Beer 317/365 – Sam Adams Octoberfest

Style: Oktoberfest

ABV: 5.3%

Purchased at: On Tap@Cioppino – Pittsburgh, PA

What makes this beer different: My first ever octoberfest beer long ago, so I think my objectivity will be weak on this one.

Will I be drinking this again: Every fall!

Grade: B+

9/21/2010: Sam Adam’s Octoberfest was my first ever beer for this style. It may have actually been my first Sam Adams also. Had this on tap at my good friend Ray’s restaurant. The restaurant is across from an apartment complex where a lot of Pittsburgh athletes live. Well turns out Mike Comrie just so happened to be walking by with his wife Hilary Duff while I was drinking my Sam Adams. I usually don’t get that start-struck but I gotta say she was probably the most famous person I have ever seen in real life. Onto the beer…

The nose is pretty typical for an octo-fest, caramel and toasted malt dominant. The flavors also have the typical caramel/toast malt characteristics, but there are some floral hops there as well. I don’t really to know how to explain it but I feel like every Sam Adam’s beer has this clean/crisp type thing going on in all their beers. The flavors never seem to be too intrusive, but still strong enough to make it a tasty beer. Mouthfeel is medium body, and it goes down quite smooth.

Picture of the day: Probably not safe for work. Very akward facebook post.

Beer 260/365 – Sam Adam’s Holiday Porter

Style: American Porter

ABV: 5.90%

Purchased at: Jesus I don’t even remember, its been sitting in my fridge for a while now.

What makes this beer different: Sweet and almost buttery in a way

Will I be drinking this again: Won’t go out my my way for it, but it was good!

Grade: B+

7/26/2010: Christmas in July? Sure why not. I actually am running out of “non-agable-beer” to drink, so I decided to give this one a shot. I am pretty sure co-worker Tony gave this one back to me in January.

This beer smells like its on the more smooth/sweet end of the Porter spectrum. Too often I think porters can have that bitter coffee characteristics. The flavor is smooth milk chocolate, a little nutty, and a buttery flavor. The flavors are all pretty mellow, but work well together. Mouthfeel is about average. This beer goes down very easy, very solid, but not anything too original going on here.

Picture of the day: Not so much funny but pretty amazing. Cant touch this!

Beer 205/365 – Sam Adams Winter Lager

Style: Bock

ABV: 5.8%

Purchased at: ummmm? I have so much beer stocked up that I have no idea where I got it all from

What makes this beer different: My first ever winter beer many many years ago.

Will I be drinking this again: Yes

Grade: B+

6/1/2010: Ugh still two weeks behind on updating. Everytime I think I have time to get caught up, something comes up. For instance last night I played goalie for my friends ice hockey team. It was my first time EVER playing ice hockey, so it was interesting. I played baseball all my life, so my glovehand was good. I also played goalie for soccer most of my life, so I had the angles down. But I had no idea how hard it would be to balance with all that equipment on. I think I lost 10lbs just from sweating. Anywho….

Sam Adams Winter Lager was one of my first ever winter beers when I was 21 (because I never touched alcohol before I turned 21 :X ). Figured its about time that I drink this before winter comes around again. The smell is malty with a little bit of cinnamon. The taste is pretty much all about the malt, cinnamon/nutmeg, and some earthiness going on (it seems that a lot of Sam Adam’s beer has this same flavor). Overall this is always a solid go to beer for the holiday season, or the middle of June whatever tickles your fancy.

Picture of the day: Oh no its a tie!.

Beer 203/365- Sam Adams Boston Lager

Style: Vienna Lager

ABV: 4.75%

Purchased at: Hmm I don’t even remember?

What makes this beer different: Just a solid example of what a Lager should taste like.

Will I be drinking this again: Yes since its usually available everywhere.

Grade: B+

5/30/2010: This is probably my new favorite photo I have taken thus far. Took this picture on a nice hot summer-like day out on the new patio that the girlfriend got me. I figured I had to throw one of the best selling Craft Beers into the mix here. Actually I wonder if it is the best selling craft beer? I would figure it to be, or maybe Sierra Nevada Pale Ale? Anyone have any stats on that?

Boston Lager doesn’t have to strong of a smell, but I do get some sweet malt and some noble type hops. The flavor is nice and crisp, some semi-bitter earthy hops, and some caramel malt. Nice airy semi-light mouthfeel. To me the taste isn’t overly complex, and thats what makes Boston Lager so drinkable. I would almost venture to say that this is the beer I have consummed the most of outside of BMC (Bud, Miller, Coors) beer. This is mostly due to the fact its available almost everywhere.

Picture of the day: Ask me about my Zombie Shirt.

Beer 86/365 – Sam Adams Noble Pils

Style: German Pilsener

Purchased at: GIANT FREAKIN IGGLE… Still can’t believe they are selling beer.

What makes this beer different: Grassy

Will I be drinking this again: I bought a 6 pack so yes..

Grade: B+

2/02/2010: Jesus H did Sam Adams put enough money into advertising this stuff? If you haven’t seen the commercial you either don’t watch TV, or you are a zombie. Its odd how some snobs will hate on Sam Adams, and I think its because they are the largest by volume craft brewer in the US. We all know everyone in the US loves to hate the person/company who is on top, but really they paved the way for all the other great breweries that have sprung up in the last couple decades. Oh sidenote: check out the picture of the poured beer in my picture, it made me realize my table isn’t even close to level hah.

Anyways for those who don’t know a pilsener is technically a type of lager, and is hugely popular in Eastern Europe. Tons of hop smell once you pour the Noble Pils. The taste is crisp with a lot of hops, but not super intense. Pale/Grassy type hops are the main flavor I am getting. A little too far on the bitter side of the scale for me to give this beer an A, but overall very good. Very light mouthfeel with a good amount of carbonation. Worth a shot if you are into pilseners.

Funny Picture of the day: Anyone ever wonder where apple got the idea for The iPad.