REVIEW: Samuel Adams Octoberfest Seasonal Beer

If you 're like me, you love tasting new beers.  I also love going back to some of my old favorites, which is why I'm glad the Boston Brewery continues year after year to brew Samuel Adams Octoberfest Seasonal Beer.  While I usually prefer hoppy over malty, there is just something about a nice roasted malt flavor when you've spent the day outside where the chill of autumn has been caressing your face.

Samuel Adams Brewery

From the brewery:"Samuel Adams® Octoberfest is a malt lover's dream, masterfully blending together five roasts of barley to create a delicious harmony of sweet flavors including caramel and toffee. The beer is kept from being overly sweet by the elegant bitterness imparted by the German Noble hops."

This beer is best consumed just slightly below room temperature.  I know, I know, warm beer.  Seriously, you ice-cold beer fans would really do well to broaden your horizons and try something with some flavor for a change, and that flavor is only unlocked by serving slightly less cold than the mass-market "cold as the mountains" stuff.


The first thing to note about this beer is its deep orange color, and that it won't have much head because the carbonation is a bit lower than the Boston Lager.  this is typical for this type of beer, so not to worry.  When you take a whiff, you shouldn't notice too much hops, but instead you should catch some fruity and floral aroma.

When you take a sip, you'll notice that the mouthfeel is substantially bigger than those mass-market beers as well.  This is a good thing.  Beer shouldn't feel like water any more than it should taste that way.  Speaking of flavor, the first thing I noticed was sweet maltiness, with a bit of maple syrup flavor in the background.  There is definitely some hops in there, but it hangs out in the background instead of asserting its presence like it would were this beer an IPA.  The most memorable part of my first sip, however, was the malty aftertaste, which reminded me of roasted coffee.

Take your first sip on a clean palate, and then enjoy the rest with a good hearty meal.  I had mine with a nice juicy burger topped with pungent blue cheese.  Yum!

Samuel Adams Octoberfest is readily available at a reasonable price.  Boston Lager is my old standby, but no matter what beer you choose from their line, you can’t go wrong with Sam.  Be careful—while this beer is not super strong at over 5% abv, it can pack a punch if you don't watch your intake!

Please always enjoy your beer responsibly!