Saranac Single Malt Whiskey Barrel-Aged Scotch Ale | Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery

3.84/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Sweet, Smooth, Creamy, Warming

Matt Brewing deemed it time again to play around with some barrel aging, a Whiskey barrel aged Scotch Ale to be exact. Right from the first sip the strength this shown though it never runs hot, mellow but thorough wood character from start to finish. Within all of this it tastes like we are drinking a loaf a bread, a true compliment for a malt bomb like this. Clearly they should be delving into this arena of “bigger” beer on a regular basis.

STYLE: Scotch Ale | ABV: 9.0% | AVAILABILITY: Rotating

Review from BeerAdvocate magazine issue #91 (Aug 2014)

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3.95/5  rDev +4.8%

Bottle purchased at Premiere Gourmet in Buffalo, NY.

Pours out a light amber, much lighter than I would've expected for a BA Scotch Ale. A small head forms, that descends into little islands of foam on top of the beer. No lacing.

Smells like peaty whiskey, caramel, oak, caramel, and vanilla.

I'm surprised how good this one tastes considering it's Saranac/Matt. It's not the boldest scotch ale you'll ever have, but it's still tasty. Smoky scotch flavors, with a bit of peat, sweet caramel flavors, oak, vanilla, and the smallest alcohol burn. The flavor is slightly thin and watery at times- this is Saranac, after all- but the flavors on each side of the slightly flat middle are really solid.

This one is fairly light bodied for a BA Scotch Ale, letting the flavor fall flat at times, but it's also very drinkable because of this. There's a very low amount of carbonation.

One of the best beers Matt/Saranac has put out, they're stepping it up just a bit.

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3.25/5  rDev -13.8%

3.45/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

3.87/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

4/5  rDev +6.1%

4/5  rDev +6.1%

4.11/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Brown sugar and caramel notes from the malt provide a strong base, but this brew is really all about the Scotch.

It presents clean and strong on the aroma, really dwarfing the base brew profile, but in a good way.

Translation to the palate is a touch disappointing after the aroma; here is where a stronger, more together malt base would have truly elevated this beer. As it is, the Scotch is enough to carry the day.

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3.46/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

I should precede this review by stating my constant disappointment every time I try an FX Matt product.
But I do like this. Maybe the planet will start spinning backwards tomorrow.
Poured into trusty duvel oversized tulip glass. It doesn't pour dark, not even close to opaque. A deep amber color with no head that leaves no lacing. Smells only faintly boozy, and very sweet. Taste is sweet with no alcohol burn whatsoever, just the residual flavor of whiskey to remind me it was barrel aged. Not a letdown in terms of flavor, but a thinner mouthfeel and less bold than say, a barrel aged stout.
Staying safe once again, eh FX? Luckily it's $10/4pk, and at that price, a solid treat. Overall a nice example of the next super trendy style. This was cold when I poured it, and while I'm not expecting a journey through flavors as it warms, I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Cheers Utica, this is well done!

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4/5  rDev +6.1%

3.53/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle, labeled 10% ABV. Must be batch 2
Smells malty w/ hints of whiskey
Taste: Bready malts , very,very faint whiskey. dry oakiness
Mouthfeel: thin, slick, non imposing
Overall: underwhelming but worth $10 a four pack. As a HUGE fan of the style: this is not a replacement for Backwoods Bastard ( good) or Wulver ( very good). I wish another strong brewery like Southern Tier would start making a good BA Scotch Ale that is accessible on the east coast. BA Old Chub would be nice.
Saranac brews are always inexpensive, and taste that way.

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3.27/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

2.89/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

A: A dirty medium brown in color. A very full tan head.

S: Light caramel and bread. Perhaps a touch of orange peel in there as well. Something slightly earthy in there, but I don't get a lot of the whisky.

T: Bready, earthy and a touch of smoke. There is a little bit of a wood flavor, and a hint of whisky. There is an earthiness to this that doesn't really mesh well. There seems to be a weird mix of flavors that don't necessarily go well together. Seems harsh and a touch bitter.

F: Medium light body, with a fairly dry finish.

O: Overall this seems like an odd amalgamation of flavors. Not enough of the whisky character to single malt in all caps on the label, the bottle says rich, malty, and sweet, and the beer I'm drinking simply does not go with that description.

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3.61/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

3.25/5  rDev -13.8%

4.08/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bought a 4 pk from Beers of the World on 5/23/14. Poured into a nonic, served at ambient temp.

appearance: medium dark amber. shortbread colored head. decent lacing.

smell: light whiff of caramel corn and a whisper of alcohol

taste: sweet, caramel, heat from the alcohol

mouthfeel: slippery, soft and silky.

overall: surprising offering from Fx Matt. Decent, if unexciting strong ale.

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3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

4.15/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Had this on draft at roast house in Frederick. Not a fan of Saranac but do buy their variety packs on quantity nights. Their making a big beer had me very curious especially a wee heavy which is a good style for me. Surprisingly good. I am rather surprised that they have a beer I can enjoy not just tolerate. Good flavor and hides the alcohol very well. Overall a quality beer from Matt Brewing, nice.

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3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4/5  rDev +6.1%

3.55/5  rDev -5.8%

A: [4.25] Golden color with a hint of red color. Forms a 1 finger head - mostly dense tight bubbles with a few larger ones. Clearly lists ABV (9.0%). There is a date code that I can't translate. When the beer is tilted there is clearly alcohol legs.

S: [3.50] Smokey wood and toffee and caramel.

T: [3.25] I taste alcohol front to back. I taste some vanilla, toffee and caramel (these are subdued below the alcohol taste).

M: [4.25] This has a full body. It is smooth and creamy with no sense of carbonation.

O: [3.75] The alcohol is not hidden. It is front and center. This beer tastes like a a spirit more than a traditional beer. The alcohol hides the other flavors. I think there are definitely other Scoth Ales that I would reach for first.

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3.77/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75