One New York Life

I really need to figure out a way to get Saranac to ship Those Beer Snobs an early release sampler. I mean, I’m within the state so it doesn’t break any laws and it would behoove them to get me one early so I can suggest people buy it while it’s still for sale. This is better than my current strategy of “Go home for Thanksgiving, buy it, set it in my storage shed until Christmas, review all six over three days, post until it’s not for sale anymore.” There’s also a tentative plan on the table for The Big Show and I to live blog the reviews next year — unedited. Which could get fun around beer six… or could be unreadable.

• Belgian Ale: This was included in 2008′s 12 Beers, too. I find Belgians to be near the pinnacle of craft beer efficiency. Their flavor is generally light and refreshing with only a moderately bitter aftertaste. Even that bitterness is generally countered by the citrus clovey sweetness of the other ingredients. The only downside is they generally dry your tongue and wear out their welcome. This beer is no different. The flavor is fantastic and the sandpaper-tongue is muted terrifically. That said, other Belgians do this with much stronger ABV. 27
• Maple Porter: This is quite possibly my favorite Saranac brew outside their Caramel Porter which had graduated out of the 12 Beers to its own sixpack for a while. Great thing to try if you love maple. Terrible thing to try if you don’t. 41
• Winter Lager: As winters go, pretty high. The flavor is gentler then other winters and yet somehow pretty complex. The body is rich, yet carbonated and light. Sometimes, when a beer does a lot of things pretty good instead of one thing really well, it makes for a better product. Call it the Blyleven argument. 37
• Black Lager: True snobs won’t like this because it’s not a bold schwarzbier. The label promises strong flavors that just aren’t there. Non-snobs aren’t going to like it because the flavors something they don’t expect. It falls in to that random gray area of weak session beer for low-level snobs. 25
• Rye P.A.: Similar to the Black Lager, this beer sits in a strange gray area. It’s going to get crushed by IPA-nuts for not being disgusting. It’s going to get beat up by people like me for being too hoppy. It’s not going to ever really be available for mass consumption because of its placement as former seasonal. 33
• Big Moose Ale: I can’t find a discernible difference from the Pale Ale, except a slightly stronger flavor of hops and a lower ABV. If I had a choice, I’d grab a sixpack of the Pale Ale or the ESB and leave this one on the shelf. 24

Average Score: 31.2 (of 50)

Best: Maple Porter. They had to come up with some kind of awesome replacement for Caramel Porter. It took them a couple years but they finally managed.

Worst: Big Moose Ale. It’s not really “bad”, it’s just boring. No one will be missing out on life if they never tried this beer.

Final Thoughts: I had to do the math a few times to make sure I was doing the average correctly since it seemed like it should be higher. Alas, no, but it did beat out last year’s by two points. Another great Winter sampler by Saranac and further proof that the 12 Beers of Winter remain the tastiest investment for the winter seasonal dollar. I’m looking forward to maybe having next year’s done by May. Two home runs in this pack with the Maple Porter (replacing Caramel Porter as the Beer To Look Forward To in the 12 Beers) and their new Winter Lager and everything was OK or better. Great job again by Saranac.

Saranac Big Moose Ale

Brewed By: FX Matt Brewing
Brewed In: Utica, NY
ABV: 5.3%
Type: American Pale Ale

What They Say: Saranac Big Moose Ale is an American Pale Ale with a kick. The medium-bodied malt sweetness is balanced by a nice crisp bitterness from hand selected centennial and cascade hops. Look for a vibrant citrusy hop aroma that will leave you craving another swig!

Why I Picked It: This is the fifth and final new beer in Saranac’s 12 Beers Of Winter 2009. Much like last year, I couldn’t quite get it done before the beginning of spring. This is how I roll.

