Style: Witbier
From: Boston Beer Company, Boston MA
Samuel Adams White Ale is a wheat beer, coarse filtered to leave the characteristic white haze from the malt proteins. According to the brewer, they combine two row Pale barley, malted wheat, and Munich malt, and use Noble Tettnang Tettnanger hops. The brew is finished off with a blend of spices, including orange and lemon peel, dried plum, coriander, anise, hibiscus, rose hips, tamarind and vanilla. The brew also makes use of grains of paradise, a pepper-like African spice that's also featured in Sam Adams Summer Ale.
Appearance, Aroma & Taste
White Ale poured a light golden straw color. It had a huge frothy white head that receded slowly, and left behind a great deal of lacing on the glass. The aroma was clean, sweet and citrusy, with a definitely orange aroma. It had a light hint of spices, and little hop aroma, with only a slight grassy aroma noticeable.
The flavor was generally mild, which isn't unexpected in a witbier. The orange and lemon were strongly noticeable, pairing nicely with the malt sweetness. The spice flavors, especially the coriander, make a good contrast with the citrus. They help provide more complexity to the flavor than might otherwise be expected and add to the crisp taste. The hops are very light, but do add just a bit of bite.
White Ale is well carbonated, but doesn't tip over into fizzy. The mouthfeel is very light, almost watery, which helps make this a very drinkable session beer. This may not be the most outstanding effort by Sam Adams, but it's a good American take on the classic Belgian style, and well worth exploring.
Availability & Serving Recommendations
White Ale is a seasonal release, available in early spring. It's best enjoyed fresh, and not recommended for extended cellaring or aging. Recommended cellaring temperature is 40-45 degrees, with a recommended serving temperature of 45-50 degrees. White Ale is best served in a traditional pint glass, a mug, or a Pilsener glass.
Pairing With Food
Because of its mild flavor, White Ale would pair well with many foods. It would be a good choice with peppery or tangy cheeses, such a monterey or pepper jack, edam, sharp cheddar or feta. It's also not too strong to pair with fish or poultry. White Ale would make a good choice with grilled or roasted meats, but would probably be overwhelmed by heavy or spicy bar-b-que.
Rating
Overall rating: 3.2
Appearance: 3.5 \ Smell: 3.5 \ Taste: 3.0 \ Mouthfeel: 3.0 \ Drinkability: 3.0
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