Saranac 4059' Porter - Matt Brewing Company

beergoot

Colorado

3.51/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Deep, dark brown body topped with a thick, clinging light tan head. Roasted dark grains, some chocolate and cocoa undertones, rich and malt-y aroma. Good roasted flavor, slight char, a bit of chocolate overtone; semi-sweet with a tinge of hop bittering. Medium bodied, semi-sweet feel.

A nice porter overall. Nothing mind-blowing or exceptional, yet tasty enough that I wouldn't hesitate to have another on down the road.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 23:25:52 | More by beergoot

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Pours a dark brown with good clarity. Off white head forms and leaves some lacing. Aroma of roasted malts and dark bread. In the taste, nutty malts with some roasted qualities. Faint bakers chocolate and dry grain. Medium bodied feel but flavor is too bland and watery. Medium bodied, thin for the style. Overall, the flavor was fine but too watered down, stronger character could make this a winner.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 03:02:19 | More by Stinkypuss

magine

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a pint glass.

Pours a dark brown with tan head, lots of lace and very nice head retention. Very good looks,

Brew smells of dark malts, caramel, cocoa roasted nut. Good nose.

Brew tates balanced, very drinkable. Great flavors; roasted dark malts; dark cocoa. Good flavors and feel from start to finish. Very good porter here.

Man - one of the best from Saranac, and a standout porter in general. Very good stuff here.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 02:28:48 | More by magine

smakawhat

Maryland

4.01/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

A real just a little light tan head, that foams up with styrofoam character, and sits at three fingers deep with good retention. Body is a dark walnut brown with some good hints of red all throughout the body. Some fast rising tiny carbonation crawls up if you look close. Real nice looking brew.

A real nice interesting mix of toasty roasty malts. Smoked and almost bbq smelling light wood right of the fireplace. Good mix of great roasty and smokey malt backbone. Clean, thirst quenching anticipating.

Light bodied with lots of charring roast, with a noticeable likeable wet quality. Carbonation and a bit gaseous unfortunately. Finish is very dry and grainy, but with a good ripping grain quality. Smoke quality seems a bit hammered down sensed from the nose though, but with warmth and time it really hits on the swallow. Has a sense of mild like feel and super easy drinking.

Overall this is a real fun drinking brew, probably one of the most interesting and probably one of the most desirable Saranac brews I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 20:20:27 | More by smakawhat

Brenden

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

"Porter" (medium) brown, this beer certainly plays the part in the look. A nicely dense, lasting head with a creamy thickness, remains one finger tall for a good time. Lacing is left in goodly amounts by means of fairly thick patches.
Chocolate malts are evident, and it's obvious from the lower sweetness and combination of earthiness, mild graininess, and light metallic notes that this is of the English persuasion. Chocolate comes out in notes of powder and a bit of a bittersweet edge. There's a solid toastiness underneath with a sturdy roast to it as well. Somewhere toward the middle some coffee grounds come through. The aroma and flavor match well; the major exception is an astringent bit of char in the finish.
The body is medium and starts creamy, but it thins out a bit too quickly. Crispness remains lightly all the way, but doesn't quite do enough to continue to build up the feel. It maintains enough smoothness to keep a touch of flow to it.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 06:00:06 | More by Brenden

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.66/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75

A- pours very dark brown, almost black. Bubbly and frothy light tan head reduces to a thin later that has good retention.

S- chocolaty with roasted notes, a bit of coffe with a finish of bitter hops.

T- sweet melted chocolate with a bit of toffee up front, smoky and roasted malt character mid-palate with a bit of charred wood, the finish continues with roasted notes and finishes with a sharp Englsh hop bitterness. Finish is dry and smoky.

M- light-medium body, low carbonation, slightly creamy mouthfeel but finishes a but slick. Mouthfeel seems a little light for a smoky porter.

O- lots of smoky notes in this one, almost reminded me of a Baltic porter. Good chocolate flavors and enough hops to balance it out. Pretty good!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 02:13:22 | More by Treyliff

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.85/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

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

It has a very dark brown to practically black pour with a foamy beige head that lingers and laces delicately on the glass. Handsome looking.

