Samuel Adams Whitewater IPA
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)


Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- IPA - American
Ranked #7,026 - ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 80
Ranked #46,794 - Avg:
- 3.51 | pDev: 15.38%
- Reviews:
- 450
- Ratings:
- From:
- Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
- Massachusetts, United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 19
- Gots
- 303
SCORE
80
Good
80
Good


Notes:
Reviews: 450
| Ratings: 2,009
| Log in to view all ratings and sort
Reviews by lcdawg:
More User Reviews:
SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina
2.77/5 rDev -21.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
12oz. Bottle poured into a pint glass. White, semi-foamy head recedes at a brisk pace leaving some lacing. Aroma is somewhat hoppy but I get no real American or Belgian influences; smells kind of English. Lasagna, oranges, and grassiness. Tastes kind of bad honestly. Acrid, sour, chalky, very earthy, not great. A huge disappointment from Sam Adams. I am generally a fan of theirs but this one stinks.
May 02, 2013
2.77/5 rDev -21.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
12oz. Bottle poured into a pint glass. White, semi-foamy head recedes at a brisk pace leaving some lacing. Aroma is somewhat hoppy but I get no real American or Belgian influences; smells kind of English. Lasagna, oranges, and grassiness. Tastes kind of bad honestly. Acrid, sour, chalky, very earthy, not great. A huge disappointment from Sam Adams. I am generally a fan of theirs but this one stinks.
May 02, 2013
Rock_Glenn from New York
2.3/5 rDev -34.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
Another Sam Adams with crap added. Boston beer gives me an appreciation of the German purity laws. Oh yeah, this beer... I probably won't buy this again. Let's leave it at that.
Jun 18, 2016
2.3/5 rDev -34.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
Another Sam Adams with crap added. Boston beer gives me an appreciation of the German purity laws. Oh yeah, this beer... I probably won't buy this again. Let's leave it at that.
Jun 18, 2016
iSip from Colorado
1.84/5 rDev -47.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Sam Adams Whitewater IPA: Nice foamy head on top of a dirty straw colored brew. The aroma is acrid and chemical. The flavor -- ick. This mix of Belgian whit and American IPA does not dance. Pass on this one. The Decshutes Chainbreaker proves it can be done, but Sam Adams missed the mark.
Apr 19, 2013
1.84/5 rDev -47.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Sam Adams Whitewater IPA: Nice foamy head on top of a dirty straw colored brew. The aroma is acrid and chemical. The flavor -- ick. This mix of Belgian whit and American IPA does not dance. Pass on this one. The Decshutes Chainbreaker proves it can be done, but Sam Adams missed the mark.
Apr 19, 2013
Gabriel_Vaughn from California
2.87/5 rDev -18.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
appearance is golden, a bit cloudy. Looks as if there are slight debris floating in dense beer. The smell reminds me of some bad orange juice. Not too appeasing. At least the taste is strong as an IPA should be. Hints of citrus then immediately goes downhill. Old musty OJ is all I think.
I would not recommend to a friend bottom line.
Jul 08, 2014
2.87/5 rDev -18.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
appearance is golden, a bit cloudy. Looks as if there are slight debris floating in dense beer. The smell reminds me of some bad orange juice. Not too appeasing. At least the taste is strong as an IPA should be. Hints of citrus then immediately goes downhill. Old musty OJ is all I think.
I would not recommend to a friend bottom line.
Jul 08, 2014
Billolick from New York
3.7/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle, with freshness info notching on the side of the label. Came as part of the hop a licious box set.
Pours clouded washed out pale apricot. Light tan, fine bubble head, stays at the 1/4 inch level and leaves decent strands and bits of lace.
Moderate grapefruit rinds, pine needles and sweet flowery hints picked up by the sniffer.
More dry grapefruit, light pine and fruity IPA goodness on the palate. Not picking up the advertised apricots. Tasty enough, but a bit lacking in density of flavor and bite of hop. Middle of the road mass produced IPA. Drinkable for sure, but not in the class of more intensly flavorful renditions of the style. Good newbie craft brew, perhaps something my BMC drinking kids might try and enjoy. Decent summery IPA
May 30, 2012
3.7/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle, with freshness info notching on the side of the label. Came as part of the hop a licious box set.
