About
Our passion for never settling, and brewing quality, flavorful beers started with our founder, Jim Koch. He brewed the first batch of Boston Lager in his kitchen – a recipe that belonged to his great great grandfather that he found in his father’s attic back in the early 1980’s. The Boston Beer Company has grown through the years to become the fourth largest brewery in the United States.
Initially, Koch rented excess capacity and brewed the beer at the Pittsburgh Brewing Company. As sales increased Koch developed other contract arrangements at various brewing facilities with excess capacity. To reduce reliance on contract brewing Cincinnati's Hudepohl-Schoenling brewery was purchased in early 1997).
In 2007, the Boston Beer Company purchased the former F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company brewery in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania. By 2012, the Company was producing two-thirds of all its beer at the Breinigsville facility, and it has increased brewing capacity there. The Boston Beer Company also has a small R&D brewery located in Boston (Jamaica Plain), Massachusetts, where public tours and beer tastings are offered.
Initially, Koch rented excess capacity and brewed the beer at the Pittsburgh Brewing Company. As sales increased Koch developed other contract arrangements at various brewing facilities with excess capacity. To reduce reliance on contract brewing Cincinnati's Hudepohl-Schoenling brewery was purchased in early 1997).
In 2007, the Boston Beer Company purchased the former F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company brewery in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania. By 2012, the Company was producing two-thirds of all its beer at the Breinigsville facility, and it has increased brewing capacity there. The Boston Beer Company also has a small R&D brewery located in Boston (Jamaica Plain), Massachusetts, where public tours and beer tastings are offered.
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Purchased a 12-pack in bottles of this for my 2026 Vermont Easter trip. Fairly clean, golden colour with an amber hue, an off-white bubbly head, decent stay and a small coating over the brew. Gets a little hazy at last pour. Nice spiced aromas with a tad more cinnamon than nutmeg, and mild orange notes in the background. The orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg are all blended together, milder in the taste. A wet mouthfeel with a light drying finish. A refreshing light white beer with the nice addition of cinnamon and spices - kind of easy-drinking.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Apr 2026
at 23:01
6.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
On tap on the LV strip.
Pours hazy orange with a medium sized off-white head, good lacing. Herbal, spices, wheat, oranges.
Ok
Pours hazy orange with a medium sized off-white head, good lacing. Herbal, spices, wheat, oranges.
Ok
Tried
from Draft
on 02 Apr 2026
at 23:19
4.1/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 6
Flavor 4
Texture 3
Overall 3
Bottle for a couple bucks. Pour is nearly clear, with a off pale color. Very nice head that fades rapidly. Nose is totally big blast of holiday spice. First taste is certainly full of holiday spices but its not as in yer face as many other holiday spice bombs. At first I think its almost got an acceptable, well balanced spiced level; but as I near the middle, that spice thing is starting to rear its head up a little higher. On the label it says citrusy, aint getten none that. Not much for spiced holiday brews but I'm sure they have their place out there in beer drinken society. Also good for a cheap tick as a brewver ticking whore. The variety of beers is the spice of life hehehehh.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Chalet Premier
on 23 Mar 2026
at 17:32
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7
Part of the mix pack. Cloudy golden hint or orange brew with fine foamy top of about a half inch. Nose is citrus and herbal. Tatsss herbal, apricots, mandarin orange, some white wine grapes, some sourdough crust. Light bodied.
Tried
on 21 Mar 2026
at 01:52
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
On tap at Matchplay with Matt for March Madness! Deeply hazy, bright yellow, nice sparkle, ample head with good retention and nice lacing. Aroma is wheat and spices. Taste follows aroma. Smooth texture, soft carbonation and finish as taste. Not complex but good strength, look, feel.
Tried
from Draft
on 21 Mar 2026
at 01:22
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Bos Taproom draught 3/20/26.
Roasty, lightly smokey, with low sweetness and low cherry. Light vanilla lingering.
Dry though with a chewiness to it. Chocolate, roast and smoke with light vanilla and very light, very tasteful cherry. 4 adjuncted beers in this flight and every one of them extremely tastefully done on the adjuncts.
