Saranac Irish Stout - Matt Brewing Company

Schmidts

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours very dark with small head
Smell is of malt and Alcohol
Taste fairly Bitter and finishes bitter with a little malt in the taste
As far as mouth feel not anything exciting here just some more bitterness
One of these is enough I love a good stout but this one is taken over completly by its bitter taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2010 12:06:04 | More by Schmidts

sluggermatt15

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A- Dark brownish in color with a light brown lacing. About 1-2 finger head after poured from a bottle into a 12-oz. glass.

S- Definitely some malts, you can sort of smell the alcohol too. Not really that impressive.

T- Grainy, some bitterness to it. The bitter taste comes in near the end. There is also some dryness.

M- Nothing impressive here, some carbonation, but not too much.

D- Not that drinkable. I would only have 1. I think if I were to have more than one, I would have to have a glass of water on the side to counteract the dryness of this beer.

Overall I thought I was going to be more impressed with this one. However, if you are a fan of Irish beer or Irish stouts, I would say give this one a dry. It has a little less alcohol by volume than I expected (in the 6 % range). I bought a six pack of this and I probably wouldn't buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 02:11:48 | More by sluggermatt15

biggred1

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark ebony with a whipped creamt tan head that melts slowly leaving sheets of lace on the glass. The nose is good. Black malt and coffee roastiness. The flavor is spot on for the style, rich roasty black malts with a dry coffee like bitterness in the finish. Light bodied and slightly chalky with a dry finish. Slightly harsh carbonation is the only minor complaint. A pretty good version of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2010 23:49:57 | More by biggred1

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours jet black with a tight foamy tan head. Lots of lacing.

Where is the scent in this one. I have to dig for french roast coffee and deep charred grain aromas. Some there, but hard to find.

A thinner/lighter flavor stout for sure. Dry for sure also. Deep dark malt, with some roasty hints of grain. Light sweetness in the background is overtaken by the bitterness, mild again, in the finish. I must say that though a bit weak, it is quite smooth. Nothing grainy or harsh, and the balance is right. Just turn up the intensity fellas.

Just right in the mouthfeel, with a lightness and tingle from the carbonation. Again, like all of their beers, they might have toned down the bubbles a notch.

An easy drinker, although you can do better. Much better than some of the brewpub I've had from the tap. An easy drinker for sure and nice to use as a comparison to others. Middle of the road, but actually ok.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2010 01:20:57 | More by OtherShoe2

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. A very dark brown with an off-white head. A little lace forms.

Smell: Roasted malt, bready.

Taste: A pretty good dry stout with a pronounced roasted character. Well balanced. A mineral water/metallic element is there but not detracting.

Mouthfeel: The high carbonation is the only shortcoming of this beer. Luckily the bar I was at had a Surger Unit (made for Guinness) which mellowed the mouthfeel out and made it smooth and creamy where it was once viscious.

Drinkability: Rates high. Certainly more flavorful than Guinness but lacks the creamy mouthfeel that is expected for the style. Still quite good.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2010 17:34:47 | More by Stinkypuss

ZimZamZoom

West Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown almost black, but the edges belie the opacity of this beer with a nice auburn hue. Minimal tan head after a fairly aggressive pour.

A nice roasty aroma, bitter chocolate and dark malt. This is all on the subtle side. The taste reveals hints of chocolate and coffee, a nice sweet and roasty malt presence with a dry roasty bitter finish that does dry the mouth out a touch but does not linger for long.

Smooth and creamy with a lighter body than many would suspect. Very drinkable Irish Stout from a perennial favorite brewery of mine.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 19:28:45 | More by ZimZamZoom

generallee

New York

4.18/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a pint glass. The bottle has no freshness date or abv% listed. This bottle was part of the Saranac "What Ales You?" 12 pack.

Appearance: The body is black as night and blocks out all light. On top of this dark opaque brew there is a light tan colored head which is tall (about 2 and a half fingers thick) and long lasting. It also makes great intricate lace patterns on the glass as I drink.

Smell: Its aroma is full of dark roasted and toasted barley malt with inviting deep coffee notes.

Taste/Palate: There is a nice mellow roasted barley and toasted maltiness with the same coffee like notes in the nose. There is only light malt sweetness here before the hops come in and adds bitterness and dryness along with earthy and herbal spice flavor. It is not bone dry but it finishes on the dryer side with nice hop notes and roasted notes quick fading off the tongue. It has a solid medium body, smooth texture and good soft yet active carbonation.

