Sam Adams - Thirteenth Hour

The thirteenth hour is the witching hour and refers to the mysterious combination of flavors in this brew. We've combined the roasted chocolate and coffee flavors of a stout with the spicy character of a Belgian ale aged in oak.

The combination of 7 different malts creates a brilliant black brew that's full bodied and smooth with rich notes of coffee, chocolate, and dark fruits like raisins and plums. The dark roasty, and slightly sweet flavors of a stout are blended with the unique, spicy and sour character of our Kosmic Mother Funk (KMF), an ale that's been aged in oak tuns for up to a year. The KMF gives the beer an added complexity with notes of black pepper, oak, vanilla, and a hint of acidity.

Enjoy this beer now or age it to further develop unique flavors. We recommend pouring the beer gently into a traditional glass. Take care not to unsettle the fine layer of yeast that rests at the bottom from the bottle-conditioning, a process which creates an extra smooth and balanced flavor in the beer.

First brewed 2011

The ABV is 9.0 and the IBU rating is 17
Style - Imperial Stout / Belgium Strong Dark Ale (you choose)
Glass to use - Snifter, Tumbler,Tulip or Oversized wine glass
Delivery - 750ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a dark brown color with a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Coffee, chocolate, some spice and sourness.
Taste - Sweet, chocolate, caramel, a bit sour, hint of coffee and spices.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body.
Drinkable - I bought this bottle six months ago and was planning to age it for a few years, but decided to take it over to a friends house one night.  Not knowing what to expect, I was not disappointed in the least.  I enjoyed this very much.  Overall it is a well balanced brew.  I will by this brew again!

Goes well with strong and sharp cheese, grilled meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =85
Ratebeer Rating = 94

Sam Adams - Triple Bock (1995)

Triple Bock is complex, elegant, and has the depth and complexity of a fine cognac, vintage port or an old sherry. Non-carbonated, ruby-black, and very special, Triple Bock should be sipped from a small snifter in a two-ounce serving. This is a beer to savor, and sip slowly. Triple Bock has a brandy-like warmth and a complex melange of fruity, woody, and toffee-like flavors. Let the aroma fill your mouth and nose with rich malt and fruit overtones. Savor and appreciate its enormous character. Serve Triple Bock as you would a fine sherry, at room temperature, in a small snifter. One bottle generously serves two or three. Re-cork and store standing up. Once poured into a small glass, the layers of aroma and flavor will continue to evolve as the deep ruby brew warms in the hand. Its warming malt character and fruit esters make it an ideal after dinner aperitif.

Though the little cobalt bottles still decorate the shelves today, this beer only had 3 vintage releases; 1994, 1995, and 1997. Brewed with two row malted barley, water, Noble hops and yeast, along with maple syrup, it was then aged several months in oak whiskey barrels before being bottled. At the time it was considered the world's strongest beer, and a precursor of today's Extreme Beers.

The ABV is 17.5 (20.0) and the IBU rating is ??
Style - American Strong Ale
Glass to use - A small Snifter (I used my Utopias snifter)
Delivery - 8.45oz Bottle; 1oz sample

Was cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - The cork snapped in half as I was opening the bottle.  Pours a thick black color with no head. No lacing but a very thick clear coating on the glass. I used a Samuel Admas Utopias glass.
Aroma - Boozy, lots of dark fruit, molasses.  Like a very aged Port, Brandy or Cognac.
Taste - Tons of dark fruit, as it warms to room temperature it's like drinking a dark chocolate bar (lots of chocolate), lingering sweetness and an alcohol burn well after the swallow. Hints of leather.
Mouth Feel - No carbonation, full body, coats the mouth, a slight tangy bitterness on the sides of the tongue, almost sour.
Drinkable - A great surprise, some recent reviews of this vintage stated that beer had gone bad and tasted like soy sauce. Which is why the BeerAdvocate and Ratebeer ratings are so low. 
This bottle was aged properly.  A sipper indeed!  If you can find a bottle enjoy it with fellow beer enthusiast.  

