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Sam Adams New Seasonal
FirePitBrew wrote:
[my least favorite SA offering... well, except the Cranberry Lambic.
Ha, that is so true!
At the comp last weekend, they had several cases of free SA varieties in the suite. So between flights, or during lunch or afterwards, or pretty much whenever you wanted something besides an entry sample, you could just grab a bottle and fire it back.
Every time someone would go to grab a beer though, you could here people from their table instructing "I dont care- grab anything- just not the cranberry lambic!" By the end of the day, if you wanted a beer, you had to sift through the cases of all the ostracized CL to find something different. Later that night at the bar, same thing, they had 4 styles of SA on draft and you could here people ordering the same way, but this time with the Cherry wheat.
SA definitely makes some twisted styles and unique beers, but they kind of only go halfway, and do not fully commit. Now a brewery like DFH, they are on the other end of the commitment. Sam Calagione takes the same twist, but delivers passion and full on commitment into these beers and markets them that way. I think if SA cannot bring their game to this level, then they should stick to their staples.
I think of sam adams as the gateway beer. It seems marketed towards people that don't regularly drink craft beer or stick to a couple they like such as the Boston Lager. (One of the only beers my mom will buy) I like several of their beers with the cream stout and the dopplebock being my favorite but the Cranberry Lambic, Cherry Wheat and the Blackberry Wit are straight garbage. Of course I'm not a huge fruit beer guy either.
yeah, I'm pretty sure they are not trying to make the 100 % straight out committment some other companies go for with thier beers, because SA is trying to appeal to a wider base. But a lot of people might try one of SA's beers of a style they never had before and like it, then decide to try other brands of the same style. So it can really lead people to new types of beer, that they wouldn't have tried if it wasn't for the fact they knew and liked SA's Boston Lager and figured the company that made that would make other ones they would like too.
I've never tried the cranberry lambic, as I don't like cranberry, and everyone here says its bad, but I had the cherry wheat and thought it was awful.
I enjoy both the cherry wheat and cranberry lambic on certain occasions.
But I never approach cranberry lambic as a lambic because we all know it isn't. But once a year I enjoy the body of the wheat in there and the tartness of the cranberry. I think SA approaches all their beers with passion. I am also sure that CL is exactly as they want it to be. Should they relabel it; absolutely.
But I have a hard time thinking they don't put passion into every beer they make.
I could also say that DFH has too much passion and may of their beers are somewhat syrupy and borderline cloying.... But I won't.
brewchez wrote:
I could also say that DFH has too much passion and may of their beers are somewhat syrupy and borderline cloying.... But I won't.
They definitely dont just dabble in a recipe, but you think it is borderline cloying? I see it more as big beer- big body. Some of their high ABVs like world wide stout definitely seems cloying when young, but have some 3 year old, and it oxidizes and mellows fine.
Back to the noble pils. Great beer! Definitely one of my favs from SA. and being from Austin Tx I can say that spring is just starting here with a mix of cold and warm days my pecan tree is just getting ready to bud. sorry all you northerners but my day off tomorrow will be spent brewing in my driveway drinking a noble pils or two and enjoying the springish weather.
ID
Tried the Noble Pils this past week and loved it. Typically I drink all the SA seasonals when they are out and this one is really great. Liked the Spring Ale but not near as much as I like this.
I think so many people are really digging this because of the beer stlye. A lot of people can call a Pilsner a good beer, but not everyone likes a great Wit. I see the NP as just another great beer from SA, but as someone who is very partial to Wits, it's hard for me to say I like the NP better. It is good, but it's bad enough having to buy extra cases of the Winter mix just to get the Ol' Fezziweg; looks like now I'll have to keep an eye out for the new mix with the SA White Ale included. I will drink whatever comes in the mix, obviously...but I would much, much, much, rather drink all 12 White Ales..
Andy Crouch at the BeerScribe didn't care for Nobel Pils.
Just putting it up for a difference of opinion.
I liked it when I had it two weeks ago on draft. It was a little too noble for me. But I'd rather have earthy hops then citrus enamal stipping beers, thats just me.
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