Samuel Adams 76 6Pk

Samuel Adams 76 6Pk is a dual-fermented lager-ale hybrid from The Boston Beer Company, available in a 6-pack of 12 oz cans at 4.7% ABV. Built through a proprietary "tag-team fermentation" process that took over a year and 60-plus iterations to develop, Sam '76 earned a 3.5/5 rating on Untappd from more than 117,000 user reviews — a testament to its broad drinkability and distinctive brewing approach.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.7%  |  Origin: Boston, Massachusetts, USA  |  Style: Lager-Ale Hybrid  |  Brewer: The Boston Beer Company

Production & Heritage

The Boston Beer Company, founded in 1984 by Jim Koch, brews Sam '76 using a process unlike any standard ale or lager. Two separate fermentations run simultaneously — one with ale yeast, one with lager yeast — and the two beers are combined during final maturation, then dry-hopped in late fermentation. The grain bill includes Samuel Adams Pale 2-Row Harrington Blend, White Wheat, Golden Naked Oats, and Carafoam, while the hop roster features Cascade, Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Galaxy — five varieties more commonly associated with craft IPAs than mainstream lagers. The result lands somewhere between a session IPA and a clean American lager, carrying hop character without pronounced bitterness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Tropical citrus jumps first, followed by tangerine and a hint of candied orange peel. Behind the hops sits a light crackery malt presence that keeps the nose grounded.

Taste: The entry is crisp and clean with a touch of lemon and subtle spice. Mid-palate brings modest tropical hop flavors — stone fruit, juicy citrus — supported by a light malt backbone of cereal and bread dough. Bitterness stays notably low, letting fruit-forward hop character carry the profile without any astringent edge.

Finish: Dry, clean, and refreshingly short. A faint echo of lemon zest and herbal hop lingers briefly before fading to a smooth, crisp close.

How to Drink Sam '76

Serve cold, between 38–45°F, straight from the can or poured into a shaker pint. Sam '76 drinks best as a straightforward, no-fuss beer — no glass required, though pouring it out releases more of the tropical hop aromatics. For beer cocktails, try it in a Shandy with fresh lemonade, where the citrus hops amplify the lemon; a Michelada, where the clean body carries lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire without fighting back; or a Beermosa with orange juice, where the tangerine notes create a natural bridge between beer and citrus.

Best For

• Introducing craft-curious drinkers to hop-forward beer without overwhelming bitterness
• Backyard cookouts and warm-weather sessions where easy drinkability matters
• Pairing alongside game-day spreads as a crowd-pleasing, approachable option
• Bridging the gap for lager drinkers exploring IPA-adjacent flavors

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sam '76 taste like? Sam '76 delivers bright tropical citrus and stone fruit hop flavors balanced by a light crackery malt backbone, finishing dry and crisp with very low bitterness — closer to a session IPA than a traditional lager.

How does Sam '76 compare to a session IPA? Sam '76 shares the tropical hop aromatics and lower ABV typical of session IPAs, but its lager-yeast component gives it a cleaner, crisper body with less residual bitterness than most session IPAs deliver.

Is Sam '76 good for beginners? Yes — at 4.7% ABV with minimal hop bitterness and a clean, easy-drinking finish, it works well for anyone transitioning from mainstream lagers toward more flavorful craft beer.

Where is Sam '76 made? Sam '76 is brewed by The Boston Beer Company, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1984 and operates multiple brewing facilities across the United States.

What foods pair well with Sam '76? Grilled chicken or fish tacos benefit from the beer's citrus hop notes; burgers and bratwursts match its clean malt body; spicy wings are tempered by its crisp carbonation; and lighter fare like ceviche or a citrus-dressed salad echoes its tropical fruit character.

What sizes does Sam '76 come in? Sam '76 is commonly available in 6-packs of 12 oz cans, and has also been sold in 12-packs and single 16 oz cans depending on market availability.

Is Sam '76 worth the price? Sam '76 positions as a premium domestic craft beer — priced above mainstream lagers but in line with other Boston Beer Company offerings. Its unique dual-fermentation process and five-hop bill deliver more complexity than most beers at this price tier.

Why Sam '76?

The dual-fermentation process is genuinely uncommon in commercial brewing: running ale and lager yeast separately, then blending the results during maturation, creates a flavor profile that neither yeast strain achieves alone. The grain bill — particularly the Golden Naked Oats and Carafoam — adds a subtle body and mouthfeel that keeps the beer from thinning out despite its low 4.7% ABV. Five hop varieties typically reserved for IPAs deliver real aromatic complexity without the bitterness that puts many drinkers off hoppy styles. With over 117,000 Untappd ratings averaging 3.5/5, Sam '76 has proven itself a reliable, sessionable hybrid that occupies a space few other beers attempt to fill.