Goes well with strong and sharp cheese.  Enjoy it as an after dinner drink.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =C (The Bros gave it an A-)
Ratebeer Rating =33

Samuel Adams - Triple Bock (1997)

Triple Bock is complex, elegant, and has the depth and complexity of a fine cognac, vintage port or an old sherry. Non-carbonated, ruby-black, and very special, Triple Bock should be sipped from a small snifter in a two-ounce serving. This is a beer to savor, and sip slowly. Triple Bock has a brandy-like warmth and a complex melange of fruity, woody, and toffee-like flavors. Let the aroma fill your mouth and nose with rich malt and fruit overtones. Savor and appreciate its enormous character. Serve Triple Bock as you would a fine sherry, at room temperature, in a small snifter. One bottle generously serves two or three. Re-cork and store standing up. Once poured into a small glass, the layers of aroma and flavor will continue to evolve as the deep ruby brew warms in the hand. Its warming malt character and fruit esters make it an ideal after dinner aperitif.

Though the little cobalt bottles still decorate the shelves today, this beer only had 3 vintage releases; 1994, 1995, and 1997. Brewed with two row malted barley, water, Noble hops and yeast, along with maple syrup, it was then aged several months in oak whiskey barrels before being bottled. At the time it was considered the world's strongest beer, and a precursor of today's Extreme Beers.

The ABV is 17.5 (20.0) and the IBU rating is ??
Style - American Strong Ale
Glass to use - A small Snifter (I used my Utopias snifter)
Delivery - 8.45oz Bottle; 1oz sample

Was cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a very dark brown color (nearly black) with no head. No lacing but a very thick clear coating on the glass.
Aroma - Boozy, lots of dark fruit, leather or peat, molasses.  Very aged Port, Brandy or Cognac.
Taste - Tons of dark fruit, as it warms to room temperature it's like drinking a dark chocolate bar (lots of chocolate), lingering sweetness and an alcohol burn well after the swallow. 
Mouth Feel - No carbonation, full body, coats the mouth, a slight tangy bitterness on the sides of the tongue.
Drinkable - A great surprise, some recent reviews of this vintage stated that beer had gone bad and tasted like soy sauce. Which is why the BeerAdvocate and Ratebeer ratings are so low. 
This bottle was aged properly.  A sipper indeed!  If you can find a bottle enjoy it with fellow beer enthusiast.  I first had the 1994 vintage in that year not knowing anything about aging beer.  In 1997 I was able to get several bottles and was advised to save as many as I can, so I hidden the bottles and forgot about them.  I finally opened one up for this review after 14 years.  I still have 4 bottles left!

Goes well with strong and sharp cheese.  Enjoy it as an after dinner drink.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =C (The Bros gave it an A-)
Ratebeer Rating =33

Sam Adams - Utopias 2011

Truly the epitome of brewing's two thousand year evolution, Samuel Adams Utopias® offers a flavor not just unlike any other beer but unlike any other beverage in the world. The 2011 release is a blend of batches, some having been aged up to 18 years in the barrel room of the Boston Brewery, in a variety of woods. SA aged a portion of the beer in hand-selected, single-use bourbon casks from the award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery. The latest batch also spent time in Sherry cast from Spain, Madeira casks from the island of Madeira, and Port casks from Portugal.  This flavorful, slightly fruity brew has a sweet, malty flavor that is reminiscent of a deep, rich vintage port, fine cognac or aged sherry.

The history of Samuel Adams Utopias comes from the extreme beers of Triple Bock (see my review for the 1997) and Millenium that came before it. With those brews SA began the exploration of aging beer in barrels for a different flavor contribution. With Utopias, SA took that process to another level by introducing a variety of casks that the beer was aged in, each offering their own unique flavor. SA also experimented with blending different vintages of beer to create its final character. The idea of aging in casks and blending was inspired by the techniques of whiskey makers in how they were able to craft the taste of their liquid from several of these elements. SA expanded that notion to include casks of different origins. Applying these techniques to beer not only led to a completely unique beer, but also to a new taste experience.

