Saranac Rye IPA - Matt Brewing Company

Kinsman

New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into pint glass

A: Pours a clear golden/bronze color with a moderate white head. Poor head retention

S: Spicy hop notes up front, a little fruity also

T: Rye malt makes this one a little bit different than most IPAs, however the hops really define the flavors in this beer. Earthy and spicy, which is pretty typical for the german hops used.

M: Solid medium body, however a little too much carbonation

D: A very drinkable IPA, doesn't make you "hopped" out after one.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2009 19:19:21 | More by Kinsman

magnj

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Very light Amber, clear as can be, generous off-white head.

S - Somewhat spicy, very low hop aroma out of the fridge.

T - Really clean and mild for an APA let alone an IPA. Rye is present but restrained, somewhat vegetal in the finish with no bite.

M/D - Very thin body, hardly any residual sugar. Easy to drink, wouldn't guess 6% ABV. Overall drinkable and cheap but nothing IPA, and very little Rye about it.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2009 03:53:04 | More by magnj

mklinger

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a shaker pint. This is a very pretty beer. Thick rich head, very clear pale amber color with nice bubbles. Leaves great lacing behind.

Aroma is also really good. Certainly exceeds my expectation -- citrus, rye, and spice all melded together.

Flavor is good. Lots of hop bitterness, slightly piney, less citrus and more spice in the taste. There is also a slight astringency that put me off a bit. I think it's a hop astringency, but I can't quite place it. A bit sour.

Mouthfeel is fine, a bit low on the malty, dextrinous mouthfeel but pretty good. Drinkability suffers because of the flavor problem I had with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 23:59:56 | More by mklinger

Amalak

New York

4.22/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had out of a 12 ounce bottle.
A- It has a good foamy, white head and some lacing. Goldish/red in color. Fairly bubbly.
S- Appleish scent to it.
T- It has an extremely unique taste. The rye definitely comes through. There's also a sweet, almost apricot hoppy taste to it. Not like many beers I've had. Very unique in it's style.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 13:05:09 | More by Amalak

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.38/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle no. 2649-1444. Sampled on November 14, 2009. It pours bronze-amber with decent clarity but little to no head. A bready, weakly spiced, and thinly hopped aroma greets the nose. For an IPA the hoppy aroma is noticeably absent. The mouthfeel is smooth but of medium texture. The taste includes a little bit of malts but overall it is tart. The hop finish is there but weak. Not like most IPA's I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 22:28:05 | More by puboflyons

magine

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass.

Brew pours a light amber, with white fluffy head.

Brew has a sweet hop and rye smell. Has a bready scent as well. Nice head and lace retention.

Brew has a very smooth dense flavor and moothfeel. Has a good floral hop flavor, has a nice balance of the rye and the hops. Bready flavor.

This brew is very drinkable and very good. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 20:48:16 | More by magine

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into an over sized wine glass.

A: Nice meringue pie fluff that has descent staying power, leaves pretty nice lacing. Pale caramel copper in color.

S: Hearty herbal bitter hops, hint of rye.

T: Smooth up front with a nice, bitter hop finish.

M: Medium/light, crisp and nice carbonation.

D: I really like this and could easily see myself getting a case of this. For non-hop lovers, they may be better served with something a bit more balanced.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 20:30:31 | More by ujsplace

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to jdmek9 for this extra.

Poured into Rare Vos glass.

Pours 1 finger of fizzy beige head that lasts a few minutes before fading down. Leaves some splattered lace. Color is a clear pale orange copper. I would have expected this to be darker.

Aroma: Very faint rye, with additions of notes of an ipa. Grassy hops, citrus, and caramel. Bready malts as well.

Taste: A lot of sharp citrus up front. The rye kicks in well here, a lot more than in the nose. Nice amount of grassy/floral hops here. A lot of caramel and bready malts as well. At the end, I get a soapy taste.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly smooth and creamy for an ipa, hardly any bite to it. Medium bodied with a decent amount of carbonation, very fizzy over the tongue. Ends with a very sticky rye and hop flavored aftertaste.

Overall, I was a little let down by this one because I have had other Rye IPAs and I expected this one to compare a little bit, but the ingrediants didn't seem to flow. It wasn't bad, just not what I expected. Glad I got to try it. Thanks Jason.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 01:58:04 | More by mothman

porterwoobie

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, poured into a standard pint glass.

A: yellow/orange color, very clear, 2 finger white head, good lacing down the glass.

S: some piney hops and also malt graininess. it has a balanced smell. hop aroma is more subdued.

