Brew Review: Samuel Adams Winter Lager

Samuel Adams Winter LagerAh, seasonal brews: the light of my life, fire of my loins…

When I’m holed up indoors during the winter months I find myself appreciating the taste of beer far more than any other season. Mark it up to cabin fever if you want, but my taste buds pucker up in cold weather.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager, one of the brewing company’s many great season-specific beers, doesn’t disappoint in my constant need for a well-bodied, alcoholic beverage in cool weather.

Housed in a deep-caramel color, Sam Adams Winter Lager pours a thin but lasting head that’s holds surprisingly well for a beer of its kind. Upon first gulp, the taste of citrus and spices was apparent, which paired well with the toasted malt finish. While I’m no expert at beer tasting I found the flavors easily recognizable without being too overbearing on heavy flavors.

When a beer of this nature features so many different flavors, it’s important to keep carbonation to a minimum, which Winter Lager does. Clean and crisp, the mouthfeel is very well-balanced, going down smooth without any one flavor dominating. Read More »

Brew Review: Becks Oktoberfest

Becks OktoberfestIs Oktoberfest over? Did it start yet? To me it doesn’t matter - Oktoberfest is whenever I crack open a brew in autumn. And what better way to celebrate the fall holiday than with Becks Oktoberfest?

Well, there are a few brews worth buying before Becks seasonal suds, according to the beer’s malty/nutty flavor with a large emphasis on hops, like most Oktoberfest-inspired selections.

Becks Oktoberfest is a bronze-colored brew that feels nice and crisp when drinking it during cool weather. While it’s not as malty as most Oktoberfest beer it holds up fairly well for Beck’s standard.

Since I’m complaining - complaining about beer, what a foolish concept - Beck’s Oktoberfest is also a tad too “hoppy” for my tastes.

But I digress. How does it hold up after pounding down a few?

After a quick six-pack I yearned for a more complex seasonal brew, due to the beer’s smoothness. Once heavily buzzed I didn’t care anymore; probably more about me being buzzed than the flavor getting…better. Read More »