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Presentation (5): The bottle does, indeed, have a big moose. The moose is standing in front of some trees and looking generally disinterested in this whole “being on a beer label” thing. He also looks ready to flip a Ford Focus. 3

Originality (5): Honestly, I don’t taste much difference between this and the regular Pale Ale which I reviewed as part of the Adirondack Trail Mix which, itself, was very similar to last winter’s ESB. So, even with the fancy name, it doesn’t seem high on the originality scale… even within the brewery’s own offerings. 1

Body (10): The beer pours amber with minimal head. It features a light and crisp body with a strong, hoppy odor with a hint of citrus. Like I said in the Pale Ale review: “it’s right on the border of being refreshing until the hops descend on the palette”. The lacing was a bit underwhelming and not much in this beer was any better or worse than the aforementioned Pale Ale. 6

Taste (10): If I had to guess, this is a hopped out version of the Pale Ale recipe. The hops are really the only tweak I can detect. Their presence is bold, with just a touch of background malt. A hit of citrus comes in the finish with the oh-so-not-delicious taste of pinecone hoppiness. I rated the Pale Ale a 7, but what I liked about the refreshing flavor there is killed for me here with the hops. 5

Efficiency (10): The beer is light and crisp, but with an even lower ABV than the Pale Ale. It’s hard to rate it high efficiency. Low ABV and there’s a big heavy flavor and cloying hoppiness. I couldn’t see myself drinking more than a couple of these and, after a couple, I don’t think I’d be ready for bed. 4

Versatility (10): It’s… OK, I guess. It might be fine if you’re looking for something different but I, again, wouldn’t go out of my way for it. As mentioned, I can’t find a discernible difference from the Pale Ale, except a slightly stronger flavor of hops and a lower ABV. If I had a choice, I’d grab a sixpack of the Pale Ale or the ESB and leave this one on the shelf. 5

The Snob Sez: Meh.

Final Score: 24 (of 50) – OK beer

Saranac Rye.P.A.

Brewed By: FX Matt Brewing
Brewed In: Utica, NY
ABV: 5.95%
Type: Rye IPA

What They Say: An IPA with a wry twist, Saranac Rye IPA is an aggressively hopped brew, sure to take your taste buds on an adventure. We’ve stepped away from the mold of typical IPAs and selected premium rye malt and a unique mix of spicy hops. Look for a crisp, brazen finish

Why I Picked It: Saranac continues its trend of forcing me to drink one IPA per year. At least this year’s is a non-standard IPA. I reviewed Saranac’s regular IPA in the Adirondack Trail Mix series and it scored pretty low. This version is an IPA with rye malt. Let’s see what happens. This is the fourth of five new reviews in the 12 Beers Of Winter 2009 series.

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Presentation (5): RyePA goes for a somewhat bland red label with a covered bridge that is itself covered by snow. You can’t sneak a spring beer by me with winter-themed labeling Saranac, but points for trying. 2

Originality (5): I still hate IPAs but I do appreciate the attempts to mix up the style a bit. A quick Google search is very difficult since “rye pa beer” leads me to beer in Rye, Pennsylvania. However, there doesn’t appear to be many beers of this type. I only really see one from Sixpoint, Weyerbacher, and Michelob(!). Tough not to give the full monty here. 5

Body (10): The beer pours, well, like an IPA. It has the same color and small head expected of the type. The odor is a light mix of rye malts and hops. The head is small but laces well with strong carbonation. It was not too dry and, happily, not too hoppy. Again, I warn newbies, an IPA that is good for me is not the same as an IPA that would be good for the folks over at I <3 IPAs.com. Quite good for me. Probably not for IPA fans. 7

Taste (10): As is documented by past examples and my personal scoring scale, I’m not a fan of the style. This doesn’t taste or smell or like an IPA. It’s not “aggressively” hopped as I would define it because it doesn’t finish with the unpleasant taste of licking pine trees. Maybe I can chalk this up to another example of something I like that contains Hallertau hops? Regardless, I get the rye in the initial taste and it combines with a touch of hops at the finish. I will note that the more I drank, the more IPA-ish it got, but it never quite tipped over to unpleasant. 8

Efficiency (10): Big ABV and a rather pleasant flavor brings good efficiency marks for this brew. I can’t quite kick it up any higher because the big malt and hop flavor doesn’t quite lend itself to rapid, session-like drinking and the ABV isn’t -quite- high enough for the flavor. 7

Versatility (10): Similar to the Black Lager, this beer sits in a strange gray area. It’s going to get crushed by IPA-nuts for not being disgusting. It’s going to get beat up by people like me for being too hoppy. It’s not going to ever really be available for mass consumption because of its placement as former seasonal. I’m not quite sure where to place it. Splitting the difference and trending down seems the fairest. 4

The Snob Sez: A good mark from me on a beer claiming to be an IPA is not the best indication for that beer. I liked this beer quite a bit but that likely translates to the opposite for fans of big Imperial IPAs. If you’re one of those folks, there are plenty reviewers in the IPA Club to tell you what you want to hear.

