Samuel Adams Launches Brewing the American Dream Collaboration Pack - In Stores This July

Courtesy of Samuel Adams

 

BOSTON, JULY 17, 2017 – To celebrate the independent and entrepreneurial spirit of the craft beer industry, Samuel Adams has collaborated with five different breweries across the country to brew a limited release 12-pack for the first-time ever, aptly named The Brewing the American Dream Collaboration Pack. From bartenders to chefs, the collaborative spirit of “craft” is stronger than ever.  No industry better exudes this spirit than the craft brewing community, where independent brewers put aside competition to collaborate creatively and challenge each other to push the envelope.

Unlike any other beer collaborations before, this pack features brewers who are part of Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream, the brewery’s signature philanthropic program. Nearly a decade ago, Sam Adams created Brewing the American Dream to provide loans and coaching to craft brewers and small business owners pursuing their passions and the American Dream of starting their own business. All profits from this collaboration pack will be donated to non-profit program partner and small business lender Accion to support loans to food and beverage entrepreneurs nationwide.

The pack’s five brewers - Roc Brewing Co. (Rochester, NY), Bosque Brewing (Albuquerque, NM), ChuckAlek Independent Brewers (Ramona, CA), Woods Beer Co. (San Francisco, CA) and Brewery Rickoli (Wheat Ridge, CO) – have participated in the program and received a loan to kick start or grow their craft breweries. And most have participated in the Brewing and Business Experienceship, receiving individual coaching from the team at Sam Adams.

“This pack represents the independent spirit, passion and collaboration that is core to our craft beer industry,” said Sam Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch. “We’re proud to have collaborated with these creative and passionate brewers in a way that allows us to continue to pay it forward and empower fellow independent craft brewers to be successful and to grow.”

The pack, which contains five unique collaboration beers and Sam Adams’ flagship Boston Lager, hits stores nationally in late July.

Collab Pack – 6 Distinct Brews:

ThreeNinety Bock in collaboration with Roc Brewing Co., Rochester, NY

ThreeNinety Bock is a slightly roasted Maibock with a sweet toffee and light caramel flavor, crafted from four hop varieties, combined with rye malt and oak smoked malt. Mosaic and Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops provide the balance that gives this dark golden bock a big, juicy character and slightly sweet and dry finish. ThreeNinety is a nod to the distance in miles between Boston and Rochester.

“Over the past 6 years with the help of Brewing the American Dream we took our business from a home brew hobby to a fast-paced brewery with 4 full-time employees and 8 part-time employees,” said founder Chris Spinelli.

 

Desert Kaleidoscope IPA in collaboration with Bosque Brewing, Albuquerque, NM

Desert Kaleidoscope, pays homage to the Albuquerque balloon fiesta and features a mixture of flavors including citrus, tangerine, pine and honey malt to create a brew with a bold, hoppy aroma. With a 7.0% ABV, Desert Kaleidoscope is a deep amber, medium-bodied brew that leaves a clean touch of lingering bitterness on the palate.

“Nearly five years ago, we set out to provide great jobs and be an integral part of the craft beer community we love.” said Founder Gabe Jensen. “We currently have 90 co-workers that we are thrilled to be both learning from and growing with as a company -this is what inspires us.”

Time Hop Porter in collaboration with ChuckAlek Independent Brewers, Ramona, CA

Driven by co-founders Grant Fraley and Marta Jankowska’s mission of creating “Old School Beers for New School Palates,” Time Hop Porter utilizes Zeus, Chinook, Cascade and Goldings hops and is 5.3% ABV. The hop character is balanced by three malt varieties: Sam Adams pale two-row blend, Crisp Brown, and Black malt. This porter has strong notes of citrus and pine that are balanced by a smooth, roasted malt character.

“We were at a cross roads with our brewery when we met with Jim Koch, and after our conversations we knew exactly where to take the business,” said Founder and Brewer Grant Fraley.  “When we opened our second location in 2016 we saw over 300% growth in revenue.”

Boston Tea Party Saison in collaboration with Woods Beer Co., San Francisco, CA

Boston Tea Party Saison is a bi-coastal twist on the classic Belgian style, combining Woods's yerba mate-infused saison with Sam Adams’ wild yeast blend, Kosmic Mother Funk. Mate's earthy spice plays on the rippling, fruity haze of KMF's funky bacteria, and gives a signature snap to the amber saison's traditional dry finish.

