The Real Kings of American Beer - Sierra Nevada & Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams Boston Lager & Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

These are the two most common and commercially available craft beers made in this country. Without them the craft beer movement wouldn't be where it is today and, because of that success, these two beers are available at almost every supermarket in the country.

Because they are so well known and widely available I have no intention of reviewing either of these beers. Even though I respect and love them both, I do have my preference, therefore, to be fair, I'm doing this not as a review, but an analyisis of the real Kings of American beer.

We start with the Sierra. I won't bother writing any background on this beer as you can clearly read it on the packaging:

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This unfiltered ale pours a hazy golden color and gives about a finger's worth of white creamy head. Several streams of carbonation are visible rising from the bottom of the glass and it does leave behind some lovely lacing.

Many say that this is the beer (or at least one of the main ones) that started the trend of heavy hop usage in American brewing and it's easy to see why. The second you put your nose to the glass the hops hit you. Don't get me wrong, they are nowhere near as strong as in an IPA, but right away you can smell they piney, citrusy, grapefruity hop aroma, with a hint of caramel malt underneath. Although well hopped, it is a well balanced brew.

Upon tasting it you get a sharp but pleasant hop bite upfront (pine & citrus), some mild malt across the middle and a finish of hop oil bitterness that clings to the tongue. Very nice and almost perfectly carbonated.

This is a crisp ale that is easy to drink and refreshing as hell. I can completely understand why is has become so popular and It is one of my all time favorites. It is easily sessioned at 5.6% abv but it is not for people who don't like the taste of hops...

Sierra Nevada makes a lot of wonderfull beers. This is their flagship. Check it out and enjoy. Cheers!

Now on to that perennial classic, the Boston Lager.

The flagship beer of the Boston Brewing Company, Boston Lager has become a favorite the world over. It is so popular and so easily available that when all else fails, I know I can always just order a Sam Adams.

Again, I'll spare myself the trouble of writing some background on this beer and just let you read it off of the packaging:

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This lager pours an almost copperish, reddish-amber color and easily gives a finger or two of creamy head. It smells very lager-ish, very clean with some floral & citrus hops and a touch of subdued malt.

On the way down you notice that it is smooth and well carbonated, with some nice hops upfront, reinforced by a solid malt backbone. The flavors are a bit subdued, as is normal for a lager, but it is still hoppier than most. In my opinion, that is what gives this beer its flavor and makes it a winner, all the while keeping a balance that make it incredibly drinkable and a great session beer. The 4.7% abv helps a lot too.

It is crisp, refreshing and has no aftertaste to speak of. It also leaves some great lacing on my Samuel Adams glass.

All in all, this is a wonderful beer and truely one of the best this country has to offer. I stay a huge fan of Samuel Adams and think that Boston Lager, and maybe a Samuel Adams Variety Pack, is a great way for the uninitiated to get into the world of craft beers. Pick some up for yourself and enjoy. Cheers!