Samuel Adams Winter Lager (2001-2019)
Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)

Has a very rich mahogany color, with a little bit of ruby; a frothy, tan head is produced, yet it thins down to a fine layer. A-1 lacing is lining the glass. Nose is malty-sweet, complemented by some spices...a little cinnamon, perhaps... pleasant! Bier flowed fairly smoothly over the tongue, yet it seemed to have less body than in years past. Flavor seems more rounded than last year, yet not as full as years before. Nice malt flavor, with some hints of chocolate. Spices are present, yet not overpowering, and it finishes with a long-lasting, pleasant, toffee-caramel-like flourish. Pretty good!

overall: 4.1
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4

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Beer snobs are once again on the job with this one. It's an excellent beer. Just that simple. I'm sure it gets a lower rating just because it's Sam Adams. Folks on here think they are reviewing an expensive French wine. It's funny. It's BEER! Lighten up.

 

Winter lager is always good on a cold, snowy night. All the flavors are as advertised but nothing is over the top. It is far from the best seasonal brew but it does what it does well and it's available everywhere.

 

 

 

 

Note: I am in the process of moving all of my ratings from other beer sites to here, so that all of my ratings are consolidated in one place. The review below is an exact copy of my original RateBeer review from 12/07/2012.


12 oz. bottle. Pours a clear, medium-amber, with minimal head. Aroma is faint, but I pick up traces of cinnamon and orange. Lightly-bitter with tastes of cinnamon and cloves. Medium body and texture with very light carbonation. Finish is bitter.

I’m not really diggin’ this beer. Which is odd, because I had it on tap a few weeks ago and thought it was pretty good. Well, I did just get over a cold, so maybe my taste buds are still a little out of whack. I’ll give it another taste in a week or so.

Pours a dark amber with a medium white head on top. Can smell orange zest and allspice. Caramel hits you as soon as you taste it. Second go around is malty and watered down.

 

 

This is a superb brew from one of America's best lager producers; .rich, malty, with additional complex seasonal flavors. And . . decent body.
Excellent recipe - a good 'dark lager'. So flavorful - it does not even taste like a light beer.
I wish there were more specialty American lagers like this.

New for 2023 listed as smooth and festive. It pours an absolutely beautiful color dark but clear. It has a nice dense head that is small but very dense. The nose is a bit sweet but nothing that is too powerful. The initial taste is a bit tame and sweet. Notices of brown sugar and the malty sweetness, but not huge. A bit of a hop finish. Interesting I have this beer 2 tries before rating and clearly it is better if you let it sit in the glass and warm a bit. The flavor opens up. Certainly not a bad beer but nothing outstanding. I can drink it again but much more offerings need to be rated.