The ABV is 27.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Very Strong Ale
Glass to use - A small Snifter or Tulip Glass
Delivery - 750ml Bottle; 1oz sample

Should be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a clear dark brown color with no head. No lacing but a thick clear coating on the glass.
Aroma - Boozy - Sherry and Bourbon, lots of figs and plums and caramel.  Burns the nose hairs.
Taste - Sweet, chocolate, strong fig taste up front that gives way to the alcohol that lingers to the end.. Liken to a sweet Cognac. 
Mouth Feel - No carbonation, full body, alcohol burn all the way through.
Drinkable - Nice, definitely needs to age!  Burning after taste last a while.  I plan to age my two bottles for 10-15 years.  This compares to a fine Sherry, Brandy, Cognac or aged Port.

Goes well with strong and sharp cheese.  Enjoy it as an after dinner drink.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A.
BeerAdvocate Rating =A
Ratebeer Rating = 100

Sam Adams - Boston Lager

Samuel Adams Boston Lager® is the best example of the fundamental characteristics of a great beer, offering a full, rich flavor that is both balanced and complex. It is brewed using a decoction mash, a time consuming, traditional four vessel brewing process discarded by many contemporary brewers. This process brings forth a rich sweetness from the malt that makes it well worth the effort. Samuel Adams Boston Lager® also uses only the finest of ingredients including two row barley, as well as German Noble aroma hops. The exclusive use of two row barley not only imparts a full, smooth body but also gives the beer a wide spectrum of malt flavor ranging from slightly sweet to caramel to slightly roasted. The Noble hops varieties, Hallertau Mittelfruh and Tettnang Tettnanger, add a wide range of floral, piney and citrus notes, which are present from the aroma, through the flavor, to the lingering smooth finish. They use Noble hops used in their beers. They are hand selected by Jim Koch and other brewers from the world’s oldest hops growing area. Among the world’s most expensive, they cost twenty times as much as other hops.

The ABV is 4.9 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Vienna lager
Glass to use- Flute, Pilsener Glass, Mug or Stein
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Poors an amber color with a tan head. Great lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, malts and some hops.
Taste - Malty, fruity with a nice hop after taste, typical of Sam Adams beers.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body. Crisp and clean.
Drinkable - Easy drinking, session beer.  This use to be one of my everyday beers until I moved onto heavier bigger beers like Belgium styles.  

This beer pairs well with German food and white meats.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =72

Sam Adams - Irish Red

This is part of Sam Adams Brewmaster Collection Series.  This rich and malty ale originated in Ireland in 1710. It has a deep red color and distinctive caramel flavor from its Pale and Caramel malts. The malt sweetness is balanced by the earthy notes of East Kent Goldings hops. Cheers!

The ABV is 5.8 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Irish Red Ale
Glass to use- Pilsener Glass or Mug
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Poors an amber color with a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Malts and some spices.
Taste - Sweet and malty with a slight hop bite.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation. Smooth.
Drinkable - Easy drinking, session beer.  Great for a hot day. 

This beer pairs well with any meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating =62

Sam Adams - Dunkel Weizen

This is part of Sam Adams Brewmaster Collection Series.  Dunkelweizen translates into "dark wheat" and the beer is a darker version of the Bavarian wheat beers of the 15th century. Dark amber brown in color, this unfiltered ale is brewed with traditional Bavarian yeast, which imparts a wide spectrum of flavors and aromas from spicy clove and nutmeg to tropical fruit and banana. The result is a beer that is complex and flavorful, medium-bodied with a crisp finish.

The ABV is 5.1 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Dunkelweizen
Glass to use- Weizen Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Poors a cloudy orange color with a white head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Sweet, wheaty and a little grassy.
Taste - Sweet, caramel and some citrus fruit.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation. Nice and light.
Drinkable - Easy drinking, good everyday brew. 

