Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Troy-Hawaii from Hawaii

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Part of a variety 24-pack $28.49 Costco
3 months prior to best by date notch
Light malt smell
Clear amber color
Medium mouthfeel
Medium-high carbonation
Some caramel malt flavors, bitterness finish
Overall a nice beer. I've had this for years and didn't realize I never rated it. Haven't had it in a while, but I remember this beer having much more roasted malt flavors so it used to be better. Could be my tastes has changed with all the new craft beers out.

Tuesday at 11:34 PM

TheBricenator from Oregon

4.04/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Look: Clear burnt orange in color and the pour brings out a great looking head that has good retention and leaves solid lacing as it settles
Aroma: Toasted bread, floral hops, earthiness, some sweet and rich caramel-like malt notes, and a little bit of spicy hops as well
Taste: Caramel malt notes paired with flowery goodness start things off with bready notes and earthy and spicy hops following soon after. The malt and hops go back and forth before finishing with clean bready malt and more floral hops – a light hop ‘bite’ is also present
Mouthfeel: Spritzy, full bodied, medium-high carbonation, and extremely crisp and clean throughout with light dryness on the finish
Overall: A tasty, well-made, and highly drinkable American take on a Vienna lager that also happens to be available almost everywhere in the U.S. One of several beers that got me into microbrew (read: craft beer) and still a winner and one I buy several times a year, every year. Great flavor, outstanding balance but with a strong hop presence. Delicious

Oct 04, 2020

WunderLlama from Massachusetts

3.76/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle poured into glass

Two finger rocky off white foam , settles to a layer, good lacings , deep copper clear liquid

Malty aroma

Malt taste with a good hop bite

Semi dry finish

Good beer

Aug 23, 2020

Steve555 from Wales

3.86/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a brown colour with decent head that stays. Smell is fruity with some hop aroma and sweet malts. Taste of toasted malts, sweet body with a bitterness that comes through at the end, body is medium thick. Finish is quite sweet bitter and some toffee/caramel, medium carbonation. It's a nice beer. Not sure I could drink it in volume but a welcome change sometimes from lighter lagers.

Jul 29, 2020

eric5bellies from Australia

3.99/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a hazy copper colour with a White head that retains well
S - Plenty of sweet malts
T - Nice malty flavours up front with some grain. The finish is again malty and slightly sweet.
M - Medium body and carbonation
O - Well I have had plenty of Vienna Lagers worse than this. For a mass produced beer its pretty damn good.

Jul 10, 2020

JamFuel from Sweden

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a clear amber with soft head.

Smell is malty and bready with floral and citrus notes, and a hint of sweet caramel.

Taste is malty and bready, with a soft caramel hint. Notes of citrus, florals and some spiciness and a hint of corn. Moderate bitterness. Very clean.

Mouthfeel is medium, well carbonated.

Overall, a really nice Vienna lager, clean and bready.

Jul 05, 2020

John123will from Indiana

3.61/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

L- golden amber color and very clear. Nice white head with decent retention

S- bready and malty with a slight roast character

T- nice malty and slight roast character With some sweetness. Nice prickly carbonation on the tongue. Little earthy and spiciness from hops

F- medium body with good carbonation and easy to drink

O- solid affordable easy drinking lager

Jun 14, 2020

Kenny_Gage2 from Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle: Samuel Adams Boston Lager poured out a nice Amber/copper color with a foamy 1.5-2 finger head that quickly faded away. Immediately upon popping the cap and pouring, I was hit by a roasty/ toasted bread/biscuit aroma followed by a hint of hops and a sweet bit of caramel. With this one, the taste really parallels the nose, and makes for an expected tasty, full bodied, full flavored lager.

As a kid growing up and having no knowledge as far as beer goes, I can remember watching commercials for Samuel Adams Boston Lager and always wondered about it. Now many beers later as a grown man, Im pleased to have had the opportunity to enjoy a Boston Lager, and must say it's a new favorite.

Jun 05, 2020

MplsMill

4.43/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Just a classic for me, with my first one coming from Fenway Park. Has a taste that just feels right for any time of year or occasion. Can ever go wrong with Boston Lager.

