Just like that time back in 2003 when Mom & I went to the Adams National Historical Park, which was just minutes from where I lived until I was five, after living so close to the Samuel Adams Brewery, I finally went on the tour today.
If you've never done a tour of the brewery, I highly recommend it. For a two dollar donation, you get to taste test two possible flavors and vote on the one you prefer.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfmC3qyIoXrsMywDi2XLGxXVj9pEdaRAJ0L3of8fPBokUlMqCDB33Abs2cLmEoW2EBLrTw8z2qJKa2ms65lwV0NLW37zbGpJxrkCccVTDmqOQdY14k6Ctja059_AXPKgjCM_qX5Ih5d4/s200/ballot.JPG)
If you need to use the restroom, don't fear this porta-potty trailer.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzli-Uk17qpvJyFB1oEEqZjubLWQ8_wOswQ6jHy82TQb04dQ4elZAzFzIdYFWIignrI73-nUm3ZrBp83qdBZqN2SHcnkdaVBt62eb8CTCdkLCncowanVFnPOc-f4iGHmVYGLONVFksHE/s200/what+lies+beneath.JPG)
It's probably the nicest public restroom I've ever seen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM3bXDrOfWVC2xr706kSyc-xRZd5mN_7iuo443-clKEQusVwUuKZGx8Iz7Cc-Pw8YWDFHtO1oVElfUj-k76yAmIlrdepqChYzMJ-OzV0XZn-0U7I1qMlcZ1cfMAwHOVVSD30QJzj2uuo/s200/clean+portapotty.JPG)
Every 45 minutes is a tour. So, then we finally went on a tour of the facility. Our tour guide was a student at Northeastern named Corey. She was hilarious.
We learned about the four main ingredients of beer: barley, hops, water and yeast (I got yeast when no one else did...I was sorta a beer suck up on the Sam Adams tour. More on that to follow.)
Then we tried barley, which, as I expected, tasted just like Grape Nuts, because Grape Nuts and beer have a lot in common*.
Next we saw the steaming copper kettle boiling the mash. And the giant vats of yeast and mash and water interacting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcX7r8inqL2UIVhAanDoi2ED2_hsGpZ4hU1NBbBnaomfeGRk9bu38Nl3r_FZXuZWIwgVdIkMaW0wt9cnV07_wPYhz7kS9mRbb2P1hXUL7XbxZqfV_7m5sKwMf9cJRlnaGk1WDbewLAGro/s200/steamed+mash+and+corey.JPG)
Finally came the very special time: when we got to go to the tap room and learn how to properly drink beer. There are five steps. Heck if I can remember them. But it's something like smelling, looking through the glass to see your fingers, tasting then talking about them. But I think I lost a step in there. Regardless, when it came to trivia time in the tap room as we drank Boston Lager and Summer Ale, I was the first to get a Perfect Pint pint glass, with a laser cut glass for the perfect pint. I also knew that Summer Ale was brewed with lemon zest and what West African considered an aphrodisiac, Grains of Paradise.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSMHlXU2b7Xxe0nqoJ_-zaBYE3RGCO6gExyJ2pBw2ywBaejKOe3BeosRN7ty-Ianuq0rrwOg0tL0BCTnzkplnmoGieLQIBkPJMmhIkeKoEKW7dxK7wPeg08lCHdLNh4aBcT_UmJhltX0/s200/chrissy+rene+bridge+sam+adams+tap+room.JPG)
I got to have the first prize of the perfect pint pint glass because I was smart. When we went to Real Deal Deli and Sugar Bakery for lunch before going the brewery, I bought whoever our tour guide may be a freshly baked, delicious, giant, chocolate chip cookie. While were moving from one station to the other, Corey ended up next to me in the shuffle so I said, "Hi. I brought you something. This is a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie from Sugar Bakery in West Roxbury. I got it because I figured you'd like it and also to suck up." And I handed her the white paper bag filled with wholesome deliciousness.
She laughed, and in the end, I got my perfect pint.
