Samuel Adams Winter Lager

1 out of 5 Stars

While I am a huge fan on the Boston Beer Company, I don’t know about this one.  This particular beer does not live up to the standards of Samuel Adams, nor does the description as a “Winter Lager” seem to fit. 

First, it seemed watered-down.  There was no immediate taste.  Only after a few seconds did the cinnamon and orange peel come into play, but because the sensation wasn’t immediate, it seemed artificial.  I liked the color, but it was a bait-and-switch, betraying a flavor it didn’t have.

And while I can see that cinnamon is a winter flavor, the orange peel taste was out of place.  I see orange as more of a late spring/early summer flavor and it didn’t belong in this bottle.

Also, on their Winter Lager page, Samuel Adams states that an additional ingredient in the beer is ginger.  I didn’t taste that.  Perhaps it contributed to the slow and low sensation of the other flavors. 

This beer wasn’t for me, but I remain a fan of Jim Koch and his vision for great tasting beer.  For a more representative sample of quality Samuel Adams beer, try the Boston Lager or their seasonals, Summer Ale or Octoberfest.

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