Mention the name "Samuel Adams" and America's largest microbrewer comes to mind. Known for quality products at an affordable price, the Samuel Adams line by the Boston Beer Company are crow-pleasers for all levels of beer drinkers, from novices to the most experienced. Winter Lager is one of Sam's winter seasonals, and is brewed in the style of a bock. No matter the caliber of the beer drinkers on your guest list, this selection is sure to please everyone.
Pour: Deep, clear reddish-brown color with a thick 2-fingered off-white head that retains decently. Leaves nice lacing on the glass.
Smell: Sweetness radiating from the caramel malts. Some hints of syrup/molasses, some spice notes, and some floral and spicy hops. Maybe even a bit of cinnamon coming through?
Taste: The palate is greeted with a delicate malty sweetness, giving way to some caramel and toffee flavors. Faint cinnamon spice comes through as you move to the middle of the palate. It's somewhat yeasty/bready, and has some nutty tastes in there as well. The back in hop bitterness is mild to moderate, and has hints of floral/earthy and spicy bitterness, and even a hint of ginger. No strong aftertaste to speak of. A very small hint of alcohol warmth.
Mouthfeel: Medium, absolutely silky smooth, and a fair bit of carbonation without being excessive.
Drinkability: This beer is very easy drinking, and not overly filling. Gets top marks in this category.
Final Notes: Definitely on the somewhat lighter side when it comes to winter beers. A great session beer and one to pair with either a big Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, drank after dinner as a dessert beer, or paired with either a caramel or chocolate dessert. The ABV is not overkill (5.8%) and the flavors are very good. Get this beer on tap if you can, it's quite a bit better. That said, I'm giving this beer two ratings..."B" from the bottle, and "B+" from the tap (the difference is significant).
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