Samuel Adams – Cold Snap 2015 – A First Sampling & Cold Snap Parties In Your City

If you’ve been follow the Polar Vortex action hitting the northeast all week…you know we’re in a cold snap.  And since we’re in the middle of our cold snap, it’s a perfect time for Samuel Adams to send me an early sample of their Cold Snap 2015. 

We sampled this beer last year, so I was excited to find a care package from Samuel Adams waiting for me this afternoon.  This Belgian-style white ale pours a hazy gold and visually it’s certainly a classic Belgian wit…but hat’s where the similarities end.

The nose is tropical and slightly yeast, but the flavor definitely has a snap of it’s own.  This early spring beer is the perfect transition from winter to spring and for my palate, it has the dry peppery finish of summer with the spicy backbone of winter.  I had to actually check the notes to find out that Cold Snap has coriander and hibiscus on board, but after sampling some more, it seemed so obvious.

Cold Snap uses Hallertau Mittelfreuh hops and the overall flavors are citrusy, fruity and slightly floral.  Overall it’s a really unique and balanced beer and way more than I expected.  As a bonus, we paired Cold Snap with Blue Cheese and the match was pretty perfect.  This is the first beer pairing I’ve done, that the cracker actually ended up being a distraction to how good the beer and cheese paired.  Use a spoon, use your fingers..but do whatever you have to do to get JUST Cold Snap and Blue Cheese on your palate.  Trust me it’s great.

This beer is easy drinking at 5.3% ABV so you can have more than one…and after you try it, you’ll want more than one.  Check out Cold Snap and let me know what you think.  Cold Snap is available nationwide from Jan to mid-March in 6-packs, 12-packs and even 12-pack cans.  If that’s not enough fun, Cold Snap will also be part of the Samuel Adams Seasonal Collection variety 12-pack.

As if all this isn’t fun enough, Samuel Adams is helping us snap out of the January cold with the return of this beer AND a chance to win a Cold Snap party from Samuel Adams.  In honor of the return of Cold Snap, the brewers will track Twitter conversations (hating the cold weather).  On Jan 24th, the cities that shared the MOST complaints about the weather will win a series of parties to help them break out of their cold weather funk.  Visit www.samueladams.com/ColdestCity for more info and be sure to add #SnapTheCold to your tweet.

UPDATE from Samuel Adams:.

1) Did you know, that for most of the country, the month of January brings the harshest weather of the winter season? Weather experts say that on average,the third week (next week) in January is actually the coldest of the year.

2) This season, the brewers at Samuel Adams are helping craft beer drinkers snap out of the cold with the return of seasonal brew, Cold Snap, a Belgian-style white ale with a combination of hazy golden wheat and a lively blend of spring fruits and spices. Download hi-res images here. And, This year, craft beer lovers will even have the chance to seek refuge from the cold with a Cold Snap party thrown by Samuel Adams.

We know that people tend to take to social media and let everyone know when they’re not happy with the weather. In honor of the return of Samuel Adams Cold Snap, Samuel Adams will track Twitter conversation across the country through a heat (more like, cold) map. At the end of the coldest week (January 18 – 24), the cities that shared the most complaints about the weather will win a series of parties to help people break out of their winter funk.

Craft beer drinkers can visit www.SamuelAdams.com/ColdestCity for more info on the Cold Map and to see where their city stands. And, join the conversation using #SnapTheCold @SamuelAdamsBeer.

SAMUEL ADAMS COLD SNAP FACTS:

· Samuel Adams Cold Snap is a crisp, refreshing Belgian-style white ale with a  combination of hazy golden wheat and a lively blend of exotic fruits and spring spices.

· Created to capture the transition from winter’s hearty brews to the lighter beers of summer, Cold Snap is perfect for the early days of spring. This white ale offers a sign of warmer days with its blend of crisp wheat, bright fruit flavors and the subtle snap of spices like fresh ground coriander and hibiscus.

· Cold Snap is bright and fresh, with notes ranging from the subtle fruit sweetness of orange peel and plum to the distinct, peppery bite of fresh ground coriander. Pale and wheat malts give this unfiltered brew its hazy golden appearance and crisp, smooth finish.

· Before the advent of hops, Belgian white ales were historically brewed with a wide range of spices, most commonly orange and coriander, as brewers looked to the spice trade for ingredients. For Samuel Adams Cold Snap, the brewers used an exotic blend of fruits, flowers, and spices from around the world to create just the right balance of flavor and character. This blend of spices adds depth to the smooth wheat and subtle hop character of the Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops.

· At 5.3% ABV, Samuel Adams Cold Snap is a medium-bodied ale with a complex floral and spicy aroma and character.

· Food pairings: The crisp wheat and citrus notes of Cold Snap complement lighter dishes like sushi and smoked salmon without overpowering them. The wheat and smooth maltiness also help tame the heat of bolder cuisines like Indian and Thai while the beer’s spices complement the warmth and earthiness of these dishes. The brew’s spiciness also compliments desserts like spiced cake or a fruit tart.

· Availability/Pricing: Samuel Adams Cold Snap will be available nationwide from January through mid-March in 6-packs for a suggested retail price of $7.99-$9.99, 12-packs (bottles and cans) for a suggested retail price of $14.99-$17.99 and on draft.  It is also available as part of the Samuel Adams Seasonal Collection variety 12-Pack for a suggested retail price of $14.99-$17.99. (All prices vary by market.)