Overview: The origin story for Samuel Adams Boston Lager traces back to a humble discovery within a garage attic, transforming a regional craft favorite into a nationally recognized icon. Jim Koch’s father unearthed the original formula from a trunk containing car magazines and brewing notes that had sat unused since the 19th century. Released to the market in 1985, the brew quickly established itself as a top choice for lovers of American beer.
The Full Story
Jim Koch founded the Boston Beer Company and is credited as one of the leading figures in the early American craft beer movement. His lineage included a long tradition of brewmasters, including his father and grandfather. When Koch decided to start a brewery of his own, his father unearthed the recipe that would become Boston Lager. The formula had been stashed in a trunk filled with stacks of old car magazines on top of brewing notes and course material from brewmaster school. It had sat languishing in the garage attic of his parents’ house until its rediscovery.
This story, detailed in Cincinnati Magazine, comes directly from Jim Koch. The resulting brew, dubbed Boston Lager, earned critical and customer acclaim when it was released back in 1985. While this fan-favorite brew has become the signature beer of Massachusetts, drinkers anywhere in the U.S. will likely be able to find Samuel Adams Boston Lager at their local liquor store, supermarket, or other beer-seller. It remains just one of the numerous beverages produced by Boston Beer Company, whose roster of offerings includes other types of alcohol such as hard seltzer Truly, Angry Orchard cider, and Twisted Tea.
Production & Profile
The resulting brew is defined by toasted and yeasty flavors that help define the beer. Reviewers noted the sweetness and bitterness are balanced and subtle, boosting some of the warm, spicy, and malty notes. On BeerAdvocate, it has received an 84 out of 100 rating, described as “good.” One example of high praise came from a reviewer who said the product was “my daily drinker, and has been for decades.” Another person characterized it as having a modest flavor, but well-balanced and fairly distinctive.
Brand & Industry History
The recipe was originally used by Louis Koch brewery in St. Louis during the 19th century. Jim’s great-great grandfather had used the recipe at Louis Koch brewery in St. Louis during the 19th century before it was unearthed by the next generation. This historical context connects the modern craft movement to a family tradition of brewing that spans generations.
What This Means
The humble origin didn’t stop the brew from reaching the top tier among its peers. The beer ranked fourth among 18 contenders in Mashed’s ranking, showing that this discovery elevated the beer’s status significantly. It rose from a regional craft favorite to a nationally known beer icon, demonstrating that inspiration can be found in unexpected places like a garage attic.
Consumer Takeaway
Every time a fan takes a sip of Boston Lager, boozy cider, or another one of this company’s popular offerings, they can be grateful that the Koch family didn’t throw away their stacks of old papers. The bottle offers a balanced and subtle profile with warm, spicy, and malty notes available at local liquor stores and supermarkets across the United States.
Source: Read the original article
