Miasmatic Review

Samual Adams Blackberry Witbier

Queue theme music from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Also Sprach Zarathustra - 2001: Space Odyssey

Tonight, Bruce of Back to the Batcave has finished his quest for the glass. For tonight I review his 12th beer to give him full enabler status. Congratulations Bruce, I will announce a special presentation time (I’m thinking Friday… at the pub!) The final beer is Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier by the Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams).

It comes in the standard Sam Adams brown bottle. You have their standard label with Samuel Adams prominent in the middle. Blackberry Witbier is in a purple banner. There is a picture of Sam Adams at the bottom hoisting a frothy mug of beer. At the top of the label it boasts this is part of their Brewmaster’s Collection.

There is a beautiful golden honey color with just a touch of orange to it. It’s clear with just a touch of cloudiness to it, which is unusual for a witbier in my experience. The head that formed was thin and white. It faded quickly to a ring around the edge of the glass and there was no lacing.

The scent was kind of weak, but was dominated by the scent of blackberries. A faint yeast and floral hop smell was detectable. There was no citrus or spiciness that is normally associated with a witbier. The flavor was mostly that of blackberries, that tasted almost like artificial flavoring. There was almost no wheat flavor and there wasn’t any spiciness at all. There was a slight bitter hop finish to it.

This is light bodied beer, with a nice carbonation level. There is no coating of the mouth.

I’m not a fan of fruit beers, and in all reality that is what this is. Most of the characteristics one associates with a witbier are missing from it. As a fruit beer, it was kind of lacking as well. The berry taste wasn’t as dominant as it should have been. It wasn’t a bad beer; I wouldn’t go out of my way for it. I give it 4 out of 10.