Sawtooth Ale - Bitter Root Brewing

GeezLynn

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Five or six years since I've had anything from these guys. The nut brown used to be pretty solid beer.

A: Golden straw color with a light white head.

S: Pretty grainy smell, with a little wheat and adjunct - maybe corn? Not enticing.

T: Flavor is sweet with and fruity, mainly apple/pear with a slight lemon tang. I can also pick up the wheat and a little hop flavor.

M: Body is light but not thin with crisp carbonation.

Flavor's not bad for style, but the smell leaves a lot to be desired. Not my first choice of Bitter Root beers but it might have it's place on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 03:50:41 | More by GeezLynn

Murrhey

Montana

3.49/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a weizen glass in high elevation Libby, Mont. Reviewed live.

A- Two finger white fluffy head. Pretty low retention, spotty, watery lacing. Pale golden color with moderate clarity. Fairly attractive looking beer.

S- Golden, slightly toasty malts and English hops. Slight bit of funk as well, which isn't a good sign. Not bad smell, but not good either.

T- Tasty wheat and light malts. Hop character is minimal and earthy. Very nice flavor for a blonde.

M- Smooth and sticky. Finishes wet and clean. Pretty nice feel.

O- More impressed than I thought I was going to be. This is a very nice blonde.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 04:50:21 | More by Murrhey

Kornoms

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

09-01-2012 23:27:04 | More by Kornoms

zeff80

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a hazy, golden yellow color with a one-finger head of bubbly foam. It left sudsy trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of caramel and some floral notes.

T - It tasted of sweet caramel with some subtle roasty notes. Slight biter hop bite.

M - It was fairly crisp and sharp. A light to medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is an okay blonde ale. Nice to try something from a small Montana brewery.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 01:53:11 | More by zeff80

hockenbeer

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +10.5%

05-29-2012 00:59:15 | More by hockenbeer

jheezee

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

05-01-2012 20:57:21 | More by jheezee

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

4.33/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22oz into wide pint.

A- Really nice golden brown and big fluffy head. Looks like marshmallow. Settles down to a finger.

S- Smells like banana saltwater taffy.

T- Sweet floral notes and grassy note that reminds me of grass right after a rainstorm. Mildly bitter in the finish. Lots of fruity esters.

M- Crisp, refreshing, pleasant. An easy drinker. Pairs well with a spicy food. Great body and carbonation.

O- One of the better blonde ales I've come across. Very enjoyable. Everyone would like this beer. Very approachable.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 23:31:04 | More by ShogoKawada

robwestcott

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thanks to ivanwho and the Noob BIF round 2 for this one.

poured cold from the bomber a semi-translucent straw yellow / gold to a shaped sun king pint with a long lasting foamy white head with nice retention.

pleasant aroma of lemon rind and ripe pears.

subtle puckery tart on the first sip, lemon, citrus, sweet apples.

smooth, creamy, medium bodied, subtle tart to the roof of the mouth.

drinkable - very.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2010 02:20:58 | More by robwestcott

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Moose's Saloon.

This beer appears a clear pale golden colour, with one finger of creamy white head, which leaves a decently played out web of lace as the story develops. It smells faintly of citrus and barley grain. The taste is fruity malt - apple and pear, with some floral, earthy hops. The carbonation is moderate, the body medium weight and fruity smooth, and it finishes dry, and well, fruity.

A nice mild-flavoured blonde ale; the fruity focus held to the end.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2010 06:34:39 | More by biboergosum

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I have the rare Thursday night off... Managed to pull Brenda into Brewforia on our jaunt out to El Gallo Giro (Great Mexican food) ... Picked up a nice mixed 6'er.. Paid waaaay to much for this bottle.. $6.20ish.

Pours clear golden.. descent head and lacing.

Nose is pale malts and little else.. not really a flaw though.. some minor floral hops.. ehhh...

Clean pale malts.. something that make me think adjuncts like corn... but really this is just a good very drinkable blonde...

Body is sturdy for the style... carbonation is pretty much perfect..

The price is waaaay too much for this brew/style.. I would be happy with $3.. but $6 is harsh.

I am pretty happy to find Bitter Root in Boise... I've picked up their 22's everywhere in my many trips to MT... and have enjoyed some nice ales in the taproom... but.. again... $6.. is too much even given the distance.

