Longshot Grape Pale Ale (Samuel Adams)

I know what you're thinking. What the hell is a "grape pale ale"? Well, it's a pale ale brewed with grapes. Go figure! This one was created by Lili Hess, a Sam Adams employee from Hawaii. It was also one of three winners of this past Samuel Adams "Longshot" Homebrew Contest. 

The other winners were a weizenbock and a double IPA that unfortunately didn't make it into production this year due to the worldwide hop shortage (it must have been pretty hoppy as it was 9.6% and over 100 IBUs). So there are just two styles in this year's 6-packs. You can get them anywhere they sell Sam Adams and a 6'er retails for $7.99.

According to the bottle:

As Lili describes it, "It's like you are drinking a pale ale after biting into a green seedless grape". 

Intrigued? I was. It pours darker than I thought it would. I was expecting a very light colored beer. The smell was sweet but not like grapes. I really don't think green grapes have a lot of taste or smell, other than a subtle sweetness. Maybe thats what I was smelling along with some maltiness? 

The taste was nice. It had a very refreshing quality too it with a really subtle taste. It kind of reminded me of Magic Hat #9 but with about 1/4 of the apricot sweetness. Its a very unique beer in that it was brewed with "natural grape flavor and maple syrup" but its not an overly flavorful beer nor does it have to be. It would make a great beer on a hot day. Too bad those days are still far off here in Maine. 

I can't help wishing that Lili had done something with pineapple to make this beer a little more Hawaiian. That would have been pretty cool! Maybe next year!

BEER FACTS:

Name: Longshot Grape Pale Ale

Style: Fruit Flavored Ale

Brewery: Boston Beer Company

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Container: 12 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: ?

IBUs: ?

For more about the 2007 Sam Adams Longshot Contest winners go HERE!

To enter the contest for a chance to see your homebrew in production go HERE!