Samuel Adams - Rebel IPA, Rebel Rider IPA & Rebel Rouser DIPA - A First Sampling

I’ve been following the release of these beers, so I was really excited to see a sampling package waiting for me from Samuel Adams.  These three hoppy family members are a welcome addition to the Samuel Adams  portfolio and I’m excited to get to sample all three in the official Samuel Adams sampling glasses and tasting paddle.  Before I even get to the beer, I can’t tell you how much I like the style and size of these sampler glasses.  They’re small enough for sampling and wide enough for great aroma retention (and pouring a slightly larger sample.

I brought you the first peek at Samuel Adams Rebel IPA in 2013, and I’m excited to report that it not only tastes even better today but that it returns in 2015 in not only 12oz bottles but also the 16oz Sam Cans.  In case you haven’t tried it, Rebel IPA is loaded with grapefruit and citrusy aromas and it finished with resinous piney flavors.  Rebel IPA uses Cascade, Simcoe, Centennial, Chinook and Amarillo and it comes in at 6.5% ABV and 45 IBUs.

We actually started the sampling tonight with the new Rebel Rider IPA.  This is the newest member of the Rebel family and it uses some really aromatic Cascade, Citra and Topaz hops.  It’s also dry-hopped with Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe so the hoppy flavor and robust body belies the session-ability of the brew.  Like it’s older brother, the aroma is loaded with citrus and grapefruit with a touch more sweetness.  The finish is crisp and bright and overall it’s a really well balanced and sessionable beer.  Rebel Rider comes in at 4.5% ABV and 45 IBU and it will be available nationwide in Feb in 12oz bottles.

To round out the family portrait, we introduced ourselves to the new Rebel Rouser DIPA from Samuel Adams.  This bad boy uses Cascade, Amarillo Centennial, Simcoe and Zeus hops (over 5lbs per barrel) and it’s also dry-hopped with 5 Pacific northwest hop varieties.  The color is gorgeous and deep golden and both citrusy aromas and sticky resinous flavors are prominent.  I though Rebel Rouser finished slightly herbal and grassy, but also well balanced.  This big brother comes in big at 8.4% ABV and 85 IBU and it will be available in 12oz bottles nationwide in Feb 2015.

Be sure to try these for yourself, and I strongly encourage you to sample all three in sequence from Rebel Rider, through Rebel IPA to Rebel Rouser.  Let me know what you think of the sampling sequence and how you liked each one.  I’m excited to welcome the Samuel Adams  Rebel IPA family and I’m sure they’ll become regulars in my cooler.

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