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Description:
Our Sparkling Ale is the brewers’ take on a rare historic Scottish style. Golden in color and effervescent it combines subtle notes of Noble hops with pale and acidulated malts to create a slightly floral character and a dry finish. (Description provided by company)
Brewer:
Beer Style:
ABV:
4.80% ABV
Availability Frequency:
Limited (brewed once)
Containers Available:
bottle
Locations Where Available:
nationwide
Store/Serve Temperature:
45-54 degrees F
Comments
Good for the style
Samuel Adams Sparkling Ale pours a golden honey color, with a rich, thick white head. It has a bright, floral aroma, with some pilsner malt flavors thrown in for good measure. The taste is incredibly smooth and dry, with a nice bright hop flavor blended with the malt. It tastes almost like a pilsner, but with more hops and a bit brighter. The finish, while dry, is not bitter in the least. It certainly leaves you wanting another sip. It's a fine beer, but for me, the style just doesn't warrant super high praise.
Winter Beer Counterpoint
Pours out a crystal clear and deep golden yellow with a white, fluffy head.
Lots of paler malt aromas, with crisp, biscuity and bready aromas along with a nice dash of an herbal hop aroma. Pilsner-y and nicely balanced.
Those herbal hop flavors combine with a slightly floral hop flavor and fairly low bitterness. The malt flavors are nicely crisp and serve the hip flavors well. A fairly quick and dry finish and a light, crisp body.
This time of year lots of seasonal beer styles are heavy, dark, and spiced. The Sam Adams Sparkling Ale provides a nice counterpoint to all these rich beers with some light body and nice flavors.