Sam Adams offers Imperial Series for beer devotees

The Boston Beer Co., which is known for its Samuel Adams brand, said it is brewing an "imperial" series that features "more robust flavors," not to mention a more robust alcohol content - and a more robust price tag.

"The Samuel Adams Imperial Series will offer beer lovers' an intense version of some of their favorite traditional beer styles by boosting the ingredients and testing the limits of each traditional style," the company said in a press release. "With more robust flavors and nearly twice the alcohol by volume of your average beer, each style in the Imperial Series is intended to be savored and appreciated like a fine wine."

The Imperial Series will be available nationwide in February at a suggested retail price of $9.99 per four-pack, the company added.

"For me, the best part of the craft beer movement is America's evolving palate, and the constant challenge for brewers to broaden the limits," Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams beers, said in a statement.

The company added that the new series of beers includes Samuel Adams Imperial White, Samuel Adams Imperial Stout, and Samuel Adams Double Bock, the company said.

The company has sometimes made Double Bock available on a seasonal basis, but Imperial White and Imperial Stout are new; plans call for all three to be marketed year-round, the company said.

The image that accompanies this post was provided by Boston Beer.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)