Saranac India Copper Ale - Matt Brewing Company

Brenden

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Copper it absolutely is, ruddy and thick and impossible to see through. The tan head grows to over a finger and a half in height and displays some density. It's been a while since I've seen the rocky cragginess in a head this one's got. Lacing is left in good quantity and pretty thickly.
The aroma's a little nondescript, though there's an evident malts backing that still permits the hoppiness to come out, caramel being evident foremost before some fruits, citrus and otherwise, and perhaps floral notes come out. The roasting is what is drawn out very evidently as I continue; roasted grains all the way underneath.
More citrus comes out in the flavor but, again, it goes a little nondescript and then roasted grains become the foremost flavor. It's evidently well balanced, but could be cleaner as well as hoppier.
Fairly smooth but whith a crispness that's just a little too faint, it ends up feeling a little "fuzzy," so to speak, though not bad. A bit of heft wouldn't hurt, but it's on the edge of medium in the body.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 12:25:43 | More by Brenden

DirtyPenny

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

One in a pint glass, one in a pilsner glass. Glassware is awesome!

A: 1.5 fingers of foamy off-white head atop a dark amber base. Lacing really sticks to the sides of the glass, and the head takes its time fading.

S: Not much. Faint hops and pale malt once it gets warm enough.

T: Frontloaded with piney, bitter hops, this brew eventually settles into a faint mixture of pale and caramel malts. Bitterness lasts on the tongue though, and is what you'll notice a few seconds after finishing a sip.

M: Smooth, viscous and foamy. Slightly dry after-texture, if that makes any sense.

O: Eh, not bad. Hoppy beers are not my thing though, so take this with a grain of salt.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 20:12:37 | More by DirtyPenny

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This poured out with a nice deep copper color with a light tan head on top. The smell of the beer gives off a nice amount of hops. The taste of the beer has a nice citrusy hop kick in the beginning that is kinda sweet, the finish is dry and bitter. The mouthfeel of the beer is decent, nothing too over the top. Overall it's a pretty good brew I think.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 05:06:40 | More by Knapp85

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Ba Review #122
Served On: 02/07/2012
Glassware: Duvel Glass
Labeled ABV: -
Date/ Code: March 31, 2012

This was in the 2011 '12 Beers of Winter' mixed 12 pack.

Look: Poured a murky copper with an orange hue. The head was an eggshell colored white that lasted for a few moments and then dissolved into a thin film.

Smell: Some hints of grapefruit with a distinct maltiness – typical of other Saranac offerings. Also some clean hops that seem present in the Saranac Pale Ale.

Taste: First was a robust hop fruitiness that quickly became overtaken by that signature Saranac malty sweetness. The finish was rather clean with faded notes of grapefruit and that malt sweetness. Aftertaste was slightly dry and bitter,

This beer drinks very similar to the Saranac Big Moose Ale. I think the grapefruit may be the only real quality that sets the two apart.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 00:20:35 | More by CraftBeerTastic

dacrza1

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Occasion: beer rating, plain and simple...
Glassware: K's Tavern pint...
Appearance: thick, pillowy head that sits atop an orange-brown body--the head is resilient...
Aroma: bright, punchy citrus--an IPA no doubt..
Palate: medium-bodied; quite drinkable--this doesn't seem to be an IPA once the glass tilts...
Taste: sprucy ending with some cinnamon or nutmeeg--mellow otherwise with a malty undergirding...
Overall: not sure what this beer is, which often bothers me when writing a review--and causes a deduction in the rubric, as this sits somewhere between its boast and the truth...

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 03:45:22 | More by dacrza1

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- brownish amber, about a finger of head, recedes a little bit, decent lacing.

S- hops, pine, honey.

T- Hops definitely come out, not overly hoppy a little bit piney. Slightly sweet/creamy honey finish.

M- Medium bodied. Not hard to drink at all. Pretty well balanced throughout.

O- Not a bad IPA. Hops well balanced. Nice sweet aftertaste. An above average IPA, but not as good as some I've had.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 23:53:16 | More by jaasen64

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle purchased as part of the Saranac winter mixed 12-pack at Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into a nonic, formed a 1" orangey beige head over the slightly cloudy burnished copper brew. Head falls bubble by burst bubble, with lasting lace. Aroma is malty with a touch of tart.

