-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
- From:
- Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
Ranked #67 - ABV:
- 5.9%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #20,788 - Avg:
- 3.78 | pDev: 13.23%
- Reviews:
- 1,487
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 10, 2024
- Added:
- Oct 28, 2001
- Wants:
- 112
- Gots:
- 676
Old Fezziwig, Rich & Sweet: Like the character that inspired it. This beer is festive and worthy of a celebration all its own. Bursting with spices of the season, its full body accompanies a deep malt character, with notes of sweet toffee and rich, dark caramel.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Vancer:
Reviewed by Vancer from Illinois
4.36/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.36/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Geez, I wish I could get this in a 12 pack, instead of just 2 in the winter sample pack. What a great warmer, exceptionally rich and smooth, good for 2 or for 12. Nice pour, dark caramel brown in the light, almost black in the shade. Only drawback, somewhat weak malty aroma.
The cheater label told me about the cinnamon, ginger and orange which were in the quaff, but subtle! A medium to full bodied brew, full carbonation.
The festive label really lets you know this one is gonna be fun to drink gotta find more!
Nov 21, 2005The cheater label told me about the cinnamon, ginger and orange which were in the quaff, but subtle! A medium to full bodied brew, full carbonation.
The festive label really lets you know this one is gonna be fun to drink gotta find more!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by littlebibs from New Hampshire
4.35/5 rDev +15.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +15.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale has been an old favorite over many winters..enjoy this spiced up brown style ale, a brilliant concoction if I ever had a Sam.. I enjoy all his fall-late autumn-winter brews but Old Fezziwig gets pretty near perfect grades from me, so many little notes ride along the pallet from the malty, bready & slight fruity notes, this is such a seasonal go to session for me, bought 10 six packs this year and so many seasonal double winter packs, obviously a winter time favorite!
Feb 22, 2024Reviewed by Otter-the-Beer-Man from Maryland
4.33/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L: Deep amber. Generous 2 finger head.
S: malty
T: strong maltiness. Subdued spices. Just like I remembered.
F: smooth
O: highly drinkable.
The classic lives up to the hype!
Dec 24, 2023S: malty
T: strong maltiness. Subdued spices. Just like I remembered.
F: smooth
O: highly drinkable.
The classic lives up to the hype!
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin
4.16/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a completely clear, medium amber/bronze color with a mild off-white head. SRM of 20.
Aroma: Strong aromas of bread, Amber malts and cherry, red fruit, and spices. (4.00)
Flavor: Strong favors of rich bread, caramel, red fruit, and cherry. Red fruit and spices behind it. Toasty and mildly sweet. (4.25)
Feel: Medium body, appropriate, carbonation, mildly sweet and spice. (4.25)
Compared to Shells Snowstorm 12/2023: Pours lighter, milder head. More brown bread, red fruit, spices. Less caramel and rye sweetness. More toasted and dry.
Compared to Sam Adams Winter Lager 1/2024: Pours nearly identical, stronger aromas. Less bread, caramel, cinnamon roll, and spices. More dark cherry, amber malt, molasses. Sweeter and more flavors. Winner: Fezziwig
Compared to Schells Bock 2/2024: Pours lighter, similar head. Stronger aromas. More sweet bread, cherry, cinnamon roll. Less brown bread and toasted notes. More flavorful and spiced.
Compared to Great Lakes Christmas Ale 2/2024: Pours darker, milder aromas. More brown bread and toasted notes. Less orange, gingerbread icing and honey. Milder.
Overall: It drinks in typical Sam Adams fashion. Rich bread, toasty, spiced with red fruit. Still dry and drinkable. I see the hype for this beer. This is absolutely excellent. (Rating: 4.16)
Dec 19, 2023Aroma: Strong aromas of bread, Amber malts and cherry, red fruit, and spices. (4.00)
Flavor: Strong favors of rich bread, caramel, red fruit, and cherry. Red fruit and spices behind it. Toasty and mildly sweet. (4.25)
Feel: Medium body, appropriate, carbonation, mildly sweet and spice. (4.25)
Compared to Shells Snowstorm 12/2023: Pours lighter, milder head. More brown bread, red fruit, spices. Less caramel and rye sweetness. More toasted and dry.
Compared to Sam Adams Winter Lager 1/2024: Pours nearly identical, stronger aromas. Less bread, caramel, cinnamon roll, and spices. More dark cherry, amber malt, molasses. Sweeter and more flavors. Winner: Fezziwig
Compared to Schells Bock 2/2024: Pours lighter, similar head. Stronger aromas. More sweet bread, cherry, cinnamon roll. Less brown bread and toasted notes. More flavorful and spiced.
Compared to Great Lakes Christmas Ale 2/2024: Pours darker, milder aromas. More brown bread and toasted notes. Less orange, gingerbread icing and honey. Milder.