Notes: Overall this was good solid dry stout. I am a fan of Saranac but this one still surprised me. I would take this over a Guinness Draught any day!

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 12:42:06 | More by generallee

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a tulip pint glass...

A - Very dark brown body, with a frothy light-brown head. Good head retention and some lacing. Looks like a proper stout!

S - Lots of roasted, slightly burnt barley. Thus, the bitter chocolate and coffee notes. A bit of bread and earth in the scent as well.

D - This is quite dry and bitter. Starts out with a powerful roastiness, which then becomes the bitterness in the after-taste. Not much sweetness to it. Slightly sour.

M - Very carbonated for the most part. Medium-bodied, a bit too crisp for me.

D - Not bad. Not hefty, so quite sessionable for a dry stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 22:33:32 | More by NightINgale

dmamiano

West Virginia

2.88/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Deep dark brownisk black pour with a small head and minimal lacing.
Aroma had hints of metallic...oats, bready and hints of molasis.
Taste was smooth and fairly mild as expected.
A bit syrupy almast as if it was an extract brew.
Ok, but very mediocre at best. Will not buy again

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2010 00:51:09 | More by dmamiano

animalchin

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Solid black body. A light tan head that leaves behind some traces along the surface. Circumference has a light rocky and bubbly head remnant.

S - Not really getting much. Sensing some light malts and maybe the slightest deal of charred wood? Charcoal.

T - Roasted malts with cream and coffee. Slightly sweet and dry. Semi-sweet chocolate that lingers in the after taste.

M - Pretty dense yet controlled carbonation that is assisted by heavy cream.

D - Sits like an Irish stout would and should. Pretty solid take on this style by Saranac. There's room for improvement in the general body, but nothing to sweat over.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2010 02:28:04 | More by animalchin

plaid75

New York

4.18/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draft at the Nag's Head, Huntington, New York.

Poured a jet black hue with a two finger frothy tan head. There was very good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a moderate roasted malt with a touch of coffee and smoke.

The taste was likewise full of roasted malt. Fresh tasting.

The mouthfeel was toward the fuller side of the style with a lingering burnt grain.

Overall a very good DIS. I wish this was a year round offering as I fear I enjoyed one of the last kegs around. in any event, it is good to see a Saranac beer of tap on Long Island, as they are few are far between.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2010 14:45:09 | More by plaid75

BeerVikingSailor

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Just tried this last night (comments from notes taken while consuming), almost St Pat's Day and wanted to try this new one from Saranac....

Bottle pour into Guinness pint glass...looks a lot like Guinness!

I liked this one a lot, very dark malty chocolately goodness, some decent head and lacing, good carbonation...

I am glad I bought a 6'er of this while out of state, have not seen it around OH as yet....

A very enjoyable Irish Stout, nicely done, Matt bros!

Seek this one out if you like stouts, esp. Irish stouts, at $6.99 / 6, a great value and I much prefer to the Guinness I have had lately!

Happy St. Patricks's Day!

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2010 13:47:48 | More by BeerVikingSailor

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured a black-opaque in the glass with an almond colored ½ finger fizzy head that dissipated soon after. The lacing was spotty at best, composed of small speckled dots and dashes that covered only a small portion of the glass. Overall a standard visual appeal.

S: A very soft roastiness along with bitter-sweet chocolate is first picked up on the nose. Light traces of powdery creamer is also detected.

T: Creamer laced coffee with a sweetness of dark roasty grains starts things off on a promising note. Sweet and roasty with juicy plums add highlights while the finish finds a blend of roasted caramel and juicy dark fruit. Overall not particularly dry per style, but I like what Saranac did here giving this a sweet and juicy aspect that compliments the well rounded soft roastiness.

M: The mouthful is medium bodied wit a good deal of tingly carbonation. A nice coffee lacing and roasty texture is felt when rolled around the tongue.

d: A nice drink, again maybe not as dry per style, but then again I think it plays to its advantage drinkability wise giving this a juicy and sweet flair on the tongue that gave me incentive towards the next sip. I could drink a few of these no problem and think matt did a good job.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2010 22:56:23 | More by beerthulhu

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a case from Shangy's for $25 and shared it with friends around St. Pat's Day. Saranac did a good job of brewing a tasty Guinness-like beer, but I've had better Irish stouts. While there's a respectable sour/bitter tang, I would have liked more roast and chocolate flavor. I'm not saying it needed a lot. I'm just saying there was hardly any. Still, for the price it's totally worth trying if you like stouts.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2010 17:15:29 | More by tempest

MaxBrews

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured Saranac Irish Stout into a standard American Pint glass.

