Saranac India Pale Ale - Matt Brewing Company

Jason

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 12 oz brown longneck bottle with no freshness date, description of the beer and “American I.P.A.” stated on the label.

Appearance: Shimmering off white lace that leaves a web-like trail, the pancake of a head stays for a while floating above the bright golden liquid.

Smell: Slanted hoppy aroma of full on Cascades, sweet and floral with an oily citric note. Some malt is noticeable with suggestions of taffy and ripe pear, all in all this is a bit weak in the aroma for an American IPA.

Taste: Crispness gets a little lost when the moderate carbonation drops out, malt is hard to discern as the one way left-wing Cascade character tries to take over. Rind like citric tones are quick and the bitterness is a bit pungent. Finishes bitter and semi-dry.

Notes: Not bad if you like the taste of citrusy Cascade hops, weak in the malt department which shows in the body as well. Similar to Harpoon IPA but not as good.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2002 11:03:19 | More by Jason

datalager

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +12.6%

05-16-2013 21:00:52 | More by datalager

mralbertson

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +12.6%

05-16-2013 02:09:17 | More by mralbertson

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -9.9%

05-15-2013 15:39:41 | More by twenty5

Bustersuess

New York

3.25/5  rDev -2.4%

05-14-2013 18:30:42 | More by Bustersuess

Lovely85

Florida

4/5  rDev +20.1%

05-09-2013 23:53:39 | More by Lovely85

Bill235

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +5.1%

05-09-2013 17:58:12 | More by Bill235

pearljam118

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +12.6%

05-09-2013 01:17:43 | More by pearljam118

pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +12.6%

05-07-2013 13:02:11 | More by pcsnyder

mpyle

Maryland

3.34/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Deep golden color, very clear. Coarsely bubbled but with a nice medium sized white head with some creaminess on top and some retention.

Pine hop aroma initially hidden beneath big head, a metallic/copper penny smell. Overall the aromas aren't very rich or impressive.

Slight caramel malt flavor initially, then a rush of more earthy pine-like hop flavor and hop bitterness takes over. Surprisingly nice hop flavor given the lack of a good aroma. Assertively bitter into the finish, but not overpowering. Earthiness of the hop flavor becomes tedious at times. A better blend of hops would help the flavor.

Medium body and carbonation, no astringency, hints of warming which seems hard to believe in a 5.8% beer. Dinner not sitting right?

Overall very drinkable, but the hop flavor is a little crude. If earthy hops are your thing, this is your beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 01:15:14 | More by mpyle

FrankShirley

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -9.9%

05-02-2013 17:20:10 | More by FrankShirley

Andrew041180

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -2.4%

04-27-2013 11:45:21 | More by Andrew041180

MichaelProcton

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +5.1%

04-22-2013 02:20:37 | More by MichaelProcton

BMMillsy

Florida

3/5  rDev -9.9%

04-13-2013 03:19:08 | More by BMMillsy

spedprof

West Virginia

3/5  rDev -9.9%

04-12-2013 00:35:18 | More by spedprof

Hophead420

Maryland

3/5  rDev -9.9%

04-11-2013 04:34:59 | More by Hophead420

Focusf111

Vermont

2.5/5  rDev -24.9%

04-09-2013 03:51:50 | More by Focusf111

fx20736

New York

2.58/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2

bought as part of Saranac's Spring Variety pack from Beers of the World on 4/6/13 for $ 8.77.

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, served at fridge temp.

appearance: medium amber with an offwhite head. Nice lacing.

aroma: grapefruit, peaches in syrup

mouthfeel: full, solid.

taste: bready malt with some citrus hops, there is a vaguely 'dirty' finish that I have detected in Saranac beers that is a little offputting.

notes: I seem to remember a similar reaction to their Big Moose Ale. No need to buy this again

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 16:37:41 | More by fx20736

campfirebrew

New York

3.25/5  rDev -2.4%

04-04-2013 15:08:02 | More by campfirebrew

TriggerFingers

New Jersey

2.31/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Ok, before I watched the Saranac video on their website I totally thought this was an English IPA. Don't get me wrong, I mean it has a nice malt character, no citrus, no dank--tastes like an American rendition of an English IPA. If thats what you are going for, then its not bad at all. Kind of like Bass on steroids.

But American IPA? Really? The old guys in the video are talking about Cascade hops like they are some new discovery? Really? Born and raised in Nor-Cal, I was weaned on Sierra Nevada and this tastes nothing like what you would expect from an American IPA. That being said for an English IPA, its in the top 2/3 and a fair attempt. For an American IPA, or even a West Coast rendition, this is severely lacking. Beers like this make me glad I am a homebrewer.

Last Words: Now you know

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 16:15:08 | More by TriggerFingers

BYOFB

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -2.4%

04-02-2013 04:35:59 | More by BYOFB

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

2.75/5  rDev -17.4%

03-29-2013 00:27:03 | More by Sludgeman

EricReynolds

West Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +5.1%

03-28-2013 03:50:08 | More by EricReynolds

Peter

New York

3.75/5  rDev +12.6%

03-28-2013 03:14:19 | More by Peter

mckowned

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -9.9%

03-25-2013 00:22:19 | More by mckowned