“Our loan from the program helped us build a brewpub and four tasting rooms, and pursue more innovative collaborations like this one,” said Woods founder and brewer Jim Woods. “That creative, supportive spirit is the best part of this industry.”

Oats McGoats Stout in collaboration with Brewery Rickoli, Wheat Ridge, CO

Oats McGoats is an American stout brewed based on founder and brewer Rick Abitbol’s commitment to brewing full-flavored, gluten-reduced beers (if they didn’t say it, you wouldn’t know). At 6.5% ABV, the full-bodied, moderately carbonated beer is accented by earthy, spicy flavors and a hint of roasted coffee notes.

“The best advice we’ve gotten has been from our friends at Sam Adams!”, said founder Rick Abitbol. “If we hadn’t gotten our loan, we wouldn’t have been able to open our doors.”

Samuel Adams Boston Lager is the original collaboration beer between Jim Koch and his father, using his great-great grandfather’s recipe - helping lead the American craft beer revolution and reviving a passion for full-flavored beer. Only the finest hand-selected ingredients are used to create this perfectly balanced and complex original brew, including two-row malted barley and Bavarian Noble hops. Boston Lager is full-flavored with a balance of malty sweetness contrasted by hop spiciness and a smooth finish.

AVAILABILITY: The Brewing the American Dream collaboration 12-pack will be available nationwide with limited availability for a SRP of $16.99-19.99 starting in late-July. For more information, visit www.brewingtheamericandream.com/collabpack.

About Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream

Jim Koch first brewed Samuel Adams in his kitchen in 1984 and in his pursuit of a better beer, he ignited the craft beer movement, inspiring a whole new beer category that’s produced millions of jobs in communities from coast-to-coast. Jim launched the Brewing the American Dream philanthropic program in 2008 to give back to the community in which he started and help small business owners and fellow craft brewers pursue their passion and achieve their American Dream. 

“Two thirds of new jobs in America come from small businesses, but entrepreneurs – especially those in the food and beverage industry - often lack the cash, training and networks essential for success,” said Gina Harman, CEO of Accion U.S Network. “With the support of Samuel Adams and Brewing the American Dream, we help entrepreneurs overcome previously insurmountable obstacles – like accessing start-up capital to open a brewery.”

Since the launch of the program, Sam Adams and Accion have worked together to counsel more than 8,000 small business owners and provide more than 1,300 loans totaling nearly $18 million to 1,000 small businesses that have gone on to create or retain over 5,300 jobs across America. The program has provided nearly $1 million in loans to 40 small craft brewers.

For more information, please visit www.brewingtheamericandream.com. 

About Samuel Adams and The Boston Beer Company

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father's attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen. Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America. That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit. Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager would soon become a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 60 styles of beer. It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the “extreme beer” movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of world's most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its primary focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's leading craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market. The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America.

For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

About Accion in the U.S.

Accion creates economic opportunity by partnering with small business owners to provide access to capital and business support to grow healthy enterprises and contribute to thriving local economies. Accion is a nationwide network of mission-based lenders combining deep local knowledge with cutting-edge lending solutions and unmatched personalized advising. Since 1991, Accion has provided more than 60,000 loans totaling more than $500 million to businesses that collectively have generated and sustained more than 22,000 jobs across the U.S. For more information on Accion small business loans in the United States, please visit https://us.accion.org.

Is Brewing Beer Your Dream Job? The New Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest is Helping Homebrewers Go Pro

Contest Will Award “Brewership” and Scholarship at Renowned Brewing Institute to

Help Homebrewers Pursue Brewing Professionally

BOSTON, July 6, 2017 –  Since the Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest was created 21 years ago to recognize passionate homebrewers, it has helped launch the professional brewing careers of multiple homebrewers. Knowing this, the brewers at Sam Adams have brewed a new plan to truly equip homebrewers with the experience and knowledge to take their passion to the next level.

About the New 2017 Samuel Adams Longshot Homebrew Contest

New this year, the brewers at Sam Adams will award the most passionate homebrewer with the thirst for going pro a one-week “Brewership”: a fully immersive brewing experience at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery.  The Longshot Brewership will give one homebrewer a chance to work alongside our award-winning team of brewers in the nano brewery, 10 barrel brewhouse and barrel room. It will also provide insight learned from years of experience on the nuts and bolts of running a brewery, ingredient sourcing, quality assurance testing, and packaging, to name a few. Finally, the Brewership will also include the opportunity to brew a limited release collaboration beer that will be available in the winner’s hometown as well as at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery. 

