Review Date 3/24/2001 Last Updated 2/20/2017
Try? Re-buy?
Boston beer calls this a stock ale, a style they define in the following
manner:
Stock ale is one of the few classic beer styles to have originated in the
United States, and the style has a strong New England heritage. Stock ales
were brewed and fermented in the traditional ale manner and then aged in
cool rooms called "stock cellars." The special ales were called "stock" ales
because of this extra aging, which gave them a characteristic body and
smoothness.
In many respects, stock ale seems to resemble German Altbier. Altbier is a
malty brew, top-fermented as an ale but then cold conditioned to smooth it
out and with an impressive amount of hop bitterness. Boston Ale is a
credible Altbier. It made its debut in 1988 as a selection in the Sam Adams
Winter Classics 12-pack. I remember to this day my excitement at taking home
my first 12-pack assortment and popping the top on my first Boston Ale.
Boston ale works well with pork and poultry dishes, or even a simple
sandwich. I enjoyed a bottle tonight with a turkey sandwich with lettuce,
mayo, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.
Update 2/20/2017: Whatever happened to Boston Ale? I almost never see this wonderful brew anymore, so when I did in the fall of 2016 I snapped up a six-pack. Mine are notched as best before end of December of the same year, and I'm drinking my last in February 2017. Notes I took on a bottle back in October showed a smooth caramel maltiness rounded out with grassy, herbal English hops. More malty, I think, and less hoppy than Boston Lager, clean and delicious as always.
From the label:
We celebrated the opening of our Boston Brewery by reviving a family recipe. This cellar aged "stock' ale is distinctly American, aged in celars at lower temperatures to create a smooth, full-bodied brew packed with earthy English hops and subtle malt sweetness.
Still a bargain, too, at $8.99 a six-pack.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft