Saranac Kölsch - Matt Brewing Company

tomthumbsblues

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A clear golden beer with a frothy white 2-finger head. Streams of bubbles rising from the bottom and some lacing produced. The aromas detected were hoppy and similar to wet straw or hay. I found the flavor to be slightly bitter and hoppy at first, but with hints of malting in the finish. Mouthfeel was light and refreshing. I am not sure of what to think of this beer. Perhaps I lack an appreciation for this style, but it was all right brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2005 14:33:41 | More by tomthumbsblues

GFD400

New York

3/5  rDev -6.8%

06-19-2013 23:21:27 | More by GFD400

ILiveOffHops

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev +0.9%

06-19-2013 02:03:47 | More by ILiveOffHops

NiceTaps

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

12oz bottle from a sampler pack poured into a pint glass.

A-Crystal clear golden color with a big, fluffy white head. Spotty lacing.

S- Grassy, grainy, mild malts.

T- Blonde German ale wannabe.

M- Light with some bite. Semi-dry finish.

O- Not a bad light summer brew, not good either.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 19:43:19 | More by NiceTaps

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

as light and easy as the kolsch style goes, I think this Saranac version is especially light and easy, almost to a fault, or certainly to a point of being unexciting. it pours a nice pale golden color, clean and clear, with a short white head. the nose is german malts and yeast, very bready, but light like a pancake. hops are only in there for bittering and balance, which are both dialed in the nose and the flavor. there is a slight caramel sweetness that rounds it out, and a dry refreshing finish that begs for another gulp. very active carbonation and a thin body makes it even lighter, and this is a very sessionable summer beer from the mix pack. not the most exciting thing they are doing these days, but a worthy offering for hot weather. my dad thinks this is exceptional, I would like to see more hops.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 14:51:27 | More by StonedTrippin

FatBoyGotSwagger

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -6.8%

06-15-2013 22:07:36 | More by FatBoyGotSwagger

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.04/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a shaker pint, the beer is a bright, vibrant, straw-gold coloring with a thin, sparse, filmy white surface coating of head. Aromas of floral highlights, buttery tones, and a toasty backbone. Strong and a bit unbalanced nose for the style. Flavors are bitter initially, with a sharpness from the light body and carbonation levels. Buttery tones once again, with a watery palate and feel at the end of each drink. Watery and muddled aftertaste, with a limp finish that has a kiss of hops that just can't right the ship.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 03:02:55 | More by GarthDanielson

LightsOut3000

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev +8.7%

06-11-2013 14:32:49 | More by LightsOut3000

pcsnyder

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +16.5%

06-08-2013 21:56:21 | More by pcsnyder

acurtis

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -6.8%

06-08-2013 00:41:18 | More by acurtis

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into stange. Light clear golden yellow with a lively fizzy head that dissipates very raipdly, leaving no lacing. Smells very "beer-like," with pretty evenly distributed malt, yeast, and hops. The smell is clean, a little spicy with some wine-like notes. Taste is light and clean, german yeast flavors are present with some tart wine-like flavors. Mouthfeel is clean, somewhat dry and medium-bodied.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 00:32:31 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

Swanson

New York

3/5  rDev -6.8%

06-03-2013 14:44:15 | More by Swanson

Johnnyv310

New York

3.75/5  rDev +16.5%

05-30-2013 05:33:25 | More by Johnnyv310

bluntedboywonder

New York

2.75/5  rDev -14.6%

05-26-2013 23:36:05 | More by bluntedboywonder

cavedave

New York

3.31/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Nice look to it, billowy white head over a clear, golden beer. The head collapses to a skim, then a thin ring pretty quickly.

Light aroma, some of that tart Kolsch yeast, bready grain, light floral, and the lightest hint of lemon.

Light flavors, all those of the nose, but a bit less of the lemon, and a deeper sweet to the grain. Juicy and clean, but really not enough flavor. It's a Kolsch, supposed to be subtle, this is even lighter than that.

Decent mouth, a bit thick for how little taste it has, still a refreshing drink.

Enjoyable and forgettable the two words I hope you take away from this review. Lots of better easily available, get one of those.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 21:32:03 | More by cavedave

dpage27

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-16-2013 18:16:40 | More by dpage27

BigTrubble

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +24.2%

05-12-2013 22:29:28 | More by BigTrubble

ShanShantheRocket

New York

3/5  rDev -6.8%

05-12-2013 20:50:41 | More by ShanShantheRocket

rderedin

Maine

2.75/5  rDev -14.6%

05-11-2013 19:42:50 | More by rderedin

TeamMathis

West Virginia

2.89/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Clear, pale yellowish gold.
Smell: Some wheat, light banana, and some floral.
Taste: Light floral. Maybe just a hint of grape.
Mouthfeel: Spritzy carbonation.

Unimpressive is probably the best way to describe this. The smell is mainly wheat and banana, then shifts to floral as it warms...however, it's very, very light. The taste is mainly floral. By mainly I mean that it tastes like Perrier with some floral and wheat thrown in it. Although drinkable, I would not get this again unless it came in their sampler pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:32:36 | More by TeamMathis

Kelp

New Hampshire

3/5  rDev -6.8%

05-04-2013 23:14:45 | More by Kelp

CaptDavyJones

New York

3.5/5  rDev +8.7%

04-29-2013 02:20:15 | More by CaptDavyJones

fx20736

New York

3.73/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

bought as part of Saranac's Summer Variety pack from Southtown Beverages on 4/26/13 for $ 7.99.

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

appearance: Honey yellow with a thick 2 finger white head. Nice lacing.

aroma: delicate floral bouquet, true to style.

mouthfeel: light.

taste: nice pale malt, light noble hops.

notes: Nice example of the Kolsch style, a light, delicate beer perfect for warm weather.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 15:32:45 | More by fx20736

Utica_Brew_Review

New York

2.31/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.75

Light golden yellow color with heavy carbonation and not too much head. Very hoppy, yeasty, hay-like aroma. A bitter, hoppy, hay-like taste with earthy notes. Can't taste too much alcohol. It tastes similar to the aroma. Finishes sweeter than it starts. Overall, kind of bland.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 03:21:02 | More by Utica_Brew_Review

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.69/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Another of my local, in-person trader, tone77's latest drop-off.

From the bottle: "This golden sparkling Blonde ale was brewed to pay homage to a 1000-year brewing tradition rooted in Cologne, Germany. Clear, crisp, and easy to drink, the Kolsch of today is more pale than the "house" beer that was served in Cologne 200 years ago - the city that made Kolsch famous. We hope that you'll enjoy it!"

My pour netted better than two fingers of dense, foamy eggnog-colored head with good retention. Color was a deep golden yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a grainy, grassy quality, like a field of hay. Mouthfeel was medium and the taste was dry, slightly biscuity and very grassy. Finish was semi-dry with the malt and hops working well in tandem to create a very quaffable beer. Lacing was quite evident as I drank through the glass. I could see this as a good beer on a hot summer's day.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 22:47:20 | More by woodychandler