Samuel Adams Winter Lager

Brewed by Boston Beer Company
Style: Weizen Bock
Boston, Massachusetts USA

Aroma: Caramel malts, diacetyl, apple jelly, sugar, and citric hops. Appearance: Bold, brick red-orange with just barely off-white head; compliments the Christmas tree well. Flavor: A smooth caramel malt base balanced with woody/resiny hops. The bottle claims that this beer has been brewed with "winter spices," but I honestly cannot taste them at all, except perhaps for an EXTREMELY understated nutmeg character. Tangy yeast adds an interesting edge, but otherwise this is more or less just an average red lager. Palate: Smooth and clean; flavorful without being aggressive or overpowering. I think this will go well with my Christmas dinner. Overall: Very drinkable, but I long for something with a bit more presence.

Not what we expected by the name winter lager, then again we’re from Texas and don’t understand the true meaning of winter. Though we did agree it would be good with a turkey dinner. This is defiantly not a "distance beer" (meaning drink 10 of these) but it would be quite good with a meal. It is a pretty hearty Sam Adams beer with some spices added to the mix, especially in the after taste. As far as buying it again, unlikely for us due to it is hard to find around here but if it was we would consider it for a beer to match up with food. Defiantly worth a try if you can find it.

Pours with a faor hear and medium-brown color. Has an aroma of malt and orange. Flavor matcher the scent with an added hint of spice.

This is a pretty hearty beer with a chewy caramel malt background. This was hearty enough to back up a rib eye and baked potato at some corporate steakhouse, that this was the only decent draft choice. Really light on the spices, with a somewhat sweet caramel maltiness. Pretty well balanced, but slightly one dimensional.

Pours a clear copper color with a white head. Aroma is malty, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, and some earthy hops. Flavor is malty, caramel, spicy, and a bitter spicy finish.

(From old notes, bottle on 2008-01-09) Quite a normal bock. Some sweetness, perhaps too much. form malts.

Good beer, better than average. Something to drink in Winter no less, but nothing more. Would spend my money on a more complex beer if I had the option. Could be smoother, and heavier given its label.

Bottle: some yeasty notes, some malty notes, some caramel and honey like sweetness, weak bitterness, faint roasted notes the spices are really mild, the flavor itself is a bit too mild as well, very short finish with almost no aftertaste, nice beer but somewhat lacking in charecter.