Alpine Spring
Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)

 

It’s a Sam Adams do not New England crafty class. Decent bright flair in an ale but nothing to write home about. It’s a decent diversion in a variety pack but nothing I would drink in repetition.

 

 

From the small can, it pours a hazy amber color with a nice white head that slowly reduces and leaves lacing. The nose gets a slightly spicy scent. The mouth gets a slightly spicy lightly bitter malty brew. I may re-rate this beer without having the blackberry witbier first...

 

In a variety pack from Kroger

Didn't they brew this years ago? Am I imagining it?

Mildly hazy but transparent golden-orange, copper, with a large white head. Good retention and lacing. Bubbly.

My nose is a bit stuffy, but I'm getting sweet biscuits, malt, honey, floral, orange peel, citrus zest, clover, some hay and grass.

Taste is almost exactly the same as aroma but kinda inverse. Sweet orange, lemon balm, citrus zest, clover/flowers, large amount of honey and biscuit malt on the finish, leans sweet but doesn't get too cloying. Finishes fairly clean but a bit underfermented-tasting. Then again, I think that's part of the point of the Kellerbier, so I'm not gonna knock it for that. It tastes pleasant.

Medium-ish mouthfeel, bubbly, has some slick and oil to it but it doesn't linger. Fairly clean after a moment.

A solid Kellerbier. Hell, maybe one of the better Sam Adams beers recently, honestly. Good stuff. Came in the spring variety pack and it was a very good addition.

 

Big foamy head with nice staying power and a malty toasted bread note in the nose. Low in carbonation and only moderately hopped, both of which favor the style. Flavor is dense and yeasty. This feels authentic although maybe a little simplistic. Worth a try if you like the style.

Info on the side of the can calls this Sam offering as an unfiltered Lager.
LOOK: Pours a very clear gold color with a good looking pure white head that maintains good retention and glass lace.
AROMA: Both light malts, and peppered hops.
TASTE: Clean crisp with a malt backbone with some hop bitterness and drying finish.
Nice easy drinking clean beer in the Pilsner, Lager Festbier style.

 

 

This beer was reissued in a sampler pack as a Vintage Brew, so I was glad to try it. I wasn't sure what style it was, though it's listed here as a kellerbier so I'd buy that. It was sort of similar to the Cold Snap witbier but with more lemon instead of orange, and maybe a touch hoppier, so I suppose a kellerbier is a more accurate description. It was also unfiltered, as is traditional for that style. This is indeed a beer for when the weather starts to get warmer.

Very satisfying, smooth taste. It is an adventure into a style I have never experienced. This is my first can, bought in a Sam Adams variety pack from of all places, Walmart.