Saranac India Pale Ale - Matt Brewing Company

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Bright tangerine with a barely visible cloud of tiny particulates suspended within. The large, creamy cap makes me think that Saranac IPA might be a quality offering. It sorta looks like one anyway. The lid is ecru in color and sports a surface of variously sized bubbles that are in no hurry to pop. I like what lace has been deposited so far.

The nose is disappointingly underpowered. I fully expected simplicity since pale malt and Cascade hops are the only two members of the malt bill and the hop bill respectively. However, I also expected more than a barely noticeable citric hoppiness. A stumble on the first turn.

If the truth were known, I really didn't anticipate that this would be a great version, no matter the appearance. I've simply had too much experience with Matt Brewing Company beer to have gotten my hopes up. The first thing that occurs to me is that the brewers nailed that whole bitterness thing, without paying much attention to that whole flavor thing.

IPA is acceptably malted with an underlying pale malty sweetness that still struggles to offset the deluge of alpha acids flowing its way. There can be no other conclusion than that this is what adding a boatload of hops to the kettle will get you... when the skill to make it work is missing.

White grapefruit pith and peel assaults my tongue with every sip. This beer is a perfect example of why bitterness for bitterness's sake is never a good idea. Saranac IPA is to a quality IPA what a child's cartoon drawing is to an artist's rendition. The mouthfeel is barely acceptable for the style. At least it achieves respectability, unlike the aroma and the flavor.

I actually wondered whether this would be my favorite Matt Brewing Company beer, given my love of hops in general and this style in particular. Nope, not even close. This is one case in which aging an IPA might be a good idea. It doesn't really matter though, since I won't be buying any more Saranac IPA in order to test that theory.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2007 14:52:20 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured a nice amber bronze with a huge billowing white head, great retention and a nicelace. Smell was lightly hopped with a very good malt back showing through. Taste was good, but forgettable, obvious hop tones but just too lightly done for me. Overall a very sessionable poolside beer, nothing to write home about.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2007 00:28:54 | More by mikesgroove

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.23/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a deep copper body with an inch of fizzy, white head. Thin, half-formed layers of lacing on the way down.

Smell: Pale malt aroma with a note of grain husks and hints of citrus and pine needles.

Taste: Pale malts with a bit of graininess to it and a very slight caramel sweetness. A mix of pine and citrus hop flavors with a medium bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: A bit basic, a bit under par within its style, but not out-and-out bad. Saranac seems to have a Saraknack for that.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2008 02:04:05 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

2.98/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a clear golden color with a modest head a some splashes of lacing

Smell: Sorry, but this smells soapy and grainy

Taste: Unfortunately, the soapy flavor shows up at the outset; after the swallow, the beer provides a grainy bitterness along with a perfumy quality that mixes with a resinous character but overwhelms the malt

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with good carbonation

Drinkability: There are so many great IPAs out there it hardly makes sense to waste one's time with this one; the flavors are not well-balanced at all