Roasty, lightly smokey, with low sweetness and low cherry. Light vanilla lingering.
Dry though with a chewiness to it. Chocolate, roast and smoke with light vanilla and very light, very tasteful cherry. 4 adjuncted beers in this flight and every one of them extremely tastefully done on the adjuncts.
Tried
from Draft
at
Sam Adams Downtown Boston Taproom
on 20 Mar 2026
at 15:59
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Bos Taproom draught 3/20/26.
Peachy and a bit of sweetness. Some caramel and moderate fruitiness but not overly aromatic.
Sweet and herbal with a chewy, syrupy texture. Reminds me of molasses and the spice character is tasteful. Maybe needs a bit more bitterness or something to emulate the strength of a Sazerac, but it's a great attempt.
Peachy and a bit of sweetness. Some caramel and moderate fruitiness but not overly aromatic.
Sweet and herbal with a chewy, syrupy texture. Reminds me of molasses and the spice character is tasteful. Maybe needs a bit more bitterness or something to emulate the strength of a Sazerac, but it's a great attempt.
Tried
from Draft
at
Samuel Adams Boston Brewery
on 20 Mar 2026
at 15:54
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Bos Taproom draught, 3/20/26.
Nice and dry with juniper the most prevalent initially. Hint of lychee behind it with pale malts and seemingly tasteful adjuncts overall.
Juniper-forward though amply malty to balance. Minimal lychee and little/no hibiscus; just a bit of acidity and earthiness. Nicely done with no syrup or excess sweetness. Adjuncts very tastefully done.
Nice and dry with juniper the most prevalent initially. Hint of lychee behind it with pale malts and seemingly tasteful adjuncts overall.
Juniper-forward though amply malty to balance. Minimal lychee and little/no hibiscus; just a bit of acidity and earthiness. Nicely done with no syrup or excess sweetness. Adjuncts very tastefully done.
Tried
from Draft
at
Sam Adams Downtown Boston Taproom
on 20 Mar 2026
at 15:48
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bos Taproom draught, 3/20/26.
Light and fruity. Very apricot-forward nose. Pretty big range of what an altbier is/was, but this is certainly not like most contemporary takes. Smells more like a fruit beer or pale ale. The apricot character is lovely though.
Nice and malty with a zesty hoppiness mixing with lightly sweet malt (honey, cookie, white bread). More apricot character and a zesty bitterness making it very refreshing and drinkable. Quite a bit of flavor for its size.
Light and fruity. Very apricot-forward nose. Pretty big range of what an altbier is/was, but this is certainly not like most contemporary takes. Smells more like a fruit beer or pale ale. The apricot character is lovely though.
Nice and malty with a zesty hoppiness mixing with lightly sweet malt (honey, cookie, white bread). More apricot character and a zesty bitterness making it very refreshing and drinkable. Quite a bit of flavor for its size.
Tried
from Draft
at
Sam Adams Downtown Boston Taproom
on 20 Mar 2026
at 15:41
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Side pull at Boston Taproom, 3/20/26.
Good mix of base malt and caramel showing toffee, honey, moderate toast. Mild, herbal hops in the background. Clean with light mineral, yeast on end.
Very malty with a strong hop presence on the finish, though a bit more bitterness than flavor. Not too much toast, quite clean with soft carbonation. Bitter tea and orange from hop is a bit too jarringly bitter on the end, but I appreciate it balances the huge maltiness nicely. A bit rough and burly, but it's heart is in the right place.
Good mix of base malt and caramel showing toffee, honey, moderate toast. Mild, herbal hops in the background. Clean with light mineral, yeast on end.
Very malty with a strong hop presence on the finish, though a bit more bitterness than flavor. Not too much toast, quite clean with soft carbonation. Bitter tea and orange from hop is a bit too jarringly bitter on the end, but I appreciate it balances the huge maltiness nicely. A bit rough and burly, but it's heart is in the right place.
Tried
from Draft
at
Sam Adams Downtown Boston Taproom
on 20 Mar 2026
at 15:24