Samuel Adams Porch Rocker | Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Brewed by:
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Massachusetts, United States
samueladams.com
Style: Fruit and Field Beer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.50%
Availability: Summer
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by TMoney2591 on 05-19-2012
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,657 | Reviews: 264
Reviews by the Alström Bros:
3.51/5 rDev +6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
12oz brown bottle with a freshness date.
LOOK: Bight and clear golden hue, sufficient lacing that lasts the duration
SMELL: Lemon juice, citric zest, faintly nutty, crackers, lemon oil
TASTE: Smooth, slightly creamy, moderate body, full-on lemon, light breadiness, herbal, mildly tart, lemonade, quick to aftertaste
Not much depth and does not pop like a Radler does obviously due to this being pretty much a full on beer. Perhaps if the body with lightened up a bit and a crisper carbonation this would be great.
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look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
12oz brown bottle with a freshness date.
LOOK: Bight and clear golden hue, sufficient lacing that lasts the duration
SMELL: Lemon juice, citric zest, faintly nutty, crackers, lemon oil
TASTE: Smooth, slightly creamy, moderate body, full-on lemon, light breadiness, herbal, mildly tart, lemonade, quick to aftertaste
Not much depth and does not pop like a Radler does obviously due to this being pretty much a full on beer. Perhaps if the body with lightened up a bit and a crisper carbonation this would be great.
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More User Reviews:
2.56/5 rDev -22.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
From bottle to pint glass. Like 50% lemonade and 50% stale beer. Just noticed I am approaching 500 beers. Glad this wasn't the 500th.
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look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
From bottle to pint glass. Like 50% lemonade and 50% stale beer. Just noticed I am approaching 500 beers. Glad this wasn't the 500th.
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3.91/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Boston Beer Co. "Samuel Adams Porch Rocker"
12 oz. brown glass bottle
$8.99/six-pack @ Atlantic Liquors, Rehoboth Beach, DE
The name kind of says it all. Porch Rocker is an easy drinking, low alcohol beer that's great for relaxing in the shade on a hot summer day. It's surprisingly quite lemony despite the fact that that's not stated on the main label, but it's not really sharply tart... it's got a bit of an edge to it, but it's also sweetish, and that makes it seem a little artificial (kind of like lemon flavor that might be used for making a cake or something). Apparently it's their take on a Bavarian railer, so the sweetness makes sense. At 4.5% abv it's a little lighter than some beers, but not by much (Budweiser is 5.0%), so it's not like you can just drink them all day, although you might want to. Personally I lost interest about halfway through, but given that I was at the beach and just hanging out it didn't really matter. My wife, however, and everyone at the house loved it, and so we ended up making a runt to get more - that for me is a selling point. Worth trying.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Boston Beer Co. "Samuel Adams Porch Rocker"
12 oz. brown glass bottle
$8.99/six-pack @ Atlantic Liquors, Rehoboth Beach, DE
The name kind of says it all. Porch Rocker is an easy drinking, low alcohol beer that's great for relaxing in the shade on a hot summer day. It's surprisingly quite lemony despite the fact that that's not stated on the main label, but it's not really sharply tart... it's got a bit of an edge to it, but it's also sweetish, and that makes it seem a little artificial (kind of like lemon flavor that might be used for making a cake or something). Apparently it's their take on a Bavarian railer, so the sweetness makes sense. At 4.5% abv it's a little lighter than some beers, but not by much (Budweiser is 5.0%), so it's not like you can just drink them all day, although you might want to. Personally I lost interest about halfway through, but given that I was at the beach and just hanging out it didn't really matter. My wife, however, and everyone at the house loved it, and so we ended up making a runt to get more - that for me is a selling point. Worth trying.
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4.33/5 rDev +30.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A very nice summer beer. It's a simple, light, lemon flavored beer, and It's honestly wonderful
Look: Very light straw/golden color- which fits the fruity taste well. Keeps a maybe .5cm head for quite a while, and remains carbonated for a good amount of time.
Smell: A very inviting fruity smell couples well with a lot more of an ale smell than the typical fruit beer.
