Saranac Belgian Pale Ale - Matt Brewing Company

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Winter pack beer...
Poured from bottle into nonic pint glass. Pours a hazy golden straw, nice thick head. Great belgian yeast aromas, noble hop presence, and a bit of banana and clove. Taste is very smooth and creamy belgian...its super easy to drink and very enjoyable. Easy on the palate but full of personality. Really greaty brew and would reach for it again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 13:45:36 | More by DrinkSlurm

smakawhat

Maryland

4.01/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass.

A real nice brassy dark gold colored body, with lively carbonation. Head makes a good two to three fingers with a shocking white color and soapy character. Retention is pretty good with a lot of creamy whipped up sense also, and some spider legged up lacing. Pretty decent looking.

Sticky malts, and hints of light candi sugar. Straight forward with hints of peanut butter also. Smells like a straight forward Belgian minus the creamy peanuts. Mild hints of grassy like hops.

Interesting flavor profile. Hints of crisp hop in the palate with a very lager like and malt taste. Belgian sweetness does come but also with a refreshing sense of grass. Chewy with a very bread like sensing malt like an American lager. Seems a good strong emphasis on barley compared to most Belgian pales. Carbonation is lively with a good palate feel. Lots of density here.

Overall it's different, but this is actually quite enjoyable. I'd have this again, pretty good beer for the style and a nice twist.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 20:22:58 | More by smakawhat

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow again not sure how I picked another Saranac beer with little reviews.

A - Very lively pale ale. Tons of carbonation bubbles on this golden amber color beauty. The head is an impressive 1/2 inch, sticky white and foamy.

S - Light hops, sweet malts, and a lively bubble gum like yeast.

T - Nothing mind blowing. Not too hoppy or fruity just in the middle with mild grains and a bittering finish. Actually quite good.

M - Light to medium I assume it's around 5% since it's easy to drink.

Overall this is the second beer this company has wow'd me with. Maybe they are getting their sh*t together.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 03:00:36 | More by DrDemento456

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in a snifter.

L - clear golden color with a white head that thinned out leaving a thin sheet of lacing.

S - yeast and some spice.

T - starts out sweet and yeasty with a hint of bitterness before turning sweet on the finish.

F - light/medium body with a crisp feel.

O - a good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 18:49:39 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

plaid75

New York

3.98/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the 2012 12 Beers of Winter.

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

The smell featured a lightal malt and a suprisingly vibrant yeast ester.

The taste featured round bready malts with an herbal hop spice and active springy esters.

The mouthfeel was toward the lighter side of the style.

Overall a very tasty and user friendly Belgian style ale. Would make a nice year round selection in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 18:43:11 | More by plaid75

Hop_kulture

3.95/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a: wonderful golden honey appearence. one finger head that moderately disappeared

s: smells close to a german wheat beer

t: citrus banana taste with a heavy malt character

m: good coating and goes down easy. the taste stays and progresses as it makes home in your mouth

o: not had many belgian pale ales but i do enjoy hefeweizens so i could have 4+ of these easy. i am bias due to my love for saranac simply because i hold the brewery close as a gateway craft beer drug ;)

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 07:00:58 | More by Hop_kulture

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Matt's beers I found are hit or miss in alot of different styles but this is pretty decent.
The beer has a golden amber hue with lots of carbs but only a small ring of a head.
Aroma is nice too with nice malt aroma and spicy yeast. A good sip I get sweet and spicy malts peppercorns and yeast. A crisp bitter finish this beer is easy to drink and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 12:29:46 | More by micromaniac129

tbruchey2112

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Trying this out of the Winter 2012 Sampler. Nice bottle art for a winter beer. Kind of a dark(er) color for a "pale" ale. Real sweet pine smell. First taste is typical of a Belgian pale, cool, crisp, and refreshing. The aftertaste is what is really special on this beer. Nice, kind of sweet vanilla-ish taste. This is only the third beer I've tried out of this sampler, the Black Bear Bock and the 4059' Porter, and I have to say it is my favorite so far.

Definitely would buy this one independent of the sampler pack.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 03:47:04 | More by tbruchey2112

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

3.81/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: dark straw to low copper in colour. Head has low stability with medium-low lacing. Very clear with no particles.

S: Bready malt aromas present, malt forward with hints of fruitiness. Some spiciness when warms up a bit.

T: Bready and malt forward. Bitterness is low and no hop flavours. Slight pear taste comes in in the aftertaste with a low dryness in the finish.

M: Medium-low body with proper carbonation. Has a clean finish that leaves this dry pear flavour in the mouth.

