Belgian Session
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Pale Ale - Belgian
Ranked #446 - ABV:
- 4.25%
- Score:
- 77
Ranked #48,539 - Avg:
- 3.36 | pDev: 14.58%
- Reviews:
- 245
- Ratings:
- From:
- Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
- Massachusetts, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 15
- Gots
- 163
SCORE
77
Okay
77
Okay
Notes:
Reviews: 245
| Ratings: 1,222
| Log in to view all ratings and sort
Reviews by JohnnyK:
More User Reviews:
OldSwampy from Virginia
3.24/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Nice amber color with copper tones. Head white, fading somewhat soon. Nose: yeasty, as expected, but also some nice spiciness from hops. Taste: unfortunately does not seem to deliver what the color and nose promise. Somewhat dry throughout. Surprisingly mild. Yeasty taste that would be expected in the style is present but not especially remarkable. Hops are mild as well. Taste seems to grow, fade, and grow again, a somewhat uneven experience. Mouthfeel dry and fading quickly. I'm surprised that this was not especially flavorful; the drink-by date was August according to the label.
Apr 17, 2016
3.24/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Nice amber color with copper tones. Head white, fading somewhat soon. Nose: yeasty, as expected, but also some nice spiciness from hops. Taste: unfortunately does not seem to deliver what the color and nose promise. Somewhat dry throughout. Surprisingly mild. Yeasty taste that would be expected in the style is present but not especially remarkable. Hops are mild as well. Taste seems to grow, fade, and grow again, a somewhat uneven experience. Mouthfeel dry and fading quickly. I'm surprised that this was not especially flavorful; the drink-by date was August according to the label.
Apr 17, 2016
HoppyBastard from Nebraska
3.75/5 rDev +11.6%
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Shaker pint glass, "enjoy before date" December 2014.
APPEARANCE: pours a clear, dark golden color with one finger off-white head that dissipated quickly until a thin broken layer of bubbles remained, medium carbonation, there was a small amount of lacing on the glass.
SMELL: pepper, pears, caramel, funky Belgian yeast.
TASTE: the taste follows the nose, pepper, pears, sweet caramel, some nice Belgian funk, there is not much of a hop profile present, the alcohol 4.3% is imperceptible.
PALATE: this is a lighter bodied ale for the style, medium carbonation.
OVERALL: this is a good beer but nothing to write home about, it has a lower alcohol content for the style, which is appealing to me but, there are better Belgian ales so I would probably not seek this one out again.
Aug 22, 2014
3.75/5 rDev +11.6%
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Shaker pint glass, "enjoy before date" December 2014.
APPEARANCE: pours a clear, dark golden color with one finger off-white head that dissipated quickly until a thin broken layer of bubbles remained, medium carbonation, there was a small amount of lacing on the glass.
SMELL: pepper, pears, caramel, funky Belgian yeast.
TASTE: the taste follows the nose, pepper, pears, sweet caramel, some nice Belgian funk, there is not much of a hop profile present, the alcohol 4.3% is imperceptible.
PALATE: this is a lighter bodied ale for the style, medium carbonation.
OVERALL: this is a good beer but nothing to write home about, it has a lower alcohol content for the style, which is appealing to me but, there are better Belgian ales so I would probably not seek this one out again.
Aug 22, 2014
1971bernat from Virginia
2.5/5 rDev -25.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Dec 29, 2017
2.5/5 rDev -25.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Dec 29, 2017
COBEERHUNTER from Colorado
4/5 rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 22, 2018
4/5 rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 22, 2018
buschbeer from Ohio
3.3/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
12 FL. OZ. bottle
Served in a snifter
A - It pours a deep golden color. It is crystal clear with two inches of off-white head. The head receded leaving no trace of its presence.
S - The aroma is light fruit and spices. Spiced pear comes to mind.
T - The taste is rather bland. The spices and fruit from the aroma are minimal.
M - Moderate to thin.
O - I am a little disappointed. The smell was good, but the taste was lacking. I expected a better interpretation from the Boston Beer Company.
Aug 06, 2014
3.3/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
12 FL. OZ. bottle
Served in a snifter
A - It pours a deep golden color. It is crystal clear with two inches of off-white head. The head receded leaving no trace of its presence.
S - The aroma is light fruit and spices. Spiced pear comes to mind.
T - The taste is rather bland. The spices and fruit from the aroma are minimal.
M - Moderate to thin.
