Thoughts on Sam Adams beers?

What is "TRIPLE MALT" suppose to mean? Is that like "TRIPLE HOPPED"?

 

I too enjoy Noble Pils, Dark Depths and Old Fezziwig. I also like the occasional Alpine Spring.

 

You're a homebrewer who can't figure out that maybe they use 3 malts?

Nah, that isn't it. It's just the in vogue Sam Adams bashing that is irresistible to some.

 

Wait a minute, SA is coming out with a DOUBLE pumpkin ale? verrrrry interesting

 

Where do you find the SA Scotch Ale?

 

They had it last year, but it was draft only (at least in my area, but I am pretty sure this was the standard for the release). The ABV was very high and damn, was it GOOD!

 

Will there be a bottle release of it this year?

 

I believe that there is going to be, as I have found some evidence of a bottle label on teh internets. Not much else, though, so I am wondering if this will be one of their limited bottle releases...

I would much rather have something to take home but as long as I can get it on draft again this year, I will be a happy camper! :-)

 

I have nothing against Sam Adams, I enjoy many of their beers, but thats nothing more than silly marketing nonsense. Most beers are brewed with multiple malts, so what? Pliny is brewed with three malts, why isn't it labeled "Triple Malt"? It's meaningless, even misleading jargon like "1,000 IBU" or "Triple Hopped".

 

I owe a lot to Boston Lager/Octoberfest/Winter Lager for helping my transition to drinking and appreciating better beer, as they were usually offered as the only alternatives to BMC stuff at many of the places I would drink at back then. They were pretty much my launching pad into recognizing how much better beer could be.

I still enjoy the occasional BL when out at a typical bar with a limited selection... but I do find it kind of funny that even though I did originally enjoy Octoberfest/Winter Lager when I first started drinking them often, after having experienced a lot more good beers since that point I find both of those offerings to be rather underwhelming now. Not so much due to a "snob" factor, but more along the lines of "I remember when I used to really like these beers and yet now they just don't taste the same anymore." LOL

 

"I have nothing against Sam Adams, I enjoy many of their beers, but thats nothing more than silly marketing nonsense. Most beers are brewed with multiple malts, so what? Pliny is brewed with three malts, why isn't it labeled "Triple Malt"?"

So, let me get this straight: to state that a brewery uses three malts when they use three malts is somehow silly marketing? I have seen breweries state that they have single-hopped their beers, and others state they dry hopped their beers. Is that just silly marketing too? What am I missing here?

 

Best value for your money. SA makes one of the best American made Octoberfests ive ever had. There noble pils is better then most German/czech versions of the style.

 

Yes, putting "Triple Malt" on the label as of it's somehow special when most beers contain multiple malts is marketing, and I find it silly. Sam Adams is awesome, I love them, but they're not above silly marketing tactics, like labeling a beer "Lambic" when it's in no way a lambic. And yes, lots of other breweries and businesses of all sorts utilize this same type of marketing, Sam Adams is not unique in that respect. "Triple Malt", "Triple Hopped", "Triple Distilled", "300 IBUs", "Double Dry Hopped", "Reinheitsgebot", "Cold Filtered", "Beechwood Aged", "Continuously Hopped", it's all the same nonsense.

Why doesn't Sam Adams list the number of malts used in every beer in bold letters on the label? I'm certain that most of their other beers contain two or three of four malts, so why just this one and not those? If there's a pertinent reason other than marketing I'd love to hear it.

 

I feel the same way when I drink Double Happiness beer. I mean is it
two of the same types of happiness or two different kinds of happiness?



If they're going to put it on the label, they should give an explanation.

 

Yeah I cant say I've ever had a Sam Adams brew I actually liked, most of them are just "not bad". Kinda funny, I sort of equate them with Sierra Nevada as like half craft half mainstream breweries, except I love Sierra Nevada and drink a ton of it. Anyway, the only Sam Adams Ive bought recently have been when Ive seen the Double Bock or the Wee Heavy (Ill pass on the imp. white) on the random 6pack rack and only then if theres nothing else better. The double bock is decent, and the wee heavy is ok sometimes but sometimes I find it overwhelmingly smokey, there seems to be variation between some bottles or maybe its just me.

 

I haven't had the Third Voyage but the others are all solid brews and the Boston Ale is an old favourite of mine.

 

Actually that's a really old label link. I remembered their neck label having a nice description, as they all do. The attention is drawn to the smoked malt in the ingredients.

From Sam Adams website:

"Smoky, malty, full bodied, brewed with traditional British ale hops.
This is a brew for adventurous beer drinkers.Made with seven malts: two-row pale Harrington, Metcalfe, and Copeland pale malts, Munich, chocolate malt, and a rare peat smoked malt commonly used by distillers of Scotch malt whiskey.This unique malt gives Samuel Adams Scotch Ale its distinct, subtle smoky character and deep amber hue. Its smokiness is balanced with the subtle earthy character of the traditional English hops, Goldings and Fuggles. This is a big brew dominated by malt flavors and aromas, rich and full bodied with a slight sweetness.Its layered malt complexity lingers to a smooth and silky finish."

 

I see Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams as "FULL craft and FULL mainstream". It isn't the 80's or 90's when they have to be small or "micros" to make flavorful beer. I don't think success should take away from their status among those who have above average enthusiasm for good beer, in any way whatsoever. If anything I respect and appreciate them more for how they've transformed beer culture.

 

I do like Samuel Adams. Boston Lager is still a classic beer and when its fresh, it's a great beer. Boston Ale, Noble Pils, Double Bock, Wee Heavy, Octoberfest, Alpine Spring, Cream Stout, Old Fezziwig, Cinder Block, Dark Depths, and Imperial Stout are all solid beers. I could drink their Octoberfest and Alpine Spring year round if they offered these year round.

 

Well said. Growth and market share does not have to change the product. And I don't feel it has for either of these breweries.