Samuel Adams Cold Snap
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Tasting Notes
Cold Snap pours with a hazy, pale straw appearance and carries aromas of orange peel, coriander, and a gentle floral note that leans toward plum and hibiscus. The flavor is light and slightly tart, with wheat grain character underpinning the citrus spice blend, finishing clean with a mild bitterness. The body is medium-light, and the carbonation keeps things lively without overwhelming the more delicate herbal and fruit notes. It's a well-constructed witbier with a slightly more spice-forward profile than Belgian classics.
About the Brewery
Samuel Adams is brewed by the Boston Beer Company, founded by Jim Koch in Boston, Massachusetts in 1984. The brewery is widely credited with helping launch the American craft beer movement and remains one of the largest craft producers in the country. They're best known for their flagship Boston Lager, but maintain a broad seasonal and rotating lineup that spans lagers, ales, and experimental styles. Cold Snap is part of their spring seasonal rotation.
Food Pairings
The citrus and coriander character in this witbier makes it a natural companion for grilled shrimp tacos, where the spice echoes the seasoning without competing. A light Thai green curry works well because the wheat body softens the heat while the orange peel notes play off lemongrass. Steamed mussels in white wine and butter are a classic witbier pairing, with the beer's brightness cutting through the richness. A simple arugula salad with shaved parmesan and lemon vinaigrette mirrors the beer's herbal and citrus tones without overwhelming the palate.
Style Guide
Witbier, meaning "white beer" in Dutch and Flemish, is a Belgian wheat ale brewed with a significant proportion of unmalted wheat alongside barley malt, which gives it a hazy, pale appearance and a soft, slightly tart grain character. The style is traditionally spiced with coriander and dried orange peel, distinguishing it from German hefeweizen, which relies instead on yeast-derived banana and clove notes. Witbier fell nearly extinct in Belgium by the mid-20th century before Pierre Celis revived it with Hoegaarden in the 1960s, and it has since become one of the most widely brewed wheat ale styles internationally. ABVs typically run between 4.5% and 5.5%, keeping the body light and the spice character front and center.