Sam Adams Rebel Raw Double IPA

I didn't have the first batch, but had the most recent batch yesterday.

If this was made by a small trendy brewery people would say it was amazing. Do I think it's amazing? No, but it is a really good beer. To me it's as if they crossed Other Half All Green Everything and Knee Deep Simtra.

 

http://blog.samueladams.com/rebel-raw-returns/#more-1936
this from sam adams blog where to find 2nd batch of Rebel Raw

 

Looking forward to trying batch 2 in PA. Had batch 1 in boston and was pleased. Any news of this @randylangford ?

 

What a great comment.

Well I for one am just glad we have you posting around here so you and your tastebuds can tell us all the truth.

 

Is this still gonna be a limited release. Did it even go beyond the east coast last time?

 

I tried, it was just a bit harsh in my opinion. Very Columbus dank and a bit boozy. It's getting in the triple ipa category anyway which usually aren't my favorite if they blend the booze better, it's more up my alley

 

It's at Shadyside MD. I drank 1 last night and think it's the first IPA from Sam Adams that I could drink again.

 

If you're going to try and be a douche, at least be funny.

The entire point of a message board is to share information, thoughts and opinion. If you think Raw is terrible or amazing that's fine, but your comment about my opinion was unnecessary and completely irrelevant.

 

Speaking of douche, I just cracked a can of batch 2.
I find it pretty tasty. Similar impressions from batch one- dense, kinda boozy, malty.
However this can seems a bit less sweet, and a bit less "buttery" smooth.

People always make the diacetyl taste out to be this massive badmanwhotouchedmewrong culprit. And I can see that, when it's unintended, or interfering with flavor. But I think a very slight buttery effect is good in a certain beer. IMO it's a sensation that smoothes over a beer with a higher ABV, without making it a sweet sugary mess. Thats what I'm taking away from this beer kinda. My 2¢.

 

I'm gonna be that guy...I'm not a fan of this batch. I actually loved the batch from the end of December. It popped. Very nice citric/piney balance with just a bit of malt on the finish. I happily drank both 4-packs and they were still tasting great even at the 35-day mark.

Fast forward to yesterday...just a ton of malt, none of the qualities of the first batch that made me go back and buy another. I don't mind malt, I actually enjoy that maltiness on the finish, but this is all malt from beginning to end. It said it was canned on May 10, but it tastes like it was canned March 10. With all the beer in my fridge, I frankly don't even want my last two. I'll manage though

 

this most recent batch look any different/hazier than the last one?

 

I think the color now is slightly darker than December's and the head retention was a little stronger (I still have a pic from the first batch on my phone) but it's not that far off, tbh. I don't see a big difference in the amount of haze.

 

I could not agree more. Nothing clouds over the brightness of hops like caramel malt. A very fine IPA can be brewed with pale ale malt only.

 

Just picked up a case today from Duffy's in Pittsburgh. 3 cases left there. Trades welcome if you really want to try it. Message me.

 

FWIW- got mine at Shadyside.

Agreed. I noticed it was darker too. Maybe more malt?

 

Damn. Definitely more malt. I have to say, I had another today and didn't dislike it as much. Is that an improvement?

 

Rebel IPA & Grapefruit I'm good with, but after sampling Rebel Rouser & Rider I got to thinkin' enough already - make it stop with these Rebel drinks please. To be honest I'm afraid to try this because I don't want it to suck but I'm afraid it will.

 

Rebel Grapefruit actually came after Rouser and Rider

I finally was able to track this down after not willing to go into Boston to find it last time. Found it at one store at $14.99 for a four pack and thought that was a bit much and then found it at $11.99 and pulled the trigger. It's enjoyable but definitely too sweet and too much of a malt bomb to go toe to toe with Tree House. As a recent comparison, I'd say it is pretty comparable to Waldo's Special ale and fits the sweeter "triple" IPA bill more than the every man's TH/Heady.

 

Being at 10% it reminds me more of a hazy Hopslam than a Heady. I kind of wish they lowered the abv to 8%. That's the sweet spot for me for IPAs. However, I drank one from the can last night and it gave me more of a Heady flavor. Either way I dig this one.

 

Drinking one right now. It's decent. Fortunately it doesn't taste like a Sam Adams IPA (and I'm not a Sam hater, but I haven't enjoyed any of their IPAs). The hops to me are more pine/citrus, which I like, but this doesn't really come across as a New England style IPA. The alcohol is present, but not overwhelming at all. Glad to have tried it, and it's a pretty good beer, but for $14/4 I wouldn't get it again.