O: I'm impressed with this beer. This brewery seems to be hit and miss and I would say this is a hit.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 21:15:37 | More by Kremlock

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Not a bad stab at a Belgian for Saranac. I like the grassy, spicy hop finish and candied yeast aroma. However, this beer does lack the complex depth of a great Belgian ale. Still, there's a good balance of toasty barley, Euro hops, and a mild Belgian yeast character. Give it a shot if you can.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 00:27:05 | More by tempest

alexgash

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle from winter sampler pack. Best by March 31, 2013.

Mostly clear golden tangerine body. Nice half inch of thick, whipped, long-lasting head. Nice lacing too. Sweetish wheat malts, banana, clove, a little tropical fruit, and some spicy, peppery hops on the nose.

Toasted grains and nutty-ish malt up front. Estery, fruity flavors follow. Mild sweetness. Banana and a little tropical fruit. Yeasty clove. Dries out toward the finish in the presence of spicy, peppery hop bitterness. Moderate body, with a lively, sparkling feel. An easy drinking BPA, and a tasty one at that.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 02:19:15 | More by alexgash

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.71/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on February 1, 2013.

The color is yellow to golden with a lingering white head and light lacing on the glass. Decent carbonation.

Nice aromas of sweet pale malts, yeast, caramel, pear, and minor hops. There is a kind of musky note on the nose that reminds me of a cellar.

The body is light and smooth.

The taste improves as it warms up with a subtle sweetness up front, biscuit, and low, lingering bitterness. The characteristics of a Belgian Pale Ale are there but all in in all it is more reserved than the one straight out of an Abbey. Still, I found it easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 23:11:14 | More by puboflyons

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.61/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light clear gold, white foam and some lacing. Aroma of Belgian yeast and flowery hops. In the taste, biscuity pale malt sweetness and a solid presence of somewhat fruity Belgian yeast. Mild bitterness with a light sweet yeasty funk. Medium bodied, smooth and well carbonated. Nice American take on a simple Belgian ale. Easy to drink a few of these in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 02:13:09 | More by Stinkypuss

metter98

New York

3.6/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high white head that quickly died down, leaving some lacing on the surface and down the sides of the glass as well as a thin collar around the edge.
S: There are moderate aromas of Belgian yeast in the nose along with some hints of floral hops.
T: Like the smell, you can definitely taste the Belgian yeast in the flavors, which also have some notes of grainy malts and some hints of spices towards the finish. There is a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very easy to drink. The flavor is rather good and doesn't taste watered down so I would consider this beer to be sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 01:00:00 | More by metter98

tdm168

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - copper with a thin lacing of pure white head

S - faintly fruity with a big spicy, coriander and clove-like aroma

T - spicy up front with clove and coriander followed by a light appley fruitiness; the finish is spicy as well. A pretty clean, balanced flavor. The yeast shines here with just some faint malt presence.

M - medium bodied, crisp, well carbonated

This is a decent take on the Belgian Pale Ale style. It has a far more spicy yeast character than I would have expected from Saranac. This is definitely a beginners BPA but it's well done and worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 20:56:21 | More by tdm168

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

the previous review is spot on. this is a highly sessionable belgian pale, lacking the depth and complexity of say, ommegangs offering, but yet a beer im sure ill find myself going back to all winter. it pours really pale apple juice color, with a small but already fading white head. the nose is more like a hefe, with banana and clove from the yeast being really prominent, very light euro malt body on it too in both nose and taste. i taste the fruity yeast first, which is a little sweet, but becomes more spiced as it progresses, almost too delicate on the malt flavors, and not quite as quick a finish as id like, but theres some decent hopping back there, floral and bright. carbonation is spot on, really intense, perfect for the style, and a majorly light body, which achieves what they set out to do here, making a sessionable flavorful belgian ale. this is that, not outstanding, but darn good for what it is. maybe saranacs best belgian style beer, these usually let me down pretty hard, but not this.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 04:23:44 | More by StonedTrippin

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

3.54/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Best by March 31, 2013:

In a chalice:

A: bright clear golden colored body leaving a white foamy head in my chalice. Small inner valleys appear within the head and light rapidly moving carbonation is seen rising.

S: banana and clove up front with light fruitiness in the background.

T: sweet and kinda grainy with the fruitiness coming back more so in a citrusy sort of way. It leaves a dry aftertaste and a sticky finish.

M: light with nothing harsh on the tongue, a really nice smoothness is felt all around, kinda creamy.

O: though I'm not usually into a fair amount of Belgians, this is adequate for me and for the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 19:42:06 | More by kangarooAdam59

bobquick

New York

3.41/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Chimay? Nope. But it is a nice representation of the style. Light head, starts smooth then the hops kick in. Don't think I could drink more than two in a single sitting. Even though it checks in at 5.4 ABV, the after taste limits how much I want to drink in one sitting.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 21:15:59 | More by bobquick

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.39/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A- pours a bright clear golden-straw color with a small fizzy white head with short retention and no lacing. Not the big rocky head typical with many Belgian pales.

