Samuel Adams Double Agent IPL - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.06/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass. Best by July 2013.

A - Pours a crystal clear golden amber color. The initial half finger of white head dies pretty quickly, leaving only wisps on the surface. Sporadic lacing paints the glass.

S - Floral hops on the forefront with accompanying caramel and biscuit malt. There is a tropical sweetness to the aroma as well. Clean and balanced aroma.

T - Slightly sweet on the tip of the tongue with roasty pale malts. Mild pine bitterness and floral sweetness follow. Herbal notes along with oats and other grain on the finish. Mild pine linger. Well done.

M - Pretty light and slick on the palate with a finish that is dry like an IPA but crisp like a traditional lager.

O - I have had hoppy lagers in the past, but this was done better. Malty, nutty, and grain charateristics of a lager mesh well with the floral, fruity, pine of the hops. This is a crisp, refreshing beer with a low ABV, well suited for good weather outdoor drinking. I am glad I gave this a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 01:01:04 | More by NoLeafClover44

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.11/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass. Label says enjoy before June 2013.

Appearance: Pours a bright copper golden orange with a lot of fast rising bubbles. Big five finger white head with good retention. Leaves a lot of lacing around the glass.

Smell: Bright hop aroma of citrus and herbal pine with a solid bready malt presence. Citrus hops upfront with hints of orange peel, grapefruit, mango, tangerine, and lemon zest. Solid herbal hints of pine spice and earthy grass. Solid lager malt balance with hints of bready biscuit, caramel, yeast, and cracker. A pretty solid smelling balance of bright hops and malts.

Taste: Follows the nose with a nice hop mix of juicy citrus, spicy pine, and a solid balance of malt. Citrus hops with a nice clean taste of juicy orange, grapefruit, tangerine, mango, and lemon zest. Earthy hops with herbal notes of spicy pine and grass. Good balance of bready toasted malt with notes of biscuit, yeast, caramel, and crackers. A really nicely balanced tasting brew.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy, juicy, and spicy with a nice drying finish.

Overall: A really good spin on a lager. The hops make it seem like a solid West Coast IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 06:04:30 | More by MattyG85

tviz33

New York

3.91/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle in to a pilsener glass.

A- This beer pours a light translucent orange color, topped by two inches of rocky light tan head. Lots of carbonation bubbles are seen

S- I initially thought of an IPA when I smelled it because of the pine and grassy notes, but then the lager components came out. Toasted malts and resin come out as well.

T- The taste is quite consistent with the nose. Again, it makes me think of an IPA at first, but the lager characteristics are right there in the background.

M- I really enjoy the feel of this. The body is fairly light, but it is well-carbonated and creamy.

O- This beer is a pretty easy-drinker, and the addition of extra hops makes it all the more enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 20:47:45 | More by tviz33

TeamMathis

West Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Amber orange.
Smell: Citrusy grapefruit.
Taste: Hoppy grapefruit.
Mouthfeel: Crisp and carbonated.

If I ever wanted a lager, this is the lager that I'd choose. In between the lager and the IPA, it leans closer to the zest of an IPA. It has such a refreshing, citrusy smell and taste. The smell and taste really is dead-on grapefruit. This is definitely one of my favorite non-Imperial Series Sam Adams brews. I would get this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:04:35 | More by TeamMathis

emerge077

Illinois

3.56/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Into a tapered tumbler it pours with a flurry of bubbles that settle into a thin compact layer of creamy white foam. A thick band of lace is left behind, dripping downward into the glass. Pale golden orange, bright clarity and the occasional rising bubbles.

Slight pale malt sweetness, vague orange peel, noticeable hop presence.

Dried orange taste, bready pale malt, lingering herbal hop bitterness. LIght bodied, reminiscent of a light bodied IPA, so they achieved that at least. However the IPA model is fairly dull here. Seems as if it could use a fair amount of tweaking to improve, though the product isn't at all bad, just a little uninspired.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 02:12:52 | More by emerge077

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.51/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

BB 7/13. Consumed 3/13.

A: Peach ice tea pour has a sharp clarity showing a light and lazy rise of spacious carbonation bubbles. Frothy head sits about an inch high, barley color, pretty lengthy hold retention wise while providing a thin saturn like ring lace with speckled highlights around.

S: The nose is of pale citrus and grapefruit, moderate in strength, with some signs of dry tropical fruitiness. Spicy orange character and some fresh mangos.

