Samuel Adams Winter Lager

The other day, I reviewed Sam Adams Boston Lager.  Today, I'm going back to the Boston Beer Company well for a taste of their Winter Lager, a little beauty I found on sale at the liquor store.  This brew hails from Beantown. It is sold in 355mL bottles and contains a rambunctious 5.5% alcohol.  Winter Lager pours a nice, clear amber colour, topped with a frothy eggshell head.  It is fairly well carbonated.

There is a cozy aroma of caramel and brown sugar. The taste is sweet and malt forward.  There is caramel sweetness and a slightly boozy bump that gives the brew a nice, warming touch.  The aftertaste remains somewhat sweet, but also marginally bready.

Winter Lager is definitely reminiscent of a Vienna lager, with its slightly toasty character.  It might be a touch too sweet for session drinking, but it isn't so saccharine as would be cloying.  It's a nice seasonal brew that I'm looking forward to revisiting next winter.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.