Brewery: Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Style: Bavarian Radler (Lemon-Infused Lager)
ABV: 4.5%
IBU: 8
Samuel Adam’s Porch Rocker Lemon Radler offers a refreshing twist on the traditional Radler style. This beer is a blend of Helles lager and natural lemon flavors, creating a drink that’s perfect for warm weather and casual sipping.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Porch Rocker pours a pale, golden straw color with a slight haze, topped by a thin, white head that dissipates quickly. The effervescence is lively, with a steady stream of bubbles rising to the surface.
Aroma
The nose is dominated by bright, zesty lemon notes, reminiscent of freshly squeezed lemonade. There’s a subtle malt sweetness in the background, but the citrus takes center stage. There’s not much hop presence, which is expected for the style.
Taste
On the palate, the beer is light and crisp, with a pronounced lemon flavor that’s both tangy and slightly sweet. The malt backbone is minimal, providing just enough balance to keep the beer from being overly tart. The finish is clean and refreshing, with a lingering lemony aftertaste.
Mouthfeel
Light-bodied and highly carbonated, almost spritzy. It drinks more like a soft drink than a beer, which makes it extremely sessionable, and an ideal choice for a hot summer day.
Pros
- Incredibly refreshing on a hot day.
- Low ABV makes it an easy sipper for long sessions.
- Well-executed take on a Radler, especially for those new to the style.
Cons
- Might be too sweet or soda-like for craft beer purists.
- The lemon flavor feels a bit artificial or candy-like to some palates.
- Not much complexity…don’t expect depth or nuance.
Ratings
- Drinkability – 4.5/5
- Flavor Balance – 3/5
- Aroma – 4.2/5
- Appearance – 3.8/5
- Overall Enjoyment – 3.9/5
Final Rating – 3.8/5
Porch Rocker is exactly what it’s trying to be… a backyard BBQ, lawn chair kind of beer. It’s not aiming for depth, just refreshment. For fans of sweeter Radlers or lemon flavored drinks, this is a solid pick. If you’re chasing hop character or complexity, look elsewhere. Still, as a seasonal brew that doesn’t take itself too seriously, it definitely hits the mark.
Porch Rocker was inspired by a traditional German style called Radler, which translates to “cyclist.” Legend has it that a Bavarian innkeeper invented the drink in the 1920s to stretch his beer supply for a group of thirsty bikers by mixing lager with lemon soda to create a thirst quencher for the road. Samuel Adams gave it an American spin, and the result is pure summer in a bottle.
If you’ve tried Samuel Adam’s Porch Rocker, please let us know what you thought about it in the comments section below.
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