OK, I had a blast doing this taste test. It took place in a campground in western Ohio along the Indiana border in mid June. The outside temp was about 82 degrees and the sky clear. A great day for a summertime brew (or two) under a shade tree. I started off by pouring a Sam Adams Summer Ale in my glass, followed quickly by doing the same with a Sierra Nevada SummerFest. Ahhhh…My two favorite brewery’s, head to head. GAME ON!!
Appearance: The Sam Adams poured a dark cloudy color similar to apple cider. Something you would expect to see in the fall. The Sierra Nevada looked more like apple juice or a lager beer. It simply looked refreshing. Score: Sierra Nevada
Head: They both had the same color, white. Sam Adams didn’t last much past the first drink. Sierra Nevada was still there 1/3 of the way down, a little lacy, but still there. Score: Sierra Nevada
Aroma: Sam Adams had a deep malt smell, but not sweet. The Sierra Nevada had almost a “skunky” smell to it. (No it wasn’t the campground, or me for that matter) Almost like a beer from Holland. I was surprised. Just didn’t expect that. Score: Sam Adams
Taste: I could definitely taste the unmistakable flavor of the Sam Adams hops. This mixed with a bit of citrus made for a very intersting zest on my taste buds. (how’s that for some fancy talk?) A little filling, with a long after taste. I couldn’t drink more than a couple of these in one day. Sierra Nevada had a crisp taste and a clean finish. These are good things but not what I would expect in a “summer brew”. I can see a six pack disappear around a campfire in one night. (as a matter of fact, I did see a six pack disappear around a campfire in one night) Score: Sam Adams
Overall: Classic Sam Adams. Just what I envisioned it would be. The Sierra Nevada was a slightly more refreshing beer. They will both be bought and tried again.
Conclusion: This is a toss up for me. I really liked them both. If I had to choose or recommend one to someone I wouldn’t know what to tell them except that if you want to sit around and relax with a “summer” brew I would go with Sam Adams Summer Ale. But if you wanted a good tasting beer for the long haul, but not too long, remember it hails a 5% ABV, I would go with the Sierra Nevada SummerFest.
The ultimate winner: They both score a “C+” on the P-O-R-C-H-scale. A veritable tie. So it just comes down to who has the best looking label. And the winner is…………………Sierra Nevada SummerFest. The label has a colorful outdoor scene featuring a river running through some rolling hills with a mountain in the background, and the name is on an old timey looking banner at the top. A lot of thought was put into this one. This is one good looking beer all the way around.
Posted by Mr. Porch
Ahhh….Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat. One of my favorites. I’m not usually a big fan of wheat beers, and definetly not a fan of fruity or flavored beers but this one is different. It has a perfect balance of flavor that I suspect only Sam Adams can provide. Now before you judge me for drinking a fruity beer, I suggest you try it. It has a thick head with a hint of red that leaves a ring in your mug with every drink. You can certainly taste the cherry but not to the point that it takes away from the hoppy “Sam Adams” flavor. I like to think of this one as a “brewing carnival for your taste buds.”