Sam Adams Mighty Oak Ale

The Dirt
I honestly had low expectations for this beer. I was prepared for too much oak, not enough oak...but it ended up being delicious and well-rounded. The oak balanced very well with the sweet maltiness of the beer. It was kind of like a scotch ale, but with oak instead of peat. It had a very smooth finish that left a slightly sweet oak taste lingering on your tongue. Both tasty and drinkable.

Worth it?
It was part of a pretty stellar spring mix pack this year. I probably wouldn't buy a full 6-pack of it (oak is best in moderation), but certainly enjoyed the two that came in the pack and would buy on tap if available.

The Final Word

Sam Adams Tasman Red

The Dirt
Part of Sam Adam's new experimental line, the Tasman Red is meant to be a red IPA, which likely was influenced by the recent emergence of the black IPA style. The Tasman starts out strong with a good initial hop flavor with a red ale kind of maltiness. The hoppiness reminded more of a hoppy pale ale, but still a good amount. But all of the show is up-front, as I found the back-end kind of lacking. The whole profile just kind of *poof* and disappears. If only some of that red ale-ness lingered, and some biscuit notes were added at the end. In its defense, the Tasman gets a little better as it warms up. The hop flavor lasts a little longer and there are some more hints of caramel at the back-end. But don't let it warm too long, as it gets a bit too bitter, and not the good kind. An interesting idea that could use a few tweaks.

Worth it?
It was certainly worth the try, and wasn't half bad. But if a few tweaks were made to shore up the back-end, it would then be a nice buy. Unless you're a big Sam Adams fan like me or want to see what a first attempt at a red IPA results in, I'd say hold off for now. Then again, this was the most economically priced beer in the series, and was a pretty good deal at less than $5.

The Final Word