So yesterday I was at Kroger looking for beer. The occasion was the NFL AFC Divisional playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts, and I wanted to bring some Samuel Adams beer since the brand is from Boston (I ended up getting a six-pack of Samuel Adams Winter Lager).

Anyway, as I arrived, the distributor rep was on site, stacking 12-packs of the newly arrived spring samplers. One of the new beers in that sampler was Samuel Adams Cold Snap, a Belgian White in style and a beer I had purchased the week before in a bomber. I asked him when the other new beer, Escape Route, would be sold separately, as I really didn’t want to buy the 12-pack, which I frankly explained seemed rather bland to me.

The sales rep admitted that the spring sampler was usually the weakest of the rotation Boston Beer offers. I had to wonder why that was, and why they didn’t do something about that. Why not toss in a few bottles of the beloved Scotch Ale, Honey Porter, or even Boston Ale? Spring is still cool and perfect for a heartier brew. And why the continued predilection for white ales? I still don’t get it.

Samuel Adams Cold Snap is, as I said, a Belgian White in style, and a variation on Samuel Adams White Ale. I’ve had Samuel Adams White Ale in its various incarnations (including the most interesting variants, Samuel Adams White Christmas and Samuel Adams Little White Rye). But I've never been a fan of the plain old Samuel Adams White Ale. When launched in 1997 it was a straightforward Belgian White, as I recall anyway. I do know that in 2004 it was re-launched as a bottle conditioned brew with a plethora of spices:

* Coriander

* Rose Hips

* Grains of Paradise

* Lemon Zest

* Anise

* Orange Zest

* Hibiscus

* Vanilla

* Tamarind

* Plum

Today, the beer has been rebranded to Samuel Adams Cold Snap, and is brewed with “a blend of exotic fruits & spices including orange peel, plum, hibiscus & fresh ground coriander” according to the Samuel Adams website. Malts employed are the Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend and of course wheat malt, and hops are Hallertau Mittelfreus. Samuel Adams Cold Snap is a bit stronger than the old White Ale (5.3% by volume now vs. 4.8% then). I bought a 22-ounce bomber for $2.29, six-packs are available at $8.99, or you can get two bottles in the spring sampler which runs $14.99.

From the neck label:

Crisp & lively, the hazy smoothness of this unfiltered White Ale is roused by the crackling of spring spices. From a hint of sweetness from orange peel & plum to the peppery bite of fresh ground coriander, the blend of spices creates just the right refreshing kick to signal that spring is on its way.

Samuel Adams Cold Snap pours to a hazy white-orange color with a medium sized creamy head formation and a light white bread and citrus nose. Taking a sip, I get more of the pasty, white bread flavor from the wheat, although in the palate this comes with a more pleasing tart wheat character, too. There’s a very gentle hint of coriander coming through, some bright citrusy orange peel, and just a bit of the luscious fruity plum. A lot more plum, orange, and coriander would have saved this one, but there’s not enough there to do that. The beer does finish tart and would be refreshing on a warm spring day, but all in all this is nothing to rave about.

Worth a try, but not a rebuy in my book.

Update 1/27/2015: OK, I am reversing my self on this one. I wasn't overly fond of this last year, but last week i had it on tap at Taco Mac and it was much tastier indeed. Love the biscuity malt, vanilla, and flowery hibiscus. This was very fresh indeed. Biscuit malt, wheaty snap, tasty spices. I am kicking it up a half star and changing to a rebuy, Indeed, I'll be out looking for a bottle to see if I like it better that way, too.

Update 3/25/2015: And I did! Here I am in honor of what would have been my grandfather's 100th birthday enjoying a bomber bottle of Samuel Adams Cold Snap. This bottle is notched as best before May. It's much better than prior years, in the bottle as well as on tap. And at $3.29 for a bomber or $7.99 in a six-pack, its hard to beat on price, too.

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