Samuel Adams Black Lager
Presentation: 12 ounce standard brown glass bottle with a Sam Adams embossed shoulder. Classic Sam Adams label design with a black on golden-yellow coloring and the word Black Lager on the main label. Has a nicked April 2006 Brewery Fresh date. Appearance: Deep brown body, pellucid with some streamers when closely examined, but depending on the incandescent light it can project a black stout look, but held to the window it is more like an Olde style Porter. Soft tan colored head looks good and creamy, it leaves some nice ring type lacing. Good conditioning and a decent appearance. Nose: Roasted beans and malts, but the odors are middling in strength. Some bakers yeast and a burnt crusty bread back end. Taste: Roasted coffee with a bitterness that depresses any sweetness in the front half. Middle has a burnt bread dimension, like charred toast, bitterness and some light rescinding instant coffee. Chocolate coffee sweetness emerges in the finish. Some hop bitterness as it warms. Mouthfeel: Fair to middling Mouthfeel is never that big, but it does lend a decent enough body that does its job. Creamy with a nice burnt bitterness, dry as well. Drinkability: A reasonable drinker, a refreshing brew to boot to so it is more than able to quench any thirst. I snaffled two bottles of these from a mixed pack and had one straight after the other; in fact I topped up the remnants of my first bottle with the second. Overall: I dont get to drink that many Black Lagers, Id be hard pressed to name more than a couple of US versions of the style, so this is a solid change of pace and it is nicely done. I would but this again. Enjoyable!