Saranac Imperial Stout - Matt Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue IV:

Coal-black, color so dark, no light can penetrate it. Massive head from a hard pour, the head retention is simply amazing as the lace covers nearly all of the glass. Big aromas of dark milk chocolate, toasted cocoa nibs and mild coffee. Dark berries, slight char, ghost-like smokiness and a sweet malt tone in the nose. Creamy, slick full body with enough carbonation to bring out the smoothness. Burnt and acrid flavors are kept to a bare minimum. Sweetness comes in with burnt raisin, toffee and dark bread flavors. Dark chocolate and coffee throw a deep mocha character at the taste buds. Hop bitterness is mild but helps to balance with a bit of flavor from the middle to end. Alcohol is warming with a mild but quick pucker of dark fruit. Toasted bread crust and lingering mocha run deep in the semi-sweet finish.

Right on target for the style. Flavors seem to be meshed together well and the balance really shines. A great example of what an Imperial Stout is.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2010 14:47:35 | More by BeerAdvocate

blknikon

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

05-07-2013 23:44:08 | More by blknikon

EricReynolds

West Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

04-20-2013 03:30:49 | More by EricReynolds

sajaffe1

Alabama

3.69/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This beer was poured from the bottle into a pint glass.
This stout is black with no light penetration. There is a short lived head that dissapates quickly.
On the nose there are bits of dark fruits, chocolate, coffee as well as some hops. Good smelling ale.
The taste was more bitter than expected with fairly assertive hops and alcohol. Still notice the dark fruit.
This stout was pretty smooth with light carbonation.

Not the best imperial stout I ever had, but not bad. I am glad I gave it a go, but do not plan on buying again anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:11:20 | More by sajaffe1

brheuer

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.3%

03-24-2013 16:08:51 | More by brheuer

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

01-17-2013 20:03:20 | More by RblWthACoz

Danflurry

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +21.5%

12-28-2012 16:19:21 | More by Danflurry

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

12-21-2012 04:45:28 | More by grahamboudreaux

h4ger

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +2.3%

10-14-2012 02:27:12 | More by h4ger

cbord459

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%

09-10-2012 13:29:02 | More by cbord459

danthehopslamman

4/5  rDev +2.3%

08-15-2012 04:15:54 | More by danthehopslamman

wmc0005

Alabama

4/5  rDev +2.3%

07-27-2012 00:29:36 | More by wmc0005

Japple

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%

07-22-2012 21:15:04 | More by Japple

Chugs13

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

07-17-2012 00:04:43 | More by Chugs13

bluntedboywonder

New York

4/5  rDev +2.3%

07-13-2012 20:40:45 | More by bluntedboywonder

PrimScrewhead

Rhode Island

3/5  rDev -23.3%

06-02-2012 21:10:37 | More by PrimScrewhead

thestar30

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

03-12-2012 18:19:42 | More by thestar30

donunrue

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

03-06-2012 02:26:37 | More by donunrue

craftbeer31

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

02-25-2012 18:27:51 | More by craftbeer31

chrispoint

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

02-18-2012 20:27:57 | More by chrispoint

CaptDavyJones

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured as dark as night from a 12 oz bottle, with a freshness code on the bottle. Absolutely no light penetrates through this stout.
One finger tan colored head that dissipated very slowly.
Aroma is all chocolate, with hints of some sweet malt, licorice and dark fruits coming through.
Taste surprisingly is more on the bitter side. Right upfront there is a distinct bitterness on the tongue which slowly subsides towards the finish ending with a gentle lingering bitterness.
This is quite a robust and full-bodied stout.
Easy to drink with very nice mouthfeel.
Perhaps the second best beer from Saranac after their Black Forest. I was pleasantly surprised by this one and will even go on to say that it can hold it's own against any good imperial stout.
Overall, this is a very good imperial stout and is definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 05:38:44 | More by CaptDavyJones

jfcaa193

Connecticut

2.5/5  rDev -36.1%

02-05-2012 19:26:58 | More by jfcaa193

tiltedglass

New York

4.72/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

For me this is the best stout made. I've tasted only 20 or so, not including flavored stouts, and this, like the Guinness Export, is powerful but with a balanced punch. Terrific full taste that is somehow both sharp and round. Great stuff. Getting harder to find for some reason, so get yours if you see it. Try a blind taste against another stout or two and you'll see what I mean.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 16:27:10 | More by tiltedglass

coachdonovan

Rhode Island

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

01-08-2012 13:39:37 | More by coachdonovan

Ryneb

New York

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

12-31-2011 00:27:18 | More by Ryneb