BUT THEN, I also got some other special stuff. Octoberfest doesn't come out to next week, so we'll be picking a case of that up then. However, my very supercool friend from grad school, T igh, works for Sam's and he gave me his 2 employee cases for the month. Plus I got to get a gift from the gift shop on his expense account. So I got this awesome hat.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVyli3WRfMgHEEPNqMxIbByetZHpy3P6BsRO66Ittsisv8wKfCxGU6oodcX4PnXUxHbxyRBKcmmyrfPbIYH5KxqzjTgV5V6_LijqMf0wNNlN4HC4TtpOeKS9xlrhjI2UIaw8btg3jLHk/s200/jaunty+hat.JPG)
No, I'm not trying out for a spot in the Newsies musical.
And I got a case of Cherry Wheat. It's in the cooler. I got to go into the Giant Cooler Room of Cases. It was a little overwhelming. But the Cherries were singing to me like sirens in the Odyssey.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8a6SKTEpoqFNRBlLO-PKmdBsy2PLr7LuPygjowWZ5VBXQ3x3bL1AoVmj92pHAILUC2ghyphenhyphenSpbtHQ3FX1yRTQyJrtcu4DINi0ZF9z08wr1WSelcC-Icj24m9tMQwBnleg4mdFOSzrIIOo/s200/Cherry+Wheat.JPG)
And now I shall go enjoy a glass.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MM9srpbsTlWHUIoyq_ksOloB8ioeALWfIl6ZqwZWFfE3HFVc8-Jv5qeol1Xtjg6nyaeJXaPcTb9NNLa5SMwqh7Bjl0KUdQ-sQFxGZSlWnKfGmMlOYC5IhXa5SbM6tz5LqwnwwEO-Fvk/s200/newsies+hat.JPG)
*Grape Nuts ingredients: Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Salt, Dried Yeast. (No grapes. No nuts.)
If you've never done a tour of the brewery, I highly recommend it. For a two dollar donation, you get to taste test two possible flavors and vote on the one you prefer.
If you need to use the restroom, don't fear this porta-potty trailer.
It's probably the nicest public restroom I've ever seen.
Every 45 minutes is a tour. So, then we finally went on a tour of the facility. Our tour guide was a student at Northeastern named Corey. She was hilarious.
We learned about the four main ingredients of beer: barley, hops, water and yeast (I got yeast when no one else did...I was sorta a beer suck up on the Sam Adams tour. More on that to follow.)
Then we tried barley, which, as I expected, tasted just like Grape Nuts, because Grape Nuts and beer have a lot in common*.
Next we saw the steaming copper kettle boiling the mash. And the giant vats of yeast and mash and water interacting.
Finally came the very special time: when we got to go to the tap room and learn how to properly drink beer. There are five steps. Heck if I can remember them. But it's something like smelling, looking through the glass to see your fingers, tasting then talking about them. But I think I lost a step in there. Regardless, when it came to trivia time in the tap room as we drank Boston Lager and Summer Ale, I was the first to get a Perfect Pint pint glass, with a laser cut glass for the perfect pint. I also knew that Summer Ale was brewed with lemon zest and what West African considered an aphrodisiac, Grains of Paradise.
I got to have the first prize of the perfect pint pint glass because I was smart. When we went to Real Deal Deli and Sugar Bakery for lunch before going the brewery, I bought whoever our tour guide may be a freshly baked, delicious, giant, chocolate chip cookie. While were moving from one station to the other, Corey ended up next to me in the shuffle so I said, "Hi. I brought you something. This is a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie from Sugar Bakery in West Roxbury. I got it because I figured you'd like it and also to suck up." And I handed her the white paper bag filled with wholesome deliciousness.
She laughed, and in the end, I got my perfect pint.
BUT THEN, I also got some other special stuff. Octoberfest doesn't come out to next week, so we'll be picking a case of that up then. However, my very supercool friend from grad school, T igh, works for Sam's and he gave me his 2 employee cases for the month. Plus I got to get a gift from the gift shop on his expense account. So I got this awesome hat.
No, I'm not trying out for a spot in the Newsies musical.
And I got a case of Cherry Wheat. It's in the cooler. I got to go into the Giant Cooler Room of Cases. It was a little overwhelming. But the Cherries were singing to me like sirens in the Odyssey.
And now I shall go enjoy a glass.
*Grape Nuts ingredients: Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Salt, Dried Yeast. (No grapes. No nuts.)