In for a While and Then Gone with the Holidays: My Favorite Samuel Adams Seasonal Beers

When it comes to the seasonal beers and ales that are around for only but a few short months during the yuletide season, amongst my favorite have always been the domestic Samuel Adams variety. So I felt, it being near to Christmas and all, and there still being plenty of days left in the calendar year to enjoy these seasons’ brews, to share with you my favorite Samuel Adams seasonal ales and beers. Cheers! White Ale: This famous and seasonal white ale is brewed using ten exotic spices and a secret brewing process in the style of the great beer brewers: the Belgians. It looks white, hence the name, because it is unfiltered wheat ale, which is whitish when brewed. Another factor in the great taste is the hand selection of Noble Tettnang Tettnanger hops—which combine to make a truly one of a kind white ale. Double Bock: One of my favorite Samuel Adams holiday brews is this rich and frothy, oh so malted and perky Double Bock. They brew it using nearly half a pound of malt per bottle – that is a lot of malt people! And they only brew it in kettles, so you do not taste black malt, or burnt malt flavors. They top this flavor bursting goodness off by balancing it with German Noble hops, which add an almost piney and slightly citrus tone to the beer. Winter Lager: Perhaps one of the beers that I look forward to each and every winter is this delicious and very drinkable Winter Lager. A bit of orange peel here, some dark malt for intense flavor there, and the noticeable hints of cinnamon and ginger make this a perfect beer for around the Thanksgiving or Christmas table—one that will drink eloquently with any main holiday dish that is being served. A dark brown, rich undertone makes it a winner every year for me. Old Fezziwig Ale: They at Samuel Adam’s Brewery call this the Christmas Cookie of Beer. And by all means they should! Where to start on this one? A dark aroma is released when you open the bottle, reminding you of all deserts that fit right into the holiday season. The flavor is malt, chocolate, caramel and toffee—yet more that I can’t explain as well. Spices that you taste include: orange peel, ginger and of course, cinnamon. But somehow they have figured out how to culminate this into truly a master blend, brewed to perfection for you and me to enjoy! Cranberry Lambic: Using a combination of hand selected malts and barleys, as well as a very rare wild yeast strain, not to mention robust cranberries bursting with flavor and fermented to perfection, is part of the special process that is undergone to create this amazingly intense, yet somehow at the same time subtle and fruity beverage. Of the many fruit beers you may taste, or may have already sampled, none can ever hope to compare to this Thanksgiving classic. Holiday Porter: The official Samuel Adams beer of the holiday season is of course, their ever so popular Holiday Porter. The secret in the taste is the five hand selected different types of barleys that they use to brew this legendary beer—which was first added to the winter mixer pack in 2004. Namely they boast using the signature German malt called Carafa® - and yes they have even copyrighted the name it’s so special. Then they combine this with a taste bud merger of gourmet hops, and brew to perfection.