In addition to the Brewership, the winner and the two runners-up will have the opportunity to attend the Great American Beer Festival as well as receive a scholarship for an online course at The Siebel Institute of Technology. Brewers worldwide, including many of the Sam Adams brewers, have taken courses at The Siebel Institute as its online courses provide an internationally-inspired educational experience in brewing technology knowledge due to its World Brewing Academy partnership with Doemens Academy (Munich, Germany) established in 2001.

Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams, on Longshot

“The craft beer revolution that we’re seeing today exists in part because of homebrewers who quit their desk job, like I did 33 years ago, to pursue their passion for brewing,” said Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams. “We updated our successful LongShot contest to not only recognize top homebrewing talent, but also to support the growth of the craft beer industry by providing nuts and bolts advice and hands-on experience to make their brewing dreams a reality. We know the next generation of great craft brewers is out there and just need the extra support to go from a homebrewing system in a garage to a professional brewhouse.”

Samuel Adams Supports the Pursuit of Brewing Professionally

For more than 21 years, Sam Adams has supported the growth of the craft beer industry through programs like LongShot and Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream. In fact, top Longshot homebrewers have even turned their victory into a brewing career by joining or opening independent American craft breweries including 2015 winner Tim Thomssen, brewer at Boiler Brewing Company (Lincoln, NE); 2013 winner Cesar Marron, brewer at Sketchbook Brewing Co. (Evanston, IL); 2009 winner Mike Robinson, brewer at Newburyport Brewing Company (Newburyport, MA); and 2006 winner Don Oliver, brewer at Dust Bowl Brewing Co.(Turlock, CA).

Now the LongShot American Homebrew Contest joins the  Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream program in providing direct assistance to startup craft brewers or those who aspire to go pro. Sam Adams has supported loans totaling more than $1 million across 40 craft brewers through the Brewing the American Dream program. The program has also provided an in-depth “Brewing and Business Experienceship” to one brewer each year since 2012 including Roc Brewing Co. (Rochester, NY), Woods Beer Co. (San Francisco, CA), Brewery Rickoli (Wheat Ridge, CO), ChuckAlek Independent Brewers (Ramona, CA), and Brazo Fuerte Artisanal Beer (Watertown, MA).

How to Enter the Samuel Adams Longshot American Homebrew Contest:

To be considered for the 2018 LongShot American Homebrew Contest, interested homebrewers should create a two-minute video explaining their passion for brewing and why they want to be a professional brewer. Final videos should be uploaded by July 25, 2017 to www.samueladams.com/longshot. A panel of judges will review the video submissions, and the top 10 entrants will be asked to submit their best homebrew for judging. The LongShot winner receives the one-week immersion as well as a scholarship to the Siebel Institute of Technology. Two runners-up will receive the scholarships to the Siebel Institute of Technology. Please read complete rules and entry requirements at www.samueladams.com/longshot.

Samuel Adams, Boston Lager, LongShot, American Homebrew Contest, Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream, are registered trademarks of The Boston Beer Company.

About Samuel Adams and The Boston Beer Company

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father's attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen. Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America. That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit. Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager would soon become a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 60 styles of beer. It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of world's most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its primary focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's leading craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market. The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America.

For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

SAMUEL ADAMS CELEBRATES TWO DECADES OF HOMEBREWING INGENUITY WITH THE 2016 LONGSHOT AMERICAN HOMEBREW CONTEST

Courtesy of Boston Beer Co

BOSTON, April 28, 2016— The brewers at Samuel Adams proudly announce a call for entries for the 2016 LongShot American Homebrew contest, and the release of the LongShot Variety six-pack featuring the winning homebrews from last year. This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the national contest, which Sam Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch first started in 1996, when there were barely 1,000 breweries operating in the U.S. Today, there are more than 4,000 American breweries in operation and more than 1.2 million people who brew their own beer at home. Ever since drinkers got their first taste of Boston Lager in 1985, Jim has made it his mission to give back to the craft beer and homebrewing communities through programs such as Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream and the Craft Brewer Experienceship, Hop Sharing, and the LongShot Homebrew competition. Today, America is the envy of brewers in the rest of the world, where entrepreneurs are taking their inspiration from American craft brewers.

