisp citrus start and then the spice bolstered by the cinnamon kicks in. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a tasty beer...but it will not replace Fizzywig or Holiday Porter as my favs.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 18:11:56 | More by WoodBrew

NilocRellim

Minnesota

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

This beer poured from the bottle and was cloudy gold/yellow in colour. Smelled slightly of hops and spices; mostly ginger and cinnamon. The taste instantly reminded me of gingerbread. Slight hop and wheat after taste.

Would I buy this beer again? Probably not.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 04:28:53 | More by NilocRellim

fields336

North Carolina

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

A; 2 finger white puffy head, hazy golden straw color, medium carbonation

S: orange peel, bready malt, touch of wheat, coriander, citrus, and a slight cinnamon and i think i smell the nutmeg as well

T: a sweet bready malt with a big citrus/orange peel and spice wave at the end, banana, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove are present at the end.

M: medium bodied from the wheat and a decent carb, a touch sweet for my taste however

O: decent beer, nothing special, i like the spring wheats better

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 23:09:02 | More by fields336

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Samuel Adams White Christmas has a thick, frothy, slightly off-white head, a hazy yellow-golden appearance, lots of streaming bubbles, and a thin lacing sheen left on the glass. The aroma is of white wheat bread and spices. Taste is of the same, and one will encounter no bitterness, here. Mouthfeel is medium and soft, and Samuel Adams White Christmas finishes slick, easy going, and drinkable. Overall, this is a stereotypical Christmas beer, and I think it’s worth trying.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 22:50:52 | More by RonaldTheriot

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.2/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tan and hazy with a half finger head that didn't last long and left ok lace.

Definitely lots of clove aroma, banana, spices, a little yeast.

Taste is spicier than a typical wit, festive and xmas like. Wheat, cloves, banana, cinnamon, and yeast fill the flavor.

Body is light and easy drinking with a spicy finish.

Overall it's pretty average.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 20:29:49 | More by AlCaponeJunior

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle. No bottled on date, just some random code stamped on the bottle's side.

A - Cloudy unfiltered looking lemon color, with a nice fluffy white head that goes down fast.

S - Looks great until you smell it. Pale, boring, carbonated bubblegum wheat smell.

T - Again, bubblegum spiciness jumps out initially. The orange peel is noticeable, but is so faint it isn't enough to make this beer very interesting. Basically reminds me exactly of a Franziskaner.

M - Some cinnamon/nutmeg lingerance, but again, not very exciting. Carbonation.

Overall, not exciting. Mediocre, to say the least. The Samuel Adams seasonal beers usually aren't the best, but are worth trying for the most part. I am still looking forward to trying the Samuel Adams Merry Mischief Gingerbread Stout. In all, this is not a beer I will seek out again but would drink again if it was offered to me.

Samuel Adams White Christmas ---3/5.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 16:20:32 | More by mfnmbvp

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Looks like orange juice, with a quickly receiding quarter finger of white head. No lacing.

S - Banana, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, pie crust. Not what I expected, but good!

T - Banana, cinnamon, lots of pie crust, a bit pumpkiny as well. I can't believe nobody else has picked up on this.

M - Almost no carbonation with a medium body.

O - Overall, my favorite out of the winter classics pack. Would be a great beer for the fall as well as the winter. I'd have again.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 01:07:44 | More by SometimesIfart