Taste fronts with grain husks, citrus in the middle, and a lightly bitter close. Mouthfeel is pretty smooth, and drinkability is okay as well. Middle of the road brew for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 01:31:09 | More by ppoitras

blakelive784

Colorado

2.85/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 fl oz bottle served in a pilsner glass, reviewed live:

a - Pours a textbook copper color with a thin, off-white 1.5 finger head. Retention is average, and the head leaves nice lacing as it recedes.

S - Moderate strength generic hops aromas, lemongrass, a good bit of yeast and some weak pale and caramel malt. It's a bit boring and simple, but it's balanced well .

T - Better than I was expecting, but it still doesn't have a lot going for it. Pale malt and caramel foundation meddles with generic (and not too fresh) hops. There's a fair amount of biscuity yeast throughout. All of the flavors linger throughout the beer, with none being more distinguished than another. Balanced well, but they're only balancing two notes.

M - Light to medium bodied, smooth and wet, especially on the finish. It could stand more carbonation.

D - It's definitely drinkable and well balanced, but I'd never have it again. It's simple, uninspired and far from memorable.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 22:19:02 | More by blakelive784

BigPlay1824

New York

3.98/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: pours a nice coppery color that is slightly hazy, pours with a finger of frothy off white head that lingers nicely and leaves spotty lacing
S: nice citrus hop noyes with a definite depth to back it up which I would compare to caramel
T: begins with a definite depth then moves into the nice citus hops I had hoped for, finishes with a distinct sweetness which lingers on the palate
M: medium carbonation tingle, dry in the middle but surprisingly juicy in the end, nice
O: oh saranac, I wish you were this consistently good, real solid brew

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 02:18:00 | More by BigPlay1824

Bobbysdigital

California

3.15/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured like a copper penny, with a moderate head size egg shell colored foamyness.

Smell - malty, caramel, honey sweetness, don't really smell the cascades at all, kinda surprising for an IPA.

Taste - Malty, and sweet with a nice finish of bitterness, just not as much as an IPA would. But the after taste of bitterness does linger.

Good beer for sure, but if you're a hardcore IPA guy It might not be what you're expecting.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 07:47:06 | More by Bobbysdigital

hosehead83

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Clear copper/shiny penny in appearance with a moderate head of off-white foam.
Aroma-Faint toasted malt, caramel. No obvious hop presence.
Taste-Muddled toasted malt and caramel, rather weak-kneed hops for an IPA. Unbalanced flavors just swirl around in my glass, never quite melding together. Decent for the price, but average in everything else.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 19:07:23 | More by hosehead83

CaptJackHarkness

New York

3.8/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From Twelve Beers of Winter Collection 2011:

Pours a lighty coppery brown (of course), with thin non-lasting head.Spotty lace. Scent is grassy and sweet. Taste is decent, very well hopped, slightly acrid. Not as "full" as I expect from an I.P.A.. Nice aftertaste lingers on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 22:34:09 | More by CaptJackHarkness

tdm168

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amber with a half inch of thick, foamy, off white head that has great retention. I pick up notes of bready malt and faint pineapple in the nose. The taste is malty with some caramel and bready notes up front. It finishes with a clean, mildly bitter, floral, piny hop character. The hop character is rather subdued, and doesn't present with any one clear, distinct flavor. It's a medium bodied, well carbonated, smooth beer.

This is a decent IPA from Saranac. I enjoy this better than I do their regular IPA or their Imperial. The malt backbone here adds a solid base, flavor, and body. The hops are laid back and, for a hop head like me, weak, but overall this IPA was enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 22:54:41 | More by tdm168

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured chilled in standard ale glass

A: copper orange; 2 finger head; moderate carb action
S: light, spritzy pine aroma
T: starts off as an average-to-middling IPA, then some more mature, deeper flavors emerge; semisweet; bitter, but not aggressively
M: really buzzes in the mouth

Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 02:29:10 | More by Arithmeticus

Minkybut

Virginia

2.98/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured this average beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was copper colored as the name implies. The beer had a really thin head from the get go. The smell was hoppy but the taste was not so much and was balanced by the sweetness of the malt. The beer had great lacing not to have any head. I will try this beer to give it another chance. I think mine was a little flat even though date was good.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 15:38:06 | More by Minkybut

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a chalice, color is deep amber with a light tan head that dissipates to a thin layer.

Smell is subtle hop (non descript, but on the slightly fruity side) with mild malt backbone (not sweet).

Taste is clean, relatively crisp mild caramel malt flavor with hints of biscuit but not overly sweet but slightly grainy. Hop flavor is mild, feint.

