Two Sam Adams variety packs show up at the same time, and we cannot resist turning it into a full-on taste test. Mike and Jim are back in the studio with Julie, and we line up eight beers from the Boston Beer Company to answer a simple question that every craft beer fan cares about: which pack actually tastes like what it promises? We keep it grounded with the details that matter, including ABV, IBUs, aroma, clarity, and the one thing that can make or break a seasonal beer, the finish that sticks around after the sip.

We start with the 2026 Spring Favorites pack and work through Breakaway Blonde, Cold Snap, Alpine Spring, and Blackberry Wit, calling out what hits and what feels muted. Then we crack open the Star Spangled Variety Pack with American Light, Porch Rocker, Summer Ale, and Blueberry Lager, where the “hot day cooler” energy really kicks in. If you’re looking for lawnmower beers, a craft alternative to big box light lagers, or fruit beers that actually deliver fruit flavor without turning into liquid candy, the rankings at the end are worth the ride.

We also sneak in some beer history along the way: Samuel Adams as a maltster, the Sons of Liberty meeting at Boston’s Green Dragon Tavern, the push for drinking local beer over imports, and a wild little detail about Sam Adams pioneering consumer-readable freshness dating. Listen, pick your favorite, and then help us out by subscribing, sharing the episode with a beer buddy, and leaving a review with your top choice from the lineup.

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