O - I am a little disappointed. The smell was good, but the taste was lacking. I expected a better interpretation from the Boston Beer Company.
Aug 06, 2014
Captain_Komamura from Illinois
3.44/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - It is an amber color, with a thick head of foam.
Smell - A fruity and spicy smell with some of the caramel malts coming in.
Taste - A citrusy fruit taste, with spices; nice malt background.
Mouthfeel - It has a good body and good carbonation.
Overall - I quite enjoyed this Samuel Adams beer.
Jun 12, 2014
3.44/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - It is an amber color, with a thick head of foam.
Smell - A fruity and spicy smell with some of the caramel malts coming in.
Taste - A citrusy fruit taste, with spices; nice malt background.
Mouthfeel - It has a good body and good carbonation.
Overall - I quite enjoyed this Samuel Adams beer.
Jun 12, 2014
flagmantho from Washington
3.58/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip.
Appearance: deep, rich golden hue with a clear body and good effervescence. Head is a finger of pillowy ivory foam. Looks good.
Smell: light malt aroma with a floral and lightly fruity quality. Not bad, if a bit on the light side.
Taste: lightly malty and quite floral -- almost to the point of being soapy in flavor. There's also a light caramel quality and some graininess in the mix. It's actually not that bad, but it doesn't blow my mind or anything.
Mouthfeel: light body with a high level of carbonation and resulting creaminess. Good!
Overall: not a bad beer, and I appreciate its session strength, but it's just a little too soapy tasting for my taste.
May 16, 2012
3.58/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip.
Appearance: deep, rich golden hue with a clear body and good effervescence. Head is a finger of pillowy ivory foam. Looks good.
Smell: light malt aroma with a floral and lightly fruity quality. Not bad, if a bit on the light side.
Taste: lightly malty and quite floral -- almost to the point of being soapy in flavor. There's also a light caramel quality and some graininess in the mix. It's actually not that bad, but it doesn't blow my mind or anything.
Mouthfeel: light body with a high level of carbonation and resulting creaminess. Good!
Overall: not a bad beer, and I appreciate its session strength, but it's just a little too soapy tasting for my taste.
May 16, 2012
Fadefury from Maryland
3/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Clear amber/yellowish tint. Pours a thick head that goes away quickly. Decent lacing
S - A sweet bread/malt, with layers of subtle hops and the slight Belgian yeast in the background
T - Sweet malty flavor, but doesn't deliver everything you think from the smell
M - A very mild beer with slight carbonation.
O - This is a very light beer and I could easily drink a couple of these in one sitting. I prefer this over the Summer ale for the hot days, but if they added more spice/flavor it may bring it over an average beer.
Jul 28, 2012
3/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - Clear amber/yellowish tint. Pours a thick head that goes away quickly. Decent lacing
S - A sweet bread/malt, with layers of subtle hops and the slight Belgian yeast in the background
T - Sweet malty flavor, but doesn't deliver everything you think from the smell
M - A very mild beer with slight carbonation.
O - This is a very light beer and I could easily drink a couple of these in one sitting. I prefer this over the Summer ale for the hot days, but if they added more spice/flavor it may bring it over an average beer.
Jul 28, 2012
mhaugo from California
2.94/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 ounce bottle. “Enjoy by” dated November 2012. Decanted into a pint glass.
Appearance: The color of a freshly minted penny. Low carbonation and no head to speak of. Just a thin white coat on top.
Smell: Spices and minerals.
Taste: A little spice, a little banana, and a little fruit. All pretty mellow and easy to drink.
Mouthfeel: Sweet, but not too heavy on the tongue. Pretty clean overall.
Overall: It may not be perfect, but it's definitely easy to drink. I don’t know that I would buy a six pack of it, but I certainly won’t throw away the four that came in my mixed case.
Sep 10, 2012
2.94/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 ounce bottle. “Enjoy by” dated November 2012. Decanted into a pint glass.
Appearance: The color of a freshly minted penny. Low carbonation and no head to speak of. Just a thin white coat on top.
Smell: Spices and minerals.
Taste: A little spice, a little banana, and a little fruit. All pretty mellow and easy to drink.
Mouthfeel: Sweet, but not too heavy on the tongue. Pretty clean overall.
Overall: It may not be perfect, but it's definitely easy to drink. I don’t know that I would buy a six pack of it, but I certainly won’t throw away the four that came in my mixed case.
Sep 10, 2012
Belgian Session from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating:
77 out of
100 with
1222 ratings
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