Saranac Scotch Ale - Matt Brewing Company

schoolboy

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +30.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have been impressed by the items in the Saranac sampler. Surprised by them, I should say. They are ambitious, and they deliver better than the Saranac regulars. I remember this from the past, and this winter batch does it all over again. I need to get me a couple more boxes.

Scotch ale is not one of my favorite styles. The Saranac version is preferrable to more authentic ones. It has a heavy roasted flavor and tastes boozier than it is. In general it is one of the most drinkable scotch ales (for me). Try it and keep an open mind.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2007 02:29:57 | More by schoolboy

cliff1066

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +3.6%

12-25-2012 17:22:43 | More by cliff1066

Anacrusis

3.25/5  rDev -3.8%

11-18-2012 15:28:11 | More by Anacrusis

generallee

New York

3.5/5  rDev +3.6%

08-29-2012 11:24:54 | More by generallee

Dizzy242

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -11.2%

07-08-2012 15:41:38 | More by Dizzy242

drtth

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -11.2%

05-01-2012 01:30:06 | More by drtth

imperialking

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +3.6%

01-23-2012 05:01:03 | More by imperialking

JohneHoodlum

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -11.2%

12-07-2011 01:52:34 | More by JohneHoodlum

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +18.3%

12-02-2011 04:19:19 | More by rab53

djrn2

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -11.2%

12-01-2011 23:26:38 | More by djrn2

blackened1339

New York

4/5  rDev +18.3%

11-14-2011 21:19:58 | More by blackened1339

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Jason's bottle from the six pack. Passable beer, but fairly weak for its style. No smell, looks alright its a light brown and lacey, with a lasting off-white head. Above-average carbonation. Only a faint whiff of scotch taste.Not all that drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2009 01:31:56 | More by northyorksammy

McClungbrew2

West Virginia

3.3/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance- Clear amber /tan.1/4" head.Small bubbles rise up from bottom of glass. Head falls to a thin bead covering the surface of the beer.

Smell- Faint malt nose. Partially attributable to the temperature of the beer. Still not very complex.

Flavor - Malty front, somewhat spicey and phenolic. Smokey aftertatse. Slightly sweet malt with some bitterness but no hop flavor.

Mouthfeel - Effrevescent, bubbley. Thin on body. Tingles the tastebuds.

Overall - Commendable.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2009 17:48:09 | More by McClungbrew2

yesyouam

New York

4.05/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Saranac Scotch Ale is crystal clear and tawny dark amber with a frothy, oily, off-white mocha head that has good retention and leaves great lacing. The aroma is deep, dark, wooden, sour, earthy, sweet and medicinal. It smells pretty fresh. There is a lot of roasted malt here. Smooth and medium bodied, it is a touch syrupy at the end. The roasted malt tastes pretty resiny-- almost smoked. The hops are discrete and medicinal. The balance between deep sweetness and sourness, roastiness and bitterness is nice and round. This is somewhere between sophisticated and straight-forward. Love it.
(rated Dec 1, 2007)

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 04:15:01 | More by yesyouam

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Appears a copper amber hue with a light khaki beige head, light speckled lacing. Aroma has a nice peated malt profile with caramel sweetness and alcohol coated ripened plum and apricots. Flavors bring semi sweet caramel infused with fruit and smokey peated malt accents, a real treat coming from Saranac. Mouthfeel is lighter bodied for the style carbonation is ample flows nicely with each sip. Drinkability is solid all around one that will be on most folks wish list for a regular or semi regular release from this season's 12 beers of winter.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2008 20:39:48 | More by WVbeergeek

engisch

New Jersey

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

Pours a nice amber color with very little head. It smells very lightly of sweet toasted malts. I'm not expecting much before I taste it, but the taste is quite convincing of a scotch ale with malty character and a smokey aftertaste. Out of the winter 12-pack, this is the best. Although it isn't the best scotch ale that I have had (it is a bit thin), it is pretty decent and worth trying, especially as an introductory scotch ale. I would definitely try this again, if given the chance. Although I'm not buying another sampler just for this. ;)

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2008 03:13:58 | More by engisch

