OK friends, I know I’m a little late to the party putting down my thoughts on Samuel Adams Nitro IPA, one of three new nitro canned beers released by Boston Beer. These were released early in the year though I didn’t see them arrive in Georgia until the middle of March or so. The first I tried was the Samuel Adams Nitro Coffee Stout, and while I enjoyed it, I wasn’t as enthusiastic about it as other seemed to be. Maybe the price was a factor, too, as these beers were running on the high side initially ($11.99 a 4 pack), but later came down a bit.

Anyway, it wasn’t for another few months that I picked up the Nitro IPA, popped a can and took some tasting notes. The can does have a best by date of August 2016 stamped on the bottom. Here it is November and I’m finally posting my fleshed-out review. I’m not sold on the concept of nitro-charged IPAs, I love stouts this way, but Guinness Nitro IPA left me a little cold.

From the can label:

A nitro widget inside this can gives our IPA it’s incredibly smooth, creamy taste. You’ll notice a swirling cascade of energy as the beer settles into your glass. The widget does the work for you, so chill, pour, & enjoy.

Back in January, Boston Beer sent out a newsletter with the following further information:

It's a new year, and that means new beers! The Sam Adams Nitro project launches at the end of this month and is unlike anything we've done before…The IPA, at 100 IBUs, is dry-hopped to achieve a bold hop character with resinous pine and citrus hop notes, while still maintaining the classic nitro smoothness we love.

Samuel Adams Nitro IPA has an alcohol content of 7.5% by volume and was running $8.99 for 4 15-ounce cans when I bought mine. Let’s go ahead and pop a can, shall we?

Samuel Adams Nitro IPA pours to a bright orange color with a thick creamy head of orange foam and a brilliant grapefruit citrus nose. Taking a sip, the beer is smooth and creamy in body as I want in a nitro beer. There are hops though! Bright and citrusy with bitter grapefruit peel and resiny pine with a long dry lingering herbal grassy bitterness.

Surprise! This beer was much better than I expected, and the contrarian in me says I like it better than the Nitro Coffee Stout everybody else says is the best. The smooth creaminess works here with the robust citrus and resin notes, and accentuates the long dry bitter finish (or maybe it’s the other way around).

Will Samuel Adams Nitro IPA return? I’m sure I don’t know, but if it does, I’ll be back for more.

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