Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)


Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Lager - Vienna
Ranked #52 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #23,002 - Avg:
- 3.74 | pDev: 13.9%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Yesterday at 06:41 AM
- Added:
- Apr 27, 2001
- Wants:
- 237
- Gots:
- 2,909
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good


Notes:
Four Ingredients. Painstakingly Chosen. Every year, we travel to Bavaria to hand-select Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops, and the high American plains for the finest two-row summer barley. We cultivate our own lager yeast and I personally sample every batch. All our hard work goes into brewing this distinctly flavorful and complex beer for you. Cheers!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
2.41 by Spark420 on Yesterday at 06:41 AM
4.23 by Mcc7793 from North Carolina on Wednesday at 10:17 AM
4.25 by fattyuter on May 05, 2022
3.65 by Beer_Goblin from New York on May 04, 2022
3.69/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Perioddicals from Texas
L - Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Sam Adams Perfect Glass. One and a quarter finger off-white head on an aggressive pour that fades down to a bubble film that stays throughout the drink. Medium amber brown color. Clear with no haziness. Medium lacing on the glass.
S - Malts up front with a bread or cracker scent. Some mild toastiness. Some mild earthy tones as well.
T - Caramel Malts are front and center. Light toastiness on the back end. Some sweetness in there. Minimal hop flavors with almost no bitterness.
F - Medium mouthfeel with some frothiness. Medium carbonation.
O - Overall, this is a solid malt-forward beer. Sam Adams Boston Lager has been a standard beer for me for many years. It’s one of the better all-around beers for someone who is not a hop-head. Great smooth malt flavors. Definitely in my regular rotation and would recommend to all.
Apr 29, 2022
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Perioddicals from Texas
L - Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Sam Adams Perfect Glass. One and a quarter finger off-white head on an aggressive pour that fades down to a bubble film that stays throughout the drink. Medium amber brown color. Clear with no haziness. Medium lacing on the glass.
S - Malts up front with a bread or cracker scent. Some mild toastiness. Some mild earthy tones as well.
T - Caramel Malts are front and center. Light toastiness on the back end. Some sweetness in there. Minimal hop flavors with almost no bitterness.
F - Medium mouthfeel with some frothiness. Medium carbonation.
O - Overall, this is a solid malt-forward beer. Sam Adams Boston Lager has been a standard beer for me for many years. It’s one of the better all-around beers for someone who is not a hop-head. Great smooth malt flavors. Definitely in my regular rotation and would recommend to all.
Apr 29, 2022
2.35/5 rDev -37.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
by KingJay25
Bottled disappointment. Taste like the charles river vomited in a vat of baked beans and they let it ferment... good if you're already drunk tho.
Apr 22, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
by KingJay25
Bottled disappointment. Taste like the charles river vomited in a vat of baked beans and they let it ferment... good if you're already drunk tho.
Apr 22, 2022
3.62 by not2quick from Missouri on Apr 12, 2022
3.84 by Ox8840bo from Illinois on Apr 10, 2022
3.68 by Legendary_Geko from Florida on Mar 27, 2022
3.77/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by GABronco
Look - color is somewhat copper and pretty clear. Head was about 1 finger size and dissipated quickly.
Smell - A little malty with hints of toffee and vanilla.
Taste - The taste surprised me because the hops are more present than I expected based on the smell. It was a nice surprise and gave good depth to the beer.
Feel - Good, standard lager with moderate carbonation.
Overall--a good, but not fancy beer. It seems like a pretty safe choice and should appeal to a lot of people, but doesn't have the complexity of so many of the craft beers out there. Still, probably my favorite macro lager that is available most places.
Mar 07, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by GABronco
Look - color is somewhat copper and pretty clear. Head was about 1 finger size and dissipated quickly.
Smell - A little malty with hints of toffee and vanilla.
Taste - The taste surprised me because the hops are more present than I expected based on the smell. It was a nice surprise and gave good depth to the beer.
Feel - Good, standard lager with moderate carbonation.
Overall--a good, but not fancy beer. It seems like a pretty safe choice and should appeal to a lot of people, but doesn't have the complexity of so many of the craft beers out there. Still, probably my favorite macro lager that is available most places.
Mar 07, 2022
3.99 by JFlowers on Mar 06, 2022
3.28 by Parriscite from Maryland on Feb 20, 2022
2.88/5 rDev -23%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
by Grounder from Illinois
An okay beer, the problem is, it's never my choice but something that's forced upon me via variety packs.
