Saranac Chocolate Lager - Matt Brewing Company

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.08/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Best by March 31st, 2013:

Into my pilsener:

A: light amber colored body leaving a two finger foamy white head that settles to a film within a minute. In its wake, some nice speckled spider web foamy lacing is left. Though the body is very clear, no carbonation is seen rising.

S: chocolate malt up front, nothing else detected

T: sweet because of the chocolate malt

M: light with nothing harsh on the tongue. This is very sessionable. It leaves a sweet aftertaste and a dry finish.

O: I think Saranac/Matt Brewing Co. did what they wanted to its a "chocolate lager," so its good for the "bock" style. For me, eh, not sure, maybe for dessert.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 01:56:31 | More by kangarooAdam59

jburd19

Ohio

4/5  rDev +16.6%

05-17-2013 16:28:40 | More by jburd19

spedprof

West Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

05-10-2013 01:15:58 | More by spedprof

FrankShirley

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

05-02-2013 17:18:40 | More by FrankShirley

EFR94

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -12.5%

04-22-2013 01:03:12 | More by EFR94

h4ger

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

04-09-2013 02:48:33 | More by h4ger

TeamMathis

West Virginia

2.83/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Appearance: Looks like an ale.
Smell: Light chocolate.
Taste: Light chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Watery.

It's not a bad drink. It's just not exciting. The chocolate is certainly there, but it's still just a hint of it. If it has it in the name of the brew, I would expect it to be more than a hint. This is rather watery, looks like an ale, and has far too little chocolate. Odd advertisement. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't get it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 01:40:23 | More by TeamMathis

Antikythera

New York

3.3/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a: very pretty clear tea-brown colour, surprising in a lager. Thin head.

s: toasty and chocolatey.

t: slightly nutty lager. Would like the chocolate to pop out more. A little too bitter on the finish.

m: smooth, easy to drink.

o: a little disappointing given the claims of sinful chocolate. Otherwise, pleasant for what it is. If I'm buying lagers I like buying non-standard lagers, and this could definitely be one of them.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 02:00:06 | More by Antikythera

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.29/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

LOOK: Pours a medium copper color, with a dense off white foam. The head sticks around for a few minutes and laces the glass appropriately.

SMELL: Roasted malt, caramel and a hint of powdery chocolate.

TASTE: Toasted malt, caramel and a small hit of watery chocolate. Bready and lager like with an underpinned cocoa flavor. Mild and kind of bland, but agreeable and decently drinkable.

Has a medium bodied feel with a slightly benign flavor. Decent beer, the chocolate is honed down here. I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 23:59:22 | More by Stinkypuss

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

03-17-2013 19:41:29 | More by ujsplace

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

03-15-2013 23:00:35 | More by stephenjmoore

claytong

Vermont

3.5/5  rDev +2%

03-12-2013 04:22:56 | More by claytong

tvljr

Virginia

2.75/5  rDev -19.8%

02-24-2013 22:56:17 | More by tvljr

jp312

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

02-23-2013 02:13:44 | More by jp312

bribo

New York

2.5/5  rDev -27.1%

02-21-2013 21:20:00 | More by bribo

Bapplebaum

New York

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

02-17-2013 00:57:38 | More by Bapplebaum

mattyrubes

New York

2.75/5  rDev -19.8%

02-10-2013 13:18:55 | More by mattyrubes

sketchyhoodie

New York

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

02-10-2013 04:40:40 | More by sketchyhoodie

fastrodney

North Carolina

2.96/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Served from a bottle into a weizen glass.

A: Nice head that dissipates at a decent rate. Mid-to-dark amber.

S: Malty with a pleasant scent of hops.

T: This is where it gets interesting. I actually started drinking this one from the bottle; as soon as I realized this wasn't your standard chocolatey stout/porter, I decided to take a closer look (literally and figuratively). Honestly, I wouldn't have noticed the very faint chocolate had it not been advertised as such. It has a nice malty taste to it with an indistinct astringent hop back that isn't particularly pleasant. I can see it's classification as a bock, but I wouldn't be shocked to see it as a red, either.

M: Nice and thick. Medium carbonation.

O: This one's kind of a head-scratcher. Not terrible, but not great, and the chocolate is almost imperceptable. Huh.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 22:05:26 | More by fastrodney

AngusOg

Maryland

2.5/5  rDev -27.1%

02-05-2013 16:21:16 | More by AngusOg

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.23/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on February 3, 2013.

The pour is a copper-amber color with a lingering off-white head and lacing. I expected it to look much darker for something with chocolate in its title. But it is also a lager so that has to come into play I guess.

The aroma is light in milk chocolate with a slightly more vanilla and caramel malt feel than chocolate. Clean hops though.

The body is creamy and in the medium range.

The taste is more akin to a sweet caramel malt lager than chocolate. Actually vanilla would be the better descriptor. There is a slight lingering bitterness at the tail end. Probably my least favorite selection in the Saranac 2013 Winter Mix Pack.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 00:49:18 | More by puboflyons

Utica_Brew_Review

New York

4/5  rDev +16.6%

02-03-2013 00:24:15 | More by Utica_Brew_Review

DmanGTR

New York

3.5/5  rDev +2%

01-29-2013 16:41:16 | More by DmanGTR

IronLover

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Autumn orange in color with good clarity. Poured with a short white foam that quickly disappeared. Lightly toasted and caramel malt aromas with chocolate in the bacground. Starts off a bit thin but quickly evolves into a medium bodied beer with tangy, robust carbonation. Caramel and dark toasted malt flavors up front quickly followed by chocolate flavors that grow through the middle. Tangy hop bite from start through the middle. Flavors and feel take a smooth turn toward the end. Finishes with a toasted malt finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 02:37:25 | More by IronLover

tpauer

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev +2%

01-28-2013 00:56:58 | More by tpauer