I’m always intrigued by new Samuel Adams beers, especially the Samuel Adams LongShot beers. In case you didn’t know, the Boston Beer Company (Boston, MA) invites homebrewers to enter their innovative and creative brews in the annual Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest.  Three winning brews are chosen from among the entries and the winning homebrewers have their unique brews made available nationwide in the Samuel Adams LongShot variety six-pack. I found the 2010 six-packs at the Total Wine and More in McLean, Virginia in mid-May.

The variety pack includes two bottles each of:

• Old Ben Ale, an Old Ale, which is a dark, malty, English-style beer that is similar to a Barley Wine.  Old Ben Ale (9%) is brown in color with caramel notes.
• Mile High Barley Wine, “a dark red, flavorful brew with rich plum undertones to complement its caramel malt flavor. Brewed with citrusy American hops and a blend of six varieties of malt, the sweet and dark fruit notes in this beer linger on the palate.” Mile High Barley Wine is strong (9.8%) and complex.
• Lemon Pepper Saison, a “flavorful, refreshing and lighter-bodied beer brewed with Grains of Paradise, an exotic tropical spice also found in Samuel Adams Summer Ale. The peppery flavor is complemented by a slightly sweet aroma with hints of vanilla and citrus, making this beer the perfect cool down to a hot summer day.” My favorite of the three, and the most drinkable at 6.4%.

Read the complete announcement about the LongShot beers on the BeerNews.org web site.

The Old Ale was not a favorite, but it was interesting to try a style that I don’t drink often. I also rarely drink Barley Wine, but I enjoyed the hoppy Mile High Barley Wine. The Lemon Pepper Saison was the perfect summer beer. I love the Saison style and the lemon pepper flavor was different but approachable. This six-pack is an easy recommendation for its unique offerings.