Saranac Pale Ale - Matt Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I assumed a Fresh bottle at a brewfest. Thin mouthfeel on yellow colour with lace. Weak for a pale. I did not sense the several malts and aggressively hopped nature of the advertising.Moderate carbonation, think English pale.Sticky, nothing garbbed me.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2007 15:55:35 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.03/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Slightly hazed golden amber with plenty of orange. The head is a little darker than cream, average in size, frothysoft and leaves lace in tries-to-be rings. The nose is a combination of earthy-spicy hops and pale malt, with the hops winning out.

Taste follows aroma, but is too weak. This beer needs a serious flavor boost. What makes its way to the palate is sweet, biscuity malt countered by spicy-earthy hops. The finish is short, leaving the taste buds seemingly untouched.

The beer isn't exactly crisp (the brewery, via the label, says it is), but it's clean and tends toward dry. Unfortunately, a graininess sneaks in on the back end. The mouthfeel, while not horrendously thin, is too light for the style.

Saranac Pale Ale is average to slightly above average at best. It isn't hard to drink, but neither does it make me want to grab another. More flavor and a more substantial body would help move it into the 'respectable' category.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2004 01:17:55 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Saranac Pale Ale

Got me the Adirondack Trail Mixed six pack from Saranac, because, well I had only had one of them before, so thats a good enough reason for me. First up is the Pale Ale.

A - Poured a nice rich orange amber, very clear. Nice off white head upon pir, did not stick around long. Some decent lacing down the glass and a touch of carbonation rising off the bottom.

S - Earthy and bready, with a slightly bitter aroma thrown in. Not overly strong, a nice average pale ale aroma. Lots of malts in here. A touch of ceral grains as well..

T - Classic ale. A bit muted on flavors. Its trys to make a bit of a hop splash, especially in the finish, but it is just not there. Lots of muted earthy grains, a slight watery taste, needs to be bumped up a bit in the flavors.

M - A Little slick for me, a nice light ale. It had some depth to it as it wasn't too light. Smooth but lacked carbonation on drinking it.

D - Ehh, its definatly a session beer, but perhaps a forgettable one at that. I could drink these like water, but dont know how often I would actually turn to it. Easy going down and a full body, however just a little too slick.

Overall just felt like this was lacking something. Not a bad brew, but I would have to put it down for average all around. Nothign really stood out and made me say Yeah!, It was just an average pale ale. A nice try and better tehn a macro in a pinch for sure.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2007 01:05:41 | More by mikesgroove

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a dark, golden-amber body with a full, fizzy, off-white head.

Smell: Carmel-scented maltiness with light layers of spice and citrus.

Taste: Pale malts with a slightly candyish caramel sweetness. Spicy hop character, maybe a bit of citrus, and with a medium bitterness. Drying finish with a light, lingering maltiness and tiny hint of grain.

Mouthfeel: Just barely medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: An average, simply pale ale that doesn't have the character or charm to really grab ya, but it gets the job done.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2008 01:52:55 | More by ChainGangGuy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured a dark copper color ale with a nice bubbly white head with good retention. Aroma of English hops is clearly identifiable. Taste seems to be a bit overpowered by the bitter hops, which is a bit surprising for English pale ale but doesn’t deter this beer from being quite enjoyable. Another BBS/summer beer from Saranac it seems.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2005 19:41:05 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.2/5  rDev -7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Eeeh, it's servicable and maybe good under dire circumstances. Caught between copper and golden with an abundance of co2, forms a tan-ish fizzy head that fades quickly. Smells moderately malty and more lightly hoppy than desired. Light bland aroma, almost of baking soda. Tastes malty as a Pale Ale over the same bland, solvent-y flavor. Hops seem a bit oxidized and mild flavored. Obviously an English Pale Ale with the hops and malt profile. Almost papery and copper-like in the body. Fizzy texture dominates the fruitiness and spiciness. Fades away quickly with an over malt and paper finish. The flaws are light, but present. Too noticable to give a high rating, but not flawed enough to be considered bad.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2006 01:20:14 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a somewhat hazy copper color with light to medium head,the aroma was pretty floral aroma with a nice malty background.Taste was very nicely balanced a sweet fruity malt base and a nice zesty hop finish.I think a well made pale,very nicely balanced.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2003 07:01:45 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy, deep amber body with a frothy off-white head that holds well and leaves some very nice lace. The nose is perfumey (but without any distinct hops) with some caramel malt and a touch of sweet tobbacco. The body is medium and a very fine/moderate carbonation leaves it just slightly crisp on the tongue. The flavor displays a solid caramel-laced malt that's well infused with floral and gently spicy hops. The signature Matt's yeast plays a big role here, and it finishes dry with a lingering bitterness, but also somewhat soapy. Firm bitterness; decent balance; nicely rounded. Overall, it's a pretty solid offering - especially considering it's full maltiness - although the hops may let you down.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2003 20:03:48 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Devil's Backbone willibecher.

