Sam Adams overhauls its logo

Had a Boston Lager yesterday with the new label. I like the label but the beer was probably the worst it's ever tasted to me. A shame, because sometimes on draft it can be pretty good - & at their pilot brewery in Boston I've heard it's fantastic.

 

Yeah, If you're in Boston the Sam Adams tour is worth it just to try an uber-fresh glass of Boston Lager at the end. There's a really nice, but not overpowering, floral bitterness from the hops that I never tasted from the bottle or draft. It was also one of the cheapest tourist activities I did in Boston.... the tour cost was a suggested $5 donation to a charity SA supported. Not sure if that has changed since I was there last.

 

I agree @Ranbot

The Boston Lager served after that tour was insane. Tour itself wasn't anything that crazy compared to most, but it was cool to visit. But man, that Boston Lager... Insane.

 

Not sure why this thread is open when the one I had posted about Guinness got shut down lol. In any case, happy to see it up as I love design and I love beer! I think the rebrand looks amazing from a design point of view. However, it doesn't scream "craft", so I'm at a crossroad with this one...

 

It doesn't matter if the label design doesn't scream 'craft' (it's probably better that it doesn't!)
The product itself, however, screams craft quite effectively...and that's what matters.
Boston Lager has been a great product from day one, and remains so to this day.

 

@invertalon @Ranbot

Do you think that perhaps there is more to the Boston Lager brewed in MA than just a freshness issue? Maybe that beer is purposefully brewed differently vs. the production breweries?

Cheers!

 

Another controversy! Oh no

 

Jack, I don't know. I have no information or heard any rumors to support that speculation. I can say that the Boston Lager I had at the brewery tasted different/better, albeit slightly, than a draft at a Boston bar later the same day. There could be other factors at play, but freshness is the only one can confirm between them, so I'm going with that until I get credible information otherwise.

Too bad the Sam Adams production brewery in Trexlertown, PA near us doesn't do tours.

 

Probably the freshness. About twenty five yrs ago i got to try a fresh tank sample of Michelob during the tour at the Bud plant in Busch Gardens, VA. It was the first time i smelled hops. When i tried it later in the bottle all that was gone.

 

I am trying to do my part to support Boston Beer Co so I bought the brewnited mix pack. The various lagers, particularly the helles, drew me to it. The helles, though, has orange flavor added, which I did not realize until after I bought it. Not a bad beer. Just doesn't taste much like a helles.

As to the logo, I like it. Doesn't seem all that remarkable though, other than the missing picture of Sam Adams, since the logo has gone through many evolutions over the years.

 

Haven't gotten Sam in a while now, but I do like the new logos.

 

Mixed feelings toward the new Sam Adams labels... some things I like, some things make me kinda miss the old version. That new variety pack is sounding pretty nice, though -- I've always wanted to try the Noble Pils and I tend to like Irish Reds too, and more fresh Boston Lager is always welcome. Orange-flavored Helles sounds a bit odd, but as long as there's some good bready malt behind the orange flavor I can see it working out okay. Orange, at least, is a flavor that tends to work well in beer (unlike, say... cucumber. )

 

Hmmmm. You definitely have a point . . .

 

I can say I was disappointed about the change on the Old Fezziwig bottle... I loved the vintage artwork on that bottle... And I would love to be able to try Boston Lager super fresh from the brewery... I still have a passion for it...

 

Eh, wasn't interested in SA before, even less so now.

 

Not a fan of the new look, but as long as Boston Lager taste the same its whatever. Anytime I'm in the mood for a yard work lager that's where I go. Cheers!

 

I am trying to figure out how a company like SA benefits by making their beer look cheap? How much could they have saved by going to generic labels, etc? I guess I don't get the move at all.

 

I interpret the new logo as a sign of trouble. All those years of product market share and brand recognition means big bucks. To make any type of change indicates a problem with the brand. I do like the look though.