The aroma does bring out the Porter notes I might expect with roasted malts, cocoa, vanilla, yeast, and a vague hop bite.

The body was a little disappointing after such a full aroma with a medium texture and a little astringency.

The taste starts with dark malts and sweetness but does not take long to bounce back with a low to moderate hop bitterness. Lingers a little. Not a bad one from Saranac.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 00:15:50 | More by puboflyons

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Best by March 31st, 2013:

Into a mug (poured this previously into a nonic):

A: dark brown colored body leaving a decent one finger white foamy head that immediately dies into the body.

S: roasted malt, hops and coffee.

T: bitter as the coffee and hops are taking precedence

M: medium with nothing harsh on the tongue. It leaves a bitter and dry aftertaste and finish.

O: this is a good beer for its style and its good for me, I'd come back to it.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 04:22:20 | More by kangarooAdam59

alexgash

Connecticut

3.45/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle.

Amber to cola brown body. Clear. Half finger of gauzy, light khaki head. Some lacing. Roasted barley, chicory, fading coffee, a little peat, and milk chocolate on the nose. Smell is "light" for a porter, but not bad.

Slightly metallic, roasted malts up front. Chalky and bitter. Hints of dark chocolate. Faint caramel sweetness flashes mid-palate. Roasted, chalky bitterness takes over the finish. Moderate body, with a rather creamy feel. Not bad, but forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 23:36:28 | More by alexgash

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.95/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a pitch black color, much darker than the typical English Porter brown, about a finger of head that sticks around for awhile, not much for lacing.

Smell has a rich caramel and toffee aroma, hints of chocolate, very roasty and toasty nose.

Taste starts out with a strong roasted malt presence, slight burnt aftertaste, toffee throughout, the flavors are there but the body is pretty lacking, a bit thin, carbonation too high as well.

Overall a solid solid porter as part of a mix pack.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 20:44:55 | More by deltatauhobbit

Hop_kulture

4.15/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I want the golden ticket!

a: dark and opaque like a porter should be. cough star hill

s: roasted malt and a slight butterscotch smell

t: slightly smokey with a heavy malt sweetness

m: good lacing and heaviness. the flavor coats the mouth

o: a decent porter by a brewery that is very special to me. Saranac doesn't brew the worlds best beer but they were the first brewery that I discovered that introduced me to so many different styles. I will always come back... thanks again Saranac

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 05:24:37 | More by Hop_kulture

u2carew

Massachusetts

4.19/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz. Longneck bottle
A) Pours with a two finger head. Settles slowly leaving a sticky lacing on the sides. Opaque body.
S) Roasted grains. Hints of coffee. Yeasty.
T) Bold roasted malt notes upfront. Hints of molasses. Coffee. Chocolate. Pleasant characteristic hop bite in the finish.
M) Full body. Mellow carbonation. Dry and tannic in the finish.
O) A delicious porter. Well crafted and true to porter form. I'll be drinking another.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 01:19:32 | More by u2carew

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

3.26/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from 12oz bottle into porter/stout glass. Dark brown like coffee that lets no light through with a fast-disappearing fizzy tan head. Leaves a surprising amount of lacing. Smells of sour roasted malt and coffee. Taste seems to have a hole in it; not sure what to think. It finishes with bitter chocolate and coffee, but there's something missing. Mouthfeel is good for the style. Overall it's not the best porter I've had, but certainly far from the worst. It's Saranac, it can't be bad.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 05:21:00 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

2.99/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured in a tulip glass

A: Pours a very dark body. Held to the light you barely get a dark ruby red at the bottom of the glass. Head pours at about 1 inch think and approximately 2 minutes after untouched it's at a 1/4 inch. Head is off white like Irish cream.

S: Very roasty with some chocolate and a coffee background. Some bready character to it, sort of like a pumpernickel bread.

T: Malt flavours are light but the burned coffee, chocolate and roastyness is coming through. There is a dry finish to the roasted grains at the end. Late in the taste there is a grainy flavour that comes through.

M: Medium-low mouthfeel, medium carbonation, high bitterness is well balanced for the strong roastyness.

