Saranac Shilling Ale
Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery
- From:
- Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Scottish Ale
Ranked #29 - ABV:
- 5.6%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #21,904 - Avg:
- 3.95 | pDev: 11.9%
- Reviews:
- 5
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 23, 2020
- Added:
- Jan 04, 2019
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
No description / notes.
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Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania
4.01/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Having finished one small brewery horizontal of four (4) beers, here goes the next brewery horizontal. The Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody is not as extensive as its CANterpart, but it has been annoying me for long enough that I am attacking it with gusto!
From the Bottle: "Fourth Generation Family Brewery"; "Distinctive Tasting Yet Truly Drinkable"; "26 IBU".
I happily Pop!ped the cap & gave it a slow, gentle C-Line pour as one of the fresher Bottles that were hanging around. This one foamed beautifully, forming two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, tawny head with very good retention. Speaking of beautiful, color was a gorgeous Deep-Amber/Light-Copper to Copper (SRM = > 13, < 17) with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a pleasant caramel sweetness which was restrained enough not to be cloying. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was like Baby Bear's Scottish Ale - just right! It was probably the equivalent of a 60-shilling ale as the malt was not overpowering. The more malt in the grain bill, the higher the cost, so this would have fallen at the low end of the spectrum.
What this really reminded me of was a Nickel/Small beer, made from a second sparge of a large, expensive grain bill in the "Waste Not, Want Not" spirit. Those are usually associated with Barleywines, but it would not be hard to imagine the initially spent grain of a Wee Heavy (90-shilling) being re-sparged to draw out the remaining sugars for a lower-ABV brew.
I liked its slightly-smoky caramel flavor & I admired it restraint throughout. Finish was semi-sweet, which was perfect for me. I was not on the verge of a sugar overdose & yet I felt as though I had drank a beer. Yum! YMMV.
Apr 23, 2020From the Bottle: "Fourth Generation Family Brewery"; "Distinctive Tasting Yet Truly Drinkable"; "26 IBU".
I happily Pop!ped the cap & gave it a slow, gentle C-Line pour as one of the fresher Bottles that were hanging around. This one foamed beautifully, forming two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, tawny head with very good retention. Speaking of beautiful, color was a gorgeous Deep-Amber/Light-Copper to Copper (SRM = > 13, < 17) with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a pleasant caramel sweetness which was restrained enough not to be cloying. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was like Baby Bear's Scottish Ale - just right! It was probably the equivalent of a 60-shilling ale as the malt was not overpowering. The more malt in the grain bill, the higher the cost, so this would have fallen at the low end of the spectrum.
What this really reminded me of was a Nickel/Small beer, made from a second sparge of a large, expensive grain bill in the "Waste Not, Want Not" spirit. Those are usually associated with Barleywines, but it would not be hard to imagine the initially spent grain of a Wee Heavy (90-shilling) being re-sparged to draw out the remaining sugars for a lower-ABV brew.
I liked its slightly-smoky caramel flavor & I admired it restraint throughout. Finish was semi-sweet, which was perfect for me. I was not on the verge of a sugar overdose & yet I felt as though I had drank a beer. Yum! YMMV.
Reviewed by SmokySignals from North Carolina
4.07/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle poured into NB goblet, for nice thick creamy head.
Looks a transparent ,clear, light brown /dark amber body. Steady school of bubbles head upwards from the center...4+
I smell nice caramel butter toffee roast malt grain aromas. This seems to have a stronger nose than the others in the Irish Roots box so far, but still seems a little shy on the enticing scent's strength.
Feb 26, 2019Looks a transparent ,clear, light brown /dark amber body. Steady school of bubbles head upwards from the center...4+
I smell nice caramel butter toffee roast malt grain aromas. This seems to have a stronger nose than the others in the Irish Roots box so far, but still seems a little shy on the enticing scent's strength.