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2006 22:27:23 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured a nice copper/amber color ale with a medium head with good retention. Aroma of bitter hops is clearly identifiable. Taste is comprised of well balance floral malt and bitter hops. Body is above average without being too full. I guess this is a middle of the road IPA that can be quite enjoyable with BBQ on summer.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2005 19:32:58 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.6/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I enjoyed this Saranac better than most from the variety pack. Though you won't brag about this one to your friends, it's a basic, nice brew. A moderate malt profile withdraws underneath the bittering and flavor of spicy American hops. The hop flavor shows light esters with a light boquet to the nose and taste. Lightly grassy and piney, yet remaining sweetly spicy. Moderate and bitter to the mouth with a hint of grain-husk astringency. Finishes bitter and dry with a light sweetness. Good, but I probably won't remember it in a week.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2006 01:42:33 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice clear golden with a fluffy head that takes its time settling leaving a nice sheet of lace,mainly grapefruit/citrus in the aroma with a light tasted grain hint but its subdued.A pretty well balanced IPA some citruis and resin up front but a toasted malt flavor really comes thru in the finish to make this pretty well balanced.A pretty drinkable ale not complex and or big and bold but quaffable and I think a good session type brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2005 23:13:23 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy golden body that's topped by a creamy white head which holds fairly well before dropping to a creamy collar and thin surface covering. It leaves some nice "spider web" lace that's thin but still attractive. The aroma expresses bold Cascade hops and some underlying sweet and fruity (apple, pear) malt that cuts down its citrus side. It's almost sweet, and even quite floral as opposed to the tangy citrus that can sometimes be present when over-done. It's quite nice; soft and inviting. The body is medium light and combines with a fine/median carbonation to give a gentle crispness on the tongue. The flavor displays a nice combination of straight-forward sweetish malt and mildly citric hop flavor. Again, it's clearly not over-done. It's a touch soapy across the palate, as many of the Matt beers can be, and that lingers in the dry finish with some firm bitterness and citrusy/floral hop flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2003 20:04:44 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: bright, clear orange/gold color, head is thickly held, a nice, bubbly bone-white.
Aroma: jumps out with a sharp hoppiness, piney, fruity (citrus, pineapple, peach), but fading fast.
Big entrance from the hops, filling and warming the mouth and tongue, then receding, pleasantly. Fruity flavors return, though, with each additional sip, ande adding an extra astringency in the back of the throat.
Body is medium-light, finish a touch sour and short, and overall, a mellow brew. With each return to the lips, tangy, grapefruity flavors resurge to dominate the senses, briefly, then creep back.
A nice, easy-going, but still very hoppy IPA, and not a bad brew by any stretch.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2003 01:32:40 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.78/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a golden color with a thick frothy white head. The aroma is hoppy and quite aromatic. It has a very powerful floral scent; very nice. The taste is good. It also boasts floral hop flavor. It however has a very plain tasting palate of malts. It tastes like only pale malts. The mouthfeel is good. It is a low bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a good drinking beer; a decent IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2003 01:56:45 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought this bottle at a local beer store. Poured into a Chimay goblet. Beer is clear and amber in color, slightly red. Carbonate is moderate to low, the head is diffuse and thin but covers the entire top of the beer. Minimal lacing left on the glass (I don't care about lacing but some people do). Smell is there but you have to hunt for it, hoppy, floral. This beer is bitter, but its an IPA so that's right on. Mouthfeel is moderate to thin, could beef this beer up a little bit, make sure people know that they are drinking it, not to chew a beer but nevertheless. All and all a decent example for an American IPA, especially from the East.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2009 03:22:05 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle provided by Cavie.

The beer pours yellow orange with a white head. The aroma is earthy hops with some citrus. Flavor is more of the same with earthy hops and some pineapple. Thin mouthfeel and low carbonation. A decent IPA, but nothing spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 17:58:32 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours out a golden/amber color with a white, 3-finger head. It left lacing.

S - Smells mainly of hops and grass.

T - The malt flavor is nicely complimented by a spicy/bitter hoppiness.

M - It is crisp and light-bodied.

D - This is a pretty good American IPA. Not as hoppy as some but still pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2006 15:53:05 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.48/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer poured clear golden yellow in color with a finger sized white head that has good retention properties. A moderate amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There are aromas of citrusy and piney hops in the nose along with some notes of pale malts.
T: A light amount of bitterness from piney hops is present in the initial taste and finish, the overall taste has notes of pale malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate.
D: The beer is very easy to drink and is quite sessionable given the low alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2010 02:01:59 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

2.45/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light amber color with a thin white head that fades very quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is weak and contains a decent amount of hops, but not a lot for the style. What makes the hops smell seem strong is the fact that there really isn’t much else to go along with it, just some caramelized malt and a faint touch of citrus.

T: The taste starts out with a tangy bitterness, but not the normal floral hops bitterness of most IPA’s. There’s a little bit of caramel and citrus sweetness that provide some balance, particularly as the beer warms. However, I found both the hops and malt characters to be kind of thin. After-taste is pale and grainy.

M: Crisp but not very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is very dry.

D: I didn’t find it very tasty, which was the most contributing factor to it not being very easy to drink. It was exactly what I was expecting, which was a slightly hoppier version of their Pale Ale. I didn’t like that and I don’t like this either. It’s among the very worst that I’ve had in the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2007 03:30:44 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.8/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours bronze with a 2 fingers off white foamy head & effervesnce. Great lacing & okay head retention

S: Floral hops, but not much

T: Foral hops & fruittyness followed by a sligt grainyness. Finishes fruitty with floral & citrus hops

MF: Light/medium bodied, with good carbonation & okay balance

Drinks pretty easy, but just an okay IPA

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2006 05:17:17 | More by russpowell

Gavage

New Jersey

2.65/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bought as part of the 12 beers of Saranac pack. It poured a orange color with barley a head. The carbonation was very light, and the aroma was dull, as some hops were detectable but the nose needed to find them. The malt and hops levels were unbalanced as the bitterness was overpowering.

