BREWERY: The Boston Beer Company
STYLE: Vienna Lager
ABV: 4.9%
PURCHASE: Case of 24 12-oz. bottles, $36.56.
SERVING: 12-oz. bottle, poured into pint glass. Produced up to one half-inch of head that dissipated rather quickly, regardless of pour speed.
APPEARANCE: Moderately dark, cloudy caramel hue crowned with off-white head. Hazy but effervescent and gorgeous.
BOUQUET: The drinker is welcomed with a superbly balanced nose of fruity, citrusy, and floral essences, complemented by subdued malt and grain notes. Moderately hoppy. Strain and you may detect hints of zest and spice notes, namely coriander. Just a highly pleasurable aroma that promises well-rounded, palatial gratification. (You like that?)
PALATE: Zesty entry with soft spice notes. Ideally balanced between malt and hops, both of which seem to crescendo beginning mid-palate. Citrusy overtones peak at the finish. Immensely inviting aftertaste that meshes fruit with pressed grains. Slightly filling body with low to moderate carbonation that can go all but unnoticed due to the expertly crafted mouthfeel. Comes off as a macrolager with the appeal of a microbrew.
MUSINGS AND METAPHORS: Personally, I consider the Boston Lager a form of comfort food or an old friend that never lets you down. With beer consumers withstanding an onslaught of microbrews, Euro-lagers, and Belgian specialty ales over the past two decades, it's nice to see a good ol' American lager able to meet the challenge. Sam is not my very favorite brew, but remains my go-to beer whenever I find myself at a pub, restaurant, ball game, or wedding reception; thus it is the standard by which I measure all others, which in turn is why I have chosen it to commence this blog. Probably the very best North American "macrolager" on the market.
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