Samuel Adams Helles Bock
Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)
- From:
- Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Maibock
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.67 | pDev: 10.08%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 23, 2018
- Added:
- Sep 19, 2014
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 7
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by matty from Pennsylvania
3.5/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Tasty and refreshing..pretty good
Jan 23, 2015
Reviewed by GregBarleycorn13 from New York
4.48/5 rDev +22.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev +22.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured a gorgeous very clear golden brown with nice fluffy head into a Sam Adams Sensory glass. Lots of fine bubbles rising up start to finish. Smell was of a nice malty, german beer. Taste was the same. Delish and enjoyable.
Dec 29, 2014
Reviewed by ThisWangsChung from Maryland
3.15/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.15/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle into a wine glass.
Appearance: Pours a clear copper color - it's a bit darker than most helles bocks. The head is a finger high, with a shade that's barely off-white. Its retention isn't particularly special, nor is the texture or the lacing left behind. It still looks pretty good, though. (3.5)
Smell: Nicely fruity. There are typical notes of apple pie, but also a pleasant fruitiness similar to fruit punch (for the record, I love this quality in lagers). A touch of grassiness helps balance it, though it could stand to be less sweet. (3.5)
Taste: The flavor profile has a strong caramel flavor closer to a marzen (or, for that matter, a regular bock), as well as a slight toastiness. Afterwards, some noble hops appear vividly past the midway point. Flavors of grass, earth, and apricot finish it off, with a little bit of alcohol as well. The individual flavors are good, but the balance is off. (3)
Mouthfeel: This one feels big and quite sweet. Too sweet, even. The finishing crispness compensates slightly, but I can't help but feel this is too much of a sluggish sipper. Carbonation seems a little faint. (3)
Overall: Marzenbock? I can definitely taste the toasted, caramel flavors here, as well as the typical fruity flavors of a helles bock. On the other hand, it isn't really balanced - its sweetness lingers too strongly and the faint alcohol sticks out like a sore thumb. Not bad, but I wouldn't seek it out (in retrospect, thank cripes it's only in the "Adventures in Lager" case...)
3.13/5: All in all, another reminder that this isn't really my favorite style
Oct 21, 2014Appearance: Pours a clear copper color - it's a bit darker than most helles bocks. The head is a finger high, with a shade that's barely off-white. Its retention isn't particularly special, nor is the texture or the lacing left behind. It still looks pretty good, though. (3.5)
Smell: Nicely fruity. There are typical notes of apple pie, but also a pleasant fruitiness similar to fruit punch (for the record, I love this quality in lagers). A touch of grassiness helps balance it, though it could stand to be less sweet. (3.5)
Taste: The flavor profile has a strong caramel flavor closer to a marzen (or, for that matter, a regular bock), as well as a slight toastiness. Afterwards, some noble hops appear vividly past the midway point. Flavors of grass, earth, and apricot finish it off, with a little bit of alcohol as well. The individual flavors are good, but the balance is off. (3)
Mouthfeel: This one feels big and quite sweet. Too sweet, even. The finishing crispness compensates slightly, but I can't help but feel this is too much of a sluggish sipper. Carbonation seems a little faint. (3)
Overall: Marzenbock? I can definitely taste the toasted, caramel flavors here, as well as the typical fruity flavors of a helles bock. On the other hand, it isn't really balanced - its sweetness lingers too strongly and the faint alcohol sticks out like a sore thumb. Not bad, but I wouldn't seek it out (in retrospect, thank cripes it's only in the "Adventures in Lager" case...)
3.13/5: All in all, another reminder that this isn't really my favorite style
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.36/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.36/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle into a pint glass,; revised Jan. 2016 with another 12 oz bottle that was markedly better. Compromise ratings.
Looks great, with excellent clarity in the deep amber body and excellent retention of the off-white head.
Aroma: sweet malts. "overly grassy hops and a hint of soap" noted in 1st review but absent in 2nd.
Flavor: a solid malt base with toffee and biscuit notes accompanied by some light spicy hop that lead to mild bitterness by the finish. Slightly boozy. The finish also has biscuit and light honey.
O: full, smooth mouthfeel with no alcohol harshness set this above others of this style on this dimension.
Oct 19, 2014Looks great, with excellent clarity in the deep amber body and excellent retention of the off-white head.
Aroma: sweet malts. "overly grassy hops and a hint of soap" noted in 1st review but absent in 2nd.
Flavor: a solid malt base with toffee and biscuit notes accompanied by some light spicy hop that lead to mild bitterness by the finish. Slightly boozy. The finish also has biscuit and light honey.
O: full, smooth mouthfeel with no alcohol harshness set this above others of this style on this dimension.
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