This beer pairs well with German food, cheese and meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating =77

Sam Adams - Infinium 2010

Over 1000 years of brewery experience together with American innovation, two years of development and the four ingredients malt, hops, water, and yeast resulted in a new dimension of the art of brewing and in an innovative, ground-breaking beer: Infinium. The sparkling beer is complex, unique in taste and produced strictly according to the German purity law. This sparkling beer is dry and strong in taste despite the more the 10 percent by volume alcohol and unsettles preconceived opinion about the limits of the German purity law. The strong, deep golden beer will enter the market in noble, corked, 0.75 liter bottles. The joint venture of Weihenstephan and Samuel Adams unites a new way of thinking about the world of the American extreme.

I had is brew at the Memphis Taproom, I spit it with another fellow beer enthusiast. 

The ABV is 10.3 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Biere de Champagne/Biere Brut
Glass to use- Flute, Tulip or Chalice
Delivery 755ml Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Poors an straw color with a white head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Malts and some fruit and spice from the hops.
Taste - A little malty with slight spices and hints of citrus fruit.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation, fuzzy from the champagne yeast. Dry finish.
Drinkable - The alcohol is hidden well. A well made beer, however not a brew I will purchase again, maybe at a much lower price. 

This beer pairs well with white meat.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B-
Ratebeer Rating =88

Sam Adams - Havest Pumpkin Ale

This is part of Sam Adams Brewmaster Collection Series.  A perennial favorite at the SA Brewery Halloween party, this reddish amber ale is perfect for fall. Real pumpkin adds a full body and sweetness, while deep roasted malts lend a toasty finish to this subtly spiced brew.

The ABV is 5.7 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Pumpkin Ale

Glass to use- Pint Glass or Tumbler
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Poors a reddish/brown color with a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Spices, pumpkin, malts, nutmeg and cinnamon.
Taste - Similar to the noise but not as strong.
Mouth Feel - Medium carbonation and body. Dry finish.
Drinkable - Easy drinking, good brew for the holidays. 

This beer pairs well with meat or part of your Thanksgiving meal.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating =88

Sam Adams - Black Lager

When one sees a beer with a darker complexion these days, more often than not it’s a porter or a stout. But looks can be deceiving. There exists a style older than both and generally less well known; the schwarzbier, which literally translates to “Black Beer.” Unlike its dark cousins which are ales hailing from Britain, schwarzbier comes from Germany and uses a bottom fermenting lager yeast.  Samuel Adams Black Lager is brewed in the tradition of the latter. A medium bodied beer brewed using several different roasts of malt to create a smooth body and depth of malt character that has to be tasted to be believed..

The ABV is 4.9 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Schwarzbier
Glass to use- Flute, Pilsener Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring.

The Pour - Poors to a black color with a tan head. Good lacing.
Aroma - Smokiness, chocolate and a hint of coffee.
Taste - Smoky, some hop bitterness, sweet and toffee.
Mouth Feel - Carbonation is just right. Medium body.
Drinkable - Nice brew with a different taste. 

This beer pairs well with German food.

This beer gets a Duper rating of B.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating = 97

Samuel Adams - Imperial Stout

This is the third of the Imperial Series from Sam Adams that I've had.  Samuel Adams Imperial Stout is SA take on the traditional Russian imperial stouts from the 18th century.  While this style originated in England, American craft brewers have embraced the style and taken it to whole new level of flavor and complexity.    Samuel Adams Imperial Stout is a massive beer filled with big, dark flavors.  It has been a SA's favorite in recent year.

The ABV is 9.2 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Russian Imperial Stout
Glass to use- Pint Glass or  Snifter
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Wow!! Chocolate as soon as I popped the bottle. Poors to a black color with a big cream head that stays. Excellent lacing.
Aroma - Chocolate but not as intense as when I opened the bottle.
Taste - Malty with a hoppy finish, bitter ended like bitter dark chocolate.
Mouth Feel - Carbonation is just right. Full body.
Drinkable - Smooth. 

