Saranac Session IPA - Matt Brewing Company

fx20736

New York

3.66/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

bought as part of Saranac's Summer Variety pack from Southtown Beverages on 4/26/13 for $ 7.99.

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a glass tumbler, served at fridge temp.

appearance: amber with just a hint of tangerine. thick 3 finger meringue of creme brulee head. adequate lacing.

aroma: candied ginger, honeydew

mouthfeel: a little thin.

taste: thick and bready with a melange of earthy hops and a hint of fruitiness.

notes: well done. Saranac is an inconsistent brewery IMO and this is one of their good examples.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 21:11:18 | More by fx20736

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Another of my local, in-person trader, tone77's latest drop-off.

From the bottle: The "Notes" have everything already. Good job!

Mmmm. The aroma of grapefruit was strong in my kitchen as I poured this into a glass. My pour produced two fingers of dense, foamy, bone-white head with great retention. Color was a deep golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. I put my nose into the glass just to make sure and it was like being gassed with hops! The lacing that began to form as the head fell was very pretty. Mouthfeel was medium and the hops seemed to be saturating the beer, giving it a grainy texture. I did not mind it since I am a self-professed hophead, but it did not seem to conform to what they told me on the neck label. Finish remained hoppy and it was a decent beer, but I would prefer something with more Ooomph. I suppose that is the tradeoff for a session beer, but I would grow tired of this quickly, I think.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 20:02:19 | More by woodychandler

dacrza1

New Jersey

2.4/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25

Glassware: Yuengling pint...Occasion: still in the afterglow of the Christmas holiday...Appearance: thick, meteor-laden chunks in the pale white head; burnt orange body; head laces thickly as well-promising...Aroma: bright, punchy citrus-orange peel and lemon zest--a bit of soap dish affects the scent...Palate: begins medium-bodied; slightly obtrusive at the throat; foamy and soft at the teeth...Taste: oddly a combination of puckerish hops and troublesome aftertaste--not a beer to enjoy slowl--or often--due to this quirk...Overall: Not a session IPA after all, unless I ended up with a bad batch...not among Saranac's better offerings...

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 04:50:22 | More by dacrza1

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is mild, some hops. Taste is also kind of light, some hops, not nearly as much bitterness as I would expect. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a mediocre beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 06:42:49 | More by tone77

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

i thought this was really good, one of the better saranac hoppy beers ive had. the pour is clear and golden, standard looking, with an inch of white head on top that slowly dies down. the nose is really citrusy hops, grapefruit mostly, bitter and crisp. the flavor is a little more balanced, with some very light toasted american barley malt and just a hint of sweetness to calm the bitter hops down. the hops are quite fruity, centennial or citra or something must be. great hoppy finish. the body is really light, indeed a session beer, but i thought the carbonation was also a little light, which made it a little less drinkable than it otherwise might be. overall though, this is a tasty beer, one of saranacs best displays of hops to date in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 18:29:17 | More by StonedTrippin

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

2.3/5  rDev -29%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Boulder pint glass.

A - Translucent gold color. A quick burst of white head leaves behind some light lacing around the glass.

S - Citrus and pine. Honestly, smells a bit like a cleaning product.

T - Citrus and pine flavors return from the smell. Pretty lemony with some light hoppiness. Pretty bitter. Really can't get behind this one.

M - Very light, but heavily carbonated. A bit too much on the carbonation.

This is the last of a fairly disappointing variety pack I picked up. This is drinkable, but with so many similar, better IPAs out there, there isn't much reason to come back to this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 00:26:02 | More by RoninTK3

Kendo

New York

3.18/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. Body is clear dark golden with a small whitish head. Small bits of lace cling to the glass after each sip.

S: Hops - slightly citrusy, though more green (piney/grassy) or even earthy. Also that Saranac house yeast smell, which is hard to explain but if you drink Saranac beers enough, you understand - as they all start to smell (and even taste) alike.

T: Light crackery malt followed by a touch of bitter (lemony) hops and a metallic/minerally taste. Some grassiness lingering on the aftertaste, but then that fruity yeasty taste counteracts the bitterness with sweetness. Overall impression is that it tastes more like a slightly bitter APA rather than an IPA, but given the "session IPA" moniker, I guess the line between those two styles is bound to get blurry.

M: Carbonation is a bit over-active, but at least it's fine-bubbled and gentle, not harsh on the palate.

O: Like so many Saranac beers, this one tastes mainly like Saranac. Buy a mixed 12-pack of their beers and drink them all back-to-back and you'll see what I mean.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 01:03:26 | More by Kendo

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.68/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Sam adams pint glass.

A- pours a clear, golden yellow. Medium head that quickly disappears but leaves some lacing.

S- floral, piney hops. Slightly citrusy

T- good balance of hops and malt, but there could be more flavor in this brew. Vanilla aftertaste?

