Sam Adams and their Nitro Project has finally started to show up in L.A. (though BevMo seems to hide it strategically through their Burbank store).
I purchased four packs of both the IPA and a White Ale to see which would win taste-wise and which best showcased the Nitrogenation process.
I started with the Creamy & Smooth White Ale. The sound of the can popping is like starting up an engine. The head is big and creamy. There is near milkshake quality to this. Almost like a horchata shake. Pie spice nutmeg-gy ness. It seems to me that the essential subtle shades of Wit Bier (AKA White Ale) are overwhelmed by the creamy nitro. As it warms, the navel orange notes really start to pick up which adds a missing dimension.
Next on to the Bright & Citrusy, the hops certainly do combat the nitro more. There is a pungent, piney hop kick to this beer that seeps through the foamy head. Lots of wood notes to this hop blend. As it stays cold the nitro half stays in effect. I sampled the beer straight from the ‘fridge and also after sitting at room temp and found it to initially be more citrus focused before settling into the woods.
Overall, I would take the White Ale since it held a little more nuance. The IPA fought through the Nitro and unleveled that playing field too much. Now I might have to try the third offering, the coffee stout/
