Sam Adams releases marathon beer, '26.2'

The Boston Beer Co.'s marathon-themed beer, Samuel Adams 26.2, should begin showing up in local bars and restaurants soon, perhaps as early as this weekend.

The brewery unveiled the beer last night with a tasting at the Boston Athletic Association's headquarters downtown. Among those there were Boston Beer Co. founder Jim Koch, BAA president Joann Flaminio, BAA executive director Tom Grilk, and Kristine Lilly, two-time Olympic gold medalist with the US women's soccer team; she's running this year's Boston Marathon.

The BAA, which organizes the Boston Marathon, is a partner in the brewing of the beer, which is a gose. Never heard of a gose? There's a good reason for that. It's something of a forgotten style. It's a light German beer brewed with at least 50 percent wheat, plus coriander and salt. Few brewers make a gose, which is too bad, because it can be quite tasty, with fruity esters, a spicy character, and a tart finish. (The name 26.2 refers, of course, to the number of miles in a marathon, not the alcohol content, which is 4.5 percent.)

Boston Beer Co. spokeswoman Lauren Malone says the goal is to get the beer in at least 100 establishments. Here's a partial list of the places that are getting Sam Adams 26.2: