The Rose Bowl, Plato, James Brown, and Don Vito Corleone. What do all these have in common? They are all the grandfather of their respective field. Whether their purview be NCAA bowl games, democracy, soul, or the mob, all are innovators and leaders. The name Samuel Adams is also synonymous with innovation and leadership. Depending on the context, Samuel Adams is either a grandfather of America or craft beer. On the one hand Samuel Adams was a politician and leader of the American Revolution; on the other Samuel Adams is brewed by America’s largest craft brewery. It is the second of these that we discuss in this posting.
Famous Boston Lager
Sam Adams, produced by Boston Beer Company, was first brewed in 1984 in Boston, MA. Today the company produces no less than 21 styles of beer including its famous Boston Lager and other favorites like their Irish Red Ale and Sam Summer Ale. The company still produces a small percentage of their 1.6 million barrels (1 barrel = 31 gallons) in their Boston Brewery, and a trip to the Bay State afforded the Hapa’s crew a chance to tour their facility (and sample their goods).
The Boston facility kicks out approximately 160,000 barrels of beer using a copper and stainless steel boil / mash kettle and matching lauter tun. Beer ferments in four large conical tanks and ages in conditioning tanks. Special brews are allowed to age in wine or bourbon barrels.
Mash / boil kettle (R) and lauter tun Fermentation tanks
As the granddaddy of craft brewing Boston Beer Company is not only at the cutting edge of creating great beer, they are also influential on the very definition of what a craft beer is. The 1.6 million barrels produced in 2010 were at the very high end of the 2 million barrel threshold that defined craft brewing. A recent decision by the Brewers Association knocked that number up to 6 million barrels. Additionally, legislation is being pushed through Congress to increase the definition of “small brewery” to 6 million barrels. Breweries who fall into this category enjoy tax breaks.
Did Boston Brewing Co. make an offer Congress couldn’t refuse? We’re not sure, and we’re not asking any question. Hapa’s Brewing has long believed that horse heads should stay on horse bodies and not in peoples’ beds. Don Corleone’s got nothing on Don Sam Adams.