On the heels of the Boston 375 Colonial Ale, brewed in the tradition of beers crafted back when Boston was founded the Boston Beer Company, maker of Samuel Adams beer, will soon launch a new pack of beers called the Brewer Patriot Collection. The four included are the Traditional Ginger Honey Ale, James Madison Dark Wheat Ale (we've also heard described as a red wheat), George Washington Porter, and the 1790 Root Beer Brew. The George Washington Porter is brewed with the same molasses that was used in the Boston 375 but is decidedly darker in color and richer in flavor.

Bostonist had the opportunity to sample some of the first production bottles of the Ginger Honey Ale and 1790 Root Beer Brew earlier today and they live up to their names. The Ginger Honey Ale isn't your run of the mill Canada Dry – it certainly has a kick, though it isn't as potent as a Goya or Reed's you'll find in the bottle at your local supermarket. Honey, ginger, and lemon dominate the flavors of the ale (can we make it clear, it contains alcohol) is refreshing and delicious, while it remains light and flavorful. It's the kind of beer we could easily see ourselves knocking back pint after pint of without realizing that we already had a couple too many. The 1790 Root Beer Brew takes is traditional in the Root Beer flavor but is brewed like beer and fermented as such. They've used Rock Candy sugar in the brewing process, and it's apparent with a sticky sweet taste that overwhelms the taste buds. We found the Root Beer Brew to taste a bit like the horehound candy our mom used to give us when we had a sore throat – which isn't a bad thing, it's a really tasty candy. It's just not the kind of beer you want a whole keg of at a party. Ginger Ale – we'll take two kegs of that please.

Both the Ginger Honey Ale and the 1790 Root Beer Brew are brewed in a traditional method that mimicks what the forefounders would have brewed for their own enjoyment – before yeast was really understood. Both are still a little murkey, but certainly aren't as hazy as the beers you may have found in the late 1700's. The Brewer Patriot Collection will be featured this weekend at the Beer Advocate "American Beer Fest." The festival celebrates the "craft beer and features over 125 beers from 36 brewers.

June 17, 2006 at the BCA Cyclorama. Session One (1pm to 5pm), Session Two (6pm to 10pm).

Samuel Adams beer has only been around for 20 years in it's current incarnation (though Sam Adams brewed his own on Milk Street - now State Street - back in the day. Flickr user lianza captures some of the different bottle labels used since the Boston Beer Company has been around.