Samuel Adams Rebel IPA and Red, White & Blueberry Lager

Samuel Adams Rebel IPA and Red, White & Blueberry Lager

Samuel Adams is bringing two distinctly different beers to the table, and both are arriving with a patriotic look and plenty of personality. The new Samuel Adams Rebel IPA is billed as a “defiantly drinkable IPA,” while Samuel Adams Red, White & Blueberry Lager takes a fruit-forward route with blueberry juice and a hint of raspberry. Both beers are shown in 12-ounce cans, giving the brewery a pair of new releases with very different flavor directions.

The Samuel Adams Rebel IPA label makes its position clear right away. This is an IPA designed to push back against the idea that every beer in the category has to deliver an aggressively bitter finish. Samuel Adams describes Rebel as having tropical citrus hop character, finishing clean and crisp, and specifically says it is “not bitter.” At 7.0% ABV and 30 IBUs, it has a little more strength than a standard easy-drinking pale ale, but the brewery is clearly putting the emphasis on drinkability rather than bitterness.

That 30 IBU figure is worth noting. It gives some context for the beer’s bitterness level, although bitterness perception depends on more than a number, including malt balance, hop character and the way the beer is brewed. The label’s description suggests that Samuel Adams Rebel IPA is intended to offer recognizable IPA flavor without leaving drinkers with a harsh or lingering bitter finish. Tropical citrus hop character, a clean finish and a 7% ABV package. That’s the pitch.

A different kind of IPA.

The second beer takes a much different approach. Samuel Adams Red, White & Blueberry Lager is described as a lager with blueberry juice from concentrate and natural flavors added, along with a hint of raspberry. The label calls out juicy blueberries and red berries in every sip, giving this release a fruit-focused profile that should stand apart from the brewery’s more traditional lagers.

At 5.5% ABV and 15 IBUs, Samuel Adams Red, White & Blueberry Lager comes in below Samuel Adams Rebel IPA in both alcohol and listed bitterness. The lower IBU figure fits the fruit-forward description, although the label does not provide a detailed malt bill or specify how much blueberry juice is used. It does confirm that blueberry juice from concentrate and natural flavors are added. The raspberry note is described as a hint, so blueberry appears to be the main fruit identity, with raspberry playing a supporting role.

Samuel Adams Red, White & Blueberry Lager also carries a strong seasonal identity in its packaging. The second can uses a navy background with red, white and blue graphics, stars and stripes, while the beer name is displayed prominently across the front. It is a straightforward visual match for summer celebrations, cookouts and backyard gatherings, but the actual beer description stays focused on fruit flavor and a refreshing lager profile.

The two releases make an interesting comparison because they are not simply variations on the same recipe. Samuel Adams Rebel IPA is the stronger, more hop-oriented beer, with 7.0% ABV and 30 IBUs, while Samuel Adams Red, White & Blueberry Lager is a 5.5% ABV fruit lager with 15 IBUs. One leans into tropical citrus hops and a clean finish; the other brings blueberry and raspberry character to a lighter lager foundation. Different occasions, different drinkers, and two very different ways to approach a summer beer lineup.

The labels also provide a useful amount of detail without giving away every part of the recipes. Samuel Adams Rebel IPA is identified as an India Pale Ale, and its description specifically emphasizes tropical citrus hop character. The Blueberry Lager label confirms that blueberry juice from concentrate and natural flavors are added, while the front also calls out a hint of raspberry. Neither label provides a complete ingredient list or hop varieties, so there is no reason to guess at the specific varieties or brewing process.

Two cans, two very different directions.

Samuel Adams has not supplied a confirmed release date or a complete distribution footprint in the announcement information provided here. Both beers are shown in 12-ounce cans, but whether they will appear individually, in a variety pack or through different regional formats still needs confirmation. The brewery’s packaging gives us the beer details, and we will be watching for more information as the releases get closer.

For now, Samuel Adams Rebel IPA and Samuel Adams Red, White & Blueberry Lager give the brewery two new options with a clear seasonal connection. Rebel offers a tropical citrus take on a defiantly drinkable IPA, while Samuel Adams Red, White & Blueberry Lager adds blueberry juice and raspberry character to a refreshing lager. Both are built around accessible flavor descriptions, distinct packaging and familiar 12-ounce cans. I’ll be interested to see how widely these two beers travel once the release details are announced.

Summer calls for both.

Label Text

Samuel Adams Rebel IPA

SAMUEL ADAMS

REBEL

DEFIANTLY DRINKABLE IPA

12 FL. OZ. | INDIA PALE ALE | 7.0% ALC./VOL. | 30 IBUs

Rebel against traditional IPAs with this unique brew bursting with tropical citrus hop character yet finishing clean and crisp, not bitter. Cheers!

SAMUELADAMS.COM

ESTABLISHED BOSTON, MA 1984

BREWED BY THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY

Boston, MA, Cincinnati, OH, Milton, DE, Latrobe, PA & Breinigsville, PA. 30204

SAVOR THE FLAVOR RESPONSIBLY®

PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. DO NOT LITTER.

GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.