M- medium carbonation, pretty drinkable ipa.

Overall, a good brew. Not awesome, but good. Not the most flavorful ipa but worth it for the price.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 03:12:01 | More by gcamparone

alli4051

Colorado

2.4/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12oz brown bottle into a standard pint.

Pours a bright gold with a thin white head. Head leaves some wispy lace as it goes. Smells...soapy...with faint floral hops. Tastes kinda soapy too, marris otter is pretty prominent as well, hops definitely take a back seat. A previous reviewer described it as a "hoppy pilsner" more than an IPA which is right on the money, which I guess makes sense since they were shooting for a super light IPA. Overall pretty mediocre, that bizarre soapy flavor throws me off, kinda stripped away too much to make it a sessionable IPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 03:33:18 | More by alli4051

KB24

3.5/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Light orange, one finger white head. Some lacing.
S - Light, some caramel and floral notes.
T - The hop presence is light, and not very bitter. There is a crispness to it, but it falls short in flavor. A very simple flavor, which might have been the goal.
M - Light with lots of carbonation.
O - As easy to drink as a light beer with flavors to remind you of the thicker, bitter IPAs. This would be great on the beach, or my deck on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 00:35:08 | More by KB24

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass.

Appearance: A little bit of a deeper gold, the head is white maybe 1/4" off the body.

Smell: Weak hoppy smell, wished it was more floral like.

Taste: Light hops, wish it was more bitter. I can tell you this for new IPA starters this isn't bad.

Mouth: Medium to heavy carbonation, very smooth.

Overall: Not a bad brew but don't expect much from it. It is closer to a hoppy pilsner than an IPA. Drink with confidence, Salud!

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 22:58:33 | More by BlurryVisi0n

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

3.66/5  rDev +13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Best by September 2012:

Into my nonic:

A: light golden yellow colored body with a light one finger white head that dies within fifteen seconds. Soft white spider web lacing spots the sides of my glass and for as light as the body is, there is no carbonation seen rising.

S: some lightly spiced earthy hops with a slight bite.

T: all about the hops but still very light, just nothing else going on - almost as if they took an AAL and decided to hop it up.

M: very light, wow, the name defines it, which in turn, yes, is pretty watery, but not gonna knock the brewer because, its just livin' up to its name.

O: I do like this. This is a very worthy summer IPA, best taken during the summer months.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 14:45:07 | More by kangarooAdam59

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.4/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I have referred to many IPAs , and other beers for that matter, as sessionable. However, to my knowledge, this is the first brew I've ever seen actually refer to itself using that same adjective.

Bronze colored body with a thin wispy eggshell colored head and lace. Nose is thin and has brief citrus hops but could use more beef. The flavor itself is more balanced but does have some spicy and floral hops throughout and a clean, satisfying finish. It's a little dull for the style, but yes, it is easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 02:24:41 | More by daliandragon

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.43/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle with BB SEP 2012 on neck. Part of the 12 Beers of Summer Mix Pack. Pours a translucent yellowish orange color with no head. Some lacing. Aromas of caramel malts, spicy hops, floral and bready. Taste is mostly malts with some spicy and floral hop notes in the background. A bit bready with a lemon finish. Light mouthfeel and easy to drink. This isn't a great IPA, but its not trying to be. Overall, its a nice light IPA to have in the summer. Works well enough.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 20:46:17 | More by PicoPapa

washburnkid

New York

3.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Light carbonation gives me a small frothy head over hazy amber. Herbal aromas, very flowery from the hops. A little soapy in the flavors, which are really bitter and hoppy. Really not a lot of malty characteristics, just loads of herbs, which I'm really enjoying. Thin mouthfeel but well carbonated.

Paired the beer with a grilled cheese that had a bit of pesto and pecorino, and the beer went really well with the salty and sharp flavors.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 17:16:55 | More by washburnkid

CloudStrife

New York

3.55/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a clear lightly carbonated gold with a 1.5 finger puffy white head. Large bubbles. Head sticks around for a few minutes.

S: Lightly spiced earthy hop with some bite. Sort of a pure hop smell to it, no malt really gets through.

T: An almost medicine like hop that feels a little naked without much malt backing.

M: Light, real easy drinking. Maybe a little watery but I think thats part of the idea.

Overall another drinkable beer that fits well in the summer mix pack.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 01:08:43 | More by CloudStrife

Lordquackingstic

Italy

2.88/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottled poured into a tulip.

A: Bubbly dark gold with a finger and a half of white head. The lacing is pretty sticky (which is what bumped this up from a 3.0 to a 3.5).

S: Really lacking in aroma here. To be honest, I'm not sure I can smell anything. The only thing I smell is a little hay or something. I'll give it a 2.0 only because my allergies might be affecting my perception.

