Saranac Brewing Co.
Utica, NY
Available: All States
Aggressively hopped; look for a rich fruity hop bouquet and aroma balanced with a crisp finish.
Alcohol (wt.): 4.3%
Alcohol (vol.): 5.5%
Color: Copper/Amber
Malts used: English Pale Ale, Caramel
Hops used: Willamette, English East Kent Goldings, English Fuggles
Pale amber in color with a very English hop nose of spicy and peppery Fuggles and Goldings, underscored by sappy malt and citrus fruit. Herbal, peppery and fruity hops fill the mouth with creamy and juicy malt. The finish is finally dry and bitter but is preceded by juicy malt and spicy hops. An outstanding beer.
Beautiful color, friendly sound and great bouquet! This very lovely brew has just the right hop level to wake one up and just enough malt to bring those hops out of their sleep, too. Labeled as “Classic English,” but it’s as American as Mt. Rushmore; one could search long and carefully in England and never find such a hophead’s friendly delight.
Crisp and squeaky clean, and an interesting contrast to the Brewhouse ESB also reviewed here. If you get the beer fresh (like I did), you can take full advantage of the beer’s invitingly spicy hop bouquet. The hops, serving up an aromatic bouquet and crisp bitterness on the palate, accentuate the beer’s clean, honeyed malt foundation and delicate fruit. Like a hot shower and shave after camping in the wilderness.
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
Fred Eckhardt lives, writes about and drinks beer in Portland, OR. He is the author of The Essentials of Beer and Sake (USA).
John Hansell is an equal-opportunity drinker. He writes about beer, wine and spirits. He is the creator, publisher & editor of Malt Advocate, a magazine for the whisky enthusiast.
