Austrian Lager comes to the Boston Beer Company
Written: Mar 05 '03 (Updated Oct 17 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy drinking version of this style; Malty and sweet
Cons: Not as full- bodied as other Vienna Lager
The Bottom Line: An Americanized version of a Vienna Lager, this product is sweet and tasty!
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| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Samuel Adams Vienna Style Lager |
Boston Beer Company is known around the United States and many countries of the world for producing good- tasting craft beer. Its Samuel Adams product line has become an easily recognized brand name and it produces a lineup of beer products that span a wide range of brewing styles.
One area of brewing that Samuel Adams didn’t venture into was Vienna lager, a style that has its roots in the mid 1800’s where it was first brewed in Vienna, Austria. A few months ago, however, as part of its “Winter Sampler”, Boston Beer Company began to sell a new product for the first time, Samuel Adams Vienna Lager, adding yet another dimension to the Samuel Adams family of fine brew.
Basic Characteristics of This Beer:
This product pours to a copper/amber color with a malty nose that includes just a hint of spice. The foam level is generous at first, but then it gradually subsides. Throughout the drinking experience, it maintains about a one- quarter inch of foam on the top and it leaves lace along the sides of the glass.
For those who have tasted Vienna- style lager before, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that this product emphasizes the taste of sweet malt, with just a hint of hops in the background. I could also detect a little bit of smoke flavor, along with the taste of toasted bread and caramel, and touch of chocolate.
Samuel Adams brews this product using two- row Harrington malt, caramel malt, Hallertau, and Tettnang hops. The alcohol level is moderate, weighing in at 4.8 percent by volume.
Food Compatibility:
With a taste that emphasizes the malt and the taste of sweetness, this beer could be matched up with several different foods. I enjoyed mine with a serving of beef stew. It would also match up nicely with a good beef or pork roast or with pizza, particularly pizza that has been baked in a wood fire stove. Dessert foods would also make a nice pairing, especially those that emphasize the flavor of burnt caramel.
Final Thoughts:
Vienna Lager is a relatively new style of beer. When I say “relative”, I’m referring to the span of time since beer was first produced by humans. This style was originally brewed by Anton Dreher, at the Klein-Schwechat Brewery in Vienna, Austria, in 1841. That makes it just over 160 years old, which is young when you consider that beer has been around for thousands of years.
Samuel Adams Vienna Lager is brewed in this original tradition, but there are some differences. First of all, this product is more subtle than other Vienna Lager I have tasted, and that includes both European versions of this style and American- brewed versions, which are sometimes found at select craft- brewers. Most of the Vienna Lager that I have tried is more full- bodied than this one, with a little more hops to balance the sweetness. Samuel Adams version is sweeter and more easy- drinking than the others. It’s a good starting point for those who are not accustomed to this style of beer. And with its hint of smokiness, I think it tastes like a combination of Marzen and Scotch ale.
After I took a few sips of this product, I let it sit undisturbed for a while and when I returned, I noticed that the flavors were more pronounced than before. The reason was that the temperature of the beer had warmed up just a bit, probably 5 to 10 degrees warmer than it was when I started. This is fairly common with certain styles of beer. We like to think that beer is best when served ice- cold (television commercials by the mega- brewers have helped perpetuate this myth), but this rule is true only for a few styles. Vienna Lager tastes best if it’s a little warmer.
Boston Beer produces a pretty impressive lineup of beer styles. Not many craft- brewing operations have produced such a wide range of products as Samuel Adams. Add this one, Samuel Adams Vienna Lager, to the Boston Beer Company product line. It’s a good- tasting, easy to drink version of the Vienna Lager style. I’ve heard that it’s going to be available on a regular, year- round basis very soon, and not just part of a sample pack. That’s good news for beer lovers around America who just can’t get enough of that Samuel Adams quality. Look for some in your nearby beverage store and enjoy a glass of brew, made in the Vienna Austria tradition.
Be Sure to Click the Links Below to Read Reviews on Other Samuel Adams Products:
Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Samuel Adams Boston Ale
Samuel Adams Golden Pilsner
Samuel Adams Octoberfest
Samuel Adams Spring Ale
Samuel Adams Holiday Porter
Samuel Adams Summer Ale
Samuel Adams Scotch Ale
Samuel Adams Black Lager
Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig
Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat
Samuel Adams Winter Lager
Samuel Adams Light
Samuel Adams Hefeweizen
Samuel Adams Cranberry Lambic
Samuel Adams White Ale
Samuel Adams Brown Ale
Samuel Adams Cream Stout
Recommended:
Yes
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