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I’m a big fan of Samuel Adams beers. Always have been. I think they’re
reallygreat, and introduce a lot of Americans to a broad array of styles
they might otherwise not be familiar with. They’re widely available, too, so
even when you’re out at a place that might not otherwise have a decent beer
available, you may well be able to get a glass of some Sam Adams beer. That,
to me, makes Sam Adams “always a good decision”.
I suppose with all the beers in the Samuel Adams line that there has to be
at least one that’s going to be a bit less spectacular than all the rest.
For me, that would be Samuel Adams White Ale. Its Boston Beer’s
interpretation of a Belgian styled Wit, or White, beer. The style gets its
name from the wheat used in the mash that gives it a milky white color.
Is Samuel Adams White Ale a bad beer? Not at all. It’s just not the best
example of the style that I’ve ever tasted, and I think there are better
ones out there for the money. Let’s see what Boston Beer has to say about
their version:
This unfiltered wheat ale is a fresh American version of a classic
Belgian white ale. An intricate blend of unusual spices creates its
distinctive refreshing taste. White Ale is unfiltered and displays a
beautifully cloudy haze with a fine sediment at the bottom of the bottle.
And they list these spices as being added:
* Coriander
* Rose Hips
* Grains of Paradise
* Lemon Zest
* Anise
* Orange Zest
* Hibiscus
* Vanilla
* Tamarind
* Plum
Samuel Adams White Ale is a late winter, early spring seasonal for Boston
Beer. Last year I don’t remember seeing it at all, but for 2004 it is
available in six-packs and on draft. It debuted back in 1997, and here’s
what I thought about it then:
This beer is new in bottles for 1997 and debuts, as Cranberry Lambic and
Boston Ale once did, in the Samuel Adams Holiday Sampler. It is a murky
orange-white in color with a spritzy, short-lived head and zesty citric
nose. The palate is fairly accurate for a Belgian style wit beer, very spicy
with strong notes of orange and coriander which mingle with hints of vanilla
in the well-balanced finish. Not being bottle conditioned, Sam Adams White
Ale is not quite as yeasty as most of the Belgian examples of the style I'm
familiar with, and the orange is a bit more pronounced here as well. A
credible and very tasty interpretation of the style.
Now, of course, they are bottle conditioning, but I think I liked the beer
better back then than I do now. Here are my notes from a bottle bought this
week:
Samuel Adams White Ale pours to a cloudy, milky white-yellow color
with a light spritzy head formation and a fruity nose that suggests fresh
blueberries. The palate is smooth and very tart and refreshing with crisp
and toasty notes of pale malt and wheat. Some spice is apparent (Coriander
mostly) but I’m not picking up any appreciable amounts of orange.
A good Belgian white should have a hint of citric flavor from the addition
of Curacao orange peel. The spices intensify a bit in the finish, where they
mingle with a grassy, slightly bitter Saaz like hop buzz. That bitterness
lingers slightly on the tongue after sipping. Its more than I’m used to for
the style, actually.
This is certainly a good and drinkable beer, a decent-all purpose white ale.
But for my Wit-drinking pleasure, there are many I prefer: including
Hoegaarden, the original, and my local, Dogwood Brewing’s wonderful
Summer Brew or
even
Blue Moon.
   
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 |
Try?
Re-buy?