Mouthfeel is clean, nicely balanced flavors and carbonation.

Overall, i like this brew very clean beer, could use a touch more flavor for AIPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 02:12:51 | More by mvanaskie13

Halcyondays

California

3.95/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a dark amber with a standard white head. Good retention, spotty lace.

S: Sweet bready malt, floral hops.

T: Fairly big malt component, more of a Red really. Crystal malt, toffee with a nice piney hop backing. Some grapefruit as well.

M: Medium-bodied, crisp and smooth. Resiny finish with a good aftertaste.

O: The winter pack has clearly had better beers collectively than the summer pack. Well made, balanced, I like this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 07:02:21 | More by Halcyondays

zeff80

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear, copper color with a one-finger, off white head of foam. It left thin trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of bready malt. Some subtle piney aromas.

T - It tasted spicy with a good dose of burnt toast maltiness. Some sweet caramel flavors, too.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is a good brew. One of the better ones from Saranac.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 02:09:02 | More by zeff80

gregb13

California

3.03/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a typical copper ale. It looks nice in the glass, has a good head with superb lacing. Smells typical; a little malt and a little floral hop. Taste follows the nose. Nothing at all off-putting, but nothing stands out either. I could session this all night or just leave it alone.

Average brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 06:30:59 | More by gregb13

droomyster

Virginia

3.3/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a dark copper body with a light tan head with decent retention and clinginess. Aromas are not as hoppy as most IPAs, but still have an orange zestiness and caramel malt character. Flavors are consistent with the nose with an additional toastiness that I didn't expect but quite enjoy. Lacks the assertive hoppiness of the better IPAs, but the interesting malts make it pleasant to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 10:03:16 | More by droomyster

wafers

New York

3.63/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Found in the 2011 Saranac winter mix pack.
Pours a a nice, brick-red color with a decent amount of foam. Aroma consists of mild hint of hops, with that characteristic background of grapefruit. Taste is similar to a basic APA, somewhat bitter with a citrus aftertaste, some slight alcohol, as well as a definite maltiness towards the end. Beer is hoppy but not at all overpowering. I've had this brew several times in the Saranac winter packs and it proves to be a solid choice among some of the darker beers you might find this time of year.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 05:43:46 | More by wafers

rodney45

New York

4.05/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark walnut headed by a foamy sea shell tan head that lingers through the duration of the beer.

S: Dark malty character, barley... Hop aroma seems mostly set with belgian style or noble hops.

T: Good first impression, slightly sweet with a bitter AIPA kick. Malt flavor is that of caramel and roasted barley. I like the flavor profile here, it tastes a lot like a porter right until you get kicked by the hops. I detect several distinct notes, lime, and other citrus, more associated with the noble hop family.

M: Adequately carbonated for the style, a bit harsh for a true copper, but it is a take on the IPA style.

O: I really enjoyed this beer, perhaps im a bit biased because I just personally brewed a beer just like this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 13:49:05 | More by rodney45

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep dark copper color that borders on brown with a decent sized fluffy white head that slowly recedes to a cap with moderate lace. Smells of hops and malt. No really. Citrus in the form of grapefruit and lemon with bits of pine, and bready caramel malt backing it up. Taste is more caramel than hops, but still remains tasty. Medium body and carbonation level with a slick mouthfeel. I enjoyed this one, its probably the best I've pulled from the mixed 12 pack so far. There are better IPA's out there, but this one is still tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 02:37:30 | More by johnnnniee

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle from the 12 Beers of Winter mix pack. Pours a translucent brownish copper color with a half inch of head. Lots of lacing. Aroma is sweet caramel malts with some spicy, floral hops. Taste is more of the sweet caramel malts upfront. Decent amount of hop flavor considering. Slight bit of floral bitterness at the end. Like the India Brown Ale, this is a nice twist and a solid beer to get in a mix 12. Overall, pretty solid and worth having again.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 04:15:03 | More by PicoPapa

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours slightly cloudy copper color with a light tan head that lingers with pretty good lacing.

Smell- fruity hops with a buttery sweetness, a bit of caramel also.

Taste- the buttery sweet malts meets a bitter kick from the hops on the back end. Tastes of caramel and citrus fill the palate but it's oddly a great combination. I'm not a big fan if India Pales but the extra boost from the malts makes the taste much more pleasant for me.

Mouthfeel is smooth, velvety and creamy.

Overall this is one of the better Saranac brews that I have had. Its well balanced and very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 02:59:27 | More by Treyliff