Whoa, when did they can this beer? Has someone informed Woody? Regardless, it pours a clear amber copper topped by a thick finger+ of white froth. The nose comprises orange peel, light florals, and a tiny bit o' toffee. The taste holds notes of some weak hoppy bitterness, watered-down citrus, and a depressed vein of toffee. You don't get much more pale than this, I guess. ...Whatever that means. The body is pretty light, with moderate carbonation and a crisp finish. Overall, a decent, but thoroughly average pale ale. That isn't to say that it's bad, it's just not something I would really ever seek out with any perceptible vim.

Serving type: can

07-01-2010 06:23:16 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: clear, dark amber color, shirt, white head.
Aroma: negligible at first, small fruit, slightly soapy, but somethow opens up and shows hoppier and fruity by the second, perhaps as it has time to warm, or to enter the air. Citrus, peach, grapefruit, dinstinctly hoppy.
A coppery tang takes charge on first taste, flinty and minerally. Hops are much less prevalent in the flavor than their presence in the nose would have led us to anticipate. Body is medium. Flavor holds mostly malt, and feels just right.
Clearly, my hophead gears need to be recalibrated, for this is not that kind of brew, it's more like a mild ale, or even close to an English brown, than an Americanized Pale. Nothing wrong with that!
Drinkability is good, no doubt, but I need a little more pizzazz in my ales, to make them worth my while.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2003 02:24:45 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.63/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark golden/ light amber color with a nice white head that lasts. It aroma is of malty sweetness and noble hops. 6 specialty malts make up it's grist; giving it malt character that is well balanced. The mouthfeel is low to med. and very drinkable. It's not the best pale ale I've had, but it's not the worst either. Worth a second look.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2003 13:56:18 | More by WesWes

zeff80

Missouri

3.33/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out an amber hue with a one-finger head. It was highly carbonated. No lacing.

S - Malt and hops mostly.

T - It had a grassy taste to it. The malt flavor was also very noticable, too.

M - It is crisp and light-bodied.

D - It is a descent APA. Not one I would rush out to buy, but yet another solid Saranac product.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2006 04:43:08 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.35/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear light amber in color. It poured with a thin white head that has good retention properties; a thin layer of bubbles consistently covered the surface. A moderate amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There are moderate aromas of grainy malts with some notes of caramel and floral hops.
T: The taste has a good balance between malty sweetness and mild hop bitterness; the finish is slightly bitter.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate.
D: The beer is rather easy to drink but the flavors aren't that interesting so I'm not sure if I would want more than one of these in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2010 00:56:49 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

2.08/5  rDev -39.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a bright orange color with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of caramelized malt, some spice & smokiness and a little bit of hops.

T: The taste has pale hops & caramelized malt, but both are kind of faint, not a lot of sweetness either. There’s strong metallic & medicine-like flavor to it.

M: Crisp but not very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, very dry finish.

D: Not tasty at all, the fact that it’s not very filling is the only good thing I can say about this beer. This beer was part of a gift and I wasn’t expecting much from this beer, but I was still disappointed. I definitely would not buy more of it.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2007 03:52:27 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.03/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours amber with a 3 fingers fluffy white head. Some lacing & head retention

S: Piney hops, then some fruittyness

T: Slight floral hops folowed by big fat fruittyness. Finished fruitty & dry

MF: Medium body, great balance & carbonation

Drinks very easy, reminds of an English style PA. Worth a try & pretty affordable

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2006 04:15:36 | More by russpowell

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This reminded me of a Fuller's ESB or a Belhaven in some ways. This beer pours out as a deep golden amber color with a fluffy white head on it that doesn't really stick around too much. The taste is like an English bitter, It's not overly hoppy like most American Pale Ales. This has more of a malt flavor throughout. The mouthfeel is smooth and a little dry. Overall this beer isn't too bad. It's drinkable but not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 01:53:51 | More by Knapp85

Gavage

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

One of the 12 beers in the winter holiday sampler package. It pours a clear copper color with a medium head. The head dissolved within a few minutes. The aroma was not overly exciting, as some light malt and a faint floral smell was detected.

