Fall has yet to arrive, but fall beers are hitting the shelves. Accordingly, I picked up my annual Samuel Adams fall variety 12-pack, this year entitled Beers of Fall. Fall is my favorite time of year, as I love the wide array of Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers that abound. The cooler weather and football season don’t hurt either. That said, the 2017 Samuel Adams Beers of Fall 12-pack includes both aforementioned styles of beer, plus a few other goodies.

For 2017, you’ll get two bottles each of the following beers:

·         Samuel Adams Octoberfest

·         Samuel Adams 20 Pounds of Pumpkin

·         Samuel Adams Black Lager

·         Samuel Adams Boston Lager

·         Samuel Adams Maple Red

·         Samuel Adams Honey Rye Pale Ale

It’s the Samuel Adams Honey Rye Pale Ale I’m here to talk about today. This was the first beer I popped from the sampler. From the website:

Often used to enhance body and flavor, the rye in this beer also adds a hint of spice that complements the citrusy, spicy hop notes. The addition of honey malt adds a deep amber color and touch of sweetness that softens the spice and rounds out the flavor, for a crisp, bright finish.

Ingredients, also from the website:

HOP VARIETIES: Simcoe, Cascade, Ella

MALT VARIETIES: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Rye Malt, Honey Malt

Samuel Adams Honey Rye Pale Ale has an alcohol content of 5.8% by volume with 33 IBUs. I paid just $13.29 for the 12-pack at Target. My bottle is notched as best before January 2018.

Samuel Adams Honey Rye Pale Ale pours to a bright copper color with a moderate creamy head formation and a honey herbal nose reminiscent of a Ricola cough drop. Taking a sip, the beer has a light maltiness up front and I think could use more caramel notes. I like the spicy rye notes that emerge though and the hints of rich honey and the dry grassy, gently bitter finish.

Tasty enough, and love the way the spicy rye really emerges as it warms and makes the beer moreish.

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