T: Even though this is an IPA, malts definitely hit the tongue first. After that a spicy/lemony flavor hits the palette. The spiciness is actually more noticeable than the hop presence. Not bad, but not great.

M: Medium carbonation with a nice spicy finish that lingers a little bit. Nicest part of the beer.

O: This is an easy drinking IPA, pretty refreshing for a hot summer day, but not full of flavor. Wouldn't really look for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 18:00:34 | More by Lordquackingstic

corby112

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a pale golden orange color with a two finger frothy white head that slowly settles into a thick, lasting ring. Chunks of soapy lacing left behind.

Floral, resinous hop aroma with an earthy, grassy quality that's countered by citrus fruit and pale malt. Some nice earthy pine needle followed by hints of grapefruit, pineapple and lemon peel. Faint biscuit and graham cracker malt. Decent balance of earthy and citrus hop notes.

Medium bodied with a floral hop presence up front that provides some dry bitterness that lingers over the citrus fruit and pale malts into a dry, astringent finish. Some nice grassy and piney flavor that is quickly countered by subtle citrus rind and an odd metallic spice/yeast character. I'm not sure if it's the yeast that they use but all of Saranac's beers have an odd, off-putting taste that lingers in the finish. All of the citrus notes from the nose are completely muted and it results in a beer that has some decent hop flavor that is killed off mid-palate.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 08:24:02 | More by corby112

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.43/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass. Pours a golden hay color with thick foamy head. Nice mild hop aroma, but mostly malts. Taste is very malty with a forward bitter hop. Its a mild drinkable IPA...its almost like a Light IPA. Its ok, just dont go in thinking its a typical IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 00:08:24 | More by DrinkSlurm

Sharkophile

New York

3.53/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Appears a pale golden color with a big white head that leaves rings of lacing around the glass. Looks great.

A: Some malt sweetness with a lemony and earthy (tobacco?) hop.

T: Some pale malt sweetness with an earthy, grassy and citrussy hop character. Grain husk and some nuttiness in the very dry finish.

M: Quite light in body with a lively carbonation. Enhances the dryness, which is quite pleasant.

O: Nice, light IPA. Serves it's purpose, methinks.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 02:59:32 | More by Sharkophile

plaid75

New York

3.6/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a light brass hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a light peppery hop together with the characteristic Saranac house yeast.

The taste consisted of a a light earthy hop atop a grainy pale malt.

The mouthfeel was certainly toward the lighter side of the style.

Overall a super quaffable ale that showcased enough flavor to keep it interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2012 02:12:56 | More by plaid75

BucannonXC5

California

3.25/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. About two fingers of head. Color was honey caramel golden, a bit like apple juice or dehydrated urine. Bubbly gray-white lacing that pleasantly lasted for a bit. Foamy gray lacing on the sides that lasted throughout.

Smelled spicy piny hops. Kind of a lemon-lime whiff with a spice in there (maybe pepper?) Bitter on the nose. Good smell overall.

Still that piny taste in the hops, but more watery than I thought it would be. Also some honey in there. Lime citrus hops as well. Very bitter finish.

Medium body. Thin, watery texture. Below average carbonation. Long lasting bitter finish.

Started out well but the taste and feel were the weak points. The Rye IPA that I had in the 12-pack of summers was much better.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 05:34:07 | More by BucannonXC5

marlinsfan4

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

One of the new additions to the Beers of Summer mixed pack. Kind of confused by this one, I've always liked my IPA's as they are.. no need to make a 'session' variety in my opinion. This tastes like either an unbalanced pale ale, or a too light IPA. Besides the beer style identity crisis, it's still pretty damn drinkable beer with a nice hop kick to it. Easily drinkable, and great for the summer, just not sure the style makes too much sense.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 01:10:26 | More by marlinsfan4

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on May 18, 2012. It pours golden yellow with regular carbonation but practically no head or at least any head that lingers. On the nose there are floral hop notes and some citrus along with grainy malts. The body is about medium and slightly creamy. There is a harsh kind of hop bitterness to the taste so it does taste like an IPA should. There is also a white grape kind of flavor along with grains and a clean finish. If you are looking for a hint of character on a nice, hot day this should do the trick.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 00:49:43 | More by puboflyons

Brad007

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A session IPA? The ABV is where it should be so this could go either way.

Pours a dark gold/almost copper with a thick, frothy head into my glass. Clean glass by the way. Lots of lacing.

Aromas smells of freshly-cut grass with a touch of sweetness from the malt.

Crisp and sweet with just the right touch of hops. "Grassy". Closer to a Pale Ale though. The only thing separating the two is a (slightly) higher hop bite.

Lingering sweet malt and grass make up the mouthfeel. Carbonation is a bit flat.

Easy to drink but to be honest, you might be better off sticking with a regular pale ale. Most IPAs are higher in ABV too.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 17:22:21 | More by Brad007