Thoughts on Sam ‘76 ?

I wasn't a fan of the blended ale/lager yeast combo. The fruitiness of the ale yeast distracted from the overall flavor profile. My understanding was '76 was an easy drinking lager that would also taste familiar to ale drinkers.

In hindsight I was really hoping Sam was putting out something along the lines of an American light lager.


I havent seen it described as an IPL before. Was that your take after having? I didn't find it hoppy.

 

I've had three cans so far, and I like it.

Disclaimer: I've only had it later at night while looking through my fridge for a lighter beer. I'll reserve more detailed and thorough comments for when I revisit it on a fresh palate.

 

Heard it was meant to compete w Heineken etc — light continental lager. Glad to hear it has some character.

 

I had a sample can from the Sam Adams rep a few months ago, dunno if it has changed since then.

I thought it was mighty tasty; clean and crushable, but with an interesting enough hop flavor to make it truly sessionable. Session IPL is definitely an apt description, but with a touch of fruity ale yeast esters. I definitely wouldn't compare this to Heineken. This is a clean, decidedly American-tasting beer that's hopped with Cascade, Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe.

It's probably going to be a hard sell to customers. Typical SA drinkers don't want hops (that's why last year's Hopscape was a disaster), and your typical craft beer customer has little interest in a new Sam Adams product, especially something that's a combination ale/lager with American hops (I have a hard enough time selling customers on IPLs), but we'll see how it goes.

Since '76 has come in, we've broken up 12oz 12pk cans into 6pks at my store and are selling them for around $8. I figure that January is the time of year where people are trying to cut back on their beer spending, and Christmas credit card bills are due, so perhaps there's hope for ol' '76.

 

Picked up a 6-pack 2 weeks ago. It's refreshing and easy to drink, and the low ABV is a nice change of pace from other beers I usually drink. However, it's also incredibly bland and I found little flavor. Maybe I'll try again in the summer, but then again other summery beers tend to grab my attention more.

 

I didn't think it tasted like a session IPL at all, personally. IBU's is 12 and I really didn't get much of any hop flavor and no bitterness. I think the type of person it would appeal to is someone who likes Allagash White. Low ABV, easy to drink, but decent flavor. I found it more similar to a table beer but not hoppy like Allagash's Table Beer. I'd think it will cut into Sam Summer sales because its a perfect beer to drink on a summer day at a BBQ or beach. Its the perfect beer for someone who doesn't like IPA's or IPL's. Perhaps the biggest problem they face is trying to define exactly what it is. I think its the kind of beer that I would drink if I had to (e.g. there were no IPA's or other dark beers or if we were at a beach or something) and I wouldn't mind.

 

I think just about everyone I know likes Allagash White. Probably one of the best belgian wits in the world. I would argue that allagash has more then decent flavor. Its an extremely well constructed complex brew at a low ABV. Its a work of art. As to the 76 I have not tried it, but based on what you are saying it sounds like it will appeal to almost every craft beer fan then since most like allagash white.

 

I agree Allagash has more than decent flavor, its the first beer my wife has had on her side of the kegerator that I love to drink. I'm not ready to compare 76 to Allagash in terms of being well made since I've only had 1 12 oz can. For now I'll just stick with 76 having decent flavor and having the same sort of appeal that Allagash White has.

Looking at reviews, and thinking of my own take on it, I think there's a lot of bias. Its Sam Adams so most people expect nothing great. Beyond that I think the bias is more due to people trying to review it based on style. Beer Advocate lists it as an American Pale Lager, Untappd lists it as "Lager - American Light". On this forum people have called it an IPL. In a world full of IPA's, barrel aged stouts, and sours its boring. If you go into it thinking its an IPL or light beer then you will probably not like it. Personally I'm going to drink it again and try to make a less biased decision. I also think the average non BA craft beer drinker is going to love it.

 

I tried it this past weekend. I was pleasantly surprised. Light, drinkable, enough hops to keep it interesting. Not something I would buy often, but it's great option if you're at a bar without a ton of craft.

 

IPL's ? Do you carry Jacks Abby?

 

Yes. Why, were you going to explain the concept of an IPL to me?

Evidently Sam Adams changed '76 since we sampled it with the Sam Adams rep last year. When we tried it (in a plain silver can with '76 handwritten on it), there was definitely a pronounced hop character, somewhat reminiscent of JA's Calyptra. Because it's an ale/lager hybrid, it wasn't totally clean like a Jack's Abby IPL. I guess that, in production, that hop character got watered down. Not surprising.

 

I had a can last night and although I enjoyed it, I thought it tasted an awful lot like their Summer Ale. . . similar enough that if I was handed a glass and not told what it was, I probably couldn't tell the difference.

Maybe it is just my inexperienced palate, though?

 

Its better than Summer Ale. Summer Ale is only really good on draft imo.

 

I think it's legitimately really good. I think it WAY more closely aligns with a kolsch than an AAL, session IPL or anything else. It's got that creamy body, a touch of hop bite and very sessionable. I also probably like kolsch way more than most, so if that style isn't your think I could see this beer being kind of unremarkable.