Reviewed by edward_boumil from New York
3.96/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
L:nice burnt orange color, clear. Head settles out to a foam, little to no lace
S: sort of reminds me of a nice speyside scotch. Strong sweet malt and citrus aroma. Malts bring a nice fruity sweetness, provide a soft melon and honey aroma. Hops add in touches of candied orange. Also slight caramelized sugar notes
T: repeat of nose in regard to notes. Finished dry. Good balance of sweet and bitter
F: a bit bitter which detracts from drinkability. However the beers mouthfeel is full and creamy which helps a bit. Overall smooth but a bit bitter and spritey from the carbonation
O: great beer. Been exploring more from these guys lately and have been a fan. Solid brew. This is a good beer for any occasion
Jan 24, 2019S: sort of reminds me of a nice speyside scotch. Strong sweet malt and citrus aroma. Malts bring a nice fruity sweetness, provide a soft melon and honey aroma. Hops add in touches of candied orange. Also slight caramelized sugar notes
T: repeat of nose in regard to notes. Finished dry. Good balance of sweet and bitter
F: a bit bitter which detracts from drinkability. However the beers mouthfeel is full and creamy which helps a bit. Overall smooth but a bit bitter and spritey from the carbonation
O: great beer. Been exploring more from these guys lately and have been a fan. Solid brew. This is a good beer for any occasion
Rated by O-Meg from New York
3.63/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
a solid beer, but doesn’t quite bring the crunch of leaves to mind the way i’ve come to expect from this style
Jan 20, 2019
Reviewed by biiru_ojisan from Japan
3.41/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.41/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a creamy off white head. Color is a dark amber.
Pretty sure this bottle is a touch skunked, but since that is on the store and not the brewer, I'll try to ignore it.
Nose is bread and buiscuits. Get quite a bit of citrus in the nose as well.
Flavor is fresh panko crumbs, some buiscuit, some notes of orange marmlade. Starts sweet, but finishes quite dry. Has a touch of butterscotch in the finish. Hop biterness comes in the help balance out the finish.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with carbonation on the lighter side of things. The mouthfeel gets a bit watery toward the finish, making the beer quite easy drinking. No alcohol warmth detected.
Overall, this beer is an enjoyable session brew. I have experience with Scottish Ales, but this does make me want to drink more so I can compare this with them. Without regard to style, this is a good easy drinker that is malt forward and quite flavorful.
Jan 20, 2019Pretty sure this bottle is a touch skunked, but since that is on the store and not the brewer, I'll try to ignore it.
Nose is bread and buiscuits. Get quite a bit of citrus in the nose as well.
Flavor is fresh panko crumbs, some buiscuit, some notes of orange marmlade. Starts sweet, but finishes quite dry. Has a touch of butterscotch in the finish. Hop biterness comes in the help balance out the finish.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with carbonation on the lighter side of things. The mouthfeel gets a bit watery toward the finish, making the beer quite easy drinking. No alcohol warmth detected.
Overall, this beer is an enjoyable session brew. I have experience with Scottish Ales, but this does make me want to drink more so I can compare this with them. Without regard to style, this is a good easy drinker that is malt forward and quite flavorful.
Rated by B_More_Guy from New York
4.7/5 rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.7/5 rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This has all of the attributes of a traditional ale; taste, smell and flavor that can accompany any protein-based meal.
Jan 20, 2019
Reviewed by 52Skiman from New York
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A new offering (January 2019) from F.X. Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery. It is a Scottish ale with ABV of 5.6 and IBU of 26 showcased in a new Irish Roots seasonal pack
Sample was from 12 oz bottle poured into a shaker pint
Appearance: Very clear medium amber color, thin short-lasting cream-colored head, decent soap lacing
Aroma: Malty as expected: toasted malts, biscuity with the barest hint of caramel in the background--well-within expectations for this style
Taste/flavor: Follows the nose: Malts forward, mostly toasted malt, biscuit and hint of caramel. Hops pretty much disappear into the background
Mouthfeel: Medium body, prickly carbonation; soft, pleasantly chewy feel
Overall: Having never had a Scottish ale before this was a new experience which turned out to be quite favorable. I found this ale to be to my liking (and I am a hops guy). Its flavor and its mouthfeel were superlative. It is well within the bounds for its style. I will try it again. Kudos to F.X. Matt Brewing Co.
Jan 04, 2019Sample was from 12 oz bottle poured into a shaker pint
Appearance: Very clear medium amber color, thin short-lasting cream-colored head, decent soap lacing
Aroma: Malty as expected: toasted malts, biscuity with the barest hint of caramel in the background--well-within expectations for this style
Taste/flavor: Follows the nose: Malts forward, mostly toasted malt, biscuit and hint of caramel. Hops pretty much disappear into the background
Mouthfeel: Medium body, prickly carbonation; soft, pleasantly chewy feel
Overall: Having never had a Scottish ale before this was a new experience which turned out to be quite favorable. I found this ale to be to my liking (and I am a hops guy). Its flavor and its mouthfeel were superlative. It is well within the bounds for its style. I will try it again. Kudos to F.X. Matt Brewing Co.
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