According to wikipedia: Lambic is a very distinctive type of beer brewed only in the Pajottenland region of Belgium (southwest of Brussels).

I may be wrong, but I could not find any information that suggests that Jim Koch has setup shop in Belgium to pound this seasonal out, therefore this beer is not really a lambic. Let’s call it Samuel Adams Sparkling Cranberry Hops Juice. Other anal beer reviewers have also noted this. Lambics are complex blends of more than one beer that are brewed using wild yeast strains. It is also brewed using a method called “spontaneous fermentation”.

As a result, lambics have a dry, almost champagne-like quality about them. They are quite delicious when paired with the right meal.  You certainly would not sit around scratching yourself, eating pretzels, watching football and chugging lambics. Lambics are not banquet beers and you will never see them turn a bottle blue or be “vented” in through some gimmicky can.  I’ve never seen a lambic in a can. If you know of a lambic that comes in a can, please post it below.

Facts:

• I like cranberries.
• I like cranberry juice.
• I like Samuel Adams.
• I like lambics.
• This is not really a lambic.
• I like it anyway.

It pours medium red. The primary scent is cranberries and the special yeast.  The taste is light and almost carbonated.  There is no bite to speak of. It finishes nice and smooth with the same sweet berry taste that it starts with.  The remarkable thing is that the “cranberry” taste is not bitter at all, and it should be.  Cranberry is a New Englander’s berry. It’s not for sissies. It fools you initially with a bit of sweet and then punishes your gullible pallette with a bitter finish. HA! Acquire that taste!  I like this beer, but I must ask Samuel Adams, where is the bitter?  Maybe I need to search harder. I guess I will drink a few more.  You can only find this in the Samuel Adams superb winter seasonal variety pack.

Winter means fresh tracks at Sugarbush, those friggin brilliantly delicious waffles they have, my good friend Grateful Pete saying things like “that was a real thigh burner” after every single trail and of course the winter seasonal brews.

Caution: If you’re a Bud-slugger, a Blatzman, a pisswater guzzler, or a Schlitz Sessioner the seasonals are not for you. You will be bowled over by their intensity their is more than a fair chance that you will reguritate on first sip.  Even Raveen, who has cultured pallette and (I assume) an advanced degree in  lagerology and  is not a fan of this particular product.

Harpoon Winter Warmer is the season in a glass. When you crack open the bottle, there is an intense smell of nutmeg, holly, cloves and pine. It pours a beautiful, burnt orange. The flavor is a little intense. You can taste the cinnamon and nutmeg. The bite comes from the spices moreso than the moderate hops. These fade a little as the beer warms.

Put the disclaimer on this beer if you bring it to a party.  If you’re like me, it pains you to see someone drink one who does not appreciate its intensity. Sessionable? Not for everyone. Compare it to Great Lakes Christmas Ale if you can get your hands on some.

Roasted coffee with a sweet, dark chocolate finish. Young’s Double Chocolate stout has distinct flavors that stick with you long after you have taken the last sip. Not sure this is a good thing. Coffee drinkers, brush your teeth before you come to a meeting and sit next to me. Halitosis! I cannot pinpoint the fragrance. It is floral and reminds me of lilac, but I need to sniff a few flowers this spring so that I can paint a clearer picture. That’s on me people. I need to continuously improve if I am going to be able to barely keeping above the bar of useful information and entertainment in the beverage sector.

Graham says that flavored beer is for girls.  I disagree.  I am that guy who does not fear putting a shot of Chambord in my Guinness from time to time. I am comfortable with my sexuality. I also drive a Subaru.  Am I digging a deep hole here? Give this beer a try. It is delicious. It is harder to find in a bottle, but the bottled version is better than the version in the can.

The point is that this is not the beer for the guy who still lives in mom’s basement. This is sophisticated beer. I mean it has fucking English chocolate in it, which everybody knows is way better than the shit we get in the states