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Welcome to another edition of the Beer of the Week!
As always, the Beer of the Week is originally presented on the Arrowhead Pride Tailgate on 610 Sports Radio as part of my Defense and Beer of the Week segment.
The Chiefs play in Foxborough this week, so the Boston area was up for grabs for this week’s Beer of the Week. Some of my very favorite breweries are from that area (Trillium, Treehouse, Jack’s Abby), but keeping with my “distributed to Kansas City” rule, I had to go with a major brewery for this week’s offering.
This week’s Beer of the Week is Samuel Adams OctoberFest!
Tag your drinking buddy that has been waiting for OctoberFest to be back. pic.twitter.com/zkY8xbd6io
— Samuel Adams Beer (@SamuelAdamsBeer) August 30, 2018
It’s October, which brings about my favorite time of the year: Marzen and Festbier season! Sam Adams OctoberFest is a 5.3% ABV Marzen that uses Sam Adams own 2-row and Octoberfest malts alongside some traditional Munich and Caramel malts. Gently hopped with Hallertau Mittlefreuh and Tettnanger, this malty beer has good balance and pairs perfectly with burgers, brats, and other tailgating delicacies.
Started by Jim Koch in 1984, Samuel Adams (and its parent company, Boston Beer Company) formed to take on the lackluster options in the American beer market. What started as a small brewery making their now-famous Boston Lager in a kitchen, Samuel Adams has grown to be one of the largest American craft beer producers.
Boston Beer Company is a key component to the craft beer scene, and not one that tries to beat down their competition. When there was a hop shortage in 2008, Boston Beer sold back 20,000 pounds of their hops, at cost, to various craft brewers throughout the United States. They did it again in 2012 during another shortage. They also host an annual homebrewing competition in which three winners get their beer mass produced and shipped throughout their distribution chain. The foundation that the brewery was built upon is still alive and well through their philanthropic efforts.
So if you can, make sure to swing by your local liquor store and scoop up some Samuel Adams OctoberFest this weekend!
Check back here this time next week for the new Beer of the Week!