Feb 18, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
by Grounder from Illinois
An okay beer, the problem is, it's never my choice but something that's forced upon me via variety packs.
Feb 18, 2022
3.75 by ryand14 from Michigan on Feb 13, 2022
3.77/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by Viaduck from California
A nice looking crystal clear, cooper body with a thick head. Not very intense but pleasant aroma, fragrant grain & floral hops. Very mild hop bitterness with a dry finish. Crisp, clean taste: malty goodness with bread & spice. Average viscosity for a lager. Nothing special but still very good.
Feb 09, 2022
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by Viaduck from California
A nice looking crystal clear, cooper body with a thick head. Not very intense but pleasant aroma, fragrant grain & floral hops. Very mild hop bitterness with a dry finish. Crisp, clean taste: malty goodness with bread & spice. Average viscosity for a lager. Nothing special but still very good.
Feb 09, 2022
4.87/5 rDev +30.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by grru98
My favorite, because it allow me drink a great beer everywhere. I have tried others as good but all are locals this one is in all US. Best comercial beer so far.
Feb 07, 2022
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by grru98
My favorite, because it allow me drink a great beer everywhere. I have tried others as good but all are locals this one is in all US. Best comercial beer so far.
Feb 07, 2022
3.46/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
by deleted_user_995920
Pours a translucent copper/burnt orange color, with a fast receding foamy whit head. Smell mild hints of toffee and vanilla. Taste is bready,malty and nicely hopped. This is a tasty beer.Feels almost thin bodied,finishes semi dry. Overall this in my opinion is a different brew than 35 years ago when they were trying to make a name for themselves. This was my go to beer and if I moved to another State that did not stock it , I would tell the owners how fantastic this beer was. ( I may as well have worked for them) it was the best beer, (also Anchor Steam) at the time in the US market- This seems like a cheapened version on every level of ingredients. It was a beer I would have rated a 4.5. This on the other hand shows what mass production can do to quality of ingredients. Last time I drank this ,SAM Adams was trying to impress, now they are a small conglomerate who makes mediocre beer. Sad that success destroys the product-
Feb 05, 2022
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
by deleted_user_995920
Pours a translucent copper/burnt orange color, with a fast receding foamy whit head. Smell mild hints of toffee and vanilla. Taste is bready,malty and nicely hopped. This is a tasty beer.Feels almost thin bodied,finishes semi dry. Overall this in my opinion is a different brew than 35 years ago when they were trying to make a name for themselves. This was my go to beer and if I moved to another State that did not stock it , I would tell the owners how fantastic this beer was. ( I may as well have worked for them) it was the best beer, (also Anchor Steam) at the time in the US market- This seems like a cheapened version on every level of ingredients. It was a beer I would have rated a 4.5. This on the other hand shows what mass production can do to quality of ingredients. Last time I drank this ,SAM Adams was trying to impress, now they are a small conglomerate who makes mediocre beer. Sad that success destroys the product-
Feb 05, 2022
4.16/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by datstankadank from New Jersey
Only pick this beer up when it's very fresh. I wouldn't even recommend picking this up if it still has 2 months left on it's freshness labeling. Big fluffy head that lasts throughout the beer. Well balanced malt and hop flavors. I swear this beer used to be under 5%. Either way it's miles ahead of the majority of craft attempts.
Jan 30, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by datstankadank from New Jersey
Only pick this beer up when it's very fresh. I wouldn't even recommend picking this up if it still has 2 months left on it's freshness labeling. Big fluffy head that lasts throughout the beer. Well balanced malt and hop flavors. I swear this beer used to be under 5%. Either way it's miles ahead of the majority of craft attempts.
Jan 30, 2022
3.49 by BrScho2 on Jan 19, 2022
3.58/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by WlSH_YOU_WERE_BEER from New York
Dad's go to, so became the first beer I familiarised myself with.
Jan 19, 2022
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by WlSH_YOU_WERE_BEER from New York
Dad's go to, so became the first beer I familiarised myself with.
Jan 19, 2022
3.38/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
by TheMatts
This is a beer that I could drink over an hour or 45mins. It has a nice color to it, and a crisp flavor that hits your tongue right away. Had a dry feel to it with some bitterness at the sides of your mouth. You can definitely taste the hops, leaving it more honestly bitter than I expected and some spice notes with that. The IBU rating will deceive you. It taste like an inoffensive beer with a strong hop flavor. Was excited to try this and it disappointed. Not bad.
