Samuel Adams White Christmas, Winter Lager (Cans), Old Fezziwig – A First Sampling

A big thank you to Samuel Adams for sending along an early sample of White Christmas, Winter Lager (Cans & Bottles), Old Fezziwig and even Boston Lager 2014.  These classic Samuel Adams winter beers were a real treat to sample, and even better when you get to taste them all together.

We started with White Christmas, and what a perfect way to kick off the sampling.  This White Ale has a cloudy pour and a spicy nose and you can’t help pulling out nutmeg, clove and lots of cinnamon.  The finish is crisp and clean and a touch dry and I suspect this beer will appeal to a lot of holiday beer palates.

I couldn’t resist sampling Winter Lager 2014 next, and I have to say up front, the new Winter Lager cans looks great.  This dark wheat bock pours a really pretty deep golden color, with a larger than expected head.  The aroma is loaded with earthy/yeasty scents and the taste actually carries some fruity and berry flavors.  There’s plenty of malt on board, but the finish is slightly dry and a little more boozy than you’d expect from 5.6% ABV.  The balance is certainly there and this bock actually has an almost acidic finish, one that actually belies the style.  I should also mention that out of the can, this beer actually seems to have more body and more mouthfeel than the bottle so be sure to try both.

We finished up with Old Fezziwig 2014, and while this was not my first sampling, it’s always pleasant to try the 2014 version.  This Winter Warmer beer will get your attention from the first sip.  It’s a little boozy with aromas of sweet malt and maybe even some chocolate.  When you taste, you’ll find a spicy backbone with some orange peel and cinnamon and a slightly sweet finish.  This one comes in at 5.9% ABV and I’ll confess that it pairs nicely with the smoked gouda cheese we decided to sample it with.

Be sure to try all three of these winter classics from Samuel Adams and be sure to let me know what you think.  Better yet, pick up the new Samuel Adams Winter Favorites Variety Pack and taste all three (and Boston Lager) for yourself.