Samuel Adams Hoppy Red
Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)
- From:
- Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #350 - ABV:
- 5.7%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #34,994 - Avg:
- 3.61 | pDev: 12.74%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 113
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 16, 2026
- Added:
- Jul 27, 2015
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 111
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
Amber, smooth, and resinous, this ale was inspired by our exploration of Australian hops. We discovered that their rugged, spicy and piney character brightened a back-bone of roasted caramel malts, creating a beer with surprising depth and smoothness.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by doctorgary:
Rated by doctorgary from New York
4/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jun 02, 2025
4/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jun 02, 2025
More User Ratings:
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.38/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.38/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
RB transfer
Jan 16, 2026
Reviewed by brewme from Massachusetts
3.25/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Reviewing this beer from memory. My fifty fifth brew reviewed from these guys. Like most beers from Boston Beer Company, also known as Sam Adams, this is just ok.
Sep 24, 2025
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.5/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear, amber color. Medium-sized, white head. Aroma of bread , caramel, and tropical fruits. Malty, grainy taste with decent hoppy bitterness at the end.
May 30, 2025
Reviewed by ironprog from Florida
1.94/5 rDev -46.3%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
1.94/5 rDev -46.3%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
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 09/24/2016.
12 oz. bottle. Pours a clear, reddish-brown with a tall, frothy head that lasts a long time. Strong sour hops aroma. Bitter-hoppy flavor that’s a bit overpowering with a mild sourness. Light body with a thin texture. Finish is a bit on the sour side but fades fairly quickly. Overall, not my cup of tea. It’s just too hoppy and bitter for my tastes. But I have friends who would go ga-ga over it. So to each, their own.
Jun 08, 202412 oz. bottle. Pours a clear, reddish-brown with a tall, frothy head that lasts a long time. Strong sour hops aroma. Bitter-hoppy flavor that’s a bit overpowering with a mild sourness. Light body with a thin texture. Finish is a bit on the sour side but fades fairly quickly. Overall, not my cup of tea. It’s just too hoppy and bitter for my tastes. But I have friends who would go ga-ga over it. So to each, their own.
Reviewed by fedt from Arizona
3.99/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sam Adams Hoppy Red, 5.7%
12oz bottle poured into glass, tasted in 2016
L: Deep amber in color, pretty thick head with good retention after several minutes
S: Strong piney hops immediately. Some citrus and a sweet smell behind. More citrus notes than your typical Sam Adams beers.
T: Taste starts a little flat, then builds. Malt heavy, then pine, grapefruit, caramel, honey, citrus rind, and juicy pine.
F: Little lighter than I expected, and maybe this would benefit from being higher ABV.
O: I do like red ales that are well-hopped instead of being all malt. This was overall a nice surprise from Sam Adams.
Jan 05, 202012oz bottle poured into glass, tasted in 2016
L: Deep amber in color, pretty thick head with good retention after several minutes
S: Strong piney hops immediately. Some citrus and a sweet smell behind. More citrus notes than your typical Sam Adams beers.
T: Taste starts a little flat, then builds. Malt heavy, then pine, grapefruit, caramel, honey, citrus rind, and juicy pine.
F: Little lighter than I expected, and maybe this would benefit from being higher ABV.
O: I do like red ales that are well-hopped instead of being all malt. This was overall a nice surprise from Sam Adams.
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
3.69/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours red orange with a small off white head. Smells of citrus and piney hops, inviting. Tastes of grassy hops with some caramel and citrus notes. Beer is light bodied and drinkable, a tad heavily carbonated. Overall, an above average beer.
Mar 11, 2018Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan
3.6/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours an amber color with a foamy head that disappears quickly. Aroma is caramel and hops with a hint of fruit. Taste starts off caramel then finishes with the hops and fruit.
May 28, 2017
Reviewed by basaywhat from Illinois
3.14/5 rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.14/5 rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
12 oz bottle. Pours a dark amber color with a white head. Aroma was of citrus and herbal hops, caramel and toast. Slight bitterness to taste. Not great.
Feb 20, 2017
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