It’s not very often that we visit the wide world of macro breweries, but that’s partially because a lot of macro breweries make macro crap, i.e. O’Doul’s. This week is a wonderful and fruity exception to the norm when we go up to the northeast and try the offerings of Samuel Adams, a.k.a. Sam Adams, a.k.a. your cousin from Boston.
This week, we are drinking Just the Haze by Samuel Adams. It’s Sam Adam’s take on a New England IPA, which is known for its haziness and fruity notes of deliciousness. Of course, you probably already know Sam Adams for their alcoholic beer, including their flagship Boston Lager. When I quit drinking back in mid-2019, they were just trying to get into the IPA scene a little more. Their offerings have varied widely throughout the decades, but it seems they’ve really made some marketing pushes in recent years.
How Does It Pour?
Just the Haze by Samuel Adams pours the way you would expect a juicy, hazy IPA to pour; crisp white head, lighter yellow color. The surprise comes in its lack of haziness. Hazy IPAs are typically less filtered and have a lot more thickness in their field of view, whereas, with this one from Samuel Adams, you can practically see right through the glass.
How Does It Taste?
All of the notes you may expect from a hazy IPA are delivered by Samuel Adams, both in scent and taste. The aroma right from the pour is of sweet citrus and tropical fruits combined with a light aroma of hops. Samuel Adams does a great job balancing a fun little bitterness of citrus peel with the bitterness from the hops to add to the flavor profile of this beer. The finish is light and crisp and the tropical flavors of pineapple and mango linger.
Untappd gives Just the Haze by Samuel Adams 3.6 out of 5, and I would have to say that SEEMS ABOUT RIGHT. If you’re looking for a hazy IPA that is showing up in more and more stores in their NA section, Just the Haze is probably a good pick for you. I’m just waiting for that warm weather…
NA BEERS & 90s: Justin Lamb is dedicated to tasting great (and sometimes not so great) NA beers and showcasing his amazing collection of memorabilia from the ’90s.
RECOVERY PODCASTLAND: Want more Justin in your life? We don’t blame you! Check out his podcast Friend Request Justin has in-depth interviews with people he follows on social media, as well as his own social media followers. Friend Request dives deeper than the likes and comments. With each episode, Justin tries to create a more meaningful conversation about each individual he’s connected with. Justin ties each interview together with the commonalities and struggles that not only are extremely relatable but also fall across the entire spectrum of the human experience.
Check Out This Episode from Friend Request:
