Saranac High Peaks Series Imperial IPA - Matt Brewing Company

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer poured into the glass very slightly hazy golden amber with and off-white extremely low, persistent head which lasted enough to lace the glass.

The aroma was piney and grassy with a resinous hop presence. Citrusy hops, grapefruit and orange, were present with the occasional wafting of alcohol. Some caramel was notable, but was mostly obscured by alcohol and hops.

The flavor was much lighter than anticipated. The flavor was mostly dominated by bittering and had little in the way of flavor hops at all. The bittering was dominant and strong. The hop flavor that was present was piney, resinous a bit grassy but overall had a tinny metallic nature. No alcohol was notable in the flavor.

The finish was dry with lasting harsh bittering far too long into the aftertaste. The body was medium with a moderate level of carbonation. This is one bitter and not well balanced beer. With all the effort put into the bittering, more attention would have been better focused on the flavor hop additions. The aroma was good except for the strong alcohol presence. Alcohol elsewhere in the beer was only a factor in some slight warming after consumption.

12 ounce bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2006 23:59:44 | More by GCBrewingCo

sackboy

New York

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%

05-13-2013 20:16:57 | More by sackboy

JT99125

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +25.7%

05-07-2013 21:01:04 | More by JT99125

lovindahops

New York

3/5  rDev -16.2%

04-06-2013 17:58:43 | More by lovindahops

TeamMathis

West Virginia

3.35/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: A cloudy amber.
Smell: A bit like strawberry preserves, smoke, and wood.
Taste: Bitter and malty. Aftertaste of cheap vodka.
Mouthfeel: Some thickness and carbonation.

This is definitely an unusual double. The hops are jumbled together with the malt. It doesn't seem to have hints of anything except maltiness, some bitterness, and straight alcoholic aftertaste. Having said that, I really like it. The drink is hardy and full. I probably wouldn't get it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 02:24:50 | More by TeamMathis

Qwest_35

Florida

4/5  rDev +11.7%

03-19-2013 02:32:28 | More by Qwest_35

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

3.2/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Pours amber color with white head in DFH IPA glass.

Smell is heavily malt with some citrus notes.

Taste is malt forward with some caramel and mild citrus. Mild bitterness.

Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied. Average carbonation.

Overall this was too malt forward and lacking any significant hoppiness.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 23:00:03 | More by TrappistJohnMD

Rheaume17

Vermont

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

03-17-2013 13:52:41 | More by Rheaume17

gnolan

New York

2.3/5  rDev -35.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I'm a huge fan of Saranac beers but was disappointed in this Imperial IPA. I like a strong hop smell and finish and this had neither. It is very malty and the alcohol is taste is present and leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. Their Session IPA is much better.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 21:25:35 | More by gnolan

kell50

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

03-04-2013 03:31:15 | More by kell50

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

03-02-2013 22:53:19 | More by t0rin0

scantonio

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

02-28-2013 06:10:06 | More by scantonio

bribo

New York

2.25/5  rDev -37.2%

02-21-2013 21:20:57 | More by bribo

GarretD

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +11.7%

02-20-2013 04:20:14 | More by GarretD

DmanGTR

New York

4/5  rDev +11.7%

01-29-2013 16:40:49 | More by DmanGTR

OGBeach

New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -23.2%

01-28-2013 23:02:13 | More by OGBeach

chefduff2

New York

2.75/5  rDev -23.2%

01-05-2013 22:42:24 | More by chefduff2

cliff1066

Virginia

4/5  rDev +11.7%

12-11-2012 02:09:42 | More by cliff1066

CloudStrife

New York

3.55/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into it's signature pilsner glass.

A: Pours an deep amber gold with a 1 finger white head. Lots of visible carbonation in the brew.

S: Get some hop notes but also a pretty substantial sweet malt backing.

T: Balanced malt forward approach to an imperial IPA. Would say this leans more toward an English Pale Ale with all of the sweet malts. The aftertaste lingers with sweetness instead of hops.

M: Medium bodied with average carbonation. Real easy drinking for the ABV.

Overall one of the maltier double IPA's I have tasted. Has a flicker of hops but seems to get lost in the 10 different malts.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 00:18:00 | More by CloudStrife

twillingthenoz

New York

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%

10-30-2012 00:07:43 | More by twillingthenoz

bluntedboywonder

New York

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

10-24-2012 02:37:33 | More by bluntedboywonder

thomasarose

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

10-07-2012 14:49:18 | More by thomasarose

cbord459

New York

4.25/5  rDev +18.7%

09-10-2012 13:28:24 | More by cbord459

jurbanik

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%

09-07-2012 14:43:08 | More by jurbanik

lvoutlawjlh

Nebraska

3/5  rDev -16.2%

08-13-2012 20:55:19 | More by lvoutlawjlh