O: IMO this robust porter is missing the maltyness needed to balance its roasted and chocolate grains. Other then that it's something I could very well enjoy but not seek out.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 02:42:35 | More by Kremlock

GiantMidget

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From Saranac winter variety pack at Wegmans in Collegeville PA.

Poured into a tulip glass.
No head to be found nor is there any lacing.
Scent of chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Coffee, chocolate as well.

I quite enjoyed this porter with some stoutlike characteristics. Bit bolder porter. Slight hazelnut, coffee, chocolate and lightly sweet caramel.
Full bodied mouthfeel, not overly aggressive or too heavily carbonated.

It was a good english porter, a fine effort from Saranac, but I won't go to 4 with it, as it's not innovative or bold enough to gain that extra few marks.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 01:46:24 | More by GiantMidget

papaglide

New York

3.38/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Pours with the same consistent Saranac head: 1 finger, quick to diminish.

S- sweet roasted malt, chocolate, baking bread

T- roasted and somewhat hoppy at first with some licorice blended in. Dry finish with a nice toastiness lingering.

M- seems a little over carbonated to me, bubbly and sort of thin with astringent and bitter overtones. I didn't enjoy this.

O- stouts and porters are 2 of my favorite styles yet I can't seem to get my head wrapped around this beer. Stegmeier Porter with a more pronounced roasted taste maybe? To be honest I was kind of disappointed with this one. Pouring it into my pint glass it showed so much promise yet the astringent bitterness and seemingly over carbonation left me wanting for much more.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 22:09:19 | More by papaglide

claspada

New Jersey

3.1/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a fairly dark brown color with a small amount of foamy tan head that receded at an average pace leaving some spotty lacing.

Aromas begin with light amounts of dark chocolate malt and toffee. Then you get a little grainy maltiness and a metallic twang.

The tastes follow the nose with light amounts of dark roasted malts, cocoa, and toffee. Some fruity English esters emerge as well as some grainy pilsnery maltiness which comes across almost like cola.

The mouthfeel was on the light end of medium bodied with medium carbonation. The finish is clean, soft and on the drier end.

Overall this is not horrible but quite forgettable in a seas of American craft beers. I would much rather splurge the entra couple bucks and get a Fuller's London Porter if I wanted and English porter as that has a much more full flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 20:26:37 | More by claspada

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.1/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Blurring the line of where porter meets stout is the area that the Matt brewery flirts with in the recipe formulation and brewing execution of 4059' Porter.

And like any beer that would ride that line, the beer pours with a dark brown, mirror onyx-like sheen. Seeming clear, the sheer darkness keeps light from impeding. A frothy light mocha tan head separates from the beer and caps the rim of the glass with medium-strong retention and intricate lacing to start. But the beer seems to loose its structure later in the session.

Heavy toast, light roast, and a twangy malt scent start up the aromatics; and do so with a backup of cocoa, roasted nuts, burnt caramel, and cola. Columbian coffee and a grainy-tart twinge keeps things zesty and bright.

Characteristically porter, the taste of coffee, cocoa, and toast lead the way. But then the balance tilts to stout as the taste of burnt embers and mild roasted grain come into play. Light acidity turns modestly sour in finish and becomes a mild grainy distraction to the taste. Malty starches fade early and leave a thinly sweet cola taste to carry on in finish. Firmly bitter, the beer cleverly never reveals whether this is because of hops or roasted grain.

Medium bodied, at least to start- the beer builds and then releases its creamy malt body way too quickly. The remaining mouth sensations are thin, grainy, astringent, and harshly bitter. Alcohol warmth is unsupported and cola thinness replaces malty-dryness for an unsettled and lingering grain sweetness.

Where I could have easily been talked into the seduction of porter/stout interplay, the lack of malt support and harsh astringency makes me give up on the argument at middle palate. It's not an unpleasant beer, just not one I'll reach for when wanting porter.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 05:32:26 | More by BEERchitect

kojevergas

California

2.18/5  rDev -38.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a nonical pint glass in me gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are below average on account of the brewery.

Served straight from the fridge and side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 4+ finger head of khaki-tan colour, nice cream and thickness, and good retention - though it seems overcarbonated. Body colour is a dark amber-black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Nontransparent; opaque.

