Beer is as old as civilization itself, and may have even been a major factor in the development of civilization through the domestication of crops!  Although Sam Adams has only been around for a few years (since 1985), they have changed the world of beer.  I'm not a Sam Adams employee, or anything like that, just a fan of great beer!  Beer recipes have been found from thousands of years ago, in Mesopotamia and other ancient locations, and still are being improved today.  However, some beers stand above the others; I love Sam Adams beer for the flavor, the variety, and the attention they pay to protecting the flavor of the beer.  For instance, Sam Adams only uses pry-off tops on their bottles to keep out oxygen, and only uses brown bottles and taller six-pack packaging to prevent light from ruining your beer!  I've compiled a list of the varieties that I have tried, information on these beers, and my personal favorites.  If you have your own personal microbrew favorites, it is possible thanks to the contributions of Sam Adams - without Sam Adams, we'd all be drinking the same generic-tasting beers!  If you appreciate this information, please let me know by voting for it.  I'll keep adding more information about the beers (from my own personal research, of course) as long as Sam Adams keeps coming up with new varieties.

Year-Round Varieties:

You can find these beers most of the year, pretty much anywhere.  Some of these are usually found only in 6-pack or 12-pack mix packs that are sold in most quality grocery stores.  I'll note these "mix pack only" varieites with a star (*)

• Boston Lager - This is a good beer!  It is rich and full-bodied, but well-balanced.  This is where I'd recommend any beer-lover to start.  If you haven't been drinking Sam Adams, then you'll soon see what you're missing!

• Boston Ale - Slightly fruity, slightly spicy...it is better than most of the major beers from other labels, but not my favorite Sam Adams' beer.  It's just not as flavorful as I like. 

• Light - It is pretty good for light beer, but I'd rather skimp on calories somewhere else and get a better tasting beer, such as the Boston Lager or Winter Lager.

• Cherry Wheat - A slight cherry flavor mixed with plenty of wheat flavor.  It is a great beer for warmer weather; thankfully, it isn't overly sweet, and has just a hint of cherry.  Great smell and taste.  Definitely one of my favorites in the summer.

• Cream Stout - This beer is smooth and enjoyable.  It is nice looking as well because the head contrasts nicely with the dark beer.  Complex tastes with caramel and chocolate malts.

• Hefeweizen* - a fruity, hazy wheat ale that is full of flavor!

• Pale Ale - again, it is better than many other major-label beers, but not enough for me.  I think of Pale Ale as Sam Adams' "Light Tasting Beer."

• Scotch Ale* - This is an interesting beer!  It has many complex flavors, including a peat-smoked malt (hence the "scotch").  It has more of a bitter flavor than other Sam Adams beers, but is quite enjoyable.  I wouldn't recommend it for a novice beer-drinker, however.

• Black Lager* - This is the epitomy of smooth beer.  Imagine black silk going down your throat, and you've got Black Lager.  Lots of flavor in this beer, but never bitter.  I have seen this beer in a six-pack only a few times, so I'm still counting it as a mostly mix-pack beer.  You may be able to find it easier in your area.

• Brown Ale* - An interesting and quite good, flavorful beer.  It has good taste, without overwhelming bitterness - another great beer for the beginner.  It was the winner of the 2005 Beer Lover's Choice, and should be able to be found in six-packs, but I have only found it in a Brewmasters Collection.

• Honey Porter* - This porter balanced with the sweetness of honey was the winner of the 2006 Beer Lover's Choice!  Honey has been used in brewing for thousands of years, so it stands to reason that it tastes great in beer!  Porters were the brew favored by the working class (and poorer) people; the name "Porter" comes from what these people were called.  I have found this a couple times in six-packs, but it is pretty rare around here.

• Irish Red* - This nice deep red ale was the winner of the 2007 Beer Lover's Choice. It has a malty sweetness that reminds me of the Octoberfest Beer.  It can easily be found in the Brewmasters collection, but I have yet to find it in its own six-pack.  I probably wouldn't want a whole six-pack of it instead of other varieties, but it isn't bad. 

• Blackberry Witbier - This refreshing witbier was the 2008 Beer Lover's Choice winner, and my favorite of the four winners so far.  It has a light sweetness and spice (orange peel and coriander) that reminds me a little of the Cherry Wheat, but with a hint of blackberry instead of cherry.  It smells great and tastes even better!  The blackberry flavor is light and blends with the malt and spice perfectly - I have only found it in the Brewmasters Collection, but I will definitely buy it as a six or twelve-pack as soon as I see it!

Seasonal Varieties:

You can only find these around the seasons described:

• Summer Ale - slight lemon flavor in this light ale; it also includes an ancient brewing spice, Grains of Paradise - I prefer heavier fare without the lemon flavor, but it is pretty refreshing.

