Epinions will continue to lose members if it doesn't update its product database
Aug 01 '01 (Updated Aug 04 '01)
The Bottom Line A pale ale that's not displeasing but a little disappointing. A little too much malt, not enough bite back. Drinkable and decent but not recommended.
Samuel Adams Pale Ale, Boston Beer Company
I have to start out here with a little complaint about epinions, and their inability to add new products to the beer category. I’m not sore because I picked up a 6-pack of this beer and have to post in the “Hard to Find’ category. I’m sore because epinions will not add new beer products and as a result will continue to lose respect from those that are serious about the subject. I checked out another beer website that I use regularly and this beer has 20 reviews. At that site, if the product you want to review isn’t listed you just add it yourself. Why can’t epinions allow us to submit new beers to add, see which ones come up repeatedly, and add the most popular requests? It really can’t be all that difficult to add a beer from a brewery that already exists in their database.
Samuel Adams (officially known as the Boston Beer Company) is one that carries much respect in the brewing world. Both casual and avid beer fans know it to be a brewer of decent ales and lagers; they’re committed to quality brewing and pure ingredients and offer a wide and interesting range of brews.
I picked up their Pale Ale because I was in the mood for a 6-pack that I hadn’t tried before. I hate to drink a beer and not review it, so when I’m not feeling up to writing a review I’ll buy the 6-pack and gather my impressions slowly and gradually. Well the 6-pack is gone and what remains is a couple of pages of notes (repetitive in parts) that I now offer you in the form of a review.
The Brewer’s Information
Pale Ale is a classic English beer style, possessing a crisp malt character with a subtle richness. "Pale" refers to the malt that was used in brewing, which was lightly roasted, compared to the highly roasted malts used to brew porters. The result is a beer that is amber to deep amber in color. Samuel Adams Pale Ale is an excellent contemporary example of this style, and has a refreshingly crisp, distinctive taste.
Specifics
Brewed since 1999
Malt: 2 Row, Caramel 60 and Vienna
Hop: East Kent Goldings, UK Fuggles
No Adjuncts or Preservatives
ABV: 5.25%
Calories: 145/12oz
Availability: 12 oz bottle, keg
Tasting Notes
The beer pours to a pale yellow fairly clear body with an impressive thick white foam. The carbonation is a display to enjoy before drinking, which starts out with a mini-tornado that lasts a good 30 seconds.
There’s a distinctive deep maltiness in the nose, almost suggesting a little too much. There are detectable notes of raisin and caramel, which give this a very English feel, as well as a little honey.
The mouthfeel is very comforting and appealing, pretty full and foamy with a more than adequate carbonation.
The flavor starts out with malt, very honey-like at first, maturing to a biscuity caramel malt, and is also slightly toasted. Upon later tastings I also added a light bubble gum flavor. It finishes a little sour, slightly dry with a little lemon crispness.
It’s a little sticky in the aftertaste, a little too sweet with a lingering honey flavor and mouthfeel. Further disappointment also comes from the lack of hop bite back, and overall the beer doesn’t really balance out enough to refresh or satisfy.
Verdict
This is a decent and respectable pale ale, not displeasing but really doesn’t do anything too interesting. I’m a pale ale drinker but would take Boston Lager over this.
I feel that the beer defies classification. It’s a little too malty and lacking hop to be called an American pale ale, while it’s a little too gassy and carbonated to be an English pale ale. I drink and enjoy both kinds but Samuel Adams version doesn’t compete with the best of either.
Overall, it’s drinkable and like I said earlier, not displeasing. It would make a decent alternative beer for a barbecue and may well improve more alongside food. Try it if you’re looking for something different, but it was a little too disappointing to get my recommendation. I wouldn’t buy it again.
Official Website
http://www.samadams.com/beer/styles/pale_ale.html
Ratings
4/7/4/6/12: 3.3
3 Stars
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Epinions.com ID:
andaryl
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Andrew Smith
Location: The Desert, So Cal
Reviews written: 219
Trusted by: 174 members
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