''Hops Are to Beer What Grapes Are to Wine''; The Boston Beer Company Introduces Samuel Adams(R) Imperial Pilsner 2005 Harvest, a Limited-Edition Beer Brewed with an Abundance of Hallertau Mittelfrueh Hops, in Celebration of the Fall Hops Harvest.

BOSTON -- Throughout history, people have celebrated the bountiful harvest with ceremonies and festivals. This year is no different as Samuel Adams celebrates the fall hops harvest with the introduction of Samuel Adams(R) Imperial Pilsner 2005 Harvest. This one-of-a-kind brew uses enormous, almost reckless, quantities of Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops selected fresh from this year's Bavarian hops harvest, giving the beer an unmatched flavor dimension and complexity.

Every autumn for the last twenty years, Jim Koch, Founder of The Boston Beer Company, Brewer of Samuel Adams beers, travels to one of the oldest hops growing regions of the world, the Hallertau region of Bavaria in Germany, to hand-select Noble hops.

"Samuel Adams has always taken pride in using the world's finest ingredients, and Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner 2005 Harvest takes that commitment to the next level," said Koch. "Beer enthusiasts will experience the taste of hops right off the vine, and how an abundance of Noble hops can enhance the flavor and intensity of a beer."

With the first sip, beer enthusiasts will experience an explosion of the Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops. This rare hops variety, considered to be one of the best in the world, is prized for its quality and aromatic characteristics. The intensity of deep citrus, spicy Noble hops flavor, is balanced with the slight sweetness from the malt. Due to the quality of the hops, this beer remains balanced and smoothly drinkable. The lingering "hops signature" is an amazing treat for hops lovers. The beer, which has a deep golden color and a rich, creamy head, gives off an intense and complex Noble hops aroma, very similar to what Jim experiences when he rubs the hops together in his hands during hops selection, to release the essence of the hops flowers.

The world's finest ingredients are considered the Holy Grail to Jim Koch. "While many brewers just sniff the hops, he 'dives' into them," said Stefan Stanglmair, a German hops farmer. Jim involves himself in every aspect of the development of a new beer, from the ingredient selection to the brewing. He tastes each batch brewed, to ensure it meets his high standards of quality. As with all Samuel Adams beers, each batch of Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner 2005 Harvest is brewed one at a time with handcrafted care and precision.

Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner 2005 Harvest is a robust, flavorful beer. It stands up well to creamy dishes such as beef stroganoff, grilled steak smothered with a thick mushroom sauce, or a traditional Tuscan style roast meat, such as Osso Bucco. It also pairs well with pungent, creamy cheeses, such as Brie or Camembert. Chef David Burke of Davidburke & Donatella Restaurant in New York City recommends Lobster Firecrackers with Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner 2005 Harvest Lemon Sabayon (recipes available upon request).

Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner 2005 Harvest will be available in select specialty beer stores beginning in November 2005, for a suggested retail price of $4.99. The beer is packaged in a 24 oz. bottle, featuring a beautiful label that captures an artistic rendering of a farmer hand selecting the Bavarian hops from the harvest.

ABOUT HALLERTAU MITTELFRUEH HOPS:

Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops, one of the five types of Bavarian Noble hops, are considered to be one of the best hops varieties in the world, and are prized for their quality flavor and aromatic characteristics. These special hops are grown only in the Hallertau region in Bavaria, where there are only a few thousand acres of hops-growing land that provide the perfect soil and climate for growing Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops. These hops are considered to be among the world's finest and most expensive. Because these hops are difficult to grow and vulnerable to disease, many German hops farmers stopped growing the variety about a decade ago. The total acreage for Hallertau Mittelfrueh declined to less than 400 acres. Insistent on using only the best ingredients for their beers, Jim Koch and the Samuel Adams brewers worked with hop dealers and farmers to save the variety. Partially in recognition of his efforts to keep this variety from extinction, the International Hop Growers Association honored Jim Koch with this year's prestigious "Order of the Hops" award and naming him a Knight to the Order of the Hop Society, an organization dating back to 1371.

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY BACKGROUND:

The Boston Beer Company is America's leading brewer of handcrafted, full-flavored beers. Founder and Brewer, Jim Koch, brews Samuel Adams beers using the time-honored, traditional four-vessel brewing process, and the world's finest all-natural ingredients. With 18 distinctive, award-winning styles of beer, Samuel Adams offers discerning beer drinkers a variety of brews. The brewery has won more awards in international beer-tasting competitions in the last five years than any other brewery in the world. Samuel Adams is an independent brewery and has half of a percent of the domestic beer market. The Company's flagship brand, Samuel Adams(R) Boston Lager, is brewed using the same recipe and processes that Jim Koch's great-great grandfather used in the mid 1800s. The result is a beer renowned by drinkers for its full flavor, balance, complexity, and consistent quality. For more information, visit www.samueladams.com.