Taste: Again, I was very surprised by this one. I'm generally into lager beers, but summer calls for something lighter, and this is a really crisp, refreshing beer. The citrus flavor is there ,but not dominating. It complements a fairly standard ale, with only maybe a hint of hops at the end.
Feel: Defintely a little more carbonated than a standard beer. Leaves a nice , gentle lemon after taste.
Overall: A wonderful summer beer! A little pricey in my opinion, but if it's on sale or on tap, definitely check it out!
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A very nice summer beer. It's a simple, light, lemon flavored beer, and It's honestly wonderful
Look: Very light straw/golden color- which fits the fruity taste well. Keeps a maybe .5cm head for quite a while, and remains carbonated for a good amount of time.
Smell: A very inviting fruity smell couples well with a lot more of an ale smell than the typical fruit beer.
Taste: Again, I was very surprised by this one. I'm generally into lager beers, but summer calls for something lighter, and this is a really crisp, refreshing beer. The citrus flavor is there ,but not dominating. It complements a fairly standard ale, with only maybe a hint of hops at the end.
Feel: Defintely a little more carbonated than a standard beer. Leaves a nice , gentle lemon after taste.
Overall: A wonderful summer beer! A little pricey in my opinion, but if it's on sale or on tap, definitely check it out!
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3.47/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Appearance: Clear medium golden body, with a massive, fine beaded, white head. Slight carbonation drifts lazily to the surface. Belgian-style lacing adorns the glass walls.
Aroma: There is a notable presence of lemonade in the aroma, I am not sure why this beer is listed as a 'Munich Helles Lager' rather than a 'Fruit / Vegetable Beer', as by the aroma, this seems clearly to be an example of a Radler. Also present in the aroma is lightly toasted malt, as well as distinct lemon rind. There is a faint herbal hop note.
Taste: Bright notes of semi-sweet lemonade open the taste. Lightly toasted malt is present throughout and vies with juicy notes of lemon rind. Later in the taste, there is an understated herbal hop presence, which serves to offer some balance against the lemon flavors. Finishes with a mild toasted bread note, accentuated by a wave of mildly bitter lemon.
Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, quite pleasant.
Drinkability/notes: Quite refreshing, for me it edges too closely to a "malternative" or "alco-pop", rather than a beer. That being said, Radlers are well-respected in Germany, so there is something here. This would be perfect for sending macro beer-drinking friends for a "walk on the wild side". Even with my skepticism and the fact that Autumn is well at hand, I enjoyed this. I think it would be delightful on a hot summer day.
Presentation: Packaged in a custom twelve-ounce brown glass long-neck bottle, served in a Samuel Adams Boston Lager Sensory glass.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Appearance: Clear medium golden body, with a massive, fine beaded, white head. Slight carbonation drifts lazily to the surface. Belgian-style lacing adorns the glass walls.
Aroma: There is a notable presence of lemonade in the aroma, I am not sure why this beer is listed as a 'Munich Helles Lager' rather than a 'Fruit / Vegetable Beer', as by the aroma, this seems clearly to be an example of a Radler. Also present in the aroma is lightly toasted malt, as well as distinct lemon rind. There is a faint herbal hop note.
Taste: Bright notes of semi-sweet lemonade open the taste. Lightly toasted malt is present throughout and vies with juicy notes of lemon rind. Later in the taste, there is an understated herbal hop presence, which serves to offer some balance against the lemon flavors. Finishes with a mild toasted bread note, accentuated by a wave of mildly bitter lemon.
Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, quite pleasant.
Drinkability/notes: Quite refreshing, for me it edges too closely to a "malternative" or "alco-pop", rather than a beer. That being said, Radlers are well-respected in Germany, so there is something here. This would be perfect for sending macro beer-drinking friends for a "walk on the wild side". Even with my skepticism and the fact that Autumn is well at hand, I enjoyed this. I think it would be delightful on a hot summer day.
Presentation: Packaged in a custom twelve-ounce brown glass long-neck bottle, served in a Samuel Adams Boston Lager Sensory glass.
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4.13/5 rDev +24.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle poured into a glass
Clingy white foam layer sits atop a clear golden liquid with a constant stream of carbonation.
