Sunday Night Suds - Sam Adams Summer Ale

This Sunday Night Suds beer review takes on a seasonal tone by looking at the Boston Beer Company's (aka Sam Adams) summer brew - Summer Ale. (If its July 4th weekend, how can you go wrong with a Summer Ale that bears the term "brewer patriot" on the label).

Samuel Adams burst on the scene in 1984, when Jim Koch decided that he wanted to open a quality microbrewery that would still be able to compete with the big boys. Years before I tasted my first Sam Adams, I was already seeing folksy commercials where he would talk about his desire to make a better quality beer. Sure enough, when my brother who was living in Pawtucket, RI made a shalom zachor for his son, I went to the store looking specifically to buy Sam Adams. I was not yet ready for the bold taste of the Sam Adams Lagers and Ales (it was early in my beer development stage when "ice beers" were my brews of choice), but everyone else at the shalom zachor really enjoyed them.

The interesting thing about Samuel Adams is that although many (but not all) of their brews are under the Star-K, they only print the Star-K on the labels of some of their beers. Compounding the problem is that the Star-K does not post the LOC for Sam Adams on their website. As such, in order to verify that the variety of Sam Adams that you are drinking is under Star-K supervision you need to do one of three things: (1) e-mail the Star-K and ask them whether the style that you have purchased or are interested in purchasing is under supervision (or even get them to email a copy of the LOC, although this is easier said then done); (2) check the CRC http://www.crcweb.org/kosher/consumer/liquorList.html for a list of those Sam Adams beers that the CRC knows to be under the Star-K, or (3) be lucky enough to have purchased or seen a sixer in the store that has labels bearing the Star-K. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why they only print the Star-K on some of the labels of their beers that are under supervision.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale is an American Wheat Ale that is flavored with lemon zest and grains of paradise. From my wife (the expert chef) I know what lemon zest is (think small pieces of lemon peel) , but I was clueless as to what grains of paradise were (the Samuel Adams website indicates that it is a rare African pepper that was first used as a brewing spice in the 13th century). The beer itself is quite light and pairs well with fish, pastas and chicken. This is not to say that it wont wash down a summer BBQ, its just that you will not taste the flavor of the beer if you drink it with burgers or steaks. Still, it is one of my summer favorites.

For the experts' take on the Summer Ale, please click here http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/103. As always, please remember to drink responsibly and to never waste good beer unless there is no designated driver.

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