Pours clouded washed out pale apricot. Light tan, fine bubble head, stays at the 1/4 inch level and leaves decent strands and bits of lace.
Moderate grapefruit rinds, pine needles and sweet flowery hints picked up by the sniffer.
More dry grapefruit, light pine and fruity IPA goodness on the palate. Not picking up the advertised apricots. Tasty enough, but a bit lacking in density of flavor and bite of hop. Middle of the road mass produced IPA. Drinkable for sure, but not in the class of more intensly flavorful renditions of the style. Good newbie craft brew, perhaps something my BMC drinking kids might try and enjoy. Decent summery IPA
May 30, 2012
jjanega08 from Minnesota
2.93/5 rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Bottle is notched in SEPT.
A= Pours a hazy yellow color. A bit far from a wit as far as hue. The head is a small half finger high and leaves some steady lacing on the side of the glass.
S= Has a bit of a citrus peel aroma with a dominate light hop aroma. I don't get any of the coriander or spice that I would expect from a wit. The hops aren't as bright as a typical IPA.
T= The taste is dominated by bitter hops with little to no existing orange peel or coriander. The wit character is completely gone and it is simply a bitter IPA.
M= The mouth is a little high on the carbonation.
O= The beer isn't the worst thing in the world but I'm having a little trouble enjoying it for what it is. It's just an IPA. The wit character is gone and I get almost nothing but some average hop character.
Jul 19, 2013
2.93/5 rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Bottle is notched in SEPT.
A= Pours a hazy yellow color. A bit far from a wit as far as hue. The head is a small half finger high and leaves some steady lacing on the side of the glass.
S= Has a bit of a citrus peel aroma with a dominate light hop aroma. I don't get any of the coriander or spice that I would expect from a wit. The hops aren't as bright as a typical IPA.
T= The taste is dominated by bitter hops with little to no existing orange peel or coriander. The wit character is completely gone and it is simply a bitter IPA.
M= The mouth is a little high on the carbonation.
O= The beer isn't the worst thing in the world but I'm having a little trouble enjoying it for what it is. It's just an IPA. The wit character is gone and I get almost nothing but some average hop character.
Jul 19, 2013
tastybeer from North Carolina
3.75/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Attractive looking brew... This looks just like a Wit IPA. Bright, glowing, evenly hazy, tangerine-gold colored beer under a bright white head. Head is about two fingers high and fairly quickly turns to an 1/8" layer. Lace is spotty. Aroma comes together well. Sweet bread dough malt, orange, apple, cardamon, light pine woodiness, decomposing leaves, tart lemon, and a touch of black pepper. Taste is darker and danker. More pine, dryly bitter, and full of prickly carbonation. Wheat tanginess, lemon, orange, and wet forest. Resinous texture, medium body, both slick and dry. Fairly easy drinking even with the bitter tangy punch.
Feb 05, 2012
3.75/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Attractive looking brew... This looks just like a Wit IPA. Bright, glowing, evenly hazy, tangerine-gold colored beer under a bright white head. Head is about two fingers high and fairly quickly turns to an 1/8" layer. Lace is spotty. Aroma comes together well. Sweet bread dough malt, orange, apple, cardamon, light pine woodiness, decomposing leaves, tart lemon, and a touch of black pepper. Taste is darker and danker. More pine, dryly bitter, and full of prickly carbonation. Wheat tanginess, lemon, orange, and wet forest. Resinous texture, medium body, both slick and dry. Fairly easy drinking even with the bitter tangy punch.
Feb 05, 2012
cbutova from Massachusetts
3.88/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- A very hazy beer pours into a pint glass with a yellow-orange hue. Creamy white head forms to a nice size and retains decently. Lots of frothy lace rings down the glass.
S- Right after the pour I can smell nice fruit notes from pretty far away. It fades in strength but still has nice citrus fruit hops and a peachy apricot feel later on.
T- Sam Adams makes a little bargain with the West Coast? Interesting. Fruitier and more citrus forward than the usual East Coast IPA (not from Vermont, its a joke). Hops lend notes of lemon zest, peach, pine and general tropical fruit. Finishes with malt and yeast bread. Addition of apricot enhances the sweet fruit flesh feel and adds a pit flavor to the aftertaste.
