Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat
When summertime rolls around, most microbreweries begin to brew a seasonal beer to coincide with the change from cool to warm weather. This offering from Boston Beer Company keeps that tradition rolling along. Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat was first offered during the summer of 1995 and it is now a year- round offering.
Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat is a pretty good summer refresher. It is a wheat beer, which is the most common type of summer seasonal brew. This beer is brewed with harrington, wheat, caramel, and Munich wheat malts, along with Hallertauer and Tettnanger hops and, of course, cherries. Also, Samuel Adams adds a touch of honey to this beer. The honey is not really perceptible, because such a small amount is used. Presumably, this was done to balance out the tartness of the cherries so that the beer would be smoother.
Pour your beer into a glass and you will notice that the color is a light golden/brown and the beer is quite cloudy. It is common to brew wheat beers this way. Sometimes, there is no filtering at all in a wheat beer. Samuel Adams probably does filter this beer a little, to eliminate any sediment, but that's it. The foaminess isn't too bad for a fruit beer. It starts out with a good head which eventually fades away, but it does last longer than other beers of this style.
The aroma and flavor of Samuel Adams Wheat beer are both distinctly fruity and malty. Judging by smell alone, however, I would not have known that this beer was made with cherries. You can tell that it is a fruit beer, but you can't tell what fruit was used. But when you taste the beer, it is evident that cherries are one of the primary ingredients. This beer has a crisp, fruity taste and a dry finish. The overall flavor is not too sweet or too bitter. The alcohol level is 5.2 percent by volume and there are 166 calories per 12 oz. serving.
Because of its fruity flavor, this beer is best paired with lighter foods like appetizers, salad, fresh fruit, and desserts made with fruit. And, in keeping with wheat beer tradition, it is good to drink by itself, especially during the warmer months of summer when you're looking for a refreshing, thirst- quenching drink.
I am not really a fan of fruit beers, but I have to admit that this one caught my attention. Since I am a beer purist, I would probably like it more if they left out the fruit. But in this case, the added cherries are not too bad. Go ahead and try a Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat. It isn't the best beer out there, but it will help you get through the long, hot, dog days of summer with its refreshing taste characteristics.
Be Sure to Click the Links Below to Read Reviews on Other Samuel Adams Products:
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