Review Date 8/27/2010 Last Updated 9/14/2012
Try?
Re-buy?
Congratulations, Michael Robinson of New Hampshire. You're the next contestant on The Beer is Right. More to the point, kudos to Michael for his winning entry in the 2009 Samuel Adams Longshot homebrew contest, Old Ben Ale. By being selected as one of the three winners, Michael's brew became Samuel Adams Longshot Old Ben Ale, one of the three featured brews in the 2010 Longshot sampler.
Which seems to me a bit strange. Not because the beer isn't good, of course; it is. Very good, in fact. No, I find this a strange inclusion because Old Ben is an English Old Ale by style, and Old Ales really and truly aren't all that far removed from barleywines. And since this year's Longshot sampler already includes two bottles of Mile High Barleywine, this all seems a bit redundant.
Whether
you to choose to see the barleywine as redundant to the Old Ale is your own
affair; it's all the same to me. But since they're both of fine quality, I'm not
complaining. Even if, in fact, this isn't the first Old Ale to wear the Longshot
brand. That honor goes to
Samuel Adams Longshot Don Oliver's Old Ale, included with the 2007 sampler.
From the label:
Brewed with a blend of five malts and American hops, this well-balanced English-style Old Ale has fruit and raisin notes with a hint of caramel in the finish. Full bodied and slightly sweet, this brew is the perfect ending to a fine meal or to enjoy on a cool evening.
My bottles were freshness dated for September of 2010, meaning the brewery recommends you drink them by then. Surely, though, an old ale is potent as this one should be eligible for aging (would that make it an Older Ale?). The 9% alcohol content by volume surely facilitates that. I have a bottle set aside for just that purpose, and I'll get back to you on how it fares when I pop it.
Samuel Adams Longshot Old Ben Ale pours to a deep golden caramel color with a thick creamy head formation and a rich, heady nose of rum-raisin and vanilla. A very thick layer of Brussels lace clings to the sides of my glass as the liquid descends. Taking a sip I get a thick, chewy body with luxuriously rich mouthfeel. The flavors rush to the fore: certainly the dark raisin with vanilla underneath, caramel, a hint of citrus, and toasted nuts. Perhaps a touch of whiskey as well.
In the finish, the beer is on the sweet side with hints of molasses peeking through. There's a very subtle perfumey hop aroma, but it's mostly the almost harsh alcohol warmth that dries the beer slightly.
This is a nice little beer, quite complex, though really better suited for cool weather imbibing than in August. I liked it well enough after a hearty meal as a digestif.
Update: 9/14/2012: Just popped my two-year old plus bottle of Samuel Adams Longshot Old Ben Ale. A bit sad as this is probably the last one I'll ever drink, but happy because it tastes so good. This beer has become a treat, packed with malty notes of caramel, fresh bread, and toasted nuts. The vanilla and dark fruits still abound, but the beer has become softer all around and much gentler in the finish. There, the hops have definitely mellowed and allow all the malt glory to shine through. I'm so glad I saved a bottle; Old Ben is better a little old then a little young.
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