Final Score: 33 (of 50) – Good beer.

Saranac Black Lager

Brewed By: FX Matt Brewing
Brewed In: Utica, NY
ABV: 5.5%
Type: Schwarzbier

What They Say: In the dusk of winter, when you come in from the cold, grab a Saranac Black Lager to warm up by the fire! This black, German style Schwarzbier has a full body and dark chocolaty flavor. Look for hints of coffee and waves of maltiness that will make you warm and “roasty”.

Why I Picked It: The Saranac 12 Beers Of Winter series continues with this, the third of six in this pack and the third of five new reviews.

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Presentation (5): Saranac forgoes the usual peaceful forest scene and just sticks a big ol’ black bear on the front standing in front of mountains. Oddly, I’m a fan of the black bear mascot. I suggest they use him more. I would have liked a stuffed version of the black bear for my dorm room. 3

Originality (5): As much as I enjoy the flavors of them, a schwarzbier with roasted coffee and chocolate malts isn’t exactly cutting edge. The schwarzbier stye comes from Germany, which probably means it’s something like a thousand years old. Literally. 1

Body (10): A not quite black, cola-esque body with obviously less carbonation. A rapidly-settling head is the prologue to a lightly-carbonated beer. I didn’t get much of an aroma after the pour. Trying really hard I was able to pick up some light malt odor. Considering the very obvious browned chocolate malts, the beer surprisingly not bitter, finishing much crisper than expected of such a dark beer. It’s refreshing as schwarzbiers go without the dryness that usually accompanies the type. Sadly, there’s just not quite enough oomph to get in to it. 6

Taste (10): The dark malts are supposed to be the star here but, as evidenced by the not-quite-potent nose, it’s difficult to find. Nothing very bold as Saranac seems to going for a masses-friendly schwarzbier instead of anything with a lot of substance. It’s perfectly serviceable and completely inoffensive, but nothing to write home about. 6

Efficiency (10): This is a fairly drinkable beer with a moderate ABV and a low-ish cost. However, if you’re going to look for something in the 5.5 range, I’d personally find something with a little more flavor punch. This is very session-able and, were it available by itself, reasonably-priced — but offered in the sampler I just wasn’t feeling it. 5

Versatility (10): True snobs won’t like this because it’s not a bold schwarzbier. The label promises strong flavors that just aren’t there. Non-snobs aren’t going to like it because the flavors something they don’t expect. It falls in to that random gray area of weak session beer for low-level snobs. Not the best category to be placed in, but I sees it how I sees it. 4

The Snob Sez: As the final score indicates, it’s a perfectly average beer. It’s about as generic a beer as the style allows. The taste is fine and I’d absolutely drink it again, but I wouldn’t go out of my for it either.

Final Score: 25 (of 50) – Good beer

Saranac Winter Lager

Brewed By: FX Matt Brewing
Brewed In: Utica, NY
ABV: 5.9%
Type: German- or Vienna-Style Lager depending on who you ask.

What They Say: Our Saranac Winter Lager is a rich, malty, old school German Lager, made with traditional German malts and hops and fermented with a lager yeast. Look for a rich but smooth malty taste, balanced by an impressive Hallertau hopping-A nice reward for enduring our winter months.

Why I Picked It: This is the second of four new beers (and the second of five unreviewed beers) in Saranac’s 12 Beers Of Winter 2009. We can also designate this Saranac’s entry in to the crowded winter seasonal market.