LongShot Homebrew Contest Background:

Jim Koch created the Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest to celebrate the innovative spirit of American homebrewers. Jim himself has deep homebrewing roots having brewed the first batch of Samuel Adams Boston Lager in his kitchen 32 years ago, and recently released a book titled “Quench Your Own Thirst,” which details the lessons he’s learned over the past three decades as a brewer and an entrepreneur. A number of past LongShot winners have followed in Jim’s footsteps and gone on to become professional brewers, turning their homebrewing hobby into a full-time career, including Cesar Marron (2013), Don Oliver (2006), Bob Gordash (1996), and 2015 winner Tim Thomssen, who left his full-time job to join a brewery shortly after he won.

“When I first homebrewed Samuel Adams Boston Lager 32 years ago, craft beer didn’t exist as we know it today, and few American beer drinkers had ever tasted a beer with so much flavor,” said Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams. “Today the craft brewing community is flourishing, and we want to recognize our nation’s best homebrewers, by making their delicious brews available to drinkers across the country.”

Calling All Homebrewers for the 2016 Competition:

To celebrate the contest’s 20^th anniversary and honor craft beer innovation, Samuel Adams is asking homebrewers to submit their best and most innovative beers for this year’s contest. To be considered for the 2016 LongShot contest, homebrewers must submit a beer whose style is part of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Style Guidelines. A full list of applicable styles can be found at http://bjcp.org/stylecenter.php. The 2016 judging panel will consist of notable seasoned brewing experts from across the country, and for the first time, past LongShot winners. Winners will be announced in early October at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival in Denver. The ultimate prize: entries from two winning homebrewers and one Samuel Adams employee winner will be featured in the Samuel Adams LongShot variety pack, available nationwide in 2017. Those interested in entering can visit www.samueladams.com/longshot for contest rules, regulations and information on purchasing a homebrewing kit. The homebrew submission window is July 1-July 22, 2016.

While Samuel Adams is accepting entries for the 2016 contest, the Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest variety six-pack with winning brews from the 2015 contest will be available nationwide this spring in select retail locations. The variety pack will include two bottles each of Tim’s Raspberry Berliner Weisse, Kevin’s Belgian Golden Ale, and Colin’s Neighborino Flanders Red Ale.

Courtesy of Boston Beer Co

About the 2015 winners:

·         Tim Thomssen’s Raspberry Berliner Weisse (Lincoln, Nebraska):

At first look, you notice the big frothy head of this Raspberry Berliner Weisse. The bright notes of raspberries are balanced by refreshing tartness, followed by a wonderful fruity sweetness and clean finish. (4% ABV)

·         Kevin Nanzer’s Belgian Golden Ale (Mountain View, California):

This Belgian Golden Ale has notes of fruit, clove and pepper in the aroma, balanced by subtle malt character, with a clean citrus taste and bitterness from the hops. This beer should be sipped slowly to savor the delicious flavors. (9.1 % ABV)

·         Colin Foy’s Neighborino Flanders Red Ale (Samuel Adams Employee Winner, Cincinnati, Ohio):

This Flanders Red was brewed the traditional way, with “younger” beer blended with mature beer that has been aged in wood for several months, while Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus labor to produce fruity, tart and acidic flavors. (6.3 % ABV)

How the winners were chosen:

·         The beers were judged on the aroma, appearance, flavor and mouthfeel according to the style category under which it was submitted. Eight semi-finalists were selected during the first round of judging conducted at three regional judging locations in New England, California, and Illinois.  

·         The final winners were ultimately selected by a panel of industry judges including Jim Koch. The winning brews were judged as the best examples of their style. Industry judges include Bob Townsend of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tony Forder of Ale Street News, John Holl of All About Beer Magazine, Jason Alstrom of Beer Advocate, Don Russell (aka “Joe Six Pack”) of Philadelphia Daily News and esteemed beer writers Jay Brooks and Lisa Morrison.

·         The Sam Adams employee winner is voted on by visitors to the Boston Brewery.

How to get your hands on these beers:

The Samuel Adams LongShot Variety Six-Pack is available nationwide in select retail stores beginning in April for a suggested retail price of $9.99 -$10.00 (prices vary by market).

Samuel Adams, Sam Adams, Boston Lager, Brewing the American Dream, LongShot, and American Homebrew Contest are registered trademarks of The Boston Beer Company.

ABOUT THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY:

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father’s attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen. Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America. That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit. Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager would soon become a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 60 styles of beer. It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of world’s most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its primary focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's leading craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market. The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

Samuel Adams Rebel Grapefruit IPA Hits Shelves Nationwide

Courtsey of Samuel Adams/Boston Beer Co

 The Newest Member of the Rebel IPA Family Now Available in Bottles, Cans and on Draft

BOSTON, February 9, 2016– The brewers at Sam Adams announced today that they’re releasing the newest member of the Rebel family to craft beer lovers across the country with the nationwide launch of Rebel Grapefruit IPA in bottles and cans. Drinkers first got a taste of this thirst quenching IPA back in November when it was released on draft, and the brewers are now offering it year-round in bottles and cans.

Brewer’s Notes:

Brewed with real grapefruit – California-grown Star Ruby and Star Rio – Rebel Grapefruit IPA hits the palate with a juicy citrus punch.  These grapefruits are known for their thicker peel, and during the brewing process the peel is added in the kettle to give the beer a tart, sharp character. Before the beer is filtered, grapefruit juice is added for a sweet juiciness and to round out the bitterness from the peel. The grapefruit amps up the citrus and fruit notes of the four hop varieties, including Mosaic hops, which impart the tropical, citrus notes at the forefront of this beer.

In addition to Mosaic hops, three other hop varieties are added at different stages of the brewing process for even more hop flavor and aroma. The resulting beer is distinctly bright, with a juicy tartness that is complemented by the hops:

·         Mosaic (kettle & dry-hopping): Sweeter fruit notes of Mandarin orange, pineapple and grapefruit, with hints of eucalyptus
·         Centennial (dry-hopping): Medium citrus, intensely floral with hints of wood
·         Cascade (kettle): Citrus and grapefruit with subtle floral balance
·         Citra (kettle): Strong citrus, tropical fruit and slightly floral

“We experimented with dozens of test batch IPAs in our nanobrewery with different combinations of hops and grapefruit, and love this marriage of citrus and bitterness,” said Seth Adams, Brewer at Samuel Adams. “Rebel Grapefruit IPA showcases what we like most about American hops, and we’re psyched that drinkers can now enjoy this juicy IPA at home and at their favorite bar.”

Courtesy of Samuel Adams/Boston Beer Co

Samuel Adams Rebel Grapefruit IPA is available nationwide on draft, in six-packs of bottles for a suggested retail price of $7.99-$9.99, and in 16 oz. cans for a SRP of $1.99-$2.49. The beer will also be available in the upcoming Pack of Rebels Variety Pack for $15.99-$18.99. Price varies by market.

Samuel Adams Rebel and Samuel Adams Boston Lager are registered trademarks of The Boston Beer Company.

ABOUT THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY:

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father’s attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen. Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America. That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit. Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager would soon become a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 60 styles of beer. It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of world’s most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its primary focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's leading craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market. The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

Samuel Adams Nitro Beers Launch Nationwide

Courtesy of Samuel Adams

Nitro White Ale, IPA and Coffee Stout Hitting Shelves 

BOSTON, January 25, 2016 – Water. Malt. Hops. Yeast. These are the four traditional ingredients in beer. With the new Samuel Adams Nitro Project, the brewers want you to experience a fifth ingredient: nitrogen, in place of carbonation. After experimenting with countless iterations and test batches in the nanobrewery at the Sam Adams Boston Brewery, the brewers are excited to announce the release of the first three brews from the Samuel Adams Nitro Project – Nitro White Ale, Nitro IPA, and Nitro Coffee Stout. Nitro beers are most commonly associated with stouts, but the brewers stretched the boundaries and started nitrogenating a variety of styles. There are very few breweries that offer nitro beers to drinkers at all, and virtually none that offer a variety of nitro beers in cans on an everyday basis. Nitro beers seemed, to the brewers at Sam Adams, like the perfect way to fundamentally transform the flavor profiles of a variety of beer styles. To fill you in on what makes this project different, the brewers share everything you need to know about the Nitro Project:

What is a nitro beer?
The ‘nitro’, of course, is short for nitrogen gas. All beers contain a significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) when the beer is carbonated as part of the brewing process, but nitro beers use a combination of both nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Nitrogen is mostly insoluble in beer, so the resulting bubbles are smaller and create the rich, creamy texture familiar to nitro beers. On the flip side, beers that use CO₂ generally have larger bubbles and a more pronounced acidity and carbonated texture. Think of the difference between carbonated water and still water.  Both are water but the taste experience is radically different.  When a nitro beer is poured, it creates a beautiful cascade down the side of the glass, a thick, creamy head and a smooth mouthfeel.