Aroma of tart lemons
Tart, crisp, lemony refreshing
Had just returned from Munich where had been drinking radlers and russns in the bier gardens, this beer is so similar in taste , a great representative of the style. The only reason I can attribute to the low ratings is that folks might not like the style. For the style, this is spot on. Go to summer beer for me.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle poured into a glass
Clingy white foam layer sits atop a clear golden liquid with a constant stream of carbonation.
Aroma of tart lemons
Tart, crisp, lemony refreshing
Had just returned from Munich where had been drinking radlers and russns in the bier gardens, this beer is so similar in taste , a great representative of the style. The only reason I can attribute to the low ratings is that folks might not like the style. For the style, this is spot on. Go to summer beer for me.
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4.09/5 rDev +23.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
APPEARANCE: Golden, clear, finger of lasting white head, lots of carbonation rising. Mild lacing.
AROMA: Nice lemon scent, bready, a little grassy.
TASTE: Nice snappy, but not overdone on the lemon, bready malt, freshly cut grass.
FEEL: A little slick at first, then dry towards the finish. Medium thin body, plenty of carbonation.
OVERALL: Nice, lower abv brew for summer, nice flavor.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
APPEARANCE: Golden, clear, finger of lasting white head, lots of carbonation rising. Mild lacing.
AROMA: Nice lemon scent, bready, a little grassy.
TASTE: Nice snappy, but not overdone on the lemon, bready malt, freshly cut grass.
FEEL: A little slick at first, then dry towards the finish. Medium thin body, plenty of carbonation.
OVERALL: Nice, lower abv brew for summer, nice flavor.
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3.9/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle into signature pint glass, best before 12/2015. Pours crystal clear golden straw color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of lightly tart lemonade, lemon peel, wheat, cracker, biscuit, light pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance of lemonade, pale malt, and light earthy hop notes; with good strength. Taste of lightly tart lemonade, lemon peel, wheat, cracker, biscuit, light pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness. Light herbal bitterness and fruit tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemonade, lemon peel, wheat, cracker, biscuit, and herbal/grassy earthiness on the finish for a short bit. Very nice robustness and balance of lemonade, pale malt, and light earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitter/tartness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness. Medium-high carbonation and light body; with a very smooth, crisp, and lightly creamy/grainy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Very clean on lager flavors with zero yeast ester notes present. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.5%. Overall this is a very nice Radler style! All around nice robustness and balance of lemonade, pale malt, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink. This had a really nice presence of the Helles beer, vs other Radlers I’ve had in the past. A very enjoyable offering.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle into signature pint glass, best before 12/2015. Pours crystal clear golden straw color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of lightly tart lemonade, lemon peel, wheat, cracker, biscuit, light pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance of lemonade, pale malt, and light earthy hop notes; with good strength. Taste of lightly tart lemonade, lemon peel, wheat, cracker, biscuit, light pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness. Light herbal bitterness and fruit tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemonade, lemon peel, wheat, cracker, biscuit, and herbal/grassy earthiness on the finish for a short bit. Very nice robustness and balance of lemonade, pale malt, and light earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitter/tartness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness. Medium-high carbonation and light body; with a very smooth, crisp, and lightly creamy/grainy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Very clean on lager flavors with zero yeast ester notes present. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.5%. Overall this is a very nice Radler style! All around nice robustness and balance of lemonade, pale malt, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink. This had a really nice presence of the Helles beer, vs other Radlers I’ve had in the past. A very enjoyable offering.
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2.59/5 rDev -21.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
Served from a 12 oz bottle into a wine glass.
A - Straw colored with just the slightest hint of orange. Perfectly clear. Head is initially moderately thick and made of huge bubbles. There are also many bubbles clinging to the inside of the glass. The head quickly fades to just a wisp in the center of the surface. Very little lacing. The appearance is more soda-like than beer-like, except for the color.
S - Aroma is full of lemon-tinged sweetness, like a Sprite or 7-Up. No malt or hops. There is a faint earthy, herbal note that could be some spices.
T - I find nothing beer-like in the flavors. The tastes follow the nose, giving the impression of a very light, inoffensive beer that has been watered down with lemon soda. Nothing off or bad, it's just that there's almost nothing beer-like either.
M - Light body. Crisp, sharp carbonation. No alcohol presence. Very low hops bitterness. Slightly cloying sweetness in finish.
