In this year of 2021, we celebrate the release of Boston’s own Brewer Patriot Ale, brewed by revolutionary brewery Samuel Adams.

An ode to the rabble rouser who was instrumental to the start of the American Revolution, the Samuel Adams Downtown Boston Taproom celebrates the most independent-minded of the founding fathers.

We celebrate Samuel Adams, leader of the Sons of Liberty, whose meetings to fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, were all held over beers in the back of local taverns. The uttering of one sentence – “this meeting can do nothing more to save the country!” – sparked a movement to begin America’s independence.

Brewer Patriot Ale features the Lapsang Souchong tea strain that was thrown overboard during the night of the Boston Tea Party and procured centuries later by local loose leaf tea importer, MEM Tea Imports from local Watertown, MA. This wheat ale is refreshing with subtle notes of black tea. The ale will be featured as the new “House Ale” for the Samuel Adams Downtown Boston Taproom and available year-round!

We asked Head Brewer and Alewife, Megan Parisi, for her thoughts behind the beer:

Tea in Beer? Tell us more about that and why would you make that the new house beer.

Boston’s historic district is steeped in history, and what steeps better than tea? Our Downtown Taproom location finds itself in a uniquely historic location near Quincy Market and the Old State House, along the Freedom trail, in the shadow of City Hall, and by a square that has held so many important Boston moments, dialogues, and protests in the city’s history. We couldn’t help but pay homage to an area of which we most recently became a part. One of the turning points in the American revolution was the Boston Tea Party, the site of which is less than a mile from our doorstep. Incorporating this flavorful ingredient into this brew seemed a natural choice to celebrate the rich and unique history of our location.

The Boston Taproom brings craft beer to a broader audience – from the financial district folks to tourists from around the world. Where does your thought process start when you think up recipes for your innovative brews?

When it comes to creating Innovation brews, the inspiration can come from many different sources, and therefore the thought process can take different paths based on the inspiration. Often I think of a flavor I want to achieve and imagine the beer in the glass – then I work backwards on how to get there with the ingredients and brewing techniques. But sometimes I find an ingredient that I want to use and then have to figure out what is the best way to use it, and then try to create a flavor around that. That’s a lot of fun as well. I’ve always been inspired by culinary influences which is why you may see a lot of beers that use ingredients like tea, spices, fruits and vegetables, as well as specific influences like cocktails!