T: Flavor of toasted grain, munich like rather crystal, lightly dry, with hops of pine, citrus and toasted orange peels. Cypress, dried tropical fruit with some mango. Has a creamy, buttery, avocado hint on the finish. Spicy pine-orange alcohol fade.

M: Decent mouthful, medium caramel based, with a lightly refrained distinction of carbonation. Warming spiciness of lemony-pine-caramel stand out on the hold. I usually like a both a lager and ipa to have a bright and crisp mouthful, this was more laid back.

O: Overall heard alot of good things about this, i usually like sam adams and thier easy approach to drinkability while maintaining just the right amount of flavor, balance, and style regards. An easy drinking ipa, though hardcore ipa fiends may find this a little under-par either by bitterness or prejudice of brewery still worthy a single try.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 00:56:02 | More by beerthulhu

at7000

Florida

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I too was surprised that I really enjoyed this beer. I'm not really a fan of most Sam Adams beers. However, this one is solid and has a quite interesting taste to boot. Basically, a hopped up, piney, citrusy lager.

A good sessionable beer based on its 5% ABV. And it would be an excellent paring with food, since it is not as overpowering as a strong IPA style. I could down 4-5 of these pretty quikly- It makes for a nice Spring/Summer type beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 18:47:06 | More by at7000

Jakk

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance- Very transparent, orangeish.

Smell - Heavy citrus, tons of grapefruit, tangerine. Very floral.

Taste - Initial nice hoppy kick, but with a strong malty backbone that balances it out evenly. Much sweeter than the aroma would suggest. Very balanced. Much less hoppy than the smell would suggest, though.

Mouthfeel - Very light and carbonated. Goes down smooth.

Overall - I was surprised how much I enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 02:50:07 | More by Jakk

brentk56

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a crystal clear amber-infused golden color capped by a massive head that shows off its stickage and lacing abilities

Smell: White grapefruit and lemon with a hint of bread

Taste: A bit of bready malt and a bucket full of lemon and grapefruit (from the high Alpha hops) and a hint of white wine grape (from the Nelson Sauvin hops); clean, crisp finish

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with crisp carbonation

Overall: Wasn't sure what to expect but this is very tasty, showing off the best characteristics of both an IPA and a lager

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 23:43:00 | More by brentk56

bourbonbock

New York

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this 12 oz bottle into a fresh pint glass and this is what I found.

A. This beer is crystal clear with just a little bit of fizzly white head.

S. I can smell the typical Sam Adams lager yeast with strong but subdued piney earthy and grapefruity hop aromas.

T. This beer tastes.... very delicious. Nice hoppy flavor rolls around the tongue with some saltiness, stickiness, and a little nuttiness. Not as bold flavors as an IPA due to the lack of an ester profile.

M. Very good residual sweetness and nice body.

I would buy this by the 12 pack if it was available.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 20:23:44 | More by bourbonbock

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

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

A - Pours a very clear bright orange brown with a full inch of sticky white head.
S - Smells of mild lager yeast, piney bittering hops, and some sweeter malts.
T - Hops are piney but it a way somewhat skunky with a lager like flavor of cooked green beans. Hops are on par with an IPA giving you just enough bite to enjoy it without clinging to the palate in the finish. Not sure if I enjoy it though.
M - Light and crisp. Goes pretty good with my burger.
Overall the concept is strange enough to get me to pick up a single but I am not sure I would session it. It does become balanced halfway through the glass but I guess I am not crazy about lagers in general.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 17:36:42 | More by DrDemento456

Immortale25

Florida

3.91/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a Dogfish Spiegelau glass. Notch on label indicates to enjoy by Aug 2013.

A- Pours a light amber color with a 3/4 inch off-white head that retains solidly before becoming an 1/8 inch head, Broken, cloudy lacing adheres to the glass.

S- Sharp, vegetal hop aroma is very pleasant and almost pungent. Smells of broccoli, celery and grassy herbs. Very unique and awesome.

T- The flavor follows through with light to moderate hop bitterness and more vegetal notes. The malt is bit weak and makes for a "give" in flavor but at least the hop profile is good.

M- Thin but crisp enough to not feel watery. Medium carbonation and a mostly light body. Ever-so-slightly oily as well.

O- Quite impressive to see hops being used in such a plentiful and effective manner by a brewery who usually keeps them toned down. A Sam Adams beer I would not mind having a few of.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 23:30:24 | More by Immortale25

UCLABrewN84

California

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Best before 6/2013.

