Saranac Chocolate Amber Lager - Matt Brewing Company

Jason

Massachusetts

2.78/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

A: Dim and dark leather brown, somewhat impressive head that holds together quite well.

S: Vague roasted aroma, smells of coffee dust with an odd dextrin and powdered carob backing.

T & M: Moderate carbonation with a slick and creamy medium body, lacking in crispness a bit. More unsweetened baker’s chocolate in the roasted character than anything else.The roasted twang nearly strips the lager characteristics away as it adds a twang of fruitiness and faint acrid porter like flavors. Hops are a bit small in stature as to let the malt come though, a touch of bitterness. Very malty but flavors seem mismatched especially when the beer dries up in the finish.

Drinkability & Notes: A little hard to put down due to the husky and mildly acrid flavors. There are many other dark lagers that are worthy of my palate as this one does not make the cut as far as my taste goes.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2008 03:07:31 | More by Jason

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-21-2013 18:52:17 | More by Slatetank

Bill235

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -1.5%

05-09-2013 17:56:06 | More by Bill235

drt72

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +6.1%

04-01-2013 23:51:56 | More by drt72

magine

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -1.5%

03-16-2013 01:58:52 | More by magine

smakawhat

Maryland

2.88/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from the bottle into a tall pilsner glass.

Light orange copper body, mostly clear, but a little difficult to see through. Good mix of slow and fast rising carbonation. Head is off white, a faint tan, very light creamy retention, and settles slowly. Not a bad looking brew.

Very faint malts, and a very close bouquet. There's not much going on here, however some powdered cacao and dryness sneaks out just a little hint of what might be coming. Virtually no malt presence at all.

Palate on first sip is really not that great. A good crisp lager like feel, but there's not malt backbone to this. A strange taste in the mid palate of bile. Aftertaste brings a little bit of dried and roasted cocoa powder. More like instant Quik, but without any depth. Clean but mostly a light yeast sensing finish if anything.

Overall the thing that I find odd on this is there is not even a hint of sweetness from the malts or anything else. I am not into sweet, but couldn't there somehow be some sweetness here and particularly malt depth to this beer? I'll pass.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 22:27:43 | More by smakawhat

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

It hit or miss with Saranac sometimes and this missed in my opinion.
The beer has a nice color with it's auburn, copper amber color. The head is rather tall but fades.
Aroma is sweet with lager nuiances but no real chocolate aromas.
Taste has plenty of sutle chocolate nibs over, to me, a really way to sweet lager beer.
Drinks smooth and thin.
Really not my cup of tea, baby

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 14:20:21 | More by micromaniac129

cliff1066

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -1.5%

12-11-2012 02:12:20 | More by cliff1066

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

2.5/5  rDev -24.2%

12-07-2012 22:55:45 | More by Damian74Shensky

Dirtinabottle

New York

3.25/5  rDev -1.5%

11-12-2012 15:17:19 | More by Dirtinabottle

hadlance

Alabama

2.5/5  rDev -24.2%

10-27-2012 14:07:08 | More by hadlance

OriolesFan1008

Maryland

2/5  rDev -39.4%

06-07-2012 15:10:42 | More by OriolesFan1008

Mikecap

Rhode Island

3/5  rDev -9.1%

05-18-2012 21:21:25 | More by Mikecap

drtth

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -9.1%

05-01-2012 01:27:54 | More by drtth

PGVG

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +13.6%

04-15-2012 02:32:57 | More by PGVG

TheRuss9585

Vermont

2.25/5  rDev -31.8%

03-28-2012 20:06:38 | More by TheRuss9585

thegerm87

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -1.5%

03-09-2012 02:50:52 | More by thegerm87

chrispoint

Connecticut

2.5/5  rDev -24.2%

02-18-2012 20:27:37 | More by chrispoint

jfcaa193

Connecticut

2.5/5  rDev -24.2%

02-05-2012 19:24:57 | More by jfcaa193

imperialking

Illinois

3/5  rDev -9.1%

01-23-2012 05:01:32 | More by imperialking

BigPlay1824

New York

2.4/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: Pours a light amber color that is extremely clear with a small amount of carbonation bubbles, pours with two fingers of creamy off white head that lingers nicely and leaves a lot of lacing all around the glass
S: sweet chocolate malts
T: ugh oh, not what i had hoped for, the taste through and through reminds me of powdered chocolate milk mix or the chocolate protein shakes i used to drink in high school, not the high quality pure chocolate characteristics i've seen in other chocolate brews
M: pretty intense carbonation tingle, thin, leaves kind of an odd astringency and powdery like feeling on the palate
O: average at best, just was not a pleasant beer to drink, with all of the other, much better chocolate beers out there, there is no way i will ever buy this again, sorry fellas

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 03:00:08 | More by BigPlay1824

rdub

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -9.1%

01-01-2012 02:29:53 | More by rdub

lumpy1126

Ohio

3/5  rDev -9.1%

12-15-2011 03:31:27 | More by lumpy1126

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

3/5  rDev -9.1%

12-06-2011 18:17:12 | More by Rochefort10nh

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +21.2%

12-02-2011 04:11:47 | More by rab53