O - Now that I read the bottle label (after starting the review), I see that this beer perfectly matches its description. It is a light beer that has been lightened even more with some lemon soda or at least lemon flavors and water. Why? I don't know and I won't be looking for this one again. If I want a shandy, I'll mix my own and at least not have to pay full premium beer prices for something that was conveniently watered down before I bought it! This is a mega-brewer tactic that is not worthy of Sam Adams.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
Served from a 12 oz bottle into a wine glass.
A - Straw colored with just the slightest hint of orange. Perfectly clear. Head is initially moderately thick and made of huge bubbles. There are also many bubbles clinging to the inside of the glass. The head quickly fades to just a wisp in the center of the surface. Very little lacing. The appearance is more soda-like than beer-like, except for the color.
S - Aroma is full of lemon-tinged sweetness, like a Sprite or 7-Up. No malt or hops. There is a faint earthy, herbal note that could be some spices.
T - I find nothing beer-like in the flavors. The tastes follow the nose, giving the impression of a very light, inoffensive beer that has been watered down with lemon soda. Nothing off or bad, it's just that there's almost nothing beer-like either.
M - Light body. Crisp, sharp carbonation. No alcohol presence. Very low hops bitterness. Slightly cloying sweetness in finish.
O - Now that I read the bottle label (after starting the review), I see that this beer perfectly matches its description. It is a light beer that has been lightened even more with some lemon soda or at least lemon flavors and water. Why? I don't know and I won't be looking for this one again. If I want a shandy, I'll mix my own and at least not have to pay full premium beer prices for something that was conveniently watered down before I bought it! This is a mega-brewer tactic that is not worthy of Sam Adams.
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3.4/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
Very very very sweet beer
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look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
Very very very sweet beer
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1.75/5 rDev -47.1%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75
Tasted terrible. Wanted to spit it out.
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look: 1.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75
Tasted terrible. Wanted to spit it out.
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4.06/5 rDev +22.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L - amber/yellow color. Two finger head with a vigorous pour. No lacing due to the lemon.
S - sweet lemon, light malt. Sweet with a hint if sour. Not a familiar beer smell.
T - mostly lemon, not lemonade but more lemon juice. Helles lager balances very nice with the acidity. Could be lemon peel or zest.
F - medium carbonation, no alcohol burn, juice texture, crushable, no lingering flavor either
O - one of my favorite summer beers. I look forward to this and Summer Ale each year. Completely blows Summer Shandy away, much better beer feel and taste. A beer drinker's Shandy
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L - amber/yellow color. Two finger head with a vigorous pour. No lacing due to the lemon.
S - sweet lemon, light malt. Sweet with a hint if sour. Not a familiar beer smell.
T - mostly lemon, not lemonade but more lemon juice. Helles lager balances very nice with the acidity. Could be lemon peel or zest.
F - medium carbonation, no alcohol burn, juice texture, crushable, no lingering flavor either
O - one of my favorite summer beers. I look forward to this and Summer Ale each year. Completely blows Summer Shandy away, much better beer feel and taste. A beer drinker's Shandy
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4.46/5 rDev +34.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Now I know this isn't the most prestigious beer in the world but it definitely deserves a try and more!
Just so you know what to expect, it tastes of beer and lemons/lemonade. The lemon/lemonade factor comes in very strong, it almost tastes as if it's half lemonade half beer. It's definitely a summer beer and it's definitely what I'll be drinking again once summer comes back around. Definitely try it, there's nothing better to taste after a long hot day, TRUST ME! It's one of the best beers I've ever tasted and I've tasted many micro brews.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Now I know this isn't the most prestigious beer in the world but it definitely deserves a try and more!
Just so you know what to expect, it tastes of beer and lemons/lemonade. The lemon/lemonade factor comes in very strong, it almost tastes as if it's half lemonade half beer. It's definitely a summer beer and it's definitely what I'll be drinking again once summer comes back around. Definitely try it, there's nothing better to taste after a long hot day, TRUST ME! It's one of the best beers I've ever tasted and I've tasted many micro brews.
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Samuel Adams Porch Rocker from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating:
3.31 out of
5 with
1,657 ratings
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