May 20, 2020

keithmurray from Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance - copper colored body with white head

Smell - nutty, toffee, toasted caramel

Taste - toasted caramel, toasted nuts, hint of toffee, bread

Mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium plus carbonation, slight caramel sweetness upfront, bready, nutty and hop bite on the back end, dry finish

Overall - rock solid beer here that deserves respect. I'd never turn this classic down.

Price Point - $9.99/ 6 pack 12 oz bottles

May 09, 2020

DoBeerDoBeerDo from Canada

3.44/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Heavy on the malted barley. Dark as lagers go, slightly sweet malty aroma. Precursor to better beers in the craft market, but not without its charm and indubitably a better alternative to light, noncommittal soda water-flavoured light lagers. Sam is a good backstop with distinctive notes that connect strongly in colour, smell and flavour.

May 06, 2020

InspectorHound from Canada

3.28/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Look: Coppery orange with a fluffy off white head with great retention.
Smell: Sharp, grassy
Taste: Bready, malt forward, slightly bitter and metallic
Feel: Dry, a bit paste like. Plays in the front and mid mouth.
Overall, I give it a B-, it lacks the sweetness and refreshing character of a great Vienna lager.

May 03, 2020

realJohnnyHobo from Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

It is well known that Boston Lager is not an original recipe of Sam Adam's, but in many ways, I'd say it it one of their best. The beer is a signature of the brand and really exemplifies excellence in brewing.

Pouring a clear rich caramel hue, the micro-champagne bubbles run throughout this 12 oz pour in a glass pint - no etching. There is a 2 finger white creamy head that slowly dissipates after a semi-aggressive tilted pour.

You will pick up notes of brown bread and fresh hops, mainly the fresh hops in the esters.

Boston Lager is a full-bodied beer, with notes of rich caramel, sharp hops, a chewy finish. There is a complexity of both fruity and nut flavors that is both hoppy but detectable throughout the entire sip.

Mar 27, 2020

kryansutton

4.53/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

When I have a Goto for a Poker game, of hanging out for holidays with my brothers. I always reach for a Sam Adams Holiday pack. Of a 12 pack of bottles. This beer has been me through home tough family times. Paired well with a few turkey and ham dinners, but at its best, It pairs better with a steak hot of the grill or a pizza. Great beer. But not the best.

Mar 08, 2020

sjrider from California

3.94/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drank from a bottle at a wedding after they ran out of SN Celebration so can't comment on appearance. Nose is malt forward with hints of herbal hops. Taste follows. I did notice slight taste variations after quaffing several, could be a freshness issue. Overall it seems to be a decent lager I would like to try fresh on tap.

Mar 01, 2020

Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota

3.44/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle into a nonic tap glass.

Pours a light amber and crystal clear with an off-white fluffy head that lingers quite well, and leaves some nice lacing. Bubbles stream up from the bottom continuously for quite awhile.

The malts are grainy and the hops are grassy and floral. Both are restrained but tasty and mixed with some bready toasty notes.

The brew is caramel malt sweet on the tip of the tongue. Biscuity notes in mid stream. The brew finishes with a touch of grassy and earthy bitterness.

The brew has a nice medium mouthfeel that is well carbonated and finishes well.

It's actually been quite a few years since I've tipped one of these back, so it was an interesting return to the past.

Feb 23, 2020

Xael

4.37/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a can into a half pint glass.

Color is a deep copper, almost red but not quite. Pours with a 2 finger head with decent but not remarkable retention. Beer is almost perfectly clear, very little noticeable haze, a visually beautiful beer no question. Smell is very malt heavy initially, with some light smoky notes, only the slightest hint of hops is detectable. The taste is where this beer kicks the engines to 118% thrust, upon the first taste I am greeted with an incredibly sweet malt flavor walking hand in hand with a perfect light hop addition bathed in smoke and fire. Up front taste is malt, toffee, and roasted roasted almond with just enough citrus notes to make the beer an easy drinker. Aftertaste is similar but very much focuses on the smoky and delicious roasted flavors of the beer. The hops are clear and present without being overly bitter. Mouthfeel is very oily compared almost all other beers I've tried. Otherwise the beer has a relatively standard, if somewhat more stout mouthfeel. Great carbonation with 'medium' sized bubbles. Overall, Samuel Adams Boston Lager is one of, if not perhaps, the very best mass produced lager around in my opinion. It's a true American lager, and a remarkably delicious one. It has just the right amount of flavor and body to be a everyday drinker and just enough character and complexity to still be very interesting and different from the rest of the pack!