MF- Creamy body with a silky smooth feel. Finish is not as bitter as many IPAs today, ends more like an APA.
Pretty cool addition to the Spring pack, probably my favorite so far from it. Sam Adams with a pretty nice citrus fruit IPA, cool. Sort of ends up tasting like peach orange juice.
Feb 17, 2012
3.88/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- A very hazy beer pours into a pint glass with a yellow-orange hue. Creamy white head forms to a nice size and retains decently. Lots of frothy lace rings down the glass.
S- Right after the pour I can smell nice fruit notes from pretty far away. It fades in strength but still has nice citrus fruit hops and a peachy apricot feel later on.
T- Sam Adams makes a little bargain with the West Coast? Interesting. Fruitier and more citrus forward than the usual East Coast IPA (not from Vermont, its a joke). Hops lend notes of lemon zest, peach, pine and general tropical fruit. Finishes with malt and yeast bread. Addition of apricot enhances the sweet fruit flesh feel and adds a pit flavor to the aftertaste.
MF- Creamy body with a silky smooth feel. Finish is not as bitter as many IPAs today, ends more like an APA.
Pretty cool addition to the Spring pack, probably my favorite so far from it. Sam Adams with a pretty nice citrus fruit IPA, cool. Sort of ends up tasting like peach orange juice.
Feb 17, 2012
Hopswagger from South Carolina
3.83/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
P: Hazy pale gold with orange highlights. Frothy full finger white head.
S: Fresh juicy oranges, lemon zest, pine, pale maltiness with a touch of toast.
T/M: Spicy hops, grapefruits, melon, orange oil, lemon zest, pine sol. Spicy aggressive carbonation in a crisp body. Finish is dry and lingers juicy fruits and pine needles.
O: One good thing came out of my delayed flight at the Atlanta airport. I got to check mouth the Sam Adams bar and try this juicy and crisp IPA. The taste is sweet and complements the citrus an pine bitterness wonderfully. I will definitely be drinking this again. Especially on tap.
Nov 05, 2012
3.83/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
P: Hazy pale gold with orange highlights. Frothy full finger white head.
S: Fresh juicy oranges, lemon zest, pine, pale maltiness with a touch of toast.
T/M: Spicy hops, grapefruits, melon, orange oil, lemon zest, pine sol. Spicy aggressive carbonation in a crisp body. Finish is dry and lingers juicy fruits and pine needles.
O: One good thing came out of my delayed flight at the Atlanta airport. I got to check mouth the Sam Adams bar and try this juicy and crisp IPA. The taste is sweet and complements the citrus an pine bitterness wonderfully. I will definitely be drinking this again. Especially on tap.
Nov 05, 2012
ordybill from Georgia
3.71/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 OZ bottle into a pint glass. The appearance is a slightly murky gold colored beer with a small white head. The aroma is fairly hoppy smelling with some citrus. The taste is heavy on citrus (a good thing) and has a small hop bite.
Apr 22, 2016
3.71/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 OZ bottle into a pint glass. The appearance is a slightly murky gold colored beer with a small white head. The aroma is fairly hoppy smelling with some citrus. The taste is heavy on citrus (a good thing) and has a small hop bite.
Apr 22, 2016
Zorro from California
3.11/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
The color is amber-orange murk with a small white colored head. Good looking this beer is not.
Smell is hoppy with the scent of pine being the strongest. Little bit of spice. Some eucalyptus funk. It smells like a fundamental but not outstanding IPA.
Starts out sweet with a strong wheat cracker malt flavor. Slightly bitter but not a strong IPA flavor. Really tastes more like pale ale than IPA.
Mouthfeel is OK.
Overall this is just an OK beer, nothing in need ever try again.
Feb 21, 2012
3.11/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
The color is amber-orange murk with a small white colored head. Good looking this beer is not.
Smell is hoppy with the scent of pine being the strongest. Little bit of spice. Some eucalyptus funk. It smells like a fundamental but not outstanding IPA.
Starts out sweet with a strong wheat cracker malt flavor. Slightly bitter but not a strong IPA flavor. Really tastes more like pale ale than IPA.
Mouthfeel is OK.
Overall this is just an OK beer, nothing in need ever try again.
Feb 21, 2012
Samuel Adams Whitewater IPA from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating:
80 out of
100 with
2009 ratings
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