Samuel Adams Boston Ale (Stock Ale)
Pours a nice golden amber, with a perfect, lingering head. Smell portends good things, with a sweet malt aroma and the contrasting hops blending to produce a fairly rich, savory aroma, with a bit of metallic or sulfur character just detectable. Taste doesn't surprise, but is very nice for all that. I like the strong malt backbone; there's a consistent caramel/honey sweetness and breadiness, against which hops, not at all citric but earthy and with a somewhat floral bitterness, push through. The aftertaste is a bit more bitter, but also more fruity. Feels creamy and pleasant in the mouth, easy to enjoy. This is a darn solid beer--good in every category. It looks good, smells good, tastes good, and I wouldn't mind another...