First Posted: 6/10/2014
Beer: Porch Rocker
Brewer: Boston Beer Co. (Sam Adams)
Style: Vegetable/fruit beer
ABV: 4.50%
Description: Porch Rocker pours clear straw yellow with a bright white frothy head that doesn’t linger too long, but leaves a ring around the beer throughout. The aroma is dominated by lemon up front, letting you know what to expect within; the background notes are those of earthy hops, wet grains, and a hint of honey from the malts. The taste follows the nose, with lemon being the predominant flavor up front and on the back end. In the middle, the malts make their appearance with very slight grassy, earthy hops, adding a touch of bitterness combined with the sweetness of the malts before the lemon comes through again. There is a slight lingering lemon flavor on the palate, which adds to the refreshing quality of this beer. The light body and moderate carbonation gives this beer an invigorating quality, which is what you would want and expect from a beer such as this one. Porch Rocker is a highly enjoyable summer beer that is great to have on hand for the hot summer days ahead!
Food pairing: The heavy lemon qualities of this beer make it great to pair with seafood. Try pairing Porch Rocker with a simple shrimp cocktail for a lovely complementing flavor profile; the lemons add the familiar garnish onto the shrimp, and the flavors combine for a summer taste familiar and loved by many. Also try pairing with clams, flounder, calamari, mussels, and lobster. Porch Rocker is also a beer that goes well with a wide variety of summer foods, but be careful not to overload the toppings, as this is not a hefty beer and can be overwhelmed. Instead, pair with grilled chicken, hamburgers, steak, and hot dogs. The bottom line with this beer is to pair it with foods that are typically enjoyed in the summer that will highlight the refreshing and light qualities of it.
The final word: While some beer snobs may turn their nose up at the idea of a beer combined with lemons, it would be their loss to do so, as this is certainly a brew with a lot of redeeming qualities that make it absolutely perfect for warm summer days. The refreshing qualities of a Helles are undoubtedly present in Porch Rocker, as the base beer and the addition of fresh lemons tip the scales into fully refreshing territory. The idea behind this beer is based on the Bavarian Radler, named for cyclists that originated this drink through combining beer and lemonade, a sports drink idea similar to the famous Arnold Palmer. Sam Adams also took another step towards making this the ultimate summer beer by releasing it in cans for added convenience. This is a perfect beer to have in a well-stocked summer fridge.
Rating: W W W W
Where can I get it? Currently available in 12-ounce bottles and/or cans at Backyard Ale House, Scranton; J & H Beer, Plains Township; What’s Brewin’ 6-Pack Ale Shoppe, Old Forge; Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer, Wilkes-Barre; and Goldstein’s Deli, Kingston.
Remember, enjoy responsibly! Cheers!
-Derek Warren is a beer fanatic, avid homebrewer, and beer historian. Derek can be heard weekly on the Beer Geeks Radio Hour on 102.3 FM Saturdays at 10 a.m.
