Saranac Red IPA - Matt Brewing Company

milkbone_underwear

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +23.9%

01-01-2013 19:36:59 | More by milkbone_underwear

CHickman

New York

3.29/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Pours a hazy reddish copper color with a 2 finer foamy beige head that faded slowly, leaving excellent wide foamy rings clinging to the sides. A fine looking beer.

Smells of caramel, grains, piney hops, wheat, herbs, light citrus and some spices; nothing really stands out in the nose and it’s mostly the caramel, grains and piney hops which are present throughout. Lame for an American IPA, but nice and malty for a Red/Amber Ale – subject to opinion since BA lists this as an Amber/Red Ale and Saranac states Red IPA on the label.

Tastes like it smells, with caramel, toasted grains, roasted malts, piney hops, wheat, herbs, light citrus like lemon zest or dry citrus hop leaf, some spices like cinnamon or allspice, dry grass, biscuit and burnt bread crust; the malts really dominate the flavor with the hops acting like herbal accents. It was OK, but much better cold versus the flavor after it warmed up; as it warmed it was more like toffee and burnt pizza crust that trailed off bitter. There was a quick sweetness, but that fades and gets replaces by roasted malts.

Mouthfeel is slick, with light fizzy carbonation, a medium almost chewy body and a bitter aftertaste that comes with a wave of roasted grains, not a sweet hop blast. It almost seems balanced, but the malts always seem to win out and drive this away from IPA territory.

Overall it was alright; good as part of a mixed 12 pack, and best drank very cold, but I’m not sold on this one. Saranac makes a whole bunch of better beers, but I’m glad they keep cranking out new creations and stick with experimenting and promoting the craft movement.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 03:44:48 | More by CHickman

nmatros

New York

4.25/5  rDev +23.9%

05-23-2013 23:58:18 | More by nmatros

erialbill

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +2%

05-22-2013 23:09:10 | More by erialbill

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

05-21-2013 16:39:24 | More by ZEB89

Elana

New York

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

05-21-2013 08:08:22 | More by Elana

yaksurf

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -12.5%

05-20-2013 20:31:36 | More by yaksurf

SadMachine

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -5.2%

05-20-2013 05:20:37 | More by SadMachine

Phillyz

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +2%

05-19-2013 03:18:46 | More by Phillyz

jburd19

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +2%

05-17-2013 16:30:36 | More by jburd19

CoreyClark

New York

4/5  rDev +16.6%

05-15-2013 17:28:21 | More by CoreyClark

sackboy

New York

4/5  rDev +16.6%

05-13-2013 20:15:34 | More by sackboy

ale207

Maine

3.5/5  rDev +2%

05-11-2013 17:25:24 | More by ale207

ElijahRivera

New York

3.5/5  rDev +2%

05-10-2013 22:35:14 | More by ElijahRivera

GaryMarkle84

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

05-04-2013 23:05:10 | More by GaryMarkle84

FrankShirley

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

05-02-2013 17:21:14 | More by FrankShirley

MichaelProcton

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -12.5%

04-23-2013 05:04:53 | More by MichaelProcton

CincyTK

Ohio

2.75/5  rDev -19.8%

04-22-2013 03:53:00 | More by CincyTK

Mojoman8561

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +2%

04-21-2013 13:13:33 | More by Mojoman8561

WesWes

New York

3.6/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a deep amber/red color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a nice mix of caramel malts and piney hops. It's bone dry with a mild bitterness. The taste is decent as well. It has a smooth, malty flavor that boasts of pale, roasted, and crystal malts as well as piney hops. It's well balanced with a good amount of hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a solid offering, but there are more IPA's I'd rather have.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 22:51:49 | More by WesWes

avisong

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +2%

04-18-2013 01:45:20 | More by avisong

DoubleMalt

New York

3.75/5  rDev +9.3%

04-16-2013 21:28:44 | More by DoubleMalt

beergoot

Colorado

3.34/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Thick, foamy head sits atop a dark amber body; nice rings down the glass. Excellent floral and citrus hop notes in the aroma with bits of sweet malt hints. Subtle malt flavors and a medium-strength hop bitterness make up the bulk of the flavors. Smooth bodied, clean and dry.

A very nice looking red IPA and very good aroma. The taste didn't quite live up to the looks or smell, but it's still quite enjoyable overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 20:51:20 | More by beergoot

Mersh

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -12.5%

04-13-2013 16:08:15 | More by Mersh

ChefHopMeister

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +2%

04-13-2013 01:48:32 | More by ChefHopMeister