What beers are debuting in the Samuel Adams Nitro Project?
The first three of more beers to come!

Courtesy of Samuel Adams

Nitro White Ale is a smooth, velvety, medium-bodied brew. Orange peel, coriander and Grains of Paradise lend hints of orange and peppery spice, and the first sip reveals these flavors alongside a light wheat character. When poured, Nitro White Ale shows off a billowing white head and a pillowy body that softly cascades into bright gold. (5.5% ABV)

Courtesy of Samuel Adams

Nitro IPA is boldly bitter yet smooth. The brew has an initial cap of creaminess, which gives way to hop intensity gathered from Amarillo, Centennial, Galaxy, Polaris, Simcoe, and Zeus hops. The hop varieties lend resinous pine, citrus and floral notes to the amber-bodied brew. (7.5% ABV)
 

Courtesy of Samuel Adams

Nitro Coffee Stout is a jet black brew with a rich, robust character. Dark roasted malts create notes of bittersweet chocolate with hints of dark fruit. Sumatran Mandheling and Indian Monsoon Malabar coffee add a deep roast dimension to the brew. (5.8% ABV)

 How does nitro work on tap and in cans?
When a nitro beer is poured on tap, it requires a specially-designed nitro faucet. These special faucets have internal plates or “sparklers” with small holes drilled in them, and when the beer is forced through the holes at high pressure, it produces tiny bubbles which create the trademark nitro cascade. The tight bubbles create a creamy, uniform, thick head on the beer. To produce the high pressure, nitro beer is forced out by a nitro gas blend, which is typically 75% nitrogen and 25% CO₂.  Because the pour is so important, the brewers stress that nitro beers require a perfect marriage between brewer and bartender. The brewer perfects the recipe in order to gain the desired flavor profile, and the bartender must have the proper draft line and equipment in order to create the cascade and the best possible drinker experience.

In cans, a hollow, cylindrical plastic widget, which the brewers refer to as the nitrogenator, is used to replicate this distinctive nitro delivery. Once the can is popped open, the pressure from the nitro is so intense, the brewers recommend pouring immediately into a glass and pouring straight down the center of the glass for the best possible experience. The result is a mixture of the small bubbles and the liquid in the glass.

What does Samuel Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch have to say about the Nitro Project?
“We started experimenting with nitro beers in the mid 1990’s when we brewed a Boston Cream Ale and over the years, I’d estimate we brewed more than 50 beer styles and worked with 200 recipes to ultimately create these three unique beers. We quickly discovered that you can’t just put any beer on nitro.  We needed to develop recipes where nitrogen was the unexpected fifth ingredient and brought out the desired flavor profile of the brew.  For example, with the IPA, the lack of carbonation reduces the perceived bitterness by cutting the acidity (carbonation produces carbonic acid on the tongue, nitrogen doesn’t) so without the carbonation we really had to amp up the amount of hops we used.  We’re excited for drinkers to finally get a chance to try our Nitro beers and experience the cascade – which is like a science experiment in a glass.”

Where can drinkers find the Sam Adams Nitro Project brews?
Nitro White Ale is available nationwide on draft. Nitro White Ale, Nitro IPA and Nitro Coffee Stout will be available in 4-packs of 15 oz. cans beginning in February for a suggested retail price of $8.99-$10.99 (all prices vary by market).

ABOUT THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY:

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father’s attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen. Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America. That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit. Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager would soon become a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 60 styles of beer. It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of world’s most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its primary focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's leading craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market. The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

Sam Adams Announces The release Of Samuel Adams Cold Snap

Courtesy of Sam Adams

Craft Beer Drinkers Celebrated for their #SnapTheCold Weather Social Buzz

BOSTON, January 13, 2016–The Sam Adams brewers today announced the anticipated release of Samuel Adams Cold Snap, a Belgian-style unfiltered White Ale with a bright snap of seasonal citrus, fruit and floral spices, perfect for snapping out of the cold weather funk. Inspired by the season and its changing weather, Sam Adams is also asking drinkers how they celebrate the weather with Cold Snap in hand. Via Twitter, @SamuelAdamsBeer will be tracking weather-related social posts across the country in real time with the “Cold Snap Cold Map”. The city that tweets the most about the weather will be awarded Cold Snap parties this season.