Samuel Adams Red, White & Blueberry Lager

SAMUEL ADAMS

RED, WHITE & BLUEBERRY LAGER

A HINT OF RASPBERRY

12 FL. OZ. | 5.5% ALC./VOL. | 15 IBUs

LAGER WITH BLUEBERRY JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE AND NATURAL FLAVORS ADDED

Savor that red, white and blue spirit with the refreshing taste of juicy blueberries and red berries in every sip. Cheers!

SAMUELADAMS.COM

ESTABLISHED BOSTON, MA 1984

BREWED BY THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY

Boston, MA, Cincinnati, OH, Milton, DE, Latrobe, PA & Breinigsville, PA. 30281

SAVOR THE FLAVOR RESPONSIBLY®

PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. DO NOT LITTER.

GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.

Related Samuel Adams news from mybeerbuzz.com:
For more Samuel Adams coverage, see Samuel Adams Cracks Open the Brewer Patriot Collection, Launches ‘Raise a Sam’ to Celebrate America’s 250th, which covers the brewery’s patriotic summer campaign and its Star Spangled Variety Pack, including a Blueberry Lager; and Samuel Adams Launching New Brewer Patriot Collection With James Madison Dark Wheat Ale, George Washington Porter, 1790 Hard Root Beer & No. 3 Ginger Honey Ale, featuring more of the brewery’s limited releases and historically inspired beers. These stories provide additional background on Samuel Adams’ seasonal packaging, specialty releases and current lineup.

About Samuel Adams and The Boston Beer Company

Samuel Adams is one of the best-known names in American craft beer, and its history is closely connected to the growth of the modern craft brewing movement. The brand was created by Jim Koch, who founded The Boston Beer Company in 1984 after discovering a generations-old family lager recipe in his father’s attic. Koch brewed the recipe in his own kitchen, refined it and eventually introduced Samuel Adams Boston Lager to drinkers in Boston. The company was built around a simple idea: American beer drinkers deserved more flavor, better ingredients and more choices than the mass-market options that dominated the shelves at the time.

The first commercial release of Samuel Adams Boston Lager arrived in 1985. The beer quickly attracted attention for its fuller malt character and hop balance, and it earned recognition at the Great American Beer Festival during that same year. That early success helped establish the Boston Beer Company as a major part of the emerging American craft beer scene. Samuel Adams became a recognizable name well beyond Massachusetts, and the brewery continued to develop new beers while maintaining Boston Lager as its flagship.

The company’s name pays tribute to Samuel Adams, the historical Boston patriot and revolutionary. Jim Koch chose the name to connect the beer with the independent spirit associated with its namesake. The brand’s familiar artwork and traditional presentation helped give Boston Lager a distinct identity, but the brewing company was never limited to one style. From the beginning, innovation and experimentation were part of the business.

Today, the Samuel Adams lineup includes traditional lagers, seasonal ales, IPAs, fruit beers, specialty releases and limited-edition offerings. Boston Lager remains an important part of the portfolio, while beers such as Summer Ale, Octoberfest, Winter Lager and seasonal variety packs have helped the brand stay connected to the changing calendar. The brewery has also developed beers that explore new hop profiles, different fermentation approaches and ingredients that move beyond the traditional expectations of familiar styles.

That willingness to experiment is visible in the company’s limited releases. Samuel Adams has used specialty collections to explore historical recipes, unusual ingredients and beers tied to particular events or seasons. The Brewer Patriot Collection, for example, revisits early American brewing traditions through beers inspired by recipes and brewing notes associated with the Founding Fathers. Other limited releases have included fruit-forward beers, specialty lagers and different interpretations of IPA.

The new Rebel IPA and Red, White & Blueberry Lager fit into that broader tradition of offering drinkers different ways to enjoy the Samuel Adams name. Rebel IPA takes a more assertive route, with tropical citrus hop character, a 7.0% ABV and 30 IBUs. Its label describes the beer as defiantly drinkable and emphasizes a clean, crisp finish rather than a strongly bitter one. Red, White & Blueberry Lager goes in another direction, using blueberry juice from concentrate and natural flavors, with a hint of raspberry. At 5.5% ABV and 15 IBUs, it offers a fruit-focused alternative to the hop-forward IPA.

The Boston Beer Company has also grown beyond Samuel Adams. Its wider portfolio includes brands such as Dogfish Head, Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea and Truly, reflecting a business that now operates across traditional beer and several other beverage categories. Even with that growth, Samuel Adams remains a central part of the company’s identity and its connection to American craft beer history.

The Boston Beer Company operates brewing facilities in Boston, Cincinnati and Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, while its original Boston brewery remains an important part of the Samuel Adams story. The company also maintains visitor experiences and taproom operations that connect drinkers with its brewing history and current releases. Its Boston roots remain a visible part of the brand, even as its beers reach consumers throughout the country.

From the original Boston Lager to new seasonal and specialty beers, Samuel Adams continues to combine traditional brewing influences with experimentation. The brand’s history is rooted in a desire to make better beer, and its changing lineup gives the brewing team room to keep exploring new styles and flavors.

For brewery history, beer descriptions, taproom information and current releases, visit the official Samuel Adams website.

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