Pours a slightly hazy orange with a foamy orange-tan head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Thin streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grapefruit juice, citrus fruit, and citrus zest. Taste is much the same with malty and citrus zest flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some nice hoppy aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 00:37:11 | More by UCLABrewN84

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.19/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a SA pint glass
enjoy by AUG 2013

A- Pours crystal clear copper orange with a one finger white head.

S- A crispy malt backbone and a sharp and clean hoppiness. A floral and very tropical aroma. Lager yeast is notable.

T- A sharp bitterness up front. A sweet malt and classic lager yeast strain are very apparent at first. A very floral and fresh hop bitterness. A slightly resinous and sticky hop feel. A tropical pineapple and orange in this beer. Some lemon and grass as well. A perfect 50/50 of a pale lager and an IPA.

M- A lighter beer. Extremely drinkable and very flavorful for the ABV. Bitter and sweet.

O- This is a nice beer. Considering the price, availability, drinkability and uniqueness. I tip my hat to SA.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 00:55:04 | More by TwelveOunces

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear amber with a thin, rolling head. Hearty retention leaves thick sheets all down my glass. My last SADAIPL didn't look this good. This must be the alpha of the 6 pack.

Soft, piney citrus with toasted malt underneath. SA says DAIPL boasts 7 hops varieties - that's about 6 IBUs per hop variety! Glad they left some for the late additions.

Tastes like it smells but with a black peper, bready aftertaste. Pleasant hop character but I'd like a bit more because as with most SA hoppy beers, the hops you start with aren't the hops you finish with.

I like their IPL better than their IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 13:11:34 | More by donkeyrunner

Amalak

New York

3.79/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A. It has a crystal clear copper color with a bubbly white head that leaves some lacing behind. Some small bubbles come up through the middle.

S. Very hoppy with a hint of lemon.

T/M. It has a tart rye taste. It has an easy hop taste. Some lemon tang. There's a mild caramel with a bit of a grassy undertone. Carbonated and easy to drink. Fairly refreshing.

O. Mild and unassuming, but a good session-like lager.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 23:46:57 | More by Amalak

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is crystal clear deep yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high off white head that gradually died down, leaving a thin head covering the surface and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderately strong aromas of citrusy hops are present in the nose—grapefruit seems to stand out in particular.
T: Like the smell, the overall taste is dominated by citrusy flavors of hops along with hints of tropical fruits towards the finish. A light amount of bitterness is present.
M: It feels medium-bodied and clean (not crisp) on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: While this beer might smell and taste similar to an IPA, you can definitely tell it's a lager by the lack of crispness and clean mouthfeel. In this aspect, I thought this was a very unique and enjoyable beer. The drinkability also makes it rather sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 23:22:41 | More by metter98

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.14/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A- pours crystal clear bright golden color with a small fizzy white head that retains long after the pour, patches of lace stuck to the side

S- grainy toasted malt with some citrus hop, lemon zest, a bit grassy. Typical grainy aroma of a lager, but with citrusy hops infused

T- light and refreshing lager feel, but jut enough citrus hop flavors to compliment the grainy toasted malt flavors. Not as strong as a typical IPA, which allows the traditional flavors of a lager to shine. Toasted malt finish with just enough citrus linger on the palate

M- light-medium body with lively carbonation which leads to a creamy mouthfeel and a crisp finish.

O- I really enjoyed this beer and could see this becoming my summer/outdoors go-to if available in 6packs this summer. The hops add just enough flavor, yet doesn't overpower those traditional lager flavors. A welcomed style!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 15:52:27 | More by Treyliff

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a Gandhi-Bot tulip. Thanks to vonschplieffen for this one.

A: Crystal clear bright amber body under a perfect two fingers of fine white head. Great retention, lovely lace. Perfectly gorgeous beer.

S: Fresh, spicy, and fruity. Good balance of hops and lager yeast. Not crazily aromatic like, say, Hoponius Union, but pleasant in its own more restrained way.

T: Spicy up front, followed by some floral and citrus notes midway through. Cleanly bitter finish with just a hint of yeasty minerality. Herbal, hoppy aftertaste. Really tasty.

M: Lively, frothy, slightly prickly light body. A bit much.

O: Better than the sum of its parts; this one really works. I hope more craft breweries develop this underutilized style.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 03:19:20 | More by woosterbill

CaptCleveland

Ohio

4.21/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle my brother-in-law left in my fridge. Best by 08/2013.