Sm: Dark malts, slight artificial hints of roast, and stale biscuit malt. Simple, boring, and bland. An average strength aroma. Underwhelming for a porter.

T: Artificial roast alongside some underwhelming slightly stale malts. Simple as a porter can be. Very boring and bland. No yeast character or alcohol comes through. Why brew this?

Mf: Smooth, wet, and thin. Undercarbonated. Too thick. Poor palate presentation.

Dr: Drinkable but forgettable and disappointing. Another crappy brew from Saranac/Matt. I wouldn't trifle with this again.

D+

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 09:08:17 | More by kojevergas

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of the betters I've had lately.
Pours really dark brown with a deep mocha brown head which is pretty tall. Lingers for quite awhile. Also it pours thickly with a velvetty smoothness.
Picking up an abundance of rich roasted malts with sutle hints of chocolate and coffee.
Taste is highly roasted with a lir sprinkling of cocoa and espresso.
Feels thinner on the palette then what the pour might of suggested.
It's hit or miss with some of the Saranac brews but not this one. It's good and flavorful. Perhaps next time I hike Cascade I'll side trip to Porter and have this porter on Porter.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 14:11:22 | More by micromaniac129

JMB22

New York

2.78/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Out of a variety pack poured into a pint glass...

Overall this is not terrible, but not really up to what I've come to expect from FX Matt

It felt a bit on the carbonated side for a Porter. The head was quite nice but didn't last too long. The glass was nicely laced t the end though. It feels a little light for a porter, but tastes like a porter. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm a bit confused on this one and have mixed emotions. Bottom line, don't be afraid of it in a mix pack. I intend to give this another try, and will update this if necessary.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 01:45:31 | More by JMB22

smiga

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Agree with most others here. Saranac tends to the metallic and so will stop purchasing it.
It's the "budget craft" around here.

Appearance - hard to screw up a porter.
Smell - Better.
Taste - metallic, Fracking?
Feel - thin compared with other porters.
Overall - Not bad for budget craft, but you get what you pay for. Their black N Tan is better.

Keep trying Saranac in "hope" of a bargain, but it's usually worth spending a $1 more a 6 pack for something more quality, like Avery or River Horse or even Anchor Steam.

B

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 23:25:46 | More by smiga

MadScientist

New York

3.48/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: A very dark brown with garnet highlights and good clarity. The persistent head is made of a creamy, compact bubbles that are light brown.

S: Moderate caramel and chocolate malt aromas with a moderate earthy and slightly spicy hops aroma. The malt has a light roastiness and a bit of nuttiness to it. There is a moderately-light dark fruit aroma and a slight alcohol aroma.

T: A smooth moderate malt with flavors of bakers chocolate, some coffee and a touch of caramel. There is a moderate hops bitterness and a light earth hops flavor. The balance is slight towards the bitter and the finish is off-dry. There aftertaste is of chocolate and a light bitterness.

M: A moderate creaminess with a medium-full body and moderate carbonation.

O: A good Brown Porter with a good blend of roasted and chocolate malt flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 22:43:40 | More by MadScientist

rangerred

Tennessee

3.48/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours pitch black with a one finger dark brown head. Not great head retention but decent lacing.

Aroma of chocolate, some dark roast coffee, and heavily roasted malt. Some dark fruit pokes through along with a little bit of caramel. Really typical of a porter but quite appealing.

Flavor of roasted malt and dark chocolate. Some bready malt sneaks through as well. A little dark fruit and caramel as well. Not hugely complex but nice flavors and nothing really off. It does get a little bit tannic and acrid with the roasted malt but this is barely held in check. Mouthfeel is very full and just slightly sticky. This beer really has tons of body which was a pleasant surprise.

Overall, a really nice porter that is simple but very enjoyable on a cold night. Worth picking up in the winter variety pack if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 03:15:58 | More by rangerred

tbruchey2112

Maryland

3.05/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Underwhelmed. Nice sweet, typical porter taste when it first hits your tongue. Strange spicy aftertaste. Glad I got to try it in the winter sampler but not sure if I'd buy more of this variety.

I do really like the name. That is of course after I googled it and figured it out what it meant hahahahaha.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 02:00:22 | More by tbruchey2112