By now I can just hear some of you out there saying, why does he keep trying this stuff. Well, I keep trying because that’s what I like to do. In the past I enjoyed some Sam Adams beers and when people keep getting me new ones to try, I don’t turn it down. That’s where we find ourselves this week. I was given the Porch Rocker Ale and this past week we actually had some fine days where the temperature started creeping up, so it seemed like a perfect time to give it a whirl.
The Porch Rocker Ale is a shandy style brew, in which its essentially supposed to be lemon beer. After the pour you can see that there was an almost startling lack of head on the beer. Additionally it was a very yellow color, extremely clear with hardly any particles. This was a very filtered beer. The nose was quite pleasant and gave off a very nice lemon aroma mixed in with some grassiness. I was intrigued. I went in for the first taste, and immediately it tasted pretty bright and pleasant, a fairly good balance of flavors though missing some hop bite. The real craziness was once the beer moved towards the back of my palate. I swear that it tasted like Trix. I loved Trix growing up and I still enjoy thinking back on those days, but that’s certainly not a flavor that I want in my beer. So while fresh and bright, not really my thing. The beer is a light weight at 4.5% ABV so you could pound these back if you were into that. I think you’d probably find a better option out there though. I would give this beer a 1.5 out of 5 simply for its initial taste, but I won’t be going back. Have a great week everyone.
Happy to be a Table of Two 
You know, I’ve been looking at the variety of Sam Adams beers that they’ve started releasing, and I always think, “Hmmm, maybe I should give that a shot. . .” Thankfully, I’m always a day or two behind you.in my decision making, so you give the mediocre beers a taste, and then I consider following you up.
Peripherally related, I tried a few beers at Dogfish Head’s brewpub, a few with fruit in them, and I was unimpressed. The Black and Blue porter was especially unimpressive. I just don’t hink that fruit and beer is often a good combination. . . But good brewers keep trying it.
Agreed Samuel Smiths keeps doing these lambics and framboises and every time I think maybe this will work. It never does, such a shame.
Yeah, I don’t think I believe in lambics at all. . .
I’m such a big fan of their Winter Lager, and it’s a bummer that their other beers don’t knock my socks off like that one. They’re ok but the Winter Lager is just so wonderful and “ok” doesn’t cut it when I know what they’re capable of.
That’s how I always felt about their Octoberfest.
We need to be able to buy a 6- pack of the porch rocker by the 4th of July.
Should be able to find it most anywhere. 🙂