• Octoberfest (fall) - a fairly hearty flavor - nice orangy color due to the hops.  Has a slightly sweet flavor reminiscent of caramel and toffee.  This is my second favorite seasonal beer.

• Winter Lager - MY FAVORITE BEER!  Winter Lager is a hearty wheat ale that uses many different flavors including cinnamon, orange, ginger, etc.  It has a complex flavor, and so goes well with many dishes, including hearty winter foods and even desserts!  You haven't had a beer until you've tried Winter Lager!  I don't care how cold it gets, the Winter Lager makes winter worth it.

I have found another great beer that is similar to Winter Lager - the Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale by Blue Moon Brewing Company.  This beer is only available in the fall, but I like it better than Sam Adam's Octoberfest, and is quite similar to Winter Lager (with no pumpkin flavor, thankfully).  This is a great beer for getting yourself psyched up for Winter Lager which will come out soon after!

• White Ale (Spring) - This ale has left the yeast unfiltered, which gives it a interesting texture and look that you won't find in most beers.  It is also slightly fruity, as well.  This is my third favorite seasonal beer.

Winter Classics Mix Pack Varieties:

You can only find these varieties as part of the mix pack, usually available at Sam's Club or better liquor/beer stores.  The Winter Classics Pack also includes Winter Lager and other standard beers.  Start looking for the Winter Classics Pack early and often; they start selling in October, and are gone quickly!

• Old Fezziwig Ale - many different flavors; imagine combining all your favorite winter spices into one, and you've got an idea of how good this beer is!  Rich, hearty, and full of holiday flavors make this one an extremely close second to my favorite beer.  The only downside to this beer is that it is only available in the Winter Classics Pack - if it was sold in six-packs, I might prefer it over even Winter Lager!

• Cranberry Lambic - Ok, I can't love them all, can I?  I really don't like this beer, but the rest of the Holiday sampler makes it well worth it.  This one is too fruity for my tastes - it has a distinctive sour cranberry taste, with a lot of sweetness, and wheat.  If you want "fruity," then have one of those horrible wine coolers - leave my beer alone!  If Sam Adams made Cranberry Lambic more like the Cherry Wheat, with just a hint of cranberry and sweetness, then it could be really good...unfortunately, it is nothing like Cherry Wheat.  I give (or throw) all of mine away when I buy the Winter Classics Mix Pack, but you may find out you like it.

• Holiday Porter - porter was the brew favored by the working classes (porters) in Europe.  This full-bodied beer is smooth and dark - and oh, so tasty!

Imperial Series

The Imperial Series is a line of higher-alcohol beers including Imperial White, Imperial Bock, and Imperial Stout.  These beers are basically doubled in everything, including taste, sweetness, hops, price, etc.  While it is actually illegal for these beers to be sold in SC, I was able to find the Imperial Bock and Imperial Stout in a local store - I won't tell if you won't...

These beers are very heavy and should be paired only with rich, fatty, or salty meats to contrast the flavors, or even rich desserts to offer a complement to the rich flavors.  I'm not a huge fan of any of the "doubled" beers (from any brand), but I think the Sam Adams varieties are the best that I have tried.  If you are a true beer lover, give these a try.  Just remember that they will taste better at a warmer temperature than regular beer - I recommend that you put these in the refrigerator about 30 - 45 minutes before you drink them.  Like fine wines, these beers will actually improve over the years - they'll never go bad!  These beers are sold in 4-packs instead of 6-packs, but cost more than a standard 6-pack.

• Imperial Bock - This beer may overwhelm you at first with its incredible sweetness.  The 320 calories may also make it look more like a dessert than a drink. Pair it with rich desserts, or drink it as your dessert by itself.  It is very smooth and makes me think of drinking straight caramel - it is that rich and sweet.  Bocks are some of my favorite beers, but this one is just too sweet for me - and I could buy 2 or 3 regular Sam Adams for the same price!  Try it for yourself, but you may want to go in with some friends, just in case you don't want to drink the entire 4-pack by yourself.

• Imperial Stout - this beer is midnight black, and looks more like a settled Guiness than anything.  It tastes much stronger, though.  It is not as cloyingly sweet as the Imperial Bock, but still has flavor to spare.  You may find this one more appealing with an actual meal, but it could also hold its own against a rich dessert.  Remember that lightly flavored foods will disappear against the strong flavors of this beer.  I prefer it over the bock, but again, I'll stick with the regular Sam Adams varieties.

Sam Adams offers other higher quality and alcohol content beers (such as the Imperial White), but most cannot be sold or even shipped legally in my state (South Carolina), nor can I afford most of them.  Sorry, but no reviews available for what I haven't tried.  If you've enjoyed this guide, please vote accordingly.  Thanks for your time!

If you have questions, comments, or anything else, please message me!  I'll be happy to hear your opinions!  I'm always looking for new brands and varieties to try, so if you have some suggestions, I'd love to hear them!