Beer Pick: Samuel Adams and Weihenstephan Infinium

Profile: Timed for the holiday season, the Boston Beer Co. recently introduced Infinium — a limited edition champagne-like beer that’s the product of a two-year collaboration between Samuel Adams founder Jim Koch and Dr. Josef Schradler of Germany’s Weihenstephan Brewery.

The brewing challenge was to adhere to the Reinheitsgebot, the German beer purity law that allows just four ingredients: malt, hops, water and yeast. It seems yeast was the most important element at several stages in the process. At 10.3 percent alcohol by volume, Infinium is strong, but light and bubbly, with a refreshing, fruity acidity and a dry finish. There’s also a smooth malt presence that says, “beer.”

Pair with: To fully appreciate the elegance of Infinium, serve it like sparking wine, chilled in an ice bucket and poured into flutes. It would make a fine match for oysters, shrimp or lobster. And it’s perfect as a pre-dinner aperitif or a special way to toast the New Year.

Bob Townsend is editor of Southern Brew News, a bimonthly beer publication distributed throughout the Southeast, www.brewingnews.com/southernbrew