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Samuel Adams Cold Snap

Samuel Adams
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🌍 United States · White Ale · One of 1 White Ales in hopIQ

Samuel Adams' spring seasonal White Ale — brewed with a blend of 12 spices including orange peel, plum and coriander for a complex, citrus-spiced character. Light, hazy and refreshing with a dry finish. Cold Snap is the seasonal signal that winter is ending: Sam Adams' celebration of spring in ale form.

ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
Mild
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
See all White Ale alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Very crisp mouthfeel.

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another White Ale.
Malt character
wheat
Fermentation & yeast
yeasty
Distinctive notes
citrusy
coriander
spicy
dark fruit
orange
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Wheat Beers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Samuel Adams Cold Snap

Appearance

Cold Snap presents a pale, hazy golden appearance characteristic of traditional witbiers, with a light straw hue from its wheat-forward grain bill. The beer displays excellent carbonation with a persistent white, fluffy head that clings to the glass. Its cloudiness is intentional and visually inviting, signaling the unfiltered wheat ale style.

hazypale goldenwhite headeffervescent

Aroma

The nose is immediately welcoming with prominent citrus notes—particularly orange peel and subtle plum—layered atop the classic wheat beer foundation. Spice character emerges with coriander and clove providing complexity without overwhelming the delicate bouquet. A light banana ester note typical of Belgian yeast fermentation adds to the aromatic intrigue.

orange peelcitruscorianderbanana esters

Taste

The palate opens smooth and wheat-forward with a slightly sweet malt foundation that quickly transitions to bright citrus and spice notes mid-palate. Coriander and clove complement the orange peel impression, creating a well-balanced herbal-spiced character without excessive bitterness. The finish is clean and crisp, with very low IBUs (10) allowing the spice blend and citrus to shine rather than hop character.

citrus-spicedsmoothslightly sweetcrisp

Finish

Cold Snap concludes with a notably dry finish that cleanses the palate and encourages another sip. The aftertaste is refreshing and clean, with lingering orange peel notes that fade gracefully without any harsh astringency.

drycleanrefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
81
Appearance
80
Finish
82
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Samuel Adams Cold Snap

Serve at 5–8°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 5–8°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Samuel Adams Cold Snap

About White Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a White Ale?

White Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar White Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same coriander, citrusy, dry character as Samuel Adams Cold Snap will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Explore all White Ale beers in hopIQ →New to White Ale? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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