Pleepleus

New York

3.2/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle to pint glass a clear copper color, much lighter than I expected with a 1/2 inch of white foam head that dissolved quickly and left some spotty lacing. Smell was of toasted malts and caramel but left something to be desired. Tasted the caramel up front with roasted malt flavors following. A bit thin for the style, almost watery really. This is a drinkable beer but is it truly a Scotch Ale? Seems more like a Scotch Lite Ale, not bad but not worthy either.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2008 03:35:43 | More by Pleepleus

marlinsfan4

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had this as a part of the Saranac 12 Beers of Winter ($11.99/12 Pack)

I was highly impressed by this one. Pours a beautiful copper,red color. Very malty taste with a distinctive smoky after taste which is a great kick to the end of a sip. I feel it could have been a bit stronger alcohol wise but I would try this again in a heartbeat.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2008 22:43:30 | More by marlinsfan4

Lexluthor33

New York

3.43/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a deep reddish brown with a small beige head and a decent lace.
The aroma is basically roasted malts,caramel and hops.
The taste is sweet,smoky and malty.
The feel is almost bittersweet. Medium carbonation and body. A bitter finish.

Notes:It was well balanced and while not anywhere close to my favorite style it was drinkable and more suitable for the winter.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2008 16:41:22 | More by Lexluthor33

Durge

Connecticut

3.68/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The color is light, clear amber with a medium off-white head and decent lacing. It has a malty spice aroma with some wheat bread mixed in. It brings a pretty strong sweet and bitter charcoal taste, fairly aqueous with tingly carbonation. It is a drinkable brew. A bit grapey and maybe some apple and cinnamon in there. Not bad, but a little too sweet to be a favorite for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2008 06:39:35 | More by Durge

hellomcfly

South Carolina

2.63/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

A- Deep burgundy with a small tan head

S- Smoky malty smell dominates

T- Strong sweet malt taste with strong smoke flavor, kind of weird. Represents the style but something just seems off

M- full bodied medium carbonation

D- Not a big fan of this beer. One of my least favorite in the holiday pack. Used one of these to cook brats and they turned out pretty nicely.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2008 21:08:21 | More by hellomcfly

Rsobotka

New York

4/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Reddish brandy like color...not sure if I should put this in a sniffer

S-smells almost like a brandy as well...sweet with smells of cherry and caramel

T-Srtong taste with a punch...sweet yet full of cherry alcohol

M-heavy and full in your mouth, more for sipping rather than pounding
D-Another good beer from Saranac...not my favorite but well done, with a great mix of flavors

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2008 14:09:32 | More by Rsobotka

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.03/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a clear, garnet-hued body with a teeny, tiny, light khaki-colored head.

Smell: Sweet-smelling malt nose with a whiff of liquid smoke and fruit.

Taste: Toasted caramel with a hit of crystal malt sweetness. Dash of fruit syrup. There's an odd smokiness present, as if they poured in some essence of smoke in lieu of actually utilizing smoked malts. Touch of spice on the "smokey" finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Sorta watery.

Drinkability: I generally love scotch ales. This beer, though... whew.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2008 19:04:52 | More by ChainGangGuy

LumpyGuitar

New York

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

Picked this up in the Winter/Holiday pack.

Appearance was average, brownish red with mediocre head, nothing special here.

Smell was a bit sweet and malty, again nothing special.

Taste was good. About right on for what I would expect out of a Scotch Ale, sweet and hoppy with a bitter finish.

Mouthfeel consisted of perfect carbonation and a medium body.

Drinkability here is average for me. I like Scotch Ale but will definately drink others before this. Not a bad choice in a pinch.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2008 07:41:35 | More by LumpyGuitar

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark, reddish brown color with quite a bit of white frothy head.

S: A malt smell is the most dominant along with a toasty hop scent.

T: A little sweet, with a good bit of the toasty hop taste, also a bit sour at the end.

M: Medium bodied with good carbonation.

D: Fairly easy to drink. Probably the best I've had from Saranac so far. I could see myself buying this every now and again.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2008 21:07:12 | More by BeerCon5