Sam Adams Double Agent IPL

INDIA PALE LAGER!?!? Ok, so we can't really talk about Sam Adams in a craft beer blog without dealing with the hot debate over whether or not Sam Adams is really a craft brewer. It is obvious that due to the large amount of beer pumping out of Sam Adams everyday that their semi-large size puts them in about the same category of brewers as Sierra Nevada and the likes. These are brewers who are massive in size compared to most of the micro breweries out there, but still dwarf in comparison to brewers like Bud, Miller and Coors. However you feel about Sam Adams as a craft brewer, it is hard to argue with the fact that they consistently come out with new, often very creative beers. Here is a new very creative beer that splits the IPA and Lager style of beers.

As most of you know by know, we here at White Horse Wine & Spirits are solid Hop Heads. As such, I had to try this interesting Double Agent IPL experiment that is as Sam Adams puts it "What if we gave an IPA a second identity and used some of our favorite West Coast hops, with their grapefruit, piney, and tropical fruit character, in a lager?". 

I have to say that I did not go into this tasting with much hope for a hoppy beer. Most of the new "IPAs" coming out of the larger breweries just don't pack the necessary hop punch to satisfy. I was pleasantly surprised when the aromas of fresh West Coast style hops hit my nose. It is filled fresh grapefruit, citrus and pine notes that do an IPA proud. The taste is actually pretty hoppy and bitter when you take a sip which is really enjoyable. The finish is really the difference in this beer, because the hops fade away and it ends with a smooth lager like silkiness. Overall, I would definitely say I was impressed by this beer especially at under $10 a six pack. At 5% ABV, it is a nice session beer that is good for the new style Sam has created.


Personal Rating: 8.5/10
Style Rating: 10/10

Wanna try it now? Order it online at:
http://www.whitehorsewine.com/proddetail.php?prod=087692000495

Sam Adams | Verloren Gose

Sam Adams Verloren Gose ale, an all but dead style of beer that the Boston Beer Co. is taking a shot at putting the defibrillator on. Originating from Leipzig, Germany, Gose beer is traditionally brewed with at least 50% wheat malt, and an addition of coriander and salt. Although these additions to the beer don't comply with the German purity law of 1516, it has been accepted due to being a "regional specialty."

With all that being said, I was very intrigued by this beer, so I bought one…. two months ago. And, expecting the worst, have been scared to try it. Well, today is the day to finally give it a try.

Poured into a weizen glass, Verloren has a somewhat hazy, golden amber color. The fluffy white head piles up nicely, but recedes kind of quickly.

The nose is spot on the style of a Hefeweizen, with a strong spice kick from the coriander. Lightly tart yeast comes through the spice, which adds a little bit of complexity to this unusual beer.

The flavor is much like the nose, very German style wheat beer, but the yeast is a little funkier than normal. Flavors of lemon peel, coriander, clove, and banana come to mind. The salt addition is just barely noticeable near the finish, but it is there. It almost seems to make the beer a little oily towards the end. But at least it keeps the beer from finishing too dry!

Overall this beer is much better than I feared it to be, but it's still a bit odd. It could be a placebo effect where I'm searching for the saltiness because I know it's in there, instead of just tasting the salt blindly. However, I would recommend trying Verloren, maybe not because it's the best beer on the shelf, but because it's cheap, and I've never seen a Gose style beer before. There's a good chance this is the only Gose beer you'll see in your life, so why not give it a shot?

Personal: 6.5/10
Style: N/A