T: it has an initial bitterness. the flavor is more of the piney hops that blends well with the malt flavors, and with a slight spiciness as well.

MF: medium bodied, medium carbonation.

Drinkability: decent beer. much better than what i was anticipating based on my past experience with Saranac. the winter 12 pack has been really good. i'd drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 00:28:47 | More by porterwoobie

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Saranac- Rye IPA

A- Bight clear orange with a nice thick heavy lacing head. Light carbonation.
S- Heavy carroway seed rye with a touch of caramel malt and pine hops.
T- Big crisp strong spicy carroway seed rye and black pepper with a caramel malt and a sweet sugary pine hop body. Finishes hoppy with a fresh rye.
M- Thick rye with sweet thick malt. Good crisp sweet pine/ citrus hops in the ned.

Overall- Nice Rye presence! I'm slightly prejudice here cause of my love of Rye, but this was delicious! The Rye was fresh, bold, and present throughout! Possibly my favorite Saranac beer! (and my 36th different offering to boot)

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2009 01:28:48 | More by NJpadreFan

Zraly

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a golden straw hue with a pocky off-white head. Nice head retention and lacing. Decent hoppy smell.

Flavor is a bit spicy and with a hint of rind, backed by a solid malt base. The malt backbone is a bit on the grainy side, and momentarily reminds me of eating a slice of whole wheat bread. Hops tastes of spice and orange rind, with a dry and clean finish. Body is a bit thin for the style, but if you are looking for something a bit lighter (IPA light?), this might fit the bill.

Another decent piece of the winter seasonal pack. I'd like this with some whole wheat pizza.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2009 23:42:44 | More by Zraly

Gmann

New York

3.4/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a honey straw color with a tight white head that settles into a light cap. The aroma is of a grainy pale malt with a touch of rye spice and grassy hops. I was expecting more of a hop aroma from an AIPA. The taste of a grainy malt, a bit fruity, some lemon and rye spice, and a grassy hop which finishes with an asprin bite. The brew has a light to moderate body with plenty of fizzy carbonation; finishes a tad dry and bitter. A decent AIPA, better than their traditional offering. I was expecting a bit more rye flavor perhaps more body. Noticable hop presence though not a big fan of the hop profile. Overall, not bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2009 21:48:48 | More by Gmann

yesyouam

New York

4.05/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Saranac Rye IPA is a dense, clear, solid golden ale with a soft, chunky off white head that has oily bubbles; outstanding retention and lacing. It has a spicy, grassy, floral aroma that has a little note of black pepper. It's medium bodied and quite smooth with a clean finish. It's reasonably bitter, dry, spicy and peppery with notes of orange peel and coriander. It has a long, but gentle, bitter aftertaste. It's quite drinkable; not a real sock knocker, but tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2009 01:18:54 | More by yesyouam

plaid75

New York

4/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a clear medium copper hue with a two finger foamy white head. There was good retenion and lacing.

The smell featured a light herbal hop spice and a zesty grainy malt.

The taste was likewise grainy with a multilayered spice attributable to the rye and herbal hop.

The mouthfeel was thinner side of the style but well carbonated.

Overall a tasty hop forward IPA. Spicy rather than citrusy.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2009 02:51:40 | More by plaid75

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

4.22/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle purchased as part of a seasonal 12-pack at Shaw's in Windham, NH. Pours a crystal-clear yellow-amber body with a good inch of off-white head. Smells piney herbal hoppy with some rye to balance. Herbal minty citrus hops play equal parts with a fair bit of rye and nuttiness. Light to medium bodied with moderate to ample carbonation. Fairly drinkable. I thought this beer would be less drinkable and more astringent, but this actually turns out to be a super IPA with just enough rye flavor to make it interesting. Well-done!

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2009 19:50:10 | More by MrHurmateeowish

WesWes

New York

3.38/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer pours a nice gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It really doesn't have much of an aroma at all. It has a basic pale malt scent with little else. I think the rye and hops have cancelled each other out. The taste is decent as well. It has a light pale malt flavor with a strange rye/hops flavor. It's a filtered beer and I think the flavors are muted because of it. Either that, or they decided on only a light rye addition. Usually, the malt bill is more complex as well. This is quite pale and light in mouthfeel. It's a low/medium bodied beer with good carbonation. This is an average rye IPA. I'm not really impressed with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2009 21:28:53 | More by WesWes

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

3.53/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From a $12 12pk, 6 styles. 12oz into pint glass.

