I'll be honest, I can’t fucking wait to drink these beers. They come to us from the Matt Brewing Company, which is responsible for the line of always delicious Saranac beers. On today’s menu, we have both of Saranac’s fall beers, including the always great Pumpkin Ale and the Octoberfest Lager and, why the fuck not, I’ll throw in Saranac’s India Pale Ale for good measure.
A quick word about Saranac: all Saranac beer is brewed by the F.X. Matt Brewing Company located in Utica, New York. It’s the fourth oldest family-owned brewery in the United States and began with Utica Club beer (known for the “talking beer steins” commercials and ads which feature talking, sort-of-racist-but-still-funny, beer mugs named (among others) Schultz and Dooley). Saranac is a New York staple and, being from Buffalo, one of my favorite breweries. They make a ridiculous amount of different beers, ranging from ale’s to stouts to lagers and everything in between- for a real treat, pick yourself up some of their Summer Brew (a lemonade and beer combo) or the Pale Ale (extremely crisp and refreshing).So up first, I poured myself a pint of the Pumpkin Ale and... well, first a word from Saranac:
In celebration of the fall harvest, here’s an autumn favorite that’s as enjoyable as pumpkin pie. This hearty ale is brewed with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, ginger and vanilla. Look for a full body and amber color. We’re sure you’ll enjoy this special brew!
As soon as you pour out the Pumpkin Ale, you know Saranac isn’t kidding- it’s going to be a special brew. The color, which is on the medium-dark side (sort of like Anakin Skywalker before he went totally fucking crazy), isn’t as dark as last weeks Tumbler from Sierra Nevada, but what really caught my attention was the smell- not overpowering but prominent nonetheless. You immediately get the allspice and cinnamon smell which mixes into a pleasant sweetness. The first taste brought me right back to last fall when the Pumpkin Ale begin to make its annual rounds (pun intended?), and I loved every second of it.The ginger gives it a bite, while the allspice and clove (the two most noticeable ingredients) mix to give it a spiciness all its own- there are a lot of “pumpkin ales” out there, but this one has that certain “umph” that makes it stand out from the rest. The sweetness from the vanilla and cinnamon (which only adds to the aforementioned spiciness) makes the ale taste very sweet, but not overpoweringly so. I absolutely hate pumpkin pie, but I could drink this beer all damn day.
This 5.4% ABV ale is a must-have for the fall season and it won’t be around for long- get it while you can! …and even if you’re not a fan of fall seasonal brews, get this bottle for the hilarious label.
The first thing I notice after the pour is how much lighter in color this is compared to the previous beer. The smell isn’t as prominent (obviously) as the Ale, but there’s a great hoppy smell to it as most Octoberfest beers will have. It’s slightly sweet but almost… deep, which might be a result of the hops selection.
Saranac says about the Octoberfest:
In 1878, our grandfather came to America from Germany where he apprenticed at the Duke of Baden’s Brewery. Brewed to the standards established over a century ago, Saranac Octoberfest is a rich, flavorful lager. We use imported Two-row and Crystal malt and balance it with the pleasant bitterness of Sazz and Tettnang hops. We hope you enjoy it. Prosit!
Another 5.4% ABV brew, this beer starts strong and finishes stronger, leaving you with a great hoppy aftertaste that stays on the tongue until your next sip, or gulp, or chug, or however you wish to celebrate with this beer. The hops/malt combo is like no other Octoberfest I’ve ever tried, or any other beer for that matter. It has a distinct bitterness and, I have to admit, I like it better than Magic Hat’s Hex from last week.
A hop lovers delight! In the India Pale Ale Tradition, this brew is very hoppy in both aroma and flavor from the generous amounts of Cascade Hops used in brewing. Look for a medium to full body and golden straw color. Enjoy with seafood, pizza and Mexican dishes.
The description isn’t kidding: this beer is pretty fucking hoppy. Not even close in comparison to any Great Lakes Brewing Co. beer in terms of hops, buy definitely a change of pace from the two previous beers I’ve had tonight.
A fantastic crisp smell that’s sweet and strong all at once. The color is light-medium and this is one IPA that must be served cold- it brings out the crispness all that much more. A very strong hoppy taste greets you on the first sip, but it sweetens up after you let it linger for a bit- a great aftertaste comes along with this beer. I love the smell and taste of this one, which is a must-have in my summer drinking collection.
When all is said and done tonight, the Pumpkin Ale is the clear winner. Absolutely delicious, spicy-sweet taste and it’s amazing cold. If you can find it on draft, don’t leave the bar. Ever.
The Octoberfest is good, one of the best I’ve had this season, and the unique blend of hops gives it a distinct taste. Great smell and color, I would recommend it to any fan of German beers… or beer in general.
The India Pale Ale is great. Very hoppy and crisp, this thing will floor your with its 5.8% ABV. I recommend it chilled on a hot day.
Fred Matt, current President of the Matt Brewing Company, says that “with all of our beers, we try and strive for one thing: making them distinctive and drinkable.” To anyone who has never tasted a Saranac beer before, that’s exactly how I would explain them: you can tell them apart from any other beer and if you have one, you want another one. And with as many beers as Saranac brews, that’s a lot of beer.
Pumpkin Ale 9/10
Octoberfest 7.5/10
India Pale Ale 7/10
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