The Craft Beer Market
Boston Beer Company was one of the early players in the craft beer market with its introduction of Samuel Adams Boston Lager in the 1980s. Boston Beer is still considered a “craft brewer” by definition even though it is a large public company. The legal change inspired many beer enthusiasts to start their own small breweries. Today the overall beer market is flat and possibly in slight decline. The craft beer segment has become a greater percentage of the overall total. Many small breweries are closing, but many are also starting up. The number of breweries in the United States continues to rise, albeit at a much slower rate.
Boston Beer Company
Jim Koch, the founder of Boston Beer Company, had a belief that beer drinkers deserved a better option than what was available in the 1980s. He brewed the first batch of Boston Lager in his kitchen using a recipe that belonged to his great great grandfather that he found in his father’s attic in the early 1980s. Today Boston Beer Company is a large conglomerate with national distribution and two tap rooms in Boston and one in Cincinnati. It is one of the largest beer companies and an icon of the craft beer movement.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager Remastered
Boston Beer Company describes Samuel Adams Boston Lager as “A smooth, German-style lager with slightly sweet roasted malts, notes of caramel, toffee, and a distinct noble hop character with subtle piney citrus. It ends with a crisp finish that makes you want another.”
Early on it won several medals as “the best beer in America.” The company says “In 1984, we made Boston Lager so American drinkers could enjoy the full-flavored beer they deserved. It helped start the craft beer revolution we enjoy today. We’d have to be crazy to change it, right? We are crazy. But we didn’t change our recipe. We’re constantly chasing perfection in a glass of beer. Which, honestly, is impossible. But we keep trying. Through decades of brewing improvements, Boston Lager is now brighter and easier to drink than ever. All without changes to the flavor that made you fall in love with craft beer.” Samuel Adams Boston Lager Remastered has a 5% ABV, a 30 IBU and 175 calories. It has a “Good” rating on Beer Advocate.
Our Review of Samuel Adams Boston Lager Remastered
I started drinking Sam Adams Boston Lager when it was first introduced. I was living in Boston at the time and I even went to see Jim Koch give a presentation about starting the company. This was before the craft beer craze, and at the time Sam Adams was by far the best beer on the market. For years it was all I drank.
But over time better beers were introduced everywhere and I drifted away from drinking Sam Adams. I also believe that quality eroded, as several times I had beers that had bad aftertastes.
After Boston Beer announced that they had “remastered” the beer with a “cleaner and brighter taste,” I picked up a 6 pack to try it again. I have to say it has improved a lot. It is very drinkable and smooth. If you are looking for something fancy or different, then Sam Adams is not for you. What we have is a basic lager that is better than the other big name mass market beers and is refreshing by itself or with food.
I can also tell you that the expiration dates on Sam Adams are very real and not a marketing ploy. A few years back I was on Vicodin for four months and did not drink alcohol for fear of mixing. When I was off the medication, I opened a bottle and it was absolutely rancid. I had to pour a few six packs down the sink. My house smelled like a frat party.
For another recommendation, see our review of Figueroa Mountain Danish Red Lager
For beer nutritional information of all beers we have reviewed see Beer Nutritional Information.
