Samuel Adams Irish Red

By JASON AND TODD ALSTRÖM

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Way back in March 2007, we were invited to the Boston Beer Company in Jamaica Plain to conduct a special preliminary tasting for their 2007 Samuel Adams Beer Lover's Choice with Jim Koch and crew—a series of nationwide tastings, in which the voice of the consumer dictates which beer will eventually be brewed and released. Boston Beer Company calls its winner "A Beer of the People."

The 2007 contenders were Dunkelweizen, Irish Style Red Ale, Belgian Pale Ale and Saison, but after several tastings and discussions, we voted for the Irish Style Red Ale and Dunkelweizen to move ahead into the consumer rounds, in which some 42,000 consumers participated. The Irish Red was just too damn tasty to not vote for and would be marketable to everyone from novices to geeks, while the Dunkelweizen was simply not an overly explored style with the masses. We knew the Irish Red would probably win. It was a gorgeous looking brew that was toasty and a bit hoppy for the style (we didn't mind), but the brewers planned to tone it down just a bit to allow for the malt to shine through a bit more.

In the end, we were right. Samuel Adams Irish Red won and would eventually be bottled as part of their Brewmaster's Collection. In fact, it was released this past January—just in time to work its way into the market for Saint Patrick's Day. Here's a taste ...

The Taste

Deep brownish amber color with a substantial amount of chill haze that seems to clear up a little bit as the beer warms up. The head retention is just fine with a thin creamy lace that leaves a few rings around the glass. Sweet caramel malt aroma; a little bready and a ghost-buttery tone, but still sweet throughout. Full-bodied with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Sweet from start to finish—shortbread and caramel come to mind. Quick kiss of East Kent Golding hop bitterness and a flowery oily hop flavor in the middle. The malt backbone doesn't waver one bit as the beer finishes semi-sweet with a mild toasted biscuity flavor.

Final Thoughts

In general, the Irish Style Red Ale is a very simple and rather narrow beer style that dates back to the early 1700s. Samuel Adams Irish Red stays true to style by providing a simple and flavorful experience that's right on the mark—5.5 percent alcohol by volume. This brew could definitely be that nice change of pace for some of you who might be tired of the usual Saint Patrick's Day beer offerings. Let's hope it doesn't fall victim to nitro-tap pours or green dye! Sláinte!

FOR MORE INFO: SAMADAMS.COM

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RESPECT BEER.