Samuel Adams Winter Lager
Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)


- From:
- Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Bock
Ranked #86 - ABV:
- 5.6%
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #33,587 - Avg:
- 3.66 | pDev: 11.48%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 141
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 25, 2026
- Added:
- Nov 29, 2020
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 28
For the first time in 31 years, we’re updating the classic Winter Lager recipe to make it crisper and brighter. It’s the same iconic beer, with a wintery remix. Crisp Bock with citrus and spices, lager brewed with orange peel, cinnamon, and ginger.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mushroomcloud:
Reviewed by mushroomcloud from Texas
3.78/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz can with a best by date, opened 12/28/25.
2 finger sand colored head with very good retention. Amber-orange body with excellent clarity. Early lacing.
Malty, caramel sweet aroma. Earthy, mild spice with a hint of ginger.
Caramel apple, light spicy ginger, Sweet but not cloying malty base.
Medium body with low-medium carbonation. Sweet finish.
I enjoyed these 3 cans from the variety pack.
Good to Very Good.
Dec 28, 20252 finger sand colored head with very good retention. Amber-orange body with excellent clarity. Early lacing.
Malty, caramel sweet aroma. Earthy, mild spice with a hint of ginger.
Caramel apple, light spicy ginger, Sweet but not cloying malty base.
Medium body with low-medium carbonation. Sweet finish.
I enjoyed these 3 cans from the variety pack.
Good to Very Good.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire
4.01/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a 12 oz bottle clipped Apr 2026. Sampled April 25, 2026
Attractive amber brown pour under a foamy cream colored head.
Immediately in the aroma, I get hints of cinnamon and nutmeg in those bready malts. Maybe a touch of anise. No real notable hop sensation.
The mouthfeel is medium or maybe a little better
The taste is at first sweet and then those winter spices of cinnamon and nutmeg edge in toward the end. Not real dry or lingering, But the sweetness prevails.
Apr 25, 2026Attractive amber brown pour under a foamy cream colored head.
Immediately in the aroma, I get hints of cinnamon and nutmeg in those bready malts. Maybe a touch of anise. No real notable hop sensation.
The mouthfeel is medium or maybe a little better
The taste is at first sweet and then those winter spices of cinnamon and nutmeg edge in toward the end. Not real dry or lingering, But the sweetness prevails.
Reviewed by RollingRocker97 from Maine
5/5 rDev +36.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +36.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The quintessential winter beer in almost every facet. This beer is a joy to drink from start to finish, and has a delicious profile and amazing aftertaste. One of the best Saturday-Sunday beers out there for the cold nights.
Feb 01, 2026Reviewed by Beejay from Virginia
3.29/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.29/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
A: A clear reddish brown. with a large tan head.
S: Lager aroma with a touch of a syrupy thing inthe back.
T: Malty with a brown bread flavor, and a hint of caramel.
M: medium thick with moderate carbonation.
O: Overall It's a beer. I feel like it falls short of a good bock, and doesn't hit the winter vibes I am looking for.
Jan 19, 2026S: Lager aroma with a touch of a syrupy thing inthe back.
T: Malty with a brown bread flavor, and a hint of caramel.
M: medium thick with moderate carbonation.
O: Overall It's a beer. I feel like it falls short of a good bock, and doesn't hit the winter vibes I am looking for.
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.42/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.42/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
RB transfer
Jan 16, 2026Reviewed by Shiredave from New York
3.63/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.63/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Deep amber color below a low white head.
Sweet aroma of toffee and raised donut icing.
Malty aroma of more icing and some faint grain notes.
The flavor is Bock-lite - good sweetness with some hop bite at the back.
Spices like ginger detract for me but you may like it.
Hints of German character but no real bock flavors.
Finish is clean with a balance of sweet and mild bitterness.
Jan 04, 2026Sweet aroma of toffee and raised donut icing.
Malty aroma of more icing and some faint grain notes.
The flavor is Bock-lite - good sweetness with some hop bite at the back.
Spices like ginger detract for me but you may like it.
Hints of German character but no real bock flavors.
Finish is clean with a balance of sweet and mild bitterness.
Reviewed by Profundobaso from New York
3.67/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look - 12 oz can poured into an 8 oz tasting glass. copper in color and clear. very frothy and a ton of head (nearly half the glass), mostly dissipating but with moderate lacing retention.
Smell - toasted malts and some spices in the nose, with some orange peel and sweetness.
Taste - malt forward, complemented by some gingery spiciness and with a hint of sweetness and warmness towards the finish.
Feel - medium bodied, above average carbonation, and on the lower end in ABV for a bock at 5.6%.
Overall - a not too boozy bock with some subtle wintry spices. easy to drink and a nice rotation for the season.
Jan 03, 2026Smell - toasted malts and some spices in the nose, with some orange peel and sweetness.
Taste - malt forward, complemented by some gingery spiciness and with a hint of sweetness and warmness towards the finish.
Feel - medium bodied, above average carbonation, and on the lower end in ABV for a bock at 5.6%.
Overall - a not too boozy bock with some subtle wintry spices. easy to drink and a nice rotation for the season.
Reviewed by Moneybagsox from Ohio
4.13/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This is a great beer. Super drinkable, I could crush like 6 or more right now, but I’m excited to try the rest of the variety pack. Reminds me of a spicier shiner bock
Dec 26, 2025
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