Winter Warmth from a Lager?
Written: Dec 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Nice mix of hops and malt
Cons: Tastes more like an ale than a lager
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| andaryl's Full Review: Samuel Adams Winter Lager |
Barely had I written a review on Octoberfest, than the Sam Adam’s delivery guy had been to my restaurant and decided that it was now Winter. I loved the October, but I’m always looking to try something new. In my two years here, I've come to anticipate the Sam Adam's Seasonals as much as Christmas and Birthdays.
I have to say that my first impressions had been a little confusing. I didn’t get to taste it; there were just a few comments on the notice board. The phrases Winter Lager and Weizenbock did not fit together, as weizenbock (wheat bock), I thought was an ale. This is bottom-fermented, which is the true definition of a lager.
Fortunately, nobody quizzed me on this and I finally got my first taste at the end of the night. The pour is dark, somewhere between an amber and a dark red. There was a good foam on top which didn’t last long although this may have been due to the glass. When the bartender at work is slipping me drinks for free I don’t like to complain about how it’s served.
In the nose you’re greeted with an immediately noticeable hoppiness, although there’s also a hint of sweetness. The taste however is certainly sweet. It’s malty with a good chocolate flavor. The finish is slightly bitter, but the overwhelming aftertaste is the sweetness. There’s also a little spice at the end from the added orange peel, cinnamon and ginger.
At 6.9% this certainly is a good winter warmer, and the robust, hearty flavor is very well suited to late nights in December. It’s bottom-fermented and therefore a lager, but with the extra malt it does feel like you’re drinking an ale.
When dining out, this brew will be very well suited to any rich meaty dish. I enjoyed mine with braised lamb shank topped with a veal demi-glace. However, as with most of my drinking, this beer works very well by itself.
Recommended:
Yes
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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
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