Jan 18, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
by TheMatts
This is a beer that I could drink over an hour or 45mins. It has a nice color to it, and a crisp flavor that hits your tongue right away. Had a dry feel to it with some bitterness at the sides of your mouth. You can definitely taste the hops, leaving it more honestly bitter than I expected and some spice notes with that. The IBU rating will deceive you. It taste like an inoffensive beer with a strong hop flavor. Was excited to try this and it disappointed. Not bad.
Jan 18, 2022
3.7 by carrcolind from District of Columbia on Jan 16, 2022
3.66/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by JZH1000 from Colorado
Poured from a 12oz bottle (beers for cheers)
The look is a nice solid to light amber with average carbonation. Head on the pour isnt spectacular, but what does form sticks around for a while. Crystal clear
Hops are very present on the nose, but almost all bittering hops. Very classic hop scent blending very well into the malt backbone. Very pleasant scent. Herbal earthy and malty.
Taste almost resembles a pale ale. Hops largely overpower any lager characteristic, much unlike their winter lager. Still easy to put down and inoffensive but much more bitter than most lagers I've had despite the claim of 30 IBU on the bottle. Wish the malt was stronger on the taste. It does come through in the after taste though.
Feel is like most lagers easy to put down not too heavy and pretty refreshing the strong hops detract from refreshing as much but that's not a huge deal it came in a winter pack.
Overall a pretty good hoppy lager. Choppier than a traditional pils, but nothing crazy. Flavors are all ones you've had before, but maybe not in a lager. Pretty good definitely better than most macros flavor wise but maybe not refreshing wise.
Jan 08, 2022
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by JZH1000 from Colorado
Poured from a 12oz bottle (beers for cheers)
The look is a nice solid to light amber with average carbonation. Head on the pour isnt spectacular, but what does form sticks around for a while. Crystal clear
Hops are very present on the nose, but almost all bittering hops. Very classic hop scent blending very well into the malt backbone. Very pleasant scent. Herbal earthy and malty.
Taste almost resembles a pale ale. Hops largely overpower any lager characteristic, much unlike their winter lager. Still easy to put down and inoffensive but much more bitter than most lagers I've had despite the claim of 30 IBU on the bottle. Wish the malt was stronger on the taste. It does come through in the after taste though.
Feel is like most lagers easy to put down not too heavy and pretty refreshing the strong hops detract from refreshing as much but that's not a huge deal it came in a winter pack.
Overall a pretty good hoppy lager. Choppier than a traditional pils, but nothing crazy. Flavors are all ones you've had before, but maybe not in a lager. Pretty good definitely better than most macros flavor wise but maybe not refreshing wise.
Jan 08, 2022
3.98/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Denverbeerman21
Pours clear amber gold with white head. Light malty, grassy smell. Bready, hoppy, taste with some bitterness at end. Smooth, easy drinking.
Dec 29, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Denverbeerman21
Pours clear amber gold with white head. Light malty, grassy smell. Bready, hoppy, taste with some bitterness at end. Smooth, easy drinking.
Dec 29, 2021
3.93 by PaulMayer on Dec 28, 2021
5/5 rDev +33.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by lflotron from Florida
My favorite beer. Very balanced with just enough hops and a very slight sweetness
Dec 21, 2021
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by lflotron from Florida
My favorite beer. Very balanced with just enough hops and a very slight sweetness
Dec 21, 2021
3.85 by Meddwol from Michigan on Dec 18, 2021
3.77/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Franziskaner from Missouri
Dark copper colored with a quarter inch of beige head on top. Moderate, soapy lacing. The aroma is of dark, bready malt and a touch of grassy hops. I’m tasting caramel and marzipan with a touch of grassy hops in the fade. The mouth is crisp and refreshing.
Dec 10, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Franziskaner from Missouri
Dark copper colored with a quarter inch of beige head on top. Moderate, soapy lacing. The aroma is of dark, bready malt and a touch of grassy hops. I’m tasting caramel and marzipan with a touch of grassy hops in the fade. The mouth is crisp and refreshing.
Dec 10, 2021
1.81 by MuffinMcMuffin on Dec 07, 2021
4.3/5 rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by MaltsOfGlory from Oregon
12oz bottle
Pours two fingers of extremely pillowy, creamy white head. Retention is immaculate, not losing even a sliver after a few minutes. Initial lacing looks nice. Body is bronze in color, crystal clear, with an absurd amount of nucleating bubbles coming up. Looks wonderful so far.
