Sam Adams Winter Classics Pack 2013?

Not that I know of and I'm curious as well. I think its the same recipe.

 

Seems every time I try the seasonal 12 pk I go right back to lat48. Just tried the Juniper. Good stuff but MOR. I agree with all the critiques on BL having no business being in there. I have yet to see a killer seasonal 12 pk.
I'm looking forward to Rebel IPA tomorrow night @ our local Great Lost Bear brewpub. Will report.

 

I usually don't like cherry anything but the Cherry Chocolate Bock works. The Winter Lager is too spicy. I used to love Winter Lager- what happened?

 

My roommate just brought home a bottle of "Merry Mischief". He didn't believe me when I told him they changed it to "Merry Maker" this year and that he got a bottle from last year.

As far as the winter pack goes, I have some in the fridge now. I have no expectations whatsoever for the IPA or cherry-chocolate bock. I am excited for Old-Fezzi though. I wish they would sell it in six packs.

 

I picked up this variety pack and my thoughts for those interested:

• Winter Lager - enjoyable, but not new to me.
• Boston Lager - enjoyable, not new to me (of course) and it's time to see this replaced with something else in their variety packs. Why not spread the word about the awesome Boston Ale, or Cream Stout, or...?
• Old Fezziwig - Love it! While I have always enjoyed this beer, it is much better than I remembered it to be.
• Cherry Chocolate Bock - enjoyable, but a little too sweet for me...a one and done for sure.
• White Christmas - I'll admit it, better than I remembered it to be and I enjoyed it.
• Juniper IPA - Meh, I could take or leave this one. Okay for an IPA but I am extremely disappointed that this replaced the Porter and I would MUCH rather have the Porter.

 

Only way to get Fezziwig, at least there was no SA Light this time around. Cherry Choc Bock was decent. White Cristmas was a pumpkin ale re-run. Juniper IPA an ok brew. Thought it was a tad pricey this year but that could be my retailer. In all a nice assormtent of brews-would make a nice housewarming gift and I would be pleased to be givien one as well.

 

im already looking forward to the spring seasonal pack

 

I like the Juniper IPA, I'm drinking it now. But I'm not a fan of their latitude 48 IPA, I wish they'd take that one out of their seasonal packs. I've got a couple of those just laying around in my fridge from the summer and fall packs.

Also I don't like their six pack witbiers, cherry wheat is pretty awful but I like White Christmas and White Lantern.

Winter's easily my favorite of the Sam seasonal packs, if only for Old Fezewig, Winter Lager and the chocolate bocks.

 

My overall impressions:

Cherry Chocolate Bock: Horrible. The way too artificial maraschino taste in this is just awful. Their Chocolate Bock from previous years was pretty good, why jack it up?

White Christmas: Decent. There's a spice that I can't pinpoint that is pulled over from the White Lantern that screams Ragu spaghetti sauce. Cilantro or something? It's very pronounced in the White Lantern, not so much in this White Christmas. Drinkable.

Boston Lager: I'm sick of this beer. As others have said, keep it out of the seasonal samplers!!!

Winter Lager: Pretty outstanding winter warmer-ish beer! Lots of spices but none that jump out at you above the others. Would like some more hops but overall good.

Juniper IPA: I liked this one but it's been over a week since I drank it and honestly don't remember anything other than that. Having a name as such, I was hoping to get a super hoppy, piney IPA. Instead it's watered down for the masses who don't understand hops (or who do and just don't like them).

Old Fezziwig: I wish I could get 6ers of this! Really just an outstanding beer that I love every year!

 

How is it that it seems like every other person on BA absolutely loves Old Fezziwig, but it's only rated an 85?

Just another example of my belief that every SA beer is consistently under-rated simply because they are made by Sam Adams.

 

I usually am as well, until I found out that Alpine Spring may be no more and it looks like it will be replaced by a brew called Cold Snap, which is yet another "White Ale Brewed with Spices".

 

Really wanted to try it missed out I guess

 

I usually like Sam Adams beers but I honestly was not impressed with this year's Winter pack, I will not be getting it again. The Cherry Chocolate Bock tastes an awful lot like Cherry Coke in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, none of them were actually horrible, I did drink them, but none of them were outstanding. The Juniper IPA was probably the best and I wasn't even overly thrilled with that one.

Conversely, I absolutely LOVE their fall beers!

I enjoyed Saranac's Winter pack much better this year, Decoction Concoction was a very nice surprise, very flavorful dry-hopped bock-ish type brew.

...and for what it's worth, IPA's are my favorite beers any time of year.

 

i just got the saranac winter pack last night and tried them all i like the porter the best the rest were good too
the sam adams winter pack i only got it once and i probly wont be getting that again
the fall sam adams pack was awesome hazel brown TERRIFIC
wonder wat the spring will look like

 

As much as I like Old Fezziwig, I've decided that I am no longer going to buy the Winter Variety pack anymore. Buying 12 to get 2 this year just doesn't make my wallet happy. If I want more Boston Lager, White Christmas and Winter Lager, I can get that in six packs. OR change the Winter Variety Pack to just beers you can't get in six packs and increase the amount of each. I would be all over a 12 pack of 4 Fezziwigs, 4 Holiday Porters (looks like none for this year?) and 4 Chocolate Bock. But that's just me.

 

Call me weird, but I'm actually not a huge fan of Old Fezziwig. Solid brew, yes, but not nearly good as some people make it out to be.

 

I usually purchase at least one of these every year but... im breaking tradition... they ditched the Holiday Porter which was the best beer in the pack IMO and im not going to buy it just for Fezziwig... I like the Boston Lager but I want a different option in the pack... the White Christmas is a neat idea but... throw in a few bottles of Cream Stout and I will come back to it

 

Just saw the lineup for the spring pack:
Boston Lager
Cold Snap white ale (new seasonal)
Escape Route kölsch (new supplementary seasonal)
Whitewater IPA
Irish Red
Maple Pecan Porter

 

I saw the Winter Lager in 12 pack cans and I picked it up because I never had it in cans before. Its an ok wintery sessionable beer. So yeah I probably wouldnt have picked it up if they didnt can it. I had it before from the variety pack obviously.

 

My wife loves the Cherry Chocolate Bock. She had a bottle for dessert last night.