Samuel Adams Winter Lager by Boston Beer Company

Beer specs

Beer details: Rating: 72; Samuel Adams Winter Lager; Brewery: Boston Beer Company · Boston, MA; Variety: Lager · German Lager · Bock; Alcohol: ABV 5.80% / ABW 4.64%; Preferred vessel: Pint glass; Added by Ian; Last updated by Matt Lincoln Russell

Samuel Adams Winter Lager is steeped in German heritage. It is a traditional bock brewed with a unique variety of German Noble hops called Tettnang-Tettnanger. These Noble hops are responsible for the lingering spiciness of the brew.

Jim Koch, Brewer & Founder

(from the back of the bottle)

Malty, Caramel, Warming, Amber, Spices

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Reviews

Review by Ian

Rating: 75

Ian

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Odenton, MD

Jan. 13th, 2009 at 8:36 p.m.

Comment:
A nice seasonal beer I was actually able to find on tap in Annapolis one night. Great alternative to much of the cheaper, watery beers you find on tap in most bars. I had a killer headache after a night of 6-7 of these though.

Characteristics: drinkable warming
Review by kellik

Rating: 75

kellik

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Gainesville, FL

Jan. 18th, 2009 at 6:35 p.m.

Comment:

Characteristics:
Review by Rainaterror

Rating: 53

Rainaterror

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Gainesville, FL

Jan. 18th, 2009 at 8:02 p.m.

Comment:
I like this beer ok but it’s not my number one seasonal Sam. It smells like a blend of caramel and malt. Has a caramel, spicy and slight hop presence. Drinkable and better than other domestic beers on the market.

Characteristics: amber caramel spices sweet malt winter
Review by stumpthegeek

Rating: 78

stumpthegeek

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Plover, WI

Jan. 20th, 2009 at 11:43 a.m.

Comment:
As a regular Samuel Adams drinker I find the Winter lager enjoyable enough to drink although not every day during the season its produced. Of the stable of beers available through Sam Adams this is definitely not my number one Sam choice but I’d put it in the top five for sure.

It’s better than most of the tap beers available around here, although it too is available on tap in the area. It’s a nice change of pace from your usual lager.

Characteristics: caramel malt
Review by Olivia

Rating: 67

Olivia

drank this beer from a Bottle in Seattle, WA

Jan. 30th, 2009 at 12:25 a.m.

Comment:
Eeh, this is drinkable, but there is some kind of flavor in it I’m not loving. I also don’t feel like it’s all that spicy…I typically like spiced beers, but this one just has a weird spiced flavor. It’s semi-metallic or something. Odd.

Characteristics: flavorful metallic odd
Review by Jonathan Christopher

Rating: 63

Jonathan Christopher

drank this beer from a Bottle in Albany, NY

Feb. 3rd, 2009 at 2:07 p.m.

Comment:

Characteristics: spicy warming winter
Review by Josh Tilton

Rating: 78

Josh Tilton

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Tilton, NH

Feb. 21st, 2009 at 3:47 p.m.

Comment:

Characteristics: carmel dark spices
Review by Jon Jordan

Rating: 80

Jon Jordan

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Richardson, TX

March 9th, 2009 at 8:40 p.m.

Comment:
A great seasonal from Sammy. Look forward to it every winter. Great variety of flavors and very drinkable.

Characteristics: caramel cinnamon warming
Review by Jack Huang

Rating: 75

Jack Huang

drank this beer from a Bottle in New York, NY

March 9th, 2009 at 10:25 p.m.

Comment:
Even after drinking this, the Boston Lager is still my standard winter beer.

While its addition of richer spices generally improves upon winter drinkability over the Boston, the spice enhancement has a component whose aftertaste reminds me of biting into peppercorns.

Though generally a bit richer than the Boston Lager, the peppercorn component brings down the overall package.

Characteristics: amber bitter full-bodied pepper rich warm
Review by Mr. Benner

Rating: 73

Mr. Benner

drank this beer from a Bottle in Los Angeles, CA

March 11th, 2009 at 2 p.m.

Comment:
Sam Adams always makes good seasonal beers. This one is pretty good.

Characteristics: amber caramel
Review by scredsfan

Rating: 78

scredsfan

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Aiken, SC

March 11th, 2009 at 5:25 p.m.

Comment:

Characteristics: amber malty spicey warming
Review by SCLisi

Rating: 66

SCLisi

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Elkhart, IN

March 30th, 2009 at 3:34 a.m.

Comment:
Its spice is notable and has an odd ability to warm you up, even at its coldest. Great for a cold night, but not for every night.

Characteristics: cool spicy
Review by acdha

Rating: 70

acdha

drank this beer from a Pint glass in New Haven, CT

June 23rd, 2009 at 4:07 p.m.

Comment:
My favorite of the seasonals - and by far the best stocked by our favorite apizza place

Characteristics:
Review by Lobsterman

Rating: 71

Lobsterman

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Portland, ME

Nov. 5th, 2009 at 1:06 p.m.

Comment:
Slight hoppy aroma, sweet malty, caramel tase. Looks nice in the glass, amber/brown with lasting head & lacing. A good mass-produced brew for the chain type resturants to carry on tap.

Characteristics: malty sweet
Review by vito613

Rating: 75

vito613

drank this beer from a Pint glass in San Marcos, TX

Nov. 9th, 2009 at 7:25 p.m.

Comment:
I thought this was a good amber bock beer. I tasted alot of ginger, less cinnamon and no orange. Good one from Samuel Adams.

Characteristics:
Review by renobeerman

Rating: 80

renobeerman

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Reno, NV

Jan. 4th, 2010 at 11:29 p.m.

Comment:
Starts with a burst of complex flavors— roasted malt, floral hops, various spices. Superb winter brew.

Characteristics:
Review by DavidMead

Rating: 80

DavidMead

drank this beer from a Pint glass in Willowick, OH

Jan. 7th, 2010 at 5:39 p.m.

Comment:
Not what I was expecting from a lager (coming from the UK). Slightly darker, less bubbles and a whole lot more taste.

An all around good winter beer. Would order this again, given the chance.

Characteristics: amber malty spices