Nose is bready, some caramel, toffee. Faint grassy hops, even a little spicy. Malt forward, but it doesn’t smell cloying or overly sweet. The aroma is fuller than what a lot of Vienna’s often have, so you could argue it’s stylistically closer to a Marzen. Just slightly complex, smells wonderful.
On the flavor, the malts seem to hit harder and the hops take more of a back seat, especially compared to drinking from the bottle. Definitely bready, caramel, toffee. Hops are pretty subdued, there is a very small spice that I feel shows up more out of the bottle. Definitely leans more towards a Marzen, at least from my experience with the two styles. You could say it’s just slightly unbalanced, but overall a lovely flavor.
Sweetness is moderate, but it works. Bitterness is low but present. For the amount of nucleation, the carbonation has held up very well, sitting around medium-high. Body is about medium, the malty sweetness does some work there. Mouthfeel is pretty nice, a tad sweet (at least in the glass, drinks much crisper out of the bottle).
All things considered, the drinkability is wonderful, this is tasty, not cloying, and light enough.
Appearance turned out great. The head was super resilient, and the lacing very cohesive.
Overall a wonderful beer, one that is underrated, or maybe just forgotten. Full of flavor, and just all around good.
Dec 06, 2021
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by MaltsOfGlory from Oregon
12oz bottle
Pours two fingers of extremely pillowy, creamy white head. Retention is immaculate, not losing even a sliver after a few minutes. Initial lacing looks nice. Body is bronze in color, crystal clear, with an absurd amount of nucleating bubbles coming up. Looks wonderful so far.
Nose is bready, some caramel, toffee. Faint grassy hops, even a little spicy. Malt forward, but it doesn’t smell cloying or overly sweet. The aroma is fuller than what a lot of Vienna’s often have, so you could argue it’s stylistically closer to a Marzen. Just slightly complex, smells wonderful.
On the flavor, the malts seem to hit harder and the hops take more of a back seat, especially compared to drinking from the bottle. Definitely bready, caramel, toffee. Hops are pretty subdued, there is a very small spice that I feel shows up more out of the bottle. Definitely leans more towards a Marzen, at least from my experience with the two styles. You could say it’s just slightly unbalanced, but overall a lovely flavor.
Sweetness is moderate, but it works. Bitterness is low but present. For the amount of nucleation, the carbonation has held up very well, sitting around medium-high. Body is about medium, the malty sweetness does some work there. Mouthfeel is pretty nice, a tad sweet (at least in the glass, drinks much crisper out of the bottle).
All things considered, the drinkability is wonderful, this is tasty, not cloying, and light enough.
Appearance turned out great. The head was super resilient, and the lacing very cohesive.
Overall a wonderful beer, one that is underrated, or maybe just forgotten. Full of flavor, and just all around good.
Dec 06, 2021
4.67 by Mattbrollins22 from South Carolina on Dec 01, 2021
3.9 by Isaaccluna on Nov 29, 2021
4.4 by shu from Georgia on Nov 25, 2021
3.73 by Spade from Pennsylvania on Nov 24, 2021
2.75 by PopeGrundle from Texas on Nov 22, 2021
3.56 by QuintusHorace from California on Nov 20, 2021
3.75 by AustinRT from Texas on Nov 20, 2021
3.75 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota on Nov 19, 2021
3.62/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by snaotheus from Washington
2021-11-17
12oz bottle served in a tulip. DEC 2021 is ticked on the label. Bought a single at a Total Wine.
Pours a clear coppery amber color with a smallish head that fades into a thin skin that crawls almost a centimeter up the side of the glass. Fair amount of active carbonation at rest. Smell is lager yeast and grain, mild, simple.
Taste is fairly sweet, slightly nutty and toffee, definite graininess, maybe a slight lemon flavor.
Mouthfeel is medium to thick. Overall, it's not bad.
Nov 18, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by snaotheus from Washington
2021-11-17
12oz bottle served in a tulip. DEC 2021 is ticked on the label. Bought a single at a Total Wine.
Pours a clear coppery amber color with a smallish head that fades into a thin skin that crawls almost a centimeter up the side of the glass. Fair amount of active carbonation at rest. Smell is lager yeast and grain, mild, simple.
Taste is fairly sweet, slightly nutty and toffee, definite graininess, maybe a slight lemon flavor.
Mouthfeel is medium to thick. Overall, it's not bad.
Nov 18, 2021
3 by vigorousjammer on Nov 15, 2021
Samuel Adams Boston Lager from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
9858 ratings