Saranac Black & Tan
Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery

Saranac Black & TanSaranac Black & Tan
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery
 
New York, United States
Style:
American Porter
Ranked #414
ABV:
5.4%
Score:
79
Ranked #26,577
Avg:
3.47 | pDev: 12.97%
Reviews:
502
Ratings:
776
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 23, 2023
Added:
Jul 05, 2001
Wants:
  15
Gots:
  51
Stout & Lager
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by armock:
Photo of armock
Reviewed by armock from New York

3.24/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I wasn't very impressed with this attempt at a back and tan. After all its premade in a bottle. I enjoyed the smell when I poured it into a glass but that was about all that stood out. I would say that its worth trying if you enjoy back and tans but don't expect to be blown away by it.
Sep 20, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.03/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This one pours an inky black color, with a small foamy head and lots of lacing.

This smells like roasted malt, smoke, light floral notes, some breadiness, and some char.

This is much better than I remember it being back in the day, and much better than stuff like Mississippi Mud was. It’s nicely creamy, roasty, with a healthy bitterness, and a touch of doughy and floral character on the back end.

This is light bodied, clean, creamy, and crisp, with a nice drinkability.

This was a really nice surprise, and a highlight of the “new” throwback mix pack.
Mar 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.02 by heerboth from Pennsylvania

Mar 13, 2023
Photo of mikeinportc
Reviewed by mikeinportc from New York

4.04/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From the Throwback mix pack, bottled in mid-late January.

Opaque very dark brown, with one finger of tan head.

Smell is nutty and earthy, with slight char. Slight hints of biscuity malt and cocoa.

Taste is brown bread, those nutty and earthy elements present in the aroma, and very slight sourdough-like tang near finish. Moderate bitterness.

Feel is medium, with moderate , sharp carbonation bite & burn. Slight astringency at the back of the throat. Slight dry aftertaste/feel.

Good one, though I'd like it slightly smoother. Overall sensation is between the roastiness of a Dry Irish Stout, and the nutty/bready expression of a doppelbock. It's drier than a doppelbock, and a bit more substantial than the stout. In any event, it's enjoyable, and easy-drinking.
Mar 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.06 by msscott1973 from North Carolina

Mar 04, 2023
Photo of Foyle
Reviewed by Foyle from North Carolina

4.11/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 12 oz bottle into pint glass. A frothy beige head drops slowly, mild lacing. Color is ruby-brown. Aroma of rich roasted malt and caramel, with earthy hops. Mouthfeel is medium with a mostly dry finish. Flavors are a nice blending of the stout with amber lager. Tastes as advertised, a 50/50 mix of the two styles.
Jan 27, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by craigbelly from Iowa

Feb 21, 2020
 
Rated: 3.69 by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

Nov 12, 2019
 
Rated: 2.91 by Cameron1986 from New York

Mar 19, 2019
 
Rated: 5 by Kwright from North Carolina

Mar 16, 2019
Photo of SmokySignals
Reviewed by SmokySignals from North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. pottle poured into mug, sparse 1 inch creme head fades fast.

Look - all these Irish roots have looked good, and this is no exception: It has a deep dark brown that appears pretty transparent with a light whitescreen behind it.

Smells are again faint, but inviting - and simply dark roast grain/malt. Straightforward, classic, and not enough aroma power!

Tastes initially like a lager first and then a faint simple stout note is somewhere in the distance. Full, crisp and more like a bitter Schwarzbier. Very one-note for a two part beer. All these Saranac brews have had a similar slightly generic metallic thing in the bitterness for me. Not bad enough to pour out, but not something I look for. Above/= Yuengling B&T maybe?...it's just more "canned" tasting.?

Overall - I do like it okay, but lately have been mixing my own craft custom "2 Tones" with outstanding results. This one is very pedestrian...but, like it for what its is. Good -not great - dark beer for $7.50 a sixer. Convenient pickup/impulse.
Feb 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.71 by TheOakKing from New York

Feb 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

Jan 29, 2019
Photo of biiru_ojisan
Reviewed by biiru_ojisan from Japan

3/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a slightly thin head. Color is black with tannish clear highlights.

The nose is chocolate, coffee, grassy, floral, and maybe a touch skunky.

The taste is watered down bitter coffee, some faint hints of dark chocolate. Bitterness is pretty noticable and it drinks pretty dry. A bit of a grassy and floral hop note in here as well.

The mouthfeel starts a touch on the aqueous side, but feels thicker towards the end of the sip. The carbonation is pretty high. Alcohol warmth is not detectable.

Overall, this comes accros as a watered down stout with a bit of extra old world hops tossed in (that's not to say it isn't balanced, it is). If you want a good stout to explore, this isn't what you're looking for. If you want a drinkable, yet hoppy lager with some darker malt flavors, this beer will probably do you well.
Jan 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by robebo44 from Virginia

Jan 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.77 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Oct 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.55 by Richie_C_Johnson from Minnesota

Mar 08, 2018
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

3.77/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Ah, the joys of the Bottle Backlog! I have some in the basement's Beerfrigerator that I brought with me in the move from my parents' house over to Chez Woody that I have not looked at in a while. I was recently inspired to make today a New Saranac Beer Sunday (or New Beer Saraunacday (Week 661), if you will) & so this is a continuation thereof.

From the bottle: "Saranac Black & Tan is a judicious melding of our Classic Irish Stout with an all-malt German-style Amber Lager. The result is a brew that is hearty, pleasantly bitter and full of flvor, yet can be enjoyed bottle after bottle. Our unique Black & Tan has multiple flavor notes ... You may even enjoy counting them. Enjoy!"; "Stout & Lager"; "Brewed in the Adirondack Foothills".

Once again, a slow, gentle pour was in order following the Pop! of the cap. I then performed an in-glass swirl which raised a finger of dense, deep-tan/light-brown head with decent retention that slowly fell away. Color was Dark Brown to Very Dark Brown (SRM = > 27, < 34) with NE-quality clarity & garnet highlights. Nose had a slight roastiness along with a nutty sweetness. Mmm. This has potential to be interesting! Mouthfeel was medium. I let my first draught roll around in my mouth and on my tongue. It had a definite roastiness, but it seemed like it was somehow being held in check. This actually made it tastier to me than if it had been full-on burnt/bitter/roasty. I am not sure that I would have identified it as a "Stout" since it had that cut, but it was still very tasty. I might have guessed "Porter" & then nodded when it was revealed as a blend. Finish was semi-dry, but as I said, it might not have been as pleasant a drink if it had been full-on dry & roasty.
Oct 23, 2017
Photo of BEER88
Rated by BEER88 from North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nope!
Sep 05, 2017
 
Rated: 3.21 by AGoodStout from Kansas

Jul 30, 2017
Saranac Black & Tan from Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 776 ratings