Sam Adams Var

This is a 12-can variety pack under the Sam Adams name, brewed in Massachusetts and categorized as an IPA offering. Because it's a mixed pack, the exact lineup and the ABV and IBU of each beer vary by edition, so the carton's can list is the authority on what's inside. What the category tells you is the general direction: expect hop-forward ales, with citrus, pine and resin aroma and a bitterness that finishes dry rather than sweet. Any non-IPA styles in the box will typically be maltier and rounder, so they make a useful contrast between hoppy cans. A mixed twelve is best used for comparison. Pour two styles side by side and the differences in hop character, body and finish are easy to see, which makes the pack handy for working out whether you lean toward bitter and piney or softer and fruitier. Serve the hoppy cans cold but not frozen, roughly 4 to 7°C (40 to 45°F). Much colder and the hop aroma goes quiet; a few minutes out of the fridge opens it up. Pour into a tulip, a shaker pint or a standard IPA glass instead of drinking from the can, because the aroma carries much of an IPA's character and a glass lets it collect. Any maltier beers in the pack are fine in the same glass at the slightly warmer end of that range. For food, IPAs cut through fat and handle heat. Burgers, fried chicken, wings, tacos al pastor, spicy curries and sharp cheddar all stand up to the bitterness, and the carbonation clears the palate between bites. Lighter, less bitter cans suit pizza, grilled sausages and roasted vegetables.