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Presentation (5): Saranac offers a Winter Lager that’s blue with red lettering. I’m curious as to why red on blue is the go-to color for winter beers. The painting is a nice winter scene with snow covered trees. Nice, if not a little bland. 2

Originality (5): As mentioned previously, I can’t fault a brewer for bringing a product to market that most other brands offer even if it’s not very original. Bringing a Winter Lager to the market in 2009 is a little behind the curve but it’s forgivable when it takes a brewery a long time to get something right. 2

Body (10): It pours the same reddish-brown as most winter lagers with a healthy, creamy head hinting at a hearty beer. The body has a touch more depth then Sam’s or Blue Point’s offerings with a perfect amount of carbonation to offset the extra heartiness. It’s a really nicely done German with an excellent body and head to carry the flavor. 8

Taste (10): The flavor is incredibly balanced. There’s no specific overpowering taste I can isolate out to say “this tastes like ingredient X.” There’s a nice, malty flavor that blends remarkably well with the hops. As seems to be the case with me, I enjoy beers with a Hallertau hop finish. There are distinct spicy notes, a hint of caramel, and a general warmness from the ABV but nothing that stands out. There is a distinct German flavor which I’ve come to appreciate more since my Oktoberfest trip. A good, solid beer that blends all the ingredients remarkably well. Nothing wrong with that. 8

Efficiency (10): Hard to knock the efficiency of this beer. It’s 5.9% with a really tasty flavor and a great balance of body vs. carbonation. It’s only currently available in the 12 Beers Of Winter but, should it end up by itself in a six-pack next year, I’d be hard pressed to not put it up with my favorite winter offerings. It would be a reasonably-priced session beer with a strong ABV. 10

Versatility (10): As winters go, pretty high. The flavor is gentler then other winters and yet somehow pretty complex. The body is rich, yet carbonated and light. Sometimes, when a beer does a lot of things pretty good instead of one thing really well, it makes for a better product. Call it the Blyleven argument. 7

The Snob Sez: It’s really just a simple beer done the right way. Whereas the Maple Porter would enjoy life more as a 22 oz. bomber, the Winter Lager has future six-pack or session draft written all over it. I’d be pumped if they released this as a winter seasonal next year… so I’m filing this as my official request.

Final Score: 37 (of 50) – Great beer

Saranac Maple Porter

Brewed By: FX Matt Brewing
Brewed In: Utica, NY
ABV: 5.3%
Type: Porter

What They Say: Saranac Maple Porter is a robust, flavorful porter reminiscent of a by-gone era. True to brewing tradition, we’ve used dark caramel and chocolate malt as well as Fuggles and East Kent Goldings hops for a smooth, yet slightly bitter, roasted flavor. Look for hints of maple syrup flavoring used in this deliciously different brew. Enjoy!

Website: The Saranac website is unchanged from last year’s 12 Beers series. They have, however, added Club Saranac. The fact Saranac has a club, a nice brewery, and a Summer Band Schedule is the one thing that would make life in Utica tolerable. I say this after having spent a week in Utica once. It was……. unpleasant.

Why I Picked It: Weirdly, the Saranac posts do pretty well on Google and, since Saranac invited me to a preview of this back in October (which I sadly couldn’t attend because it was in Utica… on a Thursday) I’ll be running this concurrently with the Samuel Adams Winter Classics review. This is beer one of six in this year’s 12 Beers Of Winter.

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Presentation (5): As we discussed last year, Saranac’s thing is double colored labels with a watercolor of some sort which may or may not have anything to do with the beer. With the rating system I used last year, I generally gave 4s if the painting had something to do with the beer and 3 if it didn’t. 4

Originality (5): I spent some trying to remember if I’ve ever seen another Maple Porter from a craft brewer. On Google, the only results ahead of Saranac’s are a homebrew recipe and a Site That Shall Not Be Named’s posting of a limited edition brew no longer in production out of Michigan. On top of that, the Saranac website calls this a “returning favorite.” I don’t recall this from a previous 12 Beers which means it probably dates back some time. Minor suggestion to Saranac — take a page from Sam and list the year a beer was first brewed and, if possible, list what collections these beers appeared in. You can’t expect us to remember it when you’re in the business of killing brain cells. 5

Body (10): Pours the color of actual maple syrup with a fairly decent head. Lacing is much more distinct then I expected. It’s thin for a porter which, given the source ingredient, is something of a surprise. If it was as thick as the bold flavor and strong ingredients would suggest, though, it would be a brick in the stomach after two. The carbonation is much higher than I originally expected but, again, given the strong flavor, the carbonation is necessary to lighten the mood. 8

