Tasting Massachusetts' only gold medal beer

Of note: Boston Beer Co.'s Samuel Adams Summer Ale won a bronze medal in the fruit wheat beer category this year.

What we drank: To see what all the fuss was about, I got a 10-ounce pour of the Size 6, the brewery's flagship Belgian, for $7.

• It's 7.5% ABV, so be careful, because this sucker is very, very smashable.
• Even though it's medium-bodied, the Size 6 had flavor to spare with some sweetness resembling caramel.

From there, the Post Road Detour cream ale was the next logical choice for a $7 can pour.

• It won a 2022 US Beer Open gold medal.
• It's got a lighter body, but still packs in the flavor at 5.5%

Since you'll likely have to drive home from Marlborough, turn things down a bit with the 3.3% Shoemaker's English dark mild for $7.50 for the 20-ounce glass.

• It's dark in color but light in body. Get it from the brewery's nitro line to make it even smoother.

The bottom line: Getting from Boston to Marlborough was by far the worst part. Perhaps Lost Shoe's success will lead to an outlet a bit further east.