The pack contains the regular Boston Lager. Boring, of course, but actually fitting for the Thanksgiving season. Not surprisingly it has the ubiquitous Octoberfest and we all know and love that one too. The four unusual ones were Harvest Pumpkin, Black Lager, Irish Red, and Bonfire Rauchbier.
The Harvest Pumpkin was tasty and flavorful; more savory than sweet like a lot of pumpkin beers. It's not the best pumpkin beer out there but it's nice to see Sam produce a quality version of a popular style anyway.
The Black Lager was almost a lighter and more drinkable version of a stout. I didn't love it but it was also easy drinking and worthy of a spot in the pack.
Irish Red is an odd choice for this case, as it's also the appropriate choice for the spring seasonal. That having been said, I love it so I was thrilled to see it in there. A great version of an unappreciated style.
Finally we come to the most bizarre of the beers, Bonfire Rauchbier. This one is smoked (yes, actually brewed with some type of smoking process involved) and literally tastes like a regular Sam Adams that you left out by your bonfire for awhile. Unusual but still easy drinking and tasty. I wouldn't want a whole pack of them but having a few to try is a nice treat.
That basically sums up my thoughts on the whole variety pack. Nothing was too strong, everything was easily drinkable. This is the perfect thing to have on hand for a party with some people who want to try different beers but won't go for anything too outside the box. There's something for everyone to love.
Once you get into sampling things from breweries like Dogfish Head, something like this pack could seem pedestrian, but there are some excellent beers here from a cross section of styles, all of which go perfectly with football, Halloween parties, and chilly fall nights. Nothing here is going to completely knock your socks off but I give this a strong recommendation.
If you like my beer reviews, check out my review album on Facebook!
