Samuel Adams Summer Ale
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Samuel Adams Summer AleSamuel Adams Summer Ale
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From:
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Pale Wheat Beer
Ranked #208
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
76
Ranked #27,312
Avg:
3.34 | pDev: 16.17%
Reviews:
1,775
Ratings:
5,932
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 31, 2024
Added:
May 09, 2001
Wants:
  77
Gots:
  1,479
An American Wheat, brewed with malted wheat, lemon zest and grains of paradise - a rare pepper from Africa first used as a brewing spice in the 13th Century to create a crisp and spicy flavor and body.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Rijtjeshuis:
Photo of Rijtjeshuis
Reviewed by Rijtjeshuis from Canada (ON)

3.03/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
served in weizen glass.

Look (3.5/5) - pours a light gold in colour, about 5-6* SRM. Clarity is very good, which I found a touch surprising for a wheat beer like this. Head is good. It rises to about 3 fingers and falls slowly to a 1 finger cap that lasts a while. Not a lot of lacing. Very good swirling carbonation.

Smell (3/5) - I really get ginger (like a ginger-ale pop) on this one. No other flavours really come out too strong. I get a hint of malts (Vienna/Munich?) which seem a bit out of place. Not a lot of yeast or hops in there.

Flavour (2.5) - The flavour was pretty weak and watery. The malt flavor isn't that light graininess I'd expect from a wheat brew; instead you get a slight hint of melanoidin in there. As with the smell, there's a good hit of ginger in here. Medium bitterness which goes a bit metallic and little or no hop flavor (some lemony hops would have gone well I think). No real yeast flavor.

Feel (3/5) - Lighter body and medium carbonation. A bit lighter than most wheat brews (like hefe, wit, etc).

Drink (3/5) - Pretty drinkable owing to the light body and somewhat watery flavours. But it was far from delicious or tasty. Not a real great example of what a wheat brew can be; I really like the flavours that would ideally be at play (ginger, wheat, etc), but the execution seems a bit poor to me.

it gets a meh.
Aug 23, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.74 by gongfu from Connecticut

Jan 31, 2024
Photo of LeinenkugelDrinker
Reviewed by LeinenkugelDrinker from Nevada

4.09/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Delicious beer. Purchased in the Ditch Days of Summer Variety Pack. Would definitely buy as a standalone. Great feel and flavor. Easily drinkable. Perfect for a refreshing change up.
Nov 12, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by AndyGG from California

Oct 02, 2023
Photo of mschrei
Reviewed by mschrei from Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Slight cloudy, gold, mildly healthy carb. Lemony scents that follow onto the taste, with a bit of bready maltiness. Crisp, light to medium bodied - in fact, bigger bodied than I expected, pleasant alcohol assertiveness. Slightly dry finish. Better than I expected.
Oct 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.16 by ctbeerman1 from Connecticut

Sep 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.74 by sbradley41 from Pennsylvania

Aug 26, 2023
Photo of Steve_Studnuts
Reviewed by Steve_Studnuts from Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Let's not be verbose, yeah?

Looks fine, smells like your standard citrus wheat, tastes a little like Fruity Pebbles and is awful lite. Crisp and snappy carbonation kinda saves the mouthfeel, but I won't be reaching for seconds.
Aug 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.02 by Mac_Cheesin from Maryland

Aug 22, 2023
Photo of cafequaid
Reviewed by cafequaid from North Carolina

1.18/5  rDev -64.7%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
This was one of the nastiest tastings beers I’ve ever had. It looked good, but tasted like Apple cider vinegar. I guess if you’re used to drinking crappy beer then this is a good one. But, if you’re used to drinking craft beer then this rivals the cigarette ash tasting Miller Lite. Never again! This could be the last beverage on Earth and I’d opt to die of thirst.
Aug 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.77 by Blogjackets from Ohio

Jul 13, 2023
Photo of jnewhook
Reviewed by jnewhook from New Hampshire

3.34/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
This is a refreshing beer. It pours without much of a head, and is light looking. It has a distinct lemon flavor, like the porch rocker variety, but has more substance with the citrus and wheat flavors that accompany it. Good served cold in season.
Jul 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.31 by Mcb99d from Massachusetts

Jun 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.74 by PaulMayer from Illinois

Jun 21, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by rcw3i from Tennessee

Jun 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.74 by Ernald_Elbertson from Delaware

Jun 09, 2023
Photo of RollingRockRollingRocker
Reviewed by RollingRockRollingRocker from Pennsylvania

3.56/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
This is an okay beer. Nothing fancy, and nothing extraordinary, but it is crisp, vibrant and smooth, as well as refreshing for the summertime. It has no real smell; perhaps faint lemon peel? The taste is faint lemon and citrus notes with a pinch of wheat. Overall, this one is worth a try when in season, iced cold and if you've at least never tried it before.
Jun 08, 2023
Photo of AdmiralOzone
Reviewed by AdmiralOzone from Minnesota

3.21/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Pours murky yellow with a white cap that fades rapidly. Minimal lacing. Aroma is faint, lemony and some grain. Flavor is also mild, citrusy and bready. Feel is medium bodied with adequate carbonation. Overall, just another drinkable beer without any outstanding qualities.
Jun 02, 2023
Photo of SadMachine
Reviewed by SadMachine from New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
This is another backlog rating, where I know for sure I've had it and have a vague recollection of my thoughts on it. Not sure how this slipped through the cracks all these years!
May 31, 2023
Samuel Adams Summer Ale from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating: 76 out of 100 with 5932 ratings