Samuel Adams and I have been friends for a long time.  We’ve hung out at weddings.  We’ve watched the big game together at a sports bar.  Sam has been there for me when an otherwise boring party or get together seemed hopeless.  While Sierra Nevada is preferable, it seems that quite often Sam is the only quality choice.  My true love is my Michigan craft beers, but Sam has been a valued friend—like a steaming mug of hot-chocolate served with melty mac and cheese, with a side of mashed potatoes and apple pie a la mode for dessert, Samuel Adams is comfort beer.

Having said all that, Samuel Adams Coastal Wheat sucks.  They tried and failed.  Miserably.  I bought a six pack over a week ago and still have four of them in my fridge.  Coastal Wheat touts itself as a hefeweizen style beer, with a subtle lemon finish.  I won’t take them to task on the lemon finish, it is present but it seems to conflict with the objectionable, yeasty, initial flavor.  Quite often in a hefewezen you can taste banana or clove, but the overall bready, yeasty mouthfeel dominated, making for quite an unpleasant drinking experience.  No other flavor stood out, other than the lemon at the end.  Overall a big thumbs down for Sam Adams Coastal Wheat.

There is no joy in trashing a beer from an otherwise fine organization.  Samuel Adams has well over a dozen beers on the market; no one person will love them all.  I’m content to check Coastal Wheat off my list and move on to the next beer.  Sam and I will make it through this rough patch, our friendship can withstand one lousy beer.  Besides, I have a wedding to go to next month and I have a good feeling Sam will be in attendance.  It wouldn’t be the same without him.

One place Sam won’t be is the Michigan Summer Beer Festival.  Be on the lookout for the Epic Portions yearly wrap up and best of list sometime next week.  Until then, stay thirsty, my friends.

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