Didn’t I just get done writing about a new Sam Adams beer? Oh yeah, it was the Vixen Chocolate Chili Bock.  And here we go with yet another one: Samuel Adams Alpine Spring, an unfiltered lager made with non-traditional hops. I bought a six-pack of this beer last week at my local Kroger supermarket, where it was also sold in 22-ounce bottles. It’s also on tap at my local Taco Mac where I’ll probably enjoy a mug this weekend, and if I haven’t already given you enough ways to buy it, the current Samuel Adams Brewmaster’s Collection 12-pack includes two bottles as well. In addition, of course, to two more new beers: Mighty Oak Ale and White River IPA.  OK Jim, Koch, I give up. I can’t keep up with you.

Anyway, back to the Alpine Spring. As mentioned, this is an unfiltered lager in the German Kellerbier style, and includes yeast in suspension. This is a pretty rare style in America, and I’ve not even seen many German examples hit American shores. The most immediate example that comes to mind is the classic German St. Georgen Brau Kellerbier from Buttenheim. According to my beers tasted database, that beer and a kellerbier from Max Lager’s Brewpub in Atlanta are the only two I’ve come across.

And here’s what Boston Beer says about Samuel Adams Alpine Spring:

Brewed especially for the season, this bright citrusy unfiltered lager is both satisfying and refreshing. It’s the perfect transition from winter’s heavier brews to the lighter beers of summer. Borne of our brewers’ many trips to Germany, Alpine Spring features a unique blend of lager attributes: the balanced maltiness and hoppiness of a Helles, the smoothness and slightly higher alcohol of a traditional spring bock, and the unfiltered appearance of a Kellerbier. The beer is brewed with Tettnang Noble hops to add a unique, bright orange-citrusy aroma and flavor.

Samuel Adams Alpine Spring is made with pale and honey malts for a gentle sweetness and delicate character that allow the subtle fruit of the yeast to come through. This makes it a bit different from most lagers, which are aged and filtered to smooth out any fruity ester notes. The beer is about average in alcohol content at 5.5% by volume and moderately priced at $7.99 a six-pack.

Samuel Adams Alpine Spring pours to a bright yellow color tinged with a trace of orange. A towering head of creamy foam forms atop the liquid as I pour, and the nose is full of fresh malt and citrusy hop aromas. The palate is loaded with fresh malt flavor, it’s clean and biscuity, reminiscent of fresh baked bread, slightly sweet and nuanced with perhaps just a hint of yeastiness. In the finish, the beer has a gentle bitterness and grassy aroma, neither of which obscures the malt characteristics.

All in all this is a very tasty sipping brew and yet again another winner from Boston Beer. I find the soft citrus notes from the interplay of the yeast and Tettnang hops especially interesting. My only complaint, I think, is the timing of the release: this spring seasonal is available from January to March, or until supplies last. I’ll be saving some for slightly warmer days of spring, when I think it might be even better suited for gentle sipping.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft



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