Sam Adams Hopflake IPA

Sam Adams had a white IPA before Hopflake IPA - it was called Whitewater IPA. I believe the difference in this one is that it has lemongrass added for flavoring. Oh, that and the hops arranged in the shape of a snowflake on the label. To remind my fellow beer geeks, a white IPA is typically a Belgian or Farmhouse Style ale with a high IBU count (i.e. lots of hops). I like the white IPA style, despite its bandwagoney use of "IPA" as shorthand for anything with more than 35 IBU's. Typically, and Hopflake is no exception, the style melds the smoothness of the Belgian/Saisson/Farmhouse style with hoppiness resulting in a refreshing brew. Hopflake is an okay white IPA, absolutely nothing wrong with it, but one of my criticisms of their seasonal variety packs in the past has been a lack of actual associate with the season - sometimes the same beers show up in the winter and the summer sampler packs. That makes no sense. That all being said, I'll enjoy the rest of this one, and even the second one, and surely someone will be convinced that it's Christmassy due to the festive label.

Sam Adams Ginger Beer

I've been avoiding the Sam Adams variety packs recently, primarily because they've been offering less variety, i.e. three each of four varieties, rather than two each of six varieties, and frankly, what's been in them hasn't been that exciting. I received the Winter Classics variety 12-pack as a consolation prize after having to wait 4 months for a $10 rebate. Ginger Beer is one of the new ones. The Ginger Beer pours a golden copper hue with a tiny white head. Ginger is definitely evident, as well as the advertised lemongrass, but there's also hints of clove and cinnamon. There's 55 IBU's, and outside the spices, it feels like a pale ale. Oftentimes the seasonal offerings don't really match up with the season, but Ginger Beer assuredly has a holiday feel to it.