A- A clear, golden color with an inch of pretty decent, thick foam.

S- Maybe my sinuses are shot, but I'm not getting much out of this. Grassy hops, but very mild.

T- Better. A solid, if not earth-shattering IPA. Actually, it's pretty hoppy considering. No rye to be found... well, maybe a little pepper here or there. Still, hop profile is more complex than I would have expected. Citrus, pine, and a bit of peppery hops. Must be the rye. Pale malt is juuust enough to be well-balanced.

M- Decent, good carbonation, no complaints.

D- Fairly high, I'd drink a couple of these easy. Impressive, Saranac! Way better than the DIPA of theirs I had, I'll buy this one again. These new Saranac styles are leaps and bounds above what I remember Saranac being... both this and the Maple Porter were very good beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2009 01:42:31 | More by ShogoKawada

generallee

New York

4.4/5  rDev +28.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a pint glass. There is no freshness date on the bottle but it did come in the new 2009 winter pack so I have a good idea of how fresh it is.

Appearance: It has a light amber body with very good clarity. The head is just off white in color, tall and foamy. It has a good two finger thickness which hangs on well and makes lots of nice lace patters on the glass.

Smell: The aroma has a mellow hint of dark rye bread and very mild hops.

Taste/Palate: The flavor has a light bready malt base with mild clover honey like sweetness that lets the flavor of the rye come through. Spicy and dry leafy hop flavor comes in close to and into the finish which also has a balanced hop bitterness lingering for a while. Its body has a good medium feel with just enough soft carbonation.

Notes: The Saranac Rye IPA has very good balance of flavors but I think hop heads will be looking for a little more hop flavor. Still, I feel that this is a wonderful beer and a very drinkable Rye IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2009 22:01:01 | More by generallee

animal69

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- pours a fairly clear med. gold color w/ a thin white cap which dissipates quickly leaving a moderate lace in my snifter

S- smell is predominately "herbal" hops with notes of bready cereal grains and spicy rye

T- the initial bitterness is a bit overdone, crisp and spicy malts don't quite balance the hops, some grassy hop flavor and a touch of rye, a bit metallic and soapy in the finish, not sure noble hops belong in an IPA tho

M- a slightly dry, light-med bodied brew w/ a fair amount of co2

D- not impressed at first, but it grows on you quickly, a very drinkable one here

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2009 20:42:53 | More by animal69

BeerPhan86

New York

3.83/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Clear golden color with a one finger fluffy white head that lingers.

S - Many pilsener qualities in the nose. Rye, grass, and grainy qualities mostly. Some citrusy hops and spice.

T - Pretty bitter for an IPA but balanced nicely with a biscuity backbone. Has a spicy kick to it that isn't typical for an IPA, as the label prepared me for. Citrus hops and lots of grain/rye taste. Crisp and refreshing, this reminds me alot of a Bohemian pilsener more than an IPA.

M - Crisp and pretty light bodied with moderate carbonation.

D - I could definitely session this but I think the bitterness and spicy grain aspect would wear on me after a couple.

Overall, definitely a step up over other IPAs they have made (not counting their Imperial IPA which is a standard in my fridge). So far there isn't a single brew in the winter pack that I haven't dug!

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2009 00:37:41 | More by BeerPhan86

smibroncos

New York

3.85/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A. Poured a clear dark straw, with an one finger white fluffy head. Decent lacing on the glass

S. Rye, grass, cereal

T. Bitter hops, rye, grain, cereal, not very sweet. Crisp and refreshing, with some esters peeking through.

M. Medium bodied, grainy. Good carbonation, slightly dry.

D. A good brew by Saranac. I will have some more of this brew this year as the 12 beers of winter pack is definatley a hit with me.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2009 19:27:25 | More by smibroncos

StarlightSeraph

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a clear, golden-yellow, with a finger and a half of white head. A little paler than I expected. Fairly slowly subsiding head. Good lacing.

Smell: Biscuity and honey malt scents, with some citrusy, spicy hops. The malt seems to dominate the aroma, however. Mild, though.

Taste: A nice bitterness throughout, with some bready malt in the background. Very balanced. A nice, slightly spicy kick in the finish. The aftertaste is fairly strong. Some mild citrus interspersed throughout. Not very full-flavored, overall.

Mouthfeel: Crisp on the tongue, good carbonation.

Drinkability: I enjoyed this. The rye adds a little variety to the style. This isn't a typical IPA, in that its much more balanced than most, but its an enjoyable, easy drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2009 18:40:55 | More by StarlightSeraph