3.5/3.5/3.5/3.5/4

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2010 08:56:02 | More by JohnGalt1

colts9016

Idaho

4.13/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass at 37 degrees.

Appearance: A one finger head that is foamy creamy with some retention. The color of the beer is a light amber color with yellow orange hues. The clarity of the beer is slightly hazy. There is some effervescence in the beer.

Nose: A medium malty aroma with a subtle sweetness. There are notes of yeast, toasty, and a light phenol.

Taste: A light malty flavor with notes of yeast, toast, and a subtle sweetness.

The mouth feel is creamy and smooth.

Overall: The body of the beer is light and the finish is light also. This is a good beer that represents it style well. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 03:50:44 | More by colts9016

RJLarse

Washington

2.78/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I bought a bomber of Sawtooth Ale at a beer store. $4.59. Poured in to a pint glass.

Pours a rich gold color and is clear. Fizzy white breaks down quickly, but the last eighth inch or so is fairly resilient.

Smell is a wet grain aroma. No sweetness, no fruit or floral scent.

Taste is an acerbic cereal flavor. A lot of bitterness and not much else going on.

Mouthfeel is light and clean. Moderately carbonated. Dry bitter aftertaste.

Drinkable but average. I think it actually smells and tastes a lot like a macro lager. Pretty good lawnmower beer I guess, but I doubt I'll buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 01:43:41 | More by RJLarse

Vidav

Montana

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a bomber at Rosauers Supermarket in Missoula, MT. Only reason I chose this one is that it was on sale and I wanted to try something new.

Poured a deep yellow/orange color with no head to speak of. Smell is mostly malty with some floral hinted at in there. Very light taste really that was the same as the smell. Malt is the most forward flavor with a hint of sweetness. Really though it's not very strong at all.

This is not a bad beer, just not anything remarkable. Probably wont buy it again but I wouldn't refuse it if someone was offering.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2009 20:49:35 | More by Vidav

PlaywrightSam

New York

3.45/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22oz bomber picked up at Wordens in Missoula, MT. Pours a cloudy amber-orange, minimal head that retains to a caked-on layer, very minimal lacing. Smell is very light roasted malts, very distant hop presence. Some floral quality in there, vaguely spicy. Taste is kind of thin, pretty straight-forward malt profile with a light bitterness. Fades away pretty quickly off the taste buds. Mouthfeel is smooth, moderate carbonation. It's a totally decent beer, very straight-forward blonde ale. Those looking for something more distinctive best avert their glances elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2008 06:01:58 | More by PlaywrightSam

loren01

Oregon

2.78/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Had this beer from a 22 oz bottle purchased at the Man Store in Helena, MT.
A: Pours a light golden color with minimal head. Good amount of carbonation and lacing.
S: Smell is sweet like honey with a slight citrusy smell as well. Also a good amt of spiciness maybe cinnamon??
T: Taste is slightly sweet, not much flavor actually pretty watery.
M: Medium to full bodied, lots of bubbly on the tongue.
D: I don't think I would probably get this one again, taste was pretty bland and watery I thought.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2006 14:23:40 | More by loren01

GClarkage

California

4.1/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consumed in August 2004 from a 22oz purchased from the Bitteroot Brewery in Hamilton, MT. Poured with a small head, a amber darker ale. Decent amount of spices fill the air. Very impressive scent. A very tasty beer. Uses rye in the making of the beer. Adds a nice little kick to it. A different kind of taste than I am used to. Wish I had taken more notes on this beer. Kind of doing it by memory. I just remember that it was a very good beer worthy of seeking out if you are in the Northwestern states area. I've actually had all their beers and have about 4 more different kinds at home ready to drink and review while drinking rather than by memory. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2004 18:17:51 | More by GClarkage

Gusler

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer disembogues the brown 22 ounce bottle a slightly bemused amber color, the head a prestigious light tan crown to sit upon the body with the lace a silky curtain to obscure the glass. The nose is sweetly malt with a bit of floral spiciness to accentuate the crispness, also a bit of yeast from the Rye and Wheat, a pleasant treat for the schnozzle. Start is lightly sweet with a nice malt profile and the top moderate in its feel to the palate. Finish has a purposeful acidity and the hops spicy in their mild but flavorful bite, the aftertaste is quite dry and a nice refreshing beer, and I once again thank abnranger for this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2004 23:58:33 | More by Gusler