The body was thin and the overall flavor was dull and uninteresting for an IPA. There was some crispness in the mouthfeel, and the bitterness lasted only brief second on the tongue before disappearing. I expected more of this IPA. Very bland.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2003 22:21:17 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

2.63/5  rDev -21%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This was the last of the variety pack that I tried. Like the others, it was a bit disappointing because it was watery.
It poured a straw gold with a white creamy-looking head that became thin, but lasted throughout. It had medium, steady carbonation.
There was not much to the aroma. Some hints at hops.
It was, like I said, watery. The bottle states that it is a hop lovers delight, but I found that the hop flavor was there, but more in the aftertaste than in the taste itself. It was a bit overpowered by the water. It wasn't bad tasting, just thin.
It was somewhat drinkable because it wasn't offensive, just insubstantial.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2006 21:03:11 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From a Saranac Adirondack Sampler

Pours a golden amber with a fluffy 1.5 finger head that dissapears rather fast but leaves nice lacing.

Nice hoppy smell, but somethings a little off. I think the malt doesn't come out right.

Not a complex beer, rather simple and light in taste but it has the hops and it good. Starts smooth and finishes bitter. Leaves a somewhat dry hoppy aftertaste to savor.

Surprisingly good mouthfeel. I think there's a little diacteyl in there that's helps make it go down fairly easy

Great for a cheap hops fix. This isnt a great AIPA, but its worth seeking if you want an easy drinking, cheap IPA. It may sound like a glorified APA, but its got some kick to it.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2005 22:38:07 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a 12 oz bottle of Saranac IPA served in an Ommegang Witte glass. The ale is cold.

Appearance: The ale has a light brown/pale amber color with a smallish head that has laced well.

Smell: The ale has a light citrusy hop aroma that has hints of citrus.

Taste: The ale has a grainy malt body that has hints of caramel. The hops again are fairly subtle for an IPA, but they provide a sufficient level of bitterness to keep it in the style.

Mouthfeel: The hops are good, but could be better...

Drinkability: Very drinkable, this is a good gateway into the sometimes scary world of IPAs and DIPAs.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2006 02:48:24 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.25/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Appears copper gold with an off white cream colored head leaving scattered lacing with each sip emptied from pint. Aromatics this beer seems standard piney hops simmered in caramelized sugar is what I am getting here, cascades aren't as upfront as I would like. Flavor is one rush of bittering hops with no malt balance exists making this beer hard to swallow and rough on the palate. Saranac IPA isn't in your face for the style it's just not good, so with a thin mouthfeel and no body hand me a real IPA. Drinkability suffers due to the one dimensional flavor profile and lack of texture in the body of this beer, disappointed in this beer from the Saranac lineup.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2003 21:06:57 | More by WVbeergeek

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Very light in color--golden. Nice two finger head that leaves a pleasant lace on the the glass. Slight chill haze.

Beautiful hop bouquet in the smell with just enough malt to keep it complex.

Taste: First to mind--lemony. Lots of flavoring hops, lots of aroma hops, almost like the time I took a hop pellet and sucked on it. Even though I'm a hop head I miss the malt balance. The malt is subtle that one needs to seek out. I like the body--just about perfect. The hop stays with me long, long after the swallow.

Perhaps I'll have a Scotch ale to clear my palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2004 01:25:19 | More by smcolw

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.3/5  rDev -30.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a one-fingered white head that fades quickly but leaves a good lace. Crystal clear amber color. Floral nose. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Starts and finishes hoppy with a bitter, lingering after taste another typical IPA. 12oz bottle in 12 pak $9.99 Market Basket Concord, NH.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2005 23:35:18 | More by jdhilt

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

Billolick

New York

3/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

clear, straw color. not much of a nose, abit of cascade. Medium hops and minimal malt, Hops in the finish, abit of lime and grapefruit. Doesnt live up to its label " a hop lovers delight!". This really is more like a Pale Ale, not enough of a hop kick to get it up to style....$5.99 a six, I'd rather pay a buck or two more to get a non-watered down attempt at an IPA

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2004 21:08:51 | More by Billolick