Texas Beer Nerd

This is the second beer I’ve tried from the new Sam Adams series that is supposed to be small batch, experimental brews. This is also the second beer in this series that I’ve been disappointed with. When something is advertised as being experimental I expect it to be exactly that. What we’ve got here is beer that tastes like a Sam Adams with just a few variations. In fact, I’d go so far as to say the Boston Lager, the most famous and most popular beer from Boston Brewing Co., is far superior. Perhaps they should just stick to what they know. If they want to be experimental they should really go for it, which they haven’t. Sahti is a traditional beer style from Finland. The Samuel Adams Norse Legend version is infused with juniper and also aged on a bed of juniper. Unfortunately, I don’t really taste it that much, considering its advertised as being an essential ingredient. There’s a hint of it in a slightly citrus, slightly spiced character but this stays in the background. Part of me, though I knew it wouldn’t, expected this beer to taste somewhat of gin. This is a malty beer and has a hint of sweetness and some biscuit-like characteristics too, much like a bock. I enjoy a good bock from time to time but this isn’t supposed to be a bock. There’s not a lot of hops, which granted could just be part of the Sahti style, I don’t know. Therefore, I don’t hold that against this beer. I’d like to try an authentic Finnish sahti to compare because I don’t really have a frame of reference to know how authentic Norse Legend is. But I do know that it could definitely use more flavor. It’s not a bad beer but Boston Brewing Co. played it far too safe with this one. It’s an inoffensive but ultimately kind of boring beer.