The malt and hops flavor were better balanced in the flavor department, but were both mellower than other pale ales. There was a slight fruitiness that lasted for a short time on the tongue. This was very smooth, had a medium body, but could have used a bit more hops. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2003 23:02:05 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.23/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a copper/amber color with a slight white head that after a brief period became a lacing. It was moderately carbonated.
The subtle smell is of floral hops. Enough to be just above average smelling, but nothing more.
The taste was balanced in between hops and malt. It seems like it was between an American and British version. There was nothing substantial in the taste.
Like the other Saranacs, it was a bit watery, but not as much as the lagers.
It didn't taste bad - but nothing special was going on here.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2006 20:02:30 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pour a nice, but quickly disappearing head with a hazy light copper body. Leaves enough lacing to count, but its fairly thin.

Slightly floral aroma which is nice, but there's something off here. Its almost as if there's something wrong with the malt.

Tastes pleasant but is just too weak. There's a little hops, a little malt, and not enough of either. Really, where the hell's the taste? I keep drinking but I just can't find it.

Very easy drinking, but a little too easy. Goes down like a lager. While it will beat any maco-adjunct, that should go without saying. This beer basically needs some more cajones.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2005 03:12:46 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a 12 oz bottle, poured into an Ommegang Hennepin glass. The ale is near room temperature.

Appearance: The ale is a nice amber color, pouring with a nice head and no sediment.

Smell: The hops and malts share the nose equally, giving it a spicy biscuit aroma.

Taste: A malty biscuit taste dominates the ale. There is a hop character, but it is not assertive. Instead it mixes with the malts to present a very average taste.

Mouthfeel: The ale has a malty sweetness that really takes control. I'd like a bit more hop character.

Drinkability: I could (and have) drink a few bottles.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2006 00:32:05 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This one deserves about a sentence for each category, because it's trying to be a good beer but it ends up getting lost in mediocrity. The amber copper tone it pours with a decent off white head leaving haphazard tracks off lace down the glass nothing uniform in the appearance. The bottle says a bouquet of hop aroma, but I am going to guess and say my flowers have wilted. No but seriously the hop aroma is there and semipleasan only it is so faint. The taste is smooth and refreshing, but the bitterness is not really that bitter for a pale ale. This beer is also lacking any kind of a balance in the wannabe hop flavor nothing is here to offset it. I better quit drinking Saranac losing respect fast. I like the way it feels like it expands to feel fluffy in the mouth and the hops spread across the tongue reaching the back of it as I swallow allowing the optimal bitterness to reach my palate. Th overall drinkability is so so, but nothing here is realing me in. I am just not sold on this one, and that's about it.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2003 23:07:44 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice clear darker amber with a creme head. Nose is like old squash. I don't want my beer to smell like squash. Flavor is an odd tangy bitter mix. Earthy and citric, but it just doesn't mesh. Gets better the farther you go though. Still kind of too tangy the whole time. Slightly biting carbonation. Thicker liquid feel. This starts out rough and ends just slightly better.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2008 21:53:40 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Light copper in color, clear enough to read through, and the head has good staying power with a cream-like color and consistancy. Leaves a nice lace on glass

Aroma: Excellent blend of malt (pale) and hops (fresh and floral, not bitter at all). Very tempting...

Taste: Mild malt up front followed by a rush of hop flavor. Reminds me of an ESB or a weak IPA. The subtle bitter bite lasts long into the aftertaste, leading to a second shot at the floral aroma.

Mouthfeel: above average carbonation, an almost sinewy consistancy that lends itself to a long lasting aftertaste.

Drinkability: A quaffable pale ale. Worthy of a six pack. For the price, a great value. An excellent beer to serve with friends.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2004 22:24:55 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.53/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks goes out to Ezone024 for this brew.

Pours a very nice clean/clear golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing to follow. The nose is on the malty side, with slight hop notes, and some caramel. The taste is sweet, malty, just a tad of hops, caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, a tasty brew, glad to have had a chance to try it out.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 20:32:46 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.83/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a one-fingered white head that stays leaving a chunky lace. Sparkling clear amber color. Good carbonation. Definitely a hoppy overtone, particularly at the finish. What else would you expect with a pale?? $1.55 for a 12oz bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2004 22:41:20 | More by jdhilt