Taste (10): It is… fantastic. Much like Saranac did with their Caramel Porter, they took a flavor not usually associated with beer, made it the superstar ingredient of a porter, and went with it. It smells like maple, starts with maple, sits on your tongue as maple, and finishes with same specific sweetness of real maple syrup. If there is ANY knock it’s that the taste is so strong and so distinct it would blow the doors off anything else in this sampler. However, that’s not a strike in the flavor department. 10

Efficiency (10): As per usual, Saranac’s beers come in between 5.2% and 5.5% with the reasonable cost of a beer brewed in Upstate New York. Unfortunately, this beer is the antithesis of “poundable” with a hugely-heavy flavor. Even though this really can’t be consumed quickly, the body and carbonation is a great balance to the heavy flavor. Combine with a reasonable price and it’s of serviceable efficiency. 7

Versatility (10): Many of the beers exclusive to sampler packs take a solid versatility hit due to the limited availability. This beer is packaged well in a sampler. It’s heavy and, while I don’t think I’d like a case of them, two are perfect. On the other hand, the distinct, bold maple flavor is going to turn off anyone who doesn’t like maple syrup… or doesn’t want a beer that tastes like it. 7

The Snob Sez: This is quite possibly my favorite Saranac brew outside their Caramel Porter which had graduated out of the 12 Beers to its own sixpack for a while. Great thing to try if you love maple. Terrible thing to try if you don’t.

Final Score: 41 (of 50) – Great beer

Bohemian Pilsener
Brewed By: Matt Brewing Company
Brewed In: Utica, NY
Type: Pilsner
ABV: 4.8%

What They Say: Saranac Bohemian Pilsener is a medium bodied Pilsener crafted like the original Pilseners of Czechoslovakia. Brewed with the finest Pilsener malt and Saaz hops, you will find this beer has a crisp, clean taste and leaves you wanting another. Enjoy!

Website: Saranac passes my muster for a good website. Navigation on top, everything easily noticeable and findable without much work. Well done, guys.

Why I Picked It: Another new beer making it’s debut in the 12 Beers and the third of a six-part series. This new apparently eliminates their Scotch Ale, of which all trace has been removed from their website and may now only exist in my head.

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Presentation: The Bohemian Pilsener goes for the relaxing light tan hue with a painting of mountain, pine trees, and whitewater. I will say — kind of an odd selection for a winter sampler pack. Pilseners seem somewhat spring/summery to me, so I don’t know. 3

Originality: I don’t think originality is what they’re going for with this beer. It’s a Pilsener. A standard, golden, tasty pilsener. 2

Taste: I’ve never really gotten the whole pilsener thing. Like, it tastes fine. It’s inoffensive. It’s got a crisp, clean flavor and finishes plain. Nothing fancy — just a watery kind of almost American-type ale deal. It’s tasty and satisfying without that weird sort of tinny aftertaste found in some pilseners. I like it, but it’s kind of boring. If you’re a pilsener guy, though, this is a pretty good one. 7

Body: As previously mentioned, the pale straw flavor and decent head starts and finishes crisp and clean. It’s refreshing, if a little boring. I’m having trouble with the pilsener in a 12 Pack that’s supposed to have winter beers, but isn’t really something to penalize here. 7

Efficiency: They claim 4.8% ABV. I am right on the border of calling shenanigans on that claim. While I’m usually one to rate beers that you can drink all day pretty highly for efficiency, when they literally go down like water, with the same effect. Not a lot of points here. Boring beer with low ABV is not something I’m going to go out of my way to drink. Ever.4

Versatility: Start drinking this at five o’clock and you’ll still be going strong at five the next morning. I used the two of these in the sampler pack as palette-cleansing buffers between the other heavy beers. This feels like a beer you could drink until you got bored. It’s even called “Bohemian” so you can show your snobby friends how edgy you are. 10

The Snob Says: The pilsener is good. I really don’t like its inclusion in the 12 Beers Of Winter. I expect this case to be filled with stouts, porters, and dark ales. This would have been much better suited as a premiere in their 12 Beers Of Summer. Just not a winter beer for me.

Final Grade: 33 (of 50) – Good beer.