Samuel Adams: What’s on Tap
I apologize but this one starts off a little sappy.I have been writing this newsletter for about a year now. Sometimes it has been a little late to your inbox and sometimes I’ve gone on a little long, but it has always been a lot of fun for me to write to all of you. I’ve really enjoyed telling you what is going on with Samuel Adams and the Brewery. But, it is now time for me to hang up my keyboard and pass the newsletter on to another generation of literary brewers, because this is my last week at the brewery.
No, I didn’t get fired for bad grammar. I would’ve been fired years ago if that was a pre-requisite for this job. I found a great opportunity outside of the brewery and I can’t pass it up. It is a very tough decision, but, in the end, I know it is the right thing for me.
I will definitely miss being here at the brewery. I’ll miss the beer (of course), but I’ll really miss the people who I work with and the Sam Fans who come here to visit. And I’ll even miss writing this little newsletter. I’ve met so many of you guys on tours, at open houses here at the Brewery, at beer dinners and at the GABF. It has been a great time for me and I hope you have enjoyed my attempt at “beer journalism.” I’m going to let your new authors introduce themselves next month, but I promise you, I leave you in good hands.
Now, with that stuff out of the way, let’s get back to what’s really important…What’s On Tap for November! We have a new beer for our Samuel Adams® Winter Classics Variety Pack, the perfect beers for Thanksgiving and the most amazing beer you will ever try!
Cheers to all of you, thanks for reading and I’ll see you at the bar!
Cheers!
– Brian
After its two year hiatus, the most unique beer you will ever get your hands on is back! We are proud to announce the release of the 2007 vintage of Samuel Adams Utopias®!First and foremost, Samuel Adams Utopias is a beer. It is the most extreme beer ever brewed, it doesn’t taste like a beer, but it is a beer through and through. Brewed with only hops, malted-barley, water and yeast, the 2007 release of Samuel Adams Utopias is a blend of several batches, some aged up to 13 years in a variety of woods, including bourbon, sherry, Madeira, brandy & Cognac casks. Each add unique flavor notes and layers of complexity to the beer.
I got to taste a number of test batches with the brewers and they have done a phenomenal job. There were so many different wood barrels with different ages and each one brought a unique flavor to the table. And for the final blend, the brewers crafted a beautiful tapestry of flavors that all complement each other. Without a doubt it is the most amazing liquid I’ve ever tasted!
I think these people would agree. This is how well Utopias was received at the GABF.
The beer’s warm, sweet flavor is richly highlighted with hints of vanilla, oak and caramel. With an alcohol content of 27% by volume, its complexity and sweet, malty flavor is reminiscent of a deep, rich vintage Port, fine Cognac or aged sherry while being surprisingly light on the palate. And like the world’s finest after-dinner drinks, Samuel Adams Utopias is not carbonated and should be served at room temperature.
Damn that sounds good! Now, I know you are wondering where you can find Samuel Adams Utopias. You will only be able to find this at fine beer and liquor stores. Ask your local store or wholesaler if they have ordered any for your area. And due to strict alcohol laws, you won’t be able to find Utopias in the following states: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington, or West Virginia.
And if it couldn’t get any better than the liquid, Jim Koch and world-renowned glass maker, Georg Riedel, designed a custom glass for Samuel Adams Utopias. Georg Riedel is a legend in the world of wine and spirits for pioneering the idea of specially designed glassware that enhances the flavor of the specific beverage for which it was designed. He came all the way from Austria to taste Utopias with Jim at our brewery. Together they designed this special glass.
This glassware is meant to bring out the myriad of flavors experienced in Samuel Adams Utopias. And while we can’t make Utopias available to you on the website, you can get the glassware at our online store.
This is the most extreme batch of Samuel Adams Utopias we have ever made. It’s been two years since the last vintage and who knows when we’ll do it again…
I love Samuel Adams® Winter Classics because it means that the holidays are just around the corner. The whole scene on the box just makes me want to grab a pint of Old Fezziwig® Ale and pop in A Christmas Carol! Ok, so maybe I am a sucker for the holiday season, but Winter Classics is my favorite variety pack that we do. Let me introduce the line-up to you.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager® – the Flagship. Complex, balanced.
Samuel Adams® Winter Lager – bold, robust and malty
Samuel Adams® Old Fezziwig® Ale – the Christmas cookie of beers
Samuel Adams® Holiday Porter – warms you through and through
Samuel Adams® Cranberry Lambic – sweet, yet tart. (a cult favorite)
Samuel Adams® Cream Stout – new to the Winter Classics line up!
Cream Stout is the cappuccino of our beers, and I am glad it’s in the pack. Cream Stout’s big roasty sweetness will be welcome in my pint glass on a cold winter’s night.
The Winter Classics Variety Pack should be in your area starting the first week of November, just in time for Thanksgiving.
One question that pops up a lot this time of year is what is the best kind of beer to have with Thanksgiving dinner. Here are a few suggestions for you that might go over well at your holiday table.
Let’s start with the classic Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing and all the fixins. You have a lot of rich, heavy flavors in there and you will want a beer that will cleanse your palate between each bite to wash away some of the richness. A Samuel Adam Boston Lager will easily accomplish that as well as bring a satisfying flavor all its own. The roasted caramel flavors from the turkey blend very nicely with the malty sweetness of the Samuel Adams Boston Lager®. And the carbonation and hops in the beer will get you ready for your next bite. A Cranberry Lambic is a nice option as it will add some fruity, bright flavors into your palate. Both of these beers will contrast the heavy flavors of the meal.
If you want to complement these flavors, to bring them out more, you could go with one of your last bottles of Samuel Adams® OctoberFest or a Winter Lager. Those beers have a great hearty flavor to them that would highlight any sweetness or spice in the meal.
For dessert, it depends what it is. Apple or pumpkin pie? OctoberFest, Winter Lager or Old Fezziwig. Vanilla or Coffee Ice Cream? Cream Stout or Holiday Porter.
Now these are just mere suggestions. If you find a beer that goes well with your Thanksgiving meal, go with it. It’s all about experimentation with food and beer pairings. Just have fun. If you want more Food & Beer Pairing suggestions, just head to the website.
It’s that time of year folks. And if you want to get your shopping done early we have a great way to help you out with that. Just click over to our e-store on SamuelAdams.com and find your beer lovers some great gifts.
Now that Winter Classics is back on the shelf again its time for one of our favorite Open Houses. We are happy to have our good friends from Dancing Deer Cookies back for a night of beer and cookie pairings.
We will be pairing all of the beers in our Samuel Adams Winter Classics with Dancing Deer cookies. If I remember correctly, Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale was the best pairing for me last year. We’ll taste some great beer, walk you through the pairing with the cookies and get your holiday season started off right.
It should be a very fun night! Hope to see you there.
- What: Samuel Adams® Open House – Winter Classics
- When: Thursday, November 20th – 5pm to 8pm
- Where: Samuel Adams® Boston Brewery
30 Germania Street
MBTA Orange Line to Stony Brook Station
