LongShot Mixed Six-Pack

By JASON AND TODD ALSTRÖM

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The LongShot series features the top-placing beers of the Samuel Adams American Homebrew Contest. In 2007, 1,900 entries from 1,365 homebrewers were rigorously pitted against each other at regional levels with a round of final judging in Boston. The lucky winners were flown to Denver's Great American Beer Festival (GABF) to celebrate the immortalization of their beers, which were to be brewed at production level and distributed nationally.

All Samuel Adams employees also received homebrew kits and were challenged to brew. At the GABF, over 1,400 fest attendees voted among the top three employee finalists and the winning employee's beer snagged production bragging rights as well. Not too shabby if you ask us—this annual contest does a lot to promote the art of homebrewing.

We had the honor of doing the final judging with Jim Koch, brewer and founder of Samuel Adams, as well as casting our vote for the best employee homebrew. Here's 'a taste of the winners.

LongShot Grape Pale Ale

Brewed by Lili Hess (Hawaii)—Samuel Adams Employee Winner

An ale brewed with natural grape flavor and maple syrup? Interesting. Hazy honey-colored brew with a creamy and sticky lacing. Not a lot going on in the aroma other than a faint, fruity pear note and some grain. Light-bodied, crisp and somewhat creamy on the palate. Light in flavor, too. Slight malt character and sweetness as things warm, but dry overall with a touch of white grape skin. Breath of maple syrup, but nothing overwhelming. Dry, puckering finish.

Easy-drinking, but nothing overly exciting. The grape is too subtle and the maple flavors are not a good match. Honey might have complemented this better. 5.35 percent alcohol by volume.

LongShot Weizenbock

Brewed by Rodney Kibzey (Illinois)—Homebrewer Champion

The fact that it's unfiltered first catches our eye. Murky, muddled brown with an off-white cream head. Chalky yeast, powdered clove, ripe banana in the nose. On the palate, the spicy clove is rather aggressive and dominates. However, it releases its control here and there to allow a nice malty sweet base to emerge with a touch of caramel, overripe banana, banana pith, chalk and warming alcohol. Bready. Herbal. Dried plummy. Malty finish with a lingering dusting of drying clove.

The clove really mellows as the beer warms, so allow it to do so before drinking, unless you like a mouthful of cloves. Overall, rather delicious and it's nice to see the Weizenbock style—a strong German wheat ale—getting some exposure. 7.2 percent alcohol by volume.

FOR MORE INFO: SAMUELADAMS.COM/PROMOTIONS/LONGSHOT

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RESPECT BEER.