You can pour this stout straight in and should probably pour it that way as it creates a big but not overbearing a Tan two finger a fluffy head full of bubbles. The color of course is pitch black but towards the bottom a little light shows through revealing a slightly purple hue. Once the head calms down there's a slightly sticky and fluffy lacing.

The aroma of this beer is beer is full of roasted malts that evoke a mixture of chocolate, caramel, nuts wood and bread. There's a small sent of dark fruits raisins mostly. There's a bitter scent that's hard to identify but I assume it's from whatever hops are used.

The taste is very similar to the aroma. It's full of roasted malt which to some could taste like coffee. Coffee I suppose is the best thing to compare this beer to. The taste is primarily roasted and finishes with a very coffee like bitterness. Not quite complex as a well roasted coffee, but the similarities are there. If served cold the beer tastes of English malts. The finish is like an oversteeped cup of black tea with a tiny touch of chocolate.

True to style this beer is light in body, however going against style the carbonation is rather high. There is plenty of bitterness in this brew which I find pleasant. Combined with the generous use of roasted malts this beer leaves the mouth parched hence the term "dry".

This is a pretty simple stout and drinkable stout. If that's what your looking for this is a decent choice. How true to style is it, I'm not sure as I don't frequent this style and it's impossible for me to compare to it Guinness since I haven't had one since I've become vegan a couple years ago.

I would be interested in seeing what this stout would be like served over nitrogen; if served with nitrogen it may provide the low carbonation and smooth micro bubbles that this style is known for. However carbonated with CO2 the carbonation is too much for this style.

I wish it were a bit more complex in the malt taste. I am stretching it a bit, pulling all sorts of things out of its simple roasted taste. I could see this being better with slight hints of caramel, vanilla and dark chocolate. Through and through this is a highly drinkable and simple stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2010 03:49:20 | More by MaxBrews

mempath

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

doesn't have the 5.0 look of a Guinness, but nice fluffy head, big bubbles, some sheet-lacing...and dark as midnight during a new moon.

toasty burnt-ish nose that isn't overwhelming. caramel, too.

not as creamy-perfect as you know what, but quite similar. this has a little more 'bite' but still quite mellow and drinkable. carbonated to keep it a bit more crisp than expected (in a nice way), but still smooth and creamy. i like the snappy bite on the finish. a bit sour. a very drinkable stout that adds something different enough to stand out.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 00:57:23 | More by mempath

sdj5

New York

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

A: Dark black, can barely see into the glass. One-finger head.

S: Roasted malts, coffee

T: Smooth taste at first with a strong and bitter coffee ending. Think Guinness but more powerful. Aftertaste is pretty good too.

M: Not very bubbly, feels good in the mouth.

D: I could drink a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2010 23:50:48 | More by sdj5

u2carew

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz longneck. Consumed 3/13/10
A) Pours with a finger thick tan head. Slowly settles to a thin, sticky lacing. Opaque body.
S) Bready. Roasted grains. Caramel. Subtle hints of chocolate.
T) Slightly bitter up front. Then a bit dry and grainy sweet. Roasted grains. Smoky. The hops linger throughout.
M) A bit too bubbly. Full bodied but a little thin. Dry.
D) An alright stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2010 21:20:06 | More by u2carew

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Guinness tulip pint glass.

Pours a very dark, nearly opaqe brown with about a finger of tan foamy head that leaves a bit of soapy lacing behind. The nose is light coffee, toffee, and dark wheat. The taste follows straightforwardly, with the coffee taking a darker turn and placing itself further toward the van, while the dark malts and wheat march in step behind. The finish features a slight cranberry flavor, not unlike the finish you'd find from a Guinness. The body is decidedly medium, with a good amount of carbonation and a smooth, dry texture. Overall, a solid, if somewhat ordinary, stout with a high level of drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2010 08:56:54 | More by TMoney2591

hayesez

Indiana

3.43/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Received in a recent trade with Travduke.

Poured into my New Belgium globe. Pours a deep, dark brown that allows a fair amount of light through the periphery. A one-half inch light tan head reduces quickly, leaving generous amounts of thick lacing on the sides of my glass. Only a small cap of frothy head remains. By the end of this beer, large amounts of spotty lacing remain all over the inside of my globe. I am impressed with the appearance!