This beer pairs well with deserts like chocolate and cheese.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A-.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating = 95

Related articles

• 99 Bottles: Giving thanks with fine craft ale (boston.com)

Samuel Adams - Imperial White

This is second of the Imperial Series from Sam Adams that I've had.  Samuel Adams® Imperial White represents a new perspective on the classic witbier style.  Witbiers are normally light and refreshing with a fruity finish.  This is not just a more intense version of Samuel Adams® White Ale.  Samuel Adams Imperial White is a new recipe that stands on its own.  In fact, it is more of a wine substitute than just another refreshing witbier.  This is a beer that should be sipped and savored and you’ll be amazed at the flavors you’ll discover as the beer warms and opens up

The ABV is 10.3 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Imperial Witbier
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Pilsener Glass or Mug
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Not recommended for extended cellaring, but I will give it a good because of the high alcohol.

The Pour - Wow!! Bananas as soon as I popped the bottle. Poors an orange color with a big white head that stays. Some lacing.
Aroma - Fruity but not as intense as when I opened the bottle.
Taste - Sweet candy like, fruity with some toffee notes.
Mouth Feel - Carbonation is just right. Crisp and clean.
Drinkable - Very drinkable.  At first I had no desire to try this brew but a friend from work said i should give it a good.  Glad I did, I like this beer a lot. 

This beer pairs well with white meats like pork and cheese.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B
Ratebeer Rating = 76

Related articles

• Beer &Ndash; Samuel Adams is The Best! (socyberty.com)
• Well hello there Samuel Adams Harvest Collection (craiggunderson.com)
• Happy Birthday Samuel Adams! (chicagonow.com)
• Sam Adams' Collectible $150 Utopias Beer Expanding Distribution (luxist.com)
• Behind the scenes at the Samuel Adams brewery (news.cnet.com)
• 99 Bottles: Giving thanks with fine craft ale (boston.com)

Samuel Adams - Double Bock (Imperial Series)

Just as the British pushed their style further with Imperial beers, the Germans also experimented with higher level specialty beers. The original Doppelbock (or Double Bock) was also brewed to be a stronger version of its original bock beer style. Monks first brewed Double Bock to help them through their Lenten fast. One cannot help but appreciate Samuel Adams Double Bock's huge malt character.  They use an enormous amount of malt, half a pound per bottle, to brew this intensely rich lager.  Its deep brown-ruby color is all made in the kettle, no black malt is used, resulting in a rich sweetness that is free of the rough taste of burnt malt.  All that remains is the velvet smooth flavor and mouth feel of the two-row malt. Samuel Adams Double Bock's intense malt character is balanced with a subtle piney, citrus hop note from the Noble hops.

The ABV is 9.5 and the IBU rating is 10
Style - Imperial Doppelbock
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Dimpled Mug, Snifter, Oversized Wine Glass
Delivery 12oz Bottle

Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.

The Pour - Pours a dark ruby color with a big cream head and good lacing.
Aroma - As soon as I popped the cap, Wham! The malts hit the air followed by lots of raisins then some spice, very intense.
Taste - Same as the smell strong malt and caramel followed immediately with the raisins. Taste just like an aged English Barleywine (J.W. Lees comes in mind).
Mouth Feel - Carbonation is just right. Velvety smooth.
Drinkable - I only chilled for an hour and sampled it at around 55F. Very drinkable, I cannot wait to taste this after it has aged for a year or five.  I think SA should reclassify this brew.  Then again I have never had an Imperial Dobblebock.

This beer pairs well with pork, cheese, chocolate and other deserts.

This beer gets a Duper rating of A+.
BeerAdvocate Rating =B+
Ratebeer Rating = 86

Related articles

• Day 205 Drink: Troegenator Double Bock (lyke2drink.blogspot.com)
• Today's drinking events: All About Bocks, Toast to the Children and Wine at the Farm (timeoutny.com)
• Behind the scenes at the Samuel Adams brewery (news.cnet.com)