Sam Adams Winter Sampler

[Kealia]

I came home on Monday and my wife had this waiting for me:


She heard a buddy and I talking about Ole Fezziwig on Sunday watching the 49er game and went out and picked it up for me. I luvz her.

So tonight, it was Ole Fezziwig:


I'd been looking forward to this for a while now because I really liked the last two years of this beer after being introduced to it.
as you can see, it pours a dark ruby red color but perfectly clear (which you probably can't see). It smells malty. Well, malty with some spices in it Strange though, I almost pick up what could be diacetyl.

The much anticipated first sip was.....ok. It had a funny taste to it. So I had another and another and another and it's still there. I don't know if I got a bad bottle or if my tastes have changed so much over the past year that I don't care for it anymore.

I need to decide if I want to try drinking the rest of this or change gears and come back to it another night....

[mashani]

Its taking me a long time to drink my Anchor Christmas Ale. I used to like the stuff, but for some reason I'm not into this years batch so much. It's just weird in some way.

[Gman20]

i had a sampler to myself...like old fezzi....but the cherry choc. bock wasnt for me cherry taste too strong and synthentic tasting but i enjoyed the rest of em

[lindseywinstead]

I enjoy much of the Samuel Adams line-up. I always try the seasonal samplers and enjoy them, but the Winter was a bit disappointing for me overall. I had always heard good things about the Old Fezziwig Ale, but found it rather bland and boring. The White Christmas was my favorite of the bunch. I love a good spiced ale for the holidays. Liked it so much I researched a clone recipe to add to my collection. The Juniper IPA held promise - I just wanted more of that juniper flavour! The sampler is definitely worth getting, if for no other reason than to try some styles that perhaps you might otherwise overlook.

[Ibasterd]

I enjoyed the Sam Adams Winter sampler as well as the Anchor Christmas ale. I agree the Anchor had an unusual flavor that I was trying to identify (lavender?) But I liked it.

[Kealia]

(Fixed the first image)

I ended up pouring out the Old Fezziwig and grabbing another. Same taste. I wish I had a better palette to be able describe what I'm getting from it, but I don't like and am really bummed. I have no hope the other two bottles are any better. I am looking forward to the rest of the sampler, though - aside from the Cherry Chocolate Bock. I'll use that for cooking chili or something.

I've tried the Anchor Christmas Ale for 3 years running now and have never liked that one. It always tasted like a mouthful of potpourri to me.

[BlackDuck]

How was the Juniper IPA??

[Kealia]

I haven't tried it yet. After testing the two Fezziwig's my taste buds were shot and I didn't feel like a beer at that point.
I think I'm going to try the Winter Lager tomorrow - I'm out with friends tonight.

[FedoraDave]

I can't recall if they had the Cherry Chocolate Bock a couple years back, when I bought the Winter Sampler, but I do recall a Chocolate Bock, which I liked very much. Sad if they added cherry flavor to it and made it cough mediciney.

[Gymrat]

I had to drink a cherry chocolate bock at Old Chicago as part of my winter tour. It didn't taste medicinie at all. It may not have been too bad if I liked flavored beers. Personally I hate any flavor in beer except malt, hops, and occasionally bourbon or coffee in a stout or porter.

[jpsherman]

I really liked the sampler pack. The juniper IPA was much better than I expected.

Which was good when my wife bought a sampler and told me that I had to drink the IPA's. Took one for the team, Aww, shucks....

[gwcr]

I really liked the Winter Sampler too. Not a bad beer in the bunch IMO.

[berryman]

Ok Kealia, You talked me into trying some (I'm easy) Tomorrow is payday for me and I usually buy some different kinds of beer. I'll get the SA Winter pack and give them all a try. I like the fall pack a lot, but don't think I have ever got the Winter.

[berryman]

Ok I went though the first go round of the Winter Favorites except for the Boston Lager, I like BL and drink that a lot so I'm saving them for another time and no review. I didn't care for the Juniper IPA, I didn't like the taste, it reminded me of tea and I'm not a tea drinker. The Cherry Chocolate Bock would be good if wasn't cherry flavored, I don't care for fruit beers, this one makes me burp like cherry cola does and I don't care for that either. This has a very overwhelming cherry aroma, taste and after taste. White Christmas, Winter Lager and Old Fezziwig were all good in my opinion, but I don't think I'd buy that pack again. I gotta go now and grab a Dogfish Head 90 to get that damm cherry taste out of my mouth.