A strong smell of sweet chocolate leads the nose on this beer. A tiny amount of coffee follows, but the chocolate diligently remains. Roasty malts are integrated into both.

Upon swallowing, the flavor quickly disappears leaving me to wonder where the hell it went; it was gone so quickly! Roasty and malty, but really struggling to identify itself. There is a bit of chocolate in there and a small amount of metallic sweetness. At first I thought there was absolutely not bitterness on the end of this guy. But after several seconds, a gentle bitter aftertaste is left on the back of the tongue.

Light to medium-bodied with an average amount of carbonation. This beer isn't one to linger. Tipped back and gone, this leaves me wishing it would hang around a bit. I understand the dryness is related to the style, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I approve. Easy to drink, I suppose, but I'm definitely looking for a bit more.

Consumed: 3/8/2010

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2010 00:54:28 | More by hayesez

tdmillerjr

Indiana

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: exactly what i expected from this style. dark with creamy head.

S: nothing too exciting about this one. little notes of darker roasted malts.

T: pretty good overall, doesn't wow you but its a nice stout.

M: good on feel, smooth all the way through

D: its very drinkable, but its not one I have to go out and get again.

overall - good beer probably best one Ive tasted from the saranac variety pack.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 01:27:21 | More by tdmillerjr

ATPete

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle

Pours a deep brown color with a 2 finger and strong tan head, a very nice looking stout. Some roasted grain, chocolate, cream soda, sweetened coffee and that standard Saranac musty aroma in the nose. Light in body with a semi creamy almost buttery texture, chocolate and roasted malt a slight bitterness late palate does its job into the finish. No complaints with this one here, this may be my new favorite Saranac offering. Very drinkable, absolutely sessionable, thought the Irish Red was good, another very strong seasonal effort from Saranac.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 00:57:14 | More by ATPete

WesWes

New York

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

The beer pours a dark black color with a 1/2" tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a dry and creamy black malt scent that's earthy and coffee like. The taste is good as well. It has a stiff black malt bitterness that's dry and earthy. It goes down smooth and relatively light and finishes bone dry with a creamy coffee feel. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a solid Irish stout. It's not gonna blow you away, but it's true to style and damn drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2010 22:12:10 | More by WesWes

Kendo

New York

4.3/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: Poured into a Spirit Haus pint glass. Body is black. Notwithstanding a moderately aggressive pour, there's only a slight wispy film of a head. Does leave some splotches of lace, however.

S: Not terribly strong in the nose -- faint roasted barley is about it. Hint of cocoa powder.

T: Wow -- this is good. Flavor-wise, Saranac has hit the points I want to see hit in an Irish Dry Stout. Roasted malt, a touch of sourmash, even lactose is there. Cocoa powder lingers into the aftertaste. Finishes dry with a good bitterness.

M: Tiny bit heavier than light in heft, though not approaching medium bodied. Carbonation is a tad bit prickly; I'd love to have this on cask.

D: Excellent drinkability. Light in heft but flavorful -- in a balanced way between roasted barley malt and bitterness.

Notes: I bought the "What Ales You" 12-pack after grabbing a sixer of this and putting it back. Wishing now I'd bought that six-pack and had more than one remaining. Might just be the best Saranac beer I've had as far as nailing the style goes.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2010 03:35:36 | More by Kendo

CHickman

New York

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours black (opaque) with a 1/2 inch creamy tan head, that looks like a Guinness - typical stout appeal; smells of roasted malt, coffee, hops, vanilla and chocolate. There was a hint of burnt wood in the nose that resembled bourbon, and was a nice end to the aroma.

Tastes like roasted malt, coffee, caramel (or molasses?) and charred wood up front, followed by vanilla, grains, and then some crisp citrus hops that lead to a dry finish where the before mentioned bourbon or cocoa peeks through. Reminds me of the Dogfish Head Chicory Stout, and is quite tasty as the sweet start has the bulk of the flavor, but the dry finish leaves a nice lingering taste of roasted malt and coffee. Mouthfeel is creamy, and the carbonation is very light and allows this beer to go down smooth and easy, almost to the point of being watery. The body feels medium to heavy, but the beer still goes down easy, much easier than a Guinness.

The lacing was mediocre at best, but this was a very good stout that was very drinkable. I recommend trying this beer if you like stouts as this is spot on for this style. Another solid addition to the Saranac seasonal collection.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2010 04:43:08 | More by CHickman