Today’s review comes from arguably the most famous and well know of the “craft beer” brewers.  It’s the Samuel Adams Noble Pils from the Boston Beer Company located in Boston, Massachusetts.

Some debate has been sparked as of late regarding whether or not one can still call Samuel Adams a “craft brewer.”  Well, from my stand point they still are.  They may not be a “micro” brewery anymore, but they definitely continue to generate numerous examples of styles that can’t be denied.

The Noble Pils is their Spring seasonal.  I have had this beer a few times, so I’m not going into this one completely blind.

First, a bit of info from the website, samueladams.com.

Samuel Adams Noble Pils is brewed with all 5 Noble hops for a distinct hop character and fresh taste.  Deep golden in color with a citrusy hop aroma.  Samuel Adams Noble Pils is a traditional Bohemian Pilsner.  The honeyed malt character from traditional Bohemian malt is balanced by delicate yet pronounced citrus, floral, and piney notes from the Noble hops.  The winner of our 2009 Beer Lover’s Choice election, this beer was chosen by over 67,000 drinkers for its crisp complexity and refreshing taste.  

Well….  only one thing left to do.  Drink it!!!!

This Sam Adams comes in a 12 oz. bottle with an ABV of 4.9%.

As you can see from the picture, this beer poured a super clear straw yellow/golden color.  You can see right through it.  It’s accompanied by a very bright white, somewhat soapy textured head that had nice girth and slightly below average lacing.  A number of carbonation bubbles were carving a steady stream right up the middle of the glass.

The aroma was suitably clean and fresh.  Smells like freshly mowed grass with a few grainy hints here and there.  A floral bouquet was found and followed by a lemony citrus note to add a nice little touch.  The overall fragrance was balanced well, however I found it to be just a bit on the soft side.

With the taste, I encountered some more of the grainy attributes mixed with a crispness revealing a lemony citrus and a ripe, green apple.  A pleasant, dry, wheat tone was detected after the beer started to evolve.  Minor drops of bitterness finished the savor to help balance and round off the analysis.

The mouthfeel was medium/thin, dry and crisp.  Nicely refreshing and thirst quenching.  It did an average job covering the palate, so as to leave me with some flavor for a teasing.

This is, overall, a pretty decent beer.  It’s worth a try for sure.  Obviously perfect for Spring and Summer because of its refreshing qualities and ease of drinkability.  This beer could also be an excellent “gateway” brew for someone interested in learning about craft beer.  Not overwhelming, but enough character to give you a little “kick.”  I can’t help but have sentimental feelings toward this brewer because the Boston Lager was one of the first “good” beers that I ever had and one that got me going with this hobby.  I still enjoy it to this day.  I can’t tell you how many times Sam Adams has saved me while visiting a restaurant!!!  I will say that I do appreciate all that Samuel Adams has done for craft brewing.  Do they have the best brews on the planet?  Probably not, however I can’t deny that they are one of the most important American brewers we have and one that I will continue to support on occasion.  

Do you like Samuel Adams?  What is your favorite SA brew?

Please let me know in the comments.

Once again, thanks for reading. 

Score:  3.5 out of 5
Grade:  B-