S- fruity yeast with notes of banana and clove, some musty funk, a bit medicinal and some herbal notes.

T- some grainy husk up front with a somewhat thin malt body, transitions into some citrus fruity notes with a bit of clove, the finish is dry with some resinous yeast lingering on the palate

M- light body with assertive carbonation, foamy mouthfeel mid-palate, with a slightly creamy dry finish

O- the think malt body leaves this I've a little too thin and grainy for me. It did however have a nice yeasty finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 05:17:00 | More by Treyliff

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.36/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Pours a clear straw yellow color, hardly any head and no lacing.

Smell is primarily sweet malt, not much of anything else to note, only a slight clove aroma.

Taste is fairly straightforward, malt upfront with a slight grassy aftertaste, cold crisp carbonation with a dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 02:22:46 | More by deltatauhobbit

rangerred

Tennessee

3.3/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a clear light gold with a one finger white head. The abundant carbonation gives the head excellent staying power and there are nice globs of lacing clinging to the sides of the glass.

The aroma is, unfortunately, quite metallic but there is some clove and bubblegum poking through it all. Not enough to overcome the metal, though.

Thankfully the flavor is quite nice and really suprised me in a pleasant way. Lots of clove and bubblegum esters that I love in a BPA along with a nice dose of bready malt. There is a little bit of pepper towards the finish which is pleasantly dry with just a little bit of stickyness left on the lips.

Overall, I was suprised by this as the other offerings I have had from Saranac have been less than impressive. While not on the same level of a beer like Ommegang, a good value and one i wouldn't hesatate to pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 02:54:03 | More by rangerred

beergoot

Colorado

3.28/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Nicely carbonated body with a thick, creamy white head. Wisps of apricot and biscuit in the aroma. Softly bitter, malty flavor with a hint of light fruit flavors. Mouthfeel comes across light bodied, clean and crisp, with a dry finish.

This is a fair little beer. Great appearance with an okay taste. It balances nicely with lightly toasted malt flavors and hop bittering. The fruit-like component isn't overly pronounced, but can definitely be picked in the smell and buried in the flavor. Nothing earth-shattering, but still a good beer overall...

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 22:37:28 | More by beergoot

u2carew

Massachusetts

3.21/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz longneck bottle
A) Pours with a very thin head, but still has visible carbonation. Clear straw colored body.
S) Classic Belgian aroma - hints of banana, cloves and floral notes.
T) Pleasant malts upfront which transition to a mellow hop bite mixed with earthy, pungent, floral tones. A linger graininess in the finish.
M) Light bodied. Crisp. Dry in the finish.
O) An alright Belgian pale ale. A bit thin on flavor and body.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 01:17:51 | More by u2carew

Gmann

New York

3.2/5  rDev -8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy golden color with a short airy pure white head that settled into a ring.

The aroma is light and fruity. Some juicyfruit notes from the yeast. The scent is refreshing but not strong and doesn't really come close to a BPA.

The taste is of a light pale malt, perhaps a touch more bready than a Belgian made brew. Doesn't seem to use as much Pils malt. The flavor is light and fruity with some spice. A light juicyfruit but not much else. No real clove or banana flavor, no candi sugar presence. Besides the fruitiness, this beer misses the Belgian mark. No depth.

The feel is quite light and fizzy. Sweet on the palate with just a touch of grassy bitterness. It is well balanced and quite drinkable. Great session brew as it does have enough flavor.

It labeled itself as a sessionable Belgian brew and it is so I give it props. Quite light on the BPA flavors but much better than the Stella type peers.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 03:11:34 | More by Gmann

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

3.16/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tall pint.

Appearance: Pours what Saranac describes as a "light amber" color. I'd call it a dark gold. Provides and keeps very little head. It passes.

Smell: Smells lightly of clove. Weaker pale malt scent. Relatively strong overall scent. Kinda sweet smelling.

Taste: This one is easy to drink, but it doesn't taste like much. Little bit of pale malt, generally pretty sweet with a light bitter end. Tiny bit of clove. Overall just absolutely unexciting.

Mouthfeel: Probably the only decent part of this one. It's got a lot of carbonation which mixes with its subdued flavor to make this an effortless drink. Still, that doesn't make the whole beer good, and it kind of just covers up the beer's deficiencies.

Not something I'd buy, but I doubt I'd pass it up. I think.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 23:19:08 | More by ColdWaffles