Saranac Black Diamond Bock - Matt Brewing Company

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer poured into the glass crystal clear copper with and off-white almost tannish head which rose but a sliver but did last enough to lace the glass.

The aroma was earthy and a bit estery with caramel most prevalent. Some lightly vegetal undercurrents flowed in the aroma with some lightly spicy hops.

The flavor was lightly vegetal and lightly spicy with caramel malt and a mildly estery character. Some dark fruits were almost present with the beginnings of raisins being notable.

The finish was even into dry with only a lightly lasting spicy hop flavor into the aftertaste. The body was medium with a moderate carbonation. Nothing wrong with this beer, but nothing exciting here either. The malt was just a bit light and not complex enough to be a really good bock.

12 ounce bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2006 23:49:16 | More by GCBrewingCo

marlinsfan4

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

04-21-2013 05:12:00 | More by marlinsfan4

BGsWo22

New York

2.75/5  rDev -25.5%

03-20-2013 23:42:48 | More by BGsWo22

DmanGTR

New York

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

01-29-2013 16:42:05 | More by DmanGTR

Huffs

New York

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

01-25-2013 03:32:55 | More by Huffs

phishbone23

New York

5/5  rDev +35.5%

01-23-2013 19:17:52 | More by phishbone23

tbruchey2112

Maryland

2.68/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Trying this one out of the Winter Sampler 2012. First of all the bottle art is a ten, it made me laugh really hard for no reason. The color is a red-ish/brown. Smelling it from the bottle and then from a glass, it smells a tad bit sweet. Unfortunately that's where the fun ends. The taste at first was a little weak and a little watery. The aftertaste was decent but nothing special. Good warm mouthfeel. Not sure if I'd buy this again outside of the sampler.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 02:14:17 | More by tbruchey2112

cliff1066

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

12-11-2012 02:05:37 | More by cliff1066

jslice99

New York

4/5  rDev +8.4%

11-13-2012 05:58:18 | More by jslice99

generallee

New York

4/5  rDev +8.4%

11-09-2012 00:10:46 | More by generallee

CaptDavyJones

New York

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

11-06-2012 16:09:16 | More by CaptDavyJones

CloudStrife

New York

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a clear copper with a 1.5 finger puffy white head. Fairly large bubbles in the head, just a touch of visible carbonation.

S: Fairly light roasted and fruity malts. A breadiness as well as almost a hay like grassines.

T: Malt forward with a hint of sweetness. Some carmel malts are what make it sweet I think. Not too much hop backing.

M: Medium bodied with average carbonation. Isnt too sticky which is a plus for this style. Pretty easy drinking.

Overall an average beer that works well in the winter season. Wouldnt seek it out on its own but has its place in the winter mix pack.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 22:33:02 | More by CloudStrife

BigTrubble

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%

11-03-2012 01:49:39 | More by BigTrubble

vfgccp

New York

3/5  rDev -18.7%

11-01-2012 21:49:27 | More by vfgccp

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer is now called "black bear bock"

A - Pours a nice clear dark amber brown with a 1/4 inch of head that sticks around to a great lace ring which is excellent.

S - Toasted grains, caramel malt, touch of hops, and some dark fruits.

T - Toasted grains and caramel lead with peppery hops and a smooth finish. Not bad.

M - Medium, chewy, and quite a dry finish really.

Overall pretty on par for the style but didn't really wow me. Pretty good for Saranac though.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 01:44:25 | More by DrDemento456

mitch3114

New York

3/5  rDev -18.7%

10-01-2012 02:16:22 | More by mitch3114

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +8.4%

12-02-2011 04:09:27 | More by rab53

djrn2

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -18.7%

12-01-2011 23:10:03 | More by djrn2

KGarrett

New York

4/5  rDev +8.4%

11-19-2011 01:32:01 | More by KGarrett

tclapper

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.4%

11-17-2011 21:30:16 | More by tclapper

fmccormi

New York

4/5  rDev +8.4%

11-14-2011 22:16:53 | More by fmccormi

vicg12

New York

4.9/5  rDev +32.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Saranac's best beer. Was brewed for limited time last winter to go with ski season but now since it was in such high demand it is an all year round brew from what I am told. Dark heavy beer but with great flavor and good drinkability. Even the label on the bottle is fun to look at, depicting a bear with skis, Saranac trys to encorperate bears into all thier labels it seems. Def. give this one a try, you will be happy you did.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2009 18:35:42 | More by vicg12

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a standard shaker "pint" glass. The lager appears a medium chestnut color with about an inch of fizzy ecru foam. Aroma and taste is dominated by fair amount of malt, caramel, bitter, earthy hops, a bit sweet. Nice satisfying body with ample carbonation. A nice malty bock at a good price.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2009 14:25:19 | More by ClockworkOrange

CrellMoset

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of dkachur - thanks! Poured into a cervoise.

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy, dull brownish amber with minimal and lazy effervescence. The initially two-and-change-fingers of tan, marshmallow-like head fade rather quickly, though they do leave plenty of nice, sticky lacing and a big, thick, foamy collar of lace. A good start.

Aroma: Brown sugar and far-away orchards of leafy, herbal, sweet fruits.

Taste: A rather soft and subtle malt profile on this one. Brown sugar, caramel, and gummy bears mix with milky, light coffee and a few stray fruity notes, largely sweet but slightly tart in their own dull way. It seems fairly well-rounded, but just a little subtle.

Mouthfeel: Mild, soft carbonation in a slick, even mouth. A little thin, perhaps, approaching but not quite reaching watery.

Drinkability: Stylistically, this is definitely a bock, and even a pretty good one at that - can't say it's the best one I've ever had though. The notes are mostly here, it's just a little dull, shallow, watery - cheap? No, that's harsh. It's good for what it is, but it's not one I'd reach for again.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2009 01:50:35 | More by CrellMoset

Proteus93

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy dkachur. Thanks, Dan!

A: Deep amber with a cherry hue to it. A fabulous, sparkling and foamy head, just over 2 fingers tall. Recedes in rolls, leaving plenty of sticky lacing behind.

S: Very malty... I get something that kind of reminds me of pancakes out of it. Fortunately, that's a nice smell!

T: A rather pleasant tasting brew... nice caramel malts, just a hint of smokiness, and a little bit of an herbal touch.

M + D: A little bit of a stickiness in the body, an assertive - but not overdone - carbonation. In the past, I've always detected an unusual 'metallic' type taste that I had just associated with being a Saranac thing. It wasn't really my thing, but this particular beer doesn't appear to have that quality. Quite a nice brew which has me interested in revisiting other beers from the brewery!

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2009 22:54:46 | More by Proteus93