Pale-orange elixir poured into SA glass. One finger head, plenty of lacing.

Nice aroma of piny hops, tropical fruit and lemon zest.

Hops and tropical fruit nicely combine in this one, with a smooth hop aftertaste lingering on the palate.

Light to medium mouthfeel, nicely carbonated, refreshing.

Surprised. A nice sessionable APA. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 02:41:53 | More by CaptCleveland

mactrail

California

4.11/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Attractive golden amber color. Amazing amound of long-lasting foam-- even in the wide chalice. Can't argue with the sudsy, nearly creamy mouthful of carbonation that is quite appropriate for this quaffable brew.

First sip gives a surprising lemon-lime taste. The hops are like seasoning. They seem to stand out from the general texture like spice rub on a roast. It's a nice clean mix of flavors with citrus and a hint of mango. Even a brief whiff of cat pee? But it's light, tart, and thoroughly drinkable. The light lager sensation with the flavorful aromatic hops is quite nice, I don't care who makes it.

I have to score this pretty high since it's a very tasty brew in a run-down neighborhood of a beer style. From a 12 oz bottle in the inevitable mixed 12-pack bought at a local supermarket.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 05:32:05 | More by mactrail

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.44/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Beautiful honey copper color that is completely translucent with bits of effervescence rising towards what was a one finger frothy off-white head after the pour and has now dissipated to a thin film. Lacing looks imminent. If the head hadn't disappeared so quickly this would have been a near perfect appearance.

Aroma: Dank citrus and overripe tropical fruit. Hints of pine as well and basically completely hop dominated but not super aromatic.

Taste: Very interesting because it tastes like an ale. The dank hop blend from the aroma comes through right away in the flavor along with a light malt bill. There is almost an onion/garlic hop character going on that isn't ideal for my palate but some may enjoy. The bitterness is pretty moderate and I'm actually surprised at the depth of flavor considering the low 5% ABV. The finish is pretty much the average crisp lager/hoppy beer experience and the aftertaste is all bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body which is an accomplishment in its own right. Lager-like carbonation but it's not overdone. Easy drinkability and could be sessioned.

Final Thoughts: I'm not sure how fresh the bottle is because it only has a mark for when it will be best by (July). However, I tend to think any hop forward beer tastes the best within a month of being bottled/canned. After that length of time it's possible that the dank onion and garlic flavors could be more perceptible as the citrus/tropical fruit characteristics fade. That being said, I enjoyed Double Agent IPL if for no other reason than it was a great idea by Samuel Adams to create a super hoppy lager. I think it's an interesting avenue to go down that hasn't been experimented with nearly enough. Would I drink it again? Yes, the fresher the better.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 21:10:12 | More by JamesMN

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.71/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I give this the same B to B+ that I always seem to give sam adams regular releases. its good not great, feels more mass produced than crafted, but that said, is still a very enjoyable brew. the pour is a little more orange than the standard lager, and the head is an inch high and bone white but doesn't last long. smells hoppy, really hoppy actually, oily fruity hops, like gummy bears, with the familiar smell of a lager yeast. the flavor is less hoppy than the nose, which is okay in this setting. the beer is crisp and clean and very refreshing, but is lacking something. I think all well hopped lagers will be lacking for awhile, as I recently had humulus from the bruery and it blew my head off while setting the bar for the style. this one comes off a little thin and contrived, but its good nonetheless. lighter feel, great carbonation, medium hoppy finish, a good beer to ease in the warmer weather, but don't come into it expecting to be floored.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 20:00:44 | More by StonedTrippin

ggourde

Missouri

3.84/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Burst of pine greets you upon opening the bottle, comes out hazy golden with a creamy white head. The malt holds it own against the intense American hops giving it good balance. Medium light body with a bite to it. Overall- can't tell you what the lager yeast brings to it, you could have told me it was an IPA and believed you.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 04:18:42 | More by ggourde

raznug

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: It pours a crystal clear deep golden color and is topped with ¾” of white head that tends to linger.
Smell: There is nothing but hops in the aroma of this beer; pine, citrus, and grass aromas erupt from the pint.
Taste: This is a pretty balanced IPL is has some hop flavor but it blends nicely with the clean and crispness of the lager style to make a rather enjoyable new style.
Mouthfeel: Clean, crisp, and light bodied

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 17:58:29 | More by raznug