Cold Snap is brewed with an exotic blend of fruits, flowers and spices from around the world including Grains of Paradise from West Africa, anise from Turkey, hibiscus from Egypt and Nigeria, tamarind from India and fresh-ground coriander from California, to create just the right balance of flavor and character. The brew is bright and fresh, with flavors ranging from the subtle fruit sweetness of orange peel and plum to the distinct, peppery bite of fresh-ground coriander. Pale and wheat malts give Cold Snap its hazy golden appearance and crisp, smooth finish.

The Sam Adams brewers use a special brewing method to add the spices to Cold Snap called “dry spicing,” which is similar to “dry hopping.” Unlike a traditional white ale, which only adds spices to the kettle process of brewing (the part when you boil water and add hops and malt), the brewers also add spices during the phase of brewing after fermentation, called “ruh,” to add more flavor and complexity. This process avoids over-brewing the ingredients that sometimes result in a harsh aftertaste (similar to the taste of leaving a teabag in hot water for too long). Instead, Cold Snap is perfectly infused with a smooth and flavorful character of fruits, flowers and spices.

Brewer & Founder Jim Koch on Cold Snap:

“Let’s face it, there are times when the weather in January and February just sucks and all you can do is wait for better weather. So in the spirit of looking forward to spring, we brewed Cold Snap with its crisp, vibrant character and exotic fruits and spices. It captures the essence of the season with maybe some snow on the ground and thoughts of spring in our heads,” said Jim Koch, Samuel Adams Founder and Brewer. 

Tweeting about the weather? #SnaptheCold @SamuelAdamsBeer:

After one of the snowiest winters in Boston’s history, the brewers know first-hand that at this time of year, drinkers flock to social media to air their cold weather experiences. So this year, Samuel Adams is asking Twitter users around the country to tweet @SamuelAdamsBeer using hashtag #SnapTheCold to show how they celebrate the weather. All cold weather-related tweets will be tracked in real-time on the “Cold Snap Cold Map” during the coldest week of the year from January 17^th to January 23^rd, and Sam Adams will reward the most vocal city with Sam Adams parties in their city where drinkers and Doppler followers can unite over a beer. Craft beer drinkers can visit www.SamuelAdams.com/ColdestCity for more info on the Cold Map and to see where their city stands.

 Get Your Mitt(en)s on Cold Snap:

Samuel Adams Cold Snap will be available nationwide from January through mid-March in 6-packs for a suggested retail price of $7.99-$9.99, 12-packs (bottles and cans) for a suggested retail price of $14.99-$17.99 and on draft. It is also available as part of the Samuel Adams Cabin Pack variety 12-Pack for a suggested retail price of $14.99-$17.99. (All prices vary by market.)

  
ABOUT THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY:

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father’s attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen. Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America. That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit. Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager would soon become a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 60 styles of beer. It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of world’s most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its primary focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's leading craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market. The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

Samuel Adams Releases 2015 Batch Of Samuel Adams Utopias

Courtesy of Samuel Adams

SAMUEL ADAMS RELEASES 2015 BATCH OF EXTREME BARREL-AGED BEER, SAMUEL ADAMS UTOPIAS

Rare, Limited Edition Beer Hits Shelves in November 

Boston, November 10, 2015–The brewers at Samuel Adams today announced the limited release of highly-coveted Samuel Adams Utopias, a beer unlike any other. Only the ninth batch brewed since the first release in 2002, this year’s Utopias, like previous vintages, was brewed in small batches using traditional methods, blended with previous vintages going as far back as 1992, then finished in the Barrel Room at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery.

About Samuel Adams Utopias

For beer fanatics, Samuel Adams Utopias has become one of the most sought-after beers on earth. Meant to be savored like a fine cognac or port, Utopias is a rich, uncarbonated extreme beer known for its extraordinary flavor profile. Utopias has aromas of wood, toffee, cocoa, raisin and maple, which hint at its distinctive flavors, which range from hints of molasses, earthy wood, dates, and light smoke to nuts and toffee.

