Saranac Belgian Pale Ale - Matt Brewing Company

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

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

mikeg67

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle from variety pack. Pours golden with a long lasting, foamy white head. Aroma is of yeast, sweet malt and ripe pears.
Body is full and slightly crisp. Taste is yeast, bready malt, earthy hops and some fruit. Finish is short and slightly bitter. I guess you get what you paid for.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 14:40:18 | More by mikeg67

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

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

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

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