Saranac Pumpkin Ale - Matt Brewing Company

HappyBivouac

Iowa

3.78/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a mug from the bottle. This is the first pumpkin ale I've ever tried.

a- Pours a bright rusty orange with a thick, rocky off-white head that retains decently. Leaves a think lace on the glass that looks like silhouettes of oak trees.

s- Very strong nutmeg and brown sugar with some vanilla. Hops are faintly there but if you cou;dn't see or taste this it could almost fool you into thinking it was just about any sort of spiced pumpkin drink. Not unpleasant at all, though, if maybe just a tad too spicy.

t- As the scent hinted at, strong nutmeg/pumpkin pie spice and some cinnamon. Brown sugar sweetness throughout and ending without any of the spice and all pumpkin with some vanilla, leaving behind a slight sugary sweetness. This barely tastes like an ale at all, but it's an enjoyable flavor.

m- Watery and boring. Maybe just a little thicker than drinking water. Carbonation is there but does little for me.

d- This is like pumpkin pie trying to dress itself up as a beer for Halloween. Not bad, and goes down easily so I could have several in a night, but when I really want a beer I don't know if I'd reach for one of these as opposed to something else.

A decent first pumpkin ale experience. I've found very few pumpkin ales around this season and this, buffalo bill's and jack's were about all I could find anywhere. Not bad, but probably won't be revistited.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2008 00:43:03 | More by HappyBivouac

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

05-15-2013 15:39:10 | More by twenty5

ShanShantheRocket

New York

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

05-12-2013 20:51:15 | More by ShanShantheRocket

magpieken

Australia

2.5/5  rDev -28%

05-11-2013 15:51:18 | More by magpieken

Bill235

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

05-09-2013 18:00:36 | More by Bill235

schaffer9252

New York

4.5/5  rDev +29.7%

05-04-2013 17:46:56 | More by schaffer9252

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -20.7%

04-28-2013 15:34:59 | More by Jason1337

lovindahops

New York

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

03-29-2013 19:56:29 | More by lovindahops

kell50

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

03-09-2013 04:21:20 | More by kell50

ironchefmiyagi13

New York

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

03-08-2013 04:10:03 | More by ironchefmiyagi13

kitcat

5/5  rDev +44.1%

02-27-2013 13:28:21 | More by kitcat

MobileMike

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

02-25-2013 22:47:47 | More by MobileMike

bribo

New York

2.75/5  rDev -20.7%

02-21-2013 21:22:53 | More by bribo

TonyY

New York

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

02-18-2013 19:33:47 | More by TonyY

BamfBacon

Ohio

3/5  rDev -13.5%

02-17-2013 16:38:29 | More by BamfBacon

Thedrizzle

Florida

3/5  rDev -13.5%

02-16-2013 00:02:35 | More by Thedrizzle

neophilus

Massachusetts

2.79/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75

Ruddy amber colored beer. Light aroma of classic pumpkin pie spices but no other scents. Allspice heavy flavor leads a pack of spices that dominate the flavor - no malt to be found anywhere. Dry finish with a ginger heavy aftertaste.

The body finishes much too dry to carry the spices. Lacks depth of flavor and complexity as the spices are the primary characteristic of this light, fizzy brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 18:37:59 | More by neophilus

MikeF625

4.75/5  rDev +36.9%

02-07-2013 21:53:29 | More by MikeF625

williamjbauer

West Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

02-07-2013 14:45:00 | More by williamjbauer

Utica_Brew_Review

New York

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

02-03-2013 00:27:16 | More by Utica_Brew_Review

sachie23

New York

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

01-30-2013 16:18:17 | More by sachie23

phishbone23

New York

4/5  rDev +15.3%

01-25-2013 14:36:21 | More by phishbone23

JustinSamuelson

New York

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

01-20-2013 20:24:05 | More by JustinSamuelson

laurastradford

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +15.3%

01-20-2013 20:22:53 | More by laurastradford

SmashPants

Australia

3.78/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Slim 355mL bottle, funky label.

Appearance: lightly hazed orange-amber with light carbonation and a decent, thick head.

Aroma: rather sweeter than the (only) other pumpkin ale I have had. This smells much preferable - sweet pumpkin with nutmeg, cinnamon and light grains.

Taste: follows the nose almost verbatim. Perhaps a little stronger on the sweetness - don't think I could down one too quickly.

Aftertaste: the spices come through more strongly on the aftertaste. Really different, but quite nice.

Mouth feel: seems about right - medium-bodied with a light, fine carbonation.

Overall: very different, and really quite nice. Not sure I'd have one too often, but for a change it is quite good. Particularly good since I picked it up for $8 a 6-pack since it was a failed "Halloween special" at the local. Mwahahaha!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 10:19:24 | More by SmashPants