Scott W's Christmas brew reviews-Merry Mischief by Sam Adams
 

Ok, so I'm at my local Wineshop (Patricks) and I see these 22oz singles of Merry Mischief, Gingerbread Stout from Sam Adams. Knowing I was visiting the bro, I grabbed two at 6.79 each (tax not included)

22oz bbottle
milk/sweet stout gingerbread flavored
9 ABV

Pours into the glass black and the head dissipates quickly. On the nose is some sweet ginger, clove, nutmeg and a touch of coffee IMO. Took some in and swirled it around and got some deep roasted malt, clove, and that toasted gingerbread. The first half of the beer was wonderful, the second started getting old as we has several before this. Its a sipper and reminds me of a bunch of Carolers hanging around a barrel fire in December sipping a cold but yet warming beverage. It was surprisingly not heavy considering the ABV. The spice on the finish reminded me a little of the Old Fezziwigs but more ginger. A nice beer, go grab one and hang out with some of your pals by the fire.

Re: Scott W's Christmas brew reviews-Merry Mischief by Sam Adams
 

Nice review. I picked up a bottle of this a week or two ago. I have to agree with you its not as heavy i thought it would be considering the high abv. Goes down nice and easy.

Re: Scott W's Christmas brew reviews-Merry Mischief by Sam Adams
 

Old Fezziwigs - haven't seen that since I got on this island. Love that beer

Re: Scott W's Christmas brew reviews-Merry Mischief by Sam Adams
 

Me too

Re: Scott W's Christmas brew reviews-Merry Mischief by Sam Adams
 

Thanks for the review. Might give it a try. Although I am always let down by sam adams beers for some reason.

Re: Scott W's Christmas brew reviews-Merry Mischief by Sam Adams
 

Sounds good. I love stouts of all types and this one sounds nice. If I see some I will pick them up. Thanks for the review. I stay away from regular Sam Adams stuff but some of their seasonals and misc stuff can be tasty.

Re: Scott W's Christmas brew reviews-Merry Mischief by Sam Adams
 

Funny story: this beer is actually a spinoff of 100-rated (as per BA) and SAVOR award-winning Hardywood Park Craft Brewery's (Richmond, VA) Gingerbread Stout - even the label of Sam Adams' offering is a direct play on Hardywood's. Those Hardywood guys were pretty upset when Jim Koch announced Sam Adams would be doing a gingerbread stout.

Re: Scott W's Christmas brew reviews-Merry Mischief by Sam Adams
 

Spinoff or rip-off?

Spinoff would be something from the original creator or related to it. Based on your description, it sounds more like a rip-off, where there was no involvement from the original creator.

Re: Scott W's Christmas brew reviews-Merry Mischief by Sam Adams
 

Don't say that too loudly, brother. Like it or not, you're a Masshole now. :r

Re: Scott W's Christmas brew reviews-Merry Mischief by Sam Adams
 

I guess the two I had today were defective. I didn't pick up near the amount and number of spices I see listed.

As with almost all Sam Addams I've had lately, it started with hops, the middle was hops, and the ending was hops. Not as strong of hops as some others, but the hops was the overriding flavor from start to finish. But that's Sam's forte.