Friday, July 18, 2025
Books read in 2025: No. 27 -- Retief's War
Monday, July 14, 2025
Beer of the Week: Samuel Adams Blueberry Lager
Beer score: 5.9
Company: Samuel Adams
ABU: 5.5
IBU: 15
I love blueberries, but the few blueberry beers I've had over the years have been ... hmm, not necessarily a disappointment, but not overly special, either.
This one is about the same.
It definitely gives off a blueberry smell when it's poured, and in a clear glass it has a slightly cloudy golden color with hints of amber.
Not an overly strong beer, but I have to say, it's a little more sturdy than I expected.
In the tasting, I get a fair amount of the blueberry and a goodly amount of hops bitterness, but there's really not a lot of sweetness, which isn't bad but is sort of unexpected for a fruity beer.
Eh, not a great beer, not an awful beer, but at least it's something a bit different.
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Books read in 2025: No. 26 -- The Integral Trees
Monday, July 07, 2025
Beer of the Week: Samuel Adams Summer Ale
Beer score: 6.0
Company: Samuel Adams
ABU: 5.3
IBU: 8
I've had this beer before, but it's been a long time, probably more than a decade.
A white ale with lemon added, it goes down fairly smooth despite the fact it has a touch more fizz than I feel necessary. Has a very light lemon scent, but I don't get a lot of that in the tasting, maybe just a hint.
Also, the tasting there's some wheat with a little bitterness, but not much sweet.
Others have commented on various sites that the lemon flavoring here is strong, but that is not my experience now nor has it been in the past (from looking at my old notes). Am I right and they're wrong, or vice versa? Who knows? All of us are different, so judge for yourself.
Monday, June 30, 2025
Books read in 2025: No. 25 -- The Mercenary
Beer of the Week: Samuel Adams Porch Rocker
Beer score: 6.0
Company: Samuel Adams
ABU: 4.5
IBU: 8
Apparently this beer is based upon an old Bavarian recipe that mixed beer with lemonade.
It definitely gives off a light lemon scent when you pour it, and in the glass it has a fairly light golden coloring, though not completely pale.
Has a big, foamy head, but no carbonation in the drinking. Very smooth and light with plenty of lemon flavoring. A little sweetness, but not really any bitter.
I've read where others have found this one to be very carbonated, so maybe I got an old one or something. Either way, I stand by that mine didn't have any fizz in it once the head had foamed out.
Would I drink this again? Hmm, yeah. I can't say it'll be on my regular rotation, but I wouldn't say "no" to one. In fact, this one might be a good trial for your friends who want a drink but say they don't like beer.