I like this — what should I try next?

Starting from Samuel Adams Boston Lager

A Vienna-style amber lager that introduced a great many American drinkers to a beer with malt character, and a useful bridge out of mass-market lager.

Samuel Adams · 5% ABV · Vienna lager

What you are probably responding to: malt intensity (moderate), dryness (moderate), carbonation (moderate), bread & biscuit (moderate).

Worked out from this beer’s own profile rather than from its style, because a well-known beer is often not typical of the category it belongs to.

Closest to it

Very similar in structure and flavour. Safe ground rather than discovery.

• Märzen

  A close structural match for Samuel Adams Boston Lager — a likely fit if you want more of the same.

  Shared: Bitterness is comparable — low in both. Sweetness is comparable — low–moderate in both. Body is comparable — moderate in both.

  Different: slightly more malt intensity (moderate → high).

  May not suit: Very close to Samuel Adams Boston Lager; if you wanted a change, this is not it.

  Try: Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen

• Munich Dunkel

  A close structural match for Samuel Adams Boston Lager — a likely fit if you want more of the same.

  Shared: Bitterness is comparable — low in both. Sweetness is comparable — low–moderate in both. Body is comparable — low–moderate in both.

  Different: slightly more malt intensity (moderate → high). slightly more bread & biscuit (moderate → high).

  May not suit: Very close to Samuel Adams Boston Lager; if you wanted a change, this is not it.

  Try: Weltenburger Kloster Barock Dunkel, Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel

• International amber lager

  A close structural match for Samuel Adams Boston Lager — a likely fit if you want more of the same.

  Shared: Sweetness is comparable — low in both. Body is comparable — low in both. Dryness is comparable — moderate in both.

  Different: slightly less malt intensity (moderate → low). slightly less bread & biscuit (moderate → low). slightly less nutty (low → none–trace).

  May not suit: Very close to Samuel Adams Boston Lager; if you wanted a change, this is not it.

  Try: Dos Equis Ambar, Yuengling Traditional Lager

Similar, but different

Keeps what you probably like about it and changes one or two things. Usually the most useful answer.

• Czech amber lager

  Keeps most of what Samuel Adams Boston Lager does and shifts dryness.

  Shared: Bitterness is comparable — low–moderate in both. Sweetness is comparable — low–moderate in both. Body is comparable — moderate in both.

  Different: noticeably less dryness (moderate → none–trace). slightly more caramel & toffee (low → moderate). slightly less nutty (low → none–trace).

  May not suit: Noticeably less dryness than Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

  Try: Bernard Polotmavý ležák

• Schwarzbier

  Keeps most of what Samuel Adams Boston Lager does and shifts bread & biscuit.

  Shared: Bitterness is comparable — low–moderate in both. Body is comparable — low in both. Malt intensity is comparable — moderate in both.

  Different: slightly less bread & biscuit (moderate → low). slightly less caramel & toffee (low → none–trace). slightly less nutty (low → none–trace).

  May not suit: Very close to Samuel Adams Boston Lager; if you wanted a change, this is not it.

  Try: Köstritzer Schwarzbier

• International dark lager

  Keeps most of what Samuel Adams Boston Lager does and shifts dryness.

  Shared: Sweetness is comparable — low in both. Carbonation is comparable — moderate in both. Caramel & toffee is comparable — low in both.

  Different: noticeably less dryness (moderate → none–trace). noticeably less bread & biscuit (moderate → none–trace). slightly less malt intensity (moderate → low).

  May not suit: Noticeably less dryness than Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

A bigger jump

Genuinely different, but connected by something specific — the shared trait is named so you can judge whether the bridge holds.

• Altbier

  Both carry real malt intensity, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

  Shared: Bitterness is comparable — moderate–high in both. Body is comparable — low–moderate in both. Malt intensity is comparable — moderate in both.

  Different: slightly more hop spice (none–trace → low).

  May not suit: Very close to Samuel Adams Boston Lager; if you wanted a change, this is not it.

  Try: Uerige Altbier

• California Common

  Both carry real malt intensity, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

  Shared: Bitterness is comparable — moderate in both. Sweetness is comparable — low in both. Body is comparable — low–moderate in both.

  Different: noticeably more herbal (none–trace → moderate). slightly less bread & biscuit (moderate → low). slightly less nutty (low → none–trace).

  May not suit: Noticeably more herbal than Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

  Try: Anchor Steam Beer

• Belgian pale ale

  Both carry real malt intensity, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

  Shared: Bitterness is comparable — low–moderate in both. Sweetness is comparable — low in both. Body is comparable — low–moderate in both.

  Different: noticeably less dryness (moderate → none–trace). slightly more herbal (none–trace → low). slightly more yeast fruitiness (esters) (none–trace → low–moderate).

  May not suit: Noticeably less dryness than Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

  Try: Orval, Pauwel Kwak