Overall: It drinks in typical Sam Adams fashion. Rich bread, toasty, spiced with red fruit. Still dry and drinkable. I see the hype for this beer. This is absolutely excellent. (Rating: 4.16)
Reviewed by tolar111 from New York
3.88/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The look is a nice translucent reddish brown with a fluffy off-white head that quickly fades to a ring of foam around the top of the glass. The smell is faint, with an aroma of roasted malts and spices. The taste is of roasted malts, but I'm not picking up sweet toffee, as the label suggests. but there is a nice bitterness. There is a flavor component that lays thick on the tongue and I'm assuming it's the spices, whatever they are. The feel is great, just enough carbonation to spread the aroma and flavor without being over carbonated. This is my first go round with this beer and I like it, tasty and satisfying, but I don't know if I'd drink than more than one or two in a session, given the way the taste/aftertaste sticks around
Dec 15, 2023Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
3.83/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Sampling a 12 oz bottle picked up as a single recently for the Holiday Ales tasting event. Best before April on the notching system on the label.
Im pouring the bottle at cellar temperature into my Westmalle Chalice.
The beer pours a bright chestnut color with some rich ruby highlights, looks nice in the glass with light behind it. A short lived fizzy beige head of about .5cm foams up , this is completely gone after a few minutes.
Aroma on the beer is a bit of toffee, some light fruitiness (cherry?) and mild general spice, Id say nutmeg if forced to pick one, but its not a bold nose. No hop character and ABV totally hidden on the aroma.
First sip reveals a medium body with fine fairly gentle carbonation. Texture is smooth and this beer drinks pretty easy for the physical traits.
Flavor is some toffee again, a bit of a fruity note and some sweeter spice here. Difference is I do get some balancing hops that linger just a little after each swallow. In general its a very drinkable beer, not overly robust on nose or flavor, but certainly not flawed, Id enjoy this at a holiday setting, where I wasnt really thinking about the beers I was drinking.
Dec 15, 2023Im pouring the bottle at cellar temperature into my Westmalle Chalice.
The beer pours a bright chestnut color with some rich ruby highlights, looks nice in the glass with light behind it. A short lived fizzy beige head of about .5cm foams up , this is completely gone after a few minutes.
Aroma on the beer is a bit of toffee, some light fruitiness (cherry?) and mild general spice, Id say nutmeg if forced to pick one, but its not a bold nose. No hop character and ABV totally hidden on the aroma.
First sip reveals a medium body with fine fairly gentle carbonation. Texture is smooth and this beer drinks pretty easy for the physical traits.
Flavor is some toffee again, a bit of a fruity note and some sweeter spice here. Difference is I do get some balancing hops that linger just a little after each swallow. In general its a very drinkable beer, not overly robust on nose or flavor, but certainly not flawed, Id enjoy this at a holiday setting, where I wasnt really thinking about the beers I was drinking.
Reviewed by Cholla from New Jersey
5/5 rDev +32.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +32.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A very smooth and rich blend. Slight spice flavor that’s very easy on the palate. A nice holiday ale. Very enjoyable and very crushable. I recommend it. Cheers!
Dec 15, 2023Reviewed by Historiker from Ohio
3.58/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Brilliantly clear copper/ruby color. Brief Khaki head that dissipated to nothing quite fast. Minimal lacing.
Nose is barley, malts, brown bread, faint cherry, maybe some tea. A bit atypical when compared to the standard winter warmers like Great Lakes, but still nice.
Compared to the Fezziwig I had about 5 years ago, the taste is somewhat disappointing. I was hoping for the bold & sweet brew that I so enjoyed, and this isn't the same thing. This time around, there's caramel, malts, semi-tart cherry, slight sweetness & slight hoppy bitterness - good balance. Its not a bad beer, but it's also not the delightfully sweet brew that SA released before.
Mouthfeel is medium, carbonation is higher than I expected, but not bad.
Overall, while this is a fine beer, the "rich & spiced" description on the label just isn't accurate. I bought 2 singles, but I'd have been fine with one.
Dec 14, 2023Nose is barley, malts, brown bread, faint cherry, maybe some tea. A bit atypical when compared to the standard winter warmers like Great Lakes, but still nice.
Compared to the Fezziwig I had about 5 years ago, the taste is somewhat disappointing. I was hoping for the bold & sweet brew that I so enjoyed, and this isn't the same thing. This time around, there's caramel, malts, semi-tart cherry, slight sweetness & slight hoppy bitterness - good balance. Its not a bad beer, but it's also not the delightfully sweet brew that SA released before.
Mouthfeel is medium, carbonation is higher than I expected, but not bad.
Overall, while this is a fine beer, the "rich & spiced" description on the label just isn't accurate. I bought 2 singles, but I'd have been fine with one.
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York
3.97/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a crystal clear dark ruby red, brief tan 0.5" head that settles to a thin ring; nice streaky lacing. Nose is light caramel, metallic/minerality, bigger notes of fruity roasted barley, Melba toast. Taste follows with roasted barley up front with a very nice balance of malt sweetness; small amount of hop spice and rye bread. Sweetness lingers on the palate. Mouthfeel is on the light and crisp side which helps this from becoming cloying. Not as "rich & spiced" as the label advertises, but I'm fine with subtlety. Very glad to be able to pick up a single of this - would be happy with a few more!
Dec 09, 2023
Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
3894 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!