Feb 08, 2020

JohnnyEd from Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

One of my first entries into craft brewing - along with Sierra Nevada and New Amsterdam. A great Vienna Lager, but time to move on... Everyone drinks it when they can....
PS: I always rate beers in the 3.X range, saving 4.X for really good ones... such as Pliney...

Feb 06, 2020

PathofChaos from Maryland

1.12/5  rDev -70.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

It's as if a craft lager was skunked by actual skunk spray and soured rancid by the resultant change in pH. Highly carbonated, burns and bangs on its way down like its actively trying to kill you. Leaves an ill-omened, metallic tang in it's wake and tastes like gutter water that was brewed with a bag of dirty pennies.

Even experiencing it fresh on tap can't save this corporate, sulfurous, demon pee. I'd rather drink lab chemicals than ever poison myself with this laughable trash ever again. No idea why it has an 85 on beer advocate. If you like ACTUAL beer, I suggest you avoid Boston Lager.

Jan 06, 2020

fedt from Arizona

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Samuel Adams Boston Lager
On tap in pint glass

L: Light, pale copper. Plenty of carbonation, thick head. 
S: Aroma may be a little faint, but grainy and grassy, biscuits and toast, roasted malt, and light oily hops are there.
T: Sweet malt, caramel, apples, clean-cut grass. Then moves to bitter hops and a little wood. Finishes dry. Great balance.
F: Light-medium mouth, not a particularly high ABV.
O: This might not be a connoisseur's microbrew favorite, but it is a great readily available beer that is so balanced and refined, there's nothing to hate here. If a restaurant doesn't have much selection, this is often guaranteed to be the best pick.

Jan 05, 2020

Singlefinpin from North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Drinking from a bottle poured into a pint glass.
Appears Golden, slight amber nice foamy white head and lacing.
Smells malty, bready.
Tastes Malt forward, with enough hoppy bitterness for my taste, but other's may say too much for the style.
Mouth feel is medium, with nice carbonation.
Overall, yes I would order again.

Dec 30, 2019

HardCider from Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This beer pours a clear golden amber color with a substantial head and good lacing. The aroma is mild; I only detect the smell of sweet malt. The taste is also sweet and malty with a touch of bitterness.

Dec 29, 2019

Peach63 from New York

4.11/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours golden yellow with 1/4 inch white head which quickly dissipates. Light lacing.

Aroma is floral, malty, bready, spicy.

Taste is malty, herbal, spicy. Low bitterness.

Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Dry finish.

One of the best American made lagers.

Dec 06, 2019

Pete_2112 from Colorado

4.78/5  rDev +27.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Honestly, this beer just screams quality and balance. The fact that I see so many 3.0-3.5 reviews just goes to show how many people don’t know what quality made lager is. This is a 4.5-5.0 beer, hands down. I don’t drink this beer often, but every time I do, it reminds me how well crafted it is. From the moment it’s poured into the glass, to the final drink at the end of the pint. Beautiful dark gold/amber color, great lacing, absolutely fantastic aroma of quality German hops, and the bold flavor of fresh malt to counter slight bitterness. I mean come on people. Open your eyes and stop being so critical of this beer simply because it’s not your local hometown brewery down the street. As mentioned, and with all due respect, if you do not rate this beer at least a 4.5, you do not have the knowledge or right to be rating beers on this site.

Nov 22, 2019

Amendm from Rhode Island

3.77/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

An easy pour from a 12-oz. bottle yields a finger of off-white soapy foam with average retention and arches of lace. Deep red-amber body, very clear with fine rising bubbles.

Caramel malt leads the smell with faint hops and fresh bread and dough. Very faint corn.

Semi-sweet and low on bitterness, some toast and biscuit add to the now flowery hops. A fair amount of malty richness, light on corn and toasted flavor. At the quick and clean finish bitterness rises a bit as it dries to neutral. The aftertaste is very short with malt lingering a few seconds.

Medium-light body, average carbonation. highly session-able and smooth. No frills just a straight forward Vienne lager.

Nov 22, 2019