With each new batch of Utopias, the brewers at Sam Adams push for a complex flavor profile, and during this process have created brews with alcohol levels reaching over 30% ABV; this year’s beer is 28% ABV and is best enjoyed as a two ounce pour in a snifter glass at room temperature. While some of the barrels have reached over 30% alcohol, the brewers blend down because the goal is to craft complex flavors, not an extreme alcohol percentage.

Courtesy of Samuel Adams

About the Barrel-Aging Process

For the 2015 Utopias, the Sam Adams brewers used a variety of malts for the brewing process and during fermentation used several strains of yeast, including one traditionally reserved for champagne. The beer was then blended with Utopias vintages from previous years including some that have been aging for more than 20 years in the Barrel Room. Aging the beer over a longer period of time accentuates the beer’s distinct vanilla notes and creates aromas of ginger and cinnamon. Some of this aged beer is over twenty years old, old enough to drink itself.

About the Brewing Process

Utopias is brewed using traditional methods. The brewers begin with a blend of two-row Caramel and Munich malts that imparts a rich, deep amber color. Noble hops – Hallertau Mittelfrueh, Spalt Spalter and Tettnang Tettnanger – are also added to lend complexity and balance. During fermentation, several yeast strains are used, including one normally reserved for champagne which the brewers call a “ninja yeast.” This fresh beer is then blended with a variety of different barrel-aged beers and “finished” in a variety of barrels to impart additional complexity and flavor.

About the Finishing Barrel Process

This release of Samuel Adams Utopias also uses a blend of beer finished in a variety of barrels. “Finishing” is a creative way for the brewers to impart additional flavor from a variety of barrels before the beer is bottled. This final step of finishing the beer lasts several months before the beer is bottled and imparts flavors ranging from fruit like cherry and raisin to chocolate, leather and oak. The multi-step and lengthy process results in flavors reminiscent of a rich vintage Port, fine Cognac, or aged Sherry, while feeling surprisingly light on the palate.

New this year, the brewers used White Carcavelos wine barrels to finish the beer, in addition to barrels that once housed cognac, Armagnac, ruby port, sweet Madeira, and Buffalo Trace Bourbon. White Carcavelos wine barrels help to amplify the dried fruit and oak flavors of this year’s Utopias. Carcavelos wines are blended and fortified like a port, are off dry and topaz colored with nutty aromas and flavors. Carcavelos comes from a small region of Portugal and the barrels are very rare, which made the Sam Adams brewers all the more excited to experiment with them as finishing barrels.

Courtesy of Samuel Adams

Founder & Brewery Jim Koch on 2015 Utopias:

“Sam Adams Utopias is the lunatic fringe of extreme beer. The recipe stretches the limits of the brewing process, flavor complexity, and as a by-product, alcohol content. While barrel aging is now a mainstay of a thriving craft beer community, we have been experimenting with barrel aging for nearly 25 years and this year’s batch is made from a library of barrels, some of which go as far back as 1992. This is an other-worldly beer that’s just as radical today as it was in 1992 and I am excited for drinkers to sip and savor it.”

Utopias-seasoned cigars, perfect for craft beer and cigar lovers alike:

Samuel Adams is teaming up with Ted’s Cigars to release limited-edition Utopias-seasoned cigars, flavored with the 2015 batch of Utopias. Ted’s Cigars uses their proprietary process of aromatic seasoning to create a cigar unlike any other. The Utopias-infused cigar features a distinct subtle sweetness, and notes of maple and vanilla from the brew, as well as a spicy complexity from the tobacco blend. This extreme beer brings out a creamy, spicy sweetness from the cigar and enhances the subtle leather and smoky character in the cigar’s finish. Hand-rolled in the Dominican Republic, the cigars make an unexpected stocking-stuffer and will be available on TedsCigars.com through the end of December. Pair the cigars with Samuel Adams Utopias for the ultimate holiday treat.

Where to find Utopias:

The first batch of Utopias bottles can be found in the hands of Samuel Adams employees. Since Utopias was first released, each bottle number corresponds with when each employee was hired, making Founder and Brewer Jim Koch number 1 and Brewer Dean Gianocostas number 2. For all other beer lovers, fewer than approximately 10,000 bottles of Samuel Adams Utopias can be found at select specialty beer and liquor stores for a suggested retail price of $199 per bottle. Price varies by market.

ABOUT THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY:

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father’s attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen. Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America. That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit. Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager would soon become a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 60 styles of beer. It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of world’s most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its primary focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's leading craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market. The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.