Saranac Irish Red Ale
Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery

Saranac Irish Red AleSaranac Irish Red Ale
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From:
Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery
 
New York, United States
Style:
Irish Red Ale
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
77
Avg:
3.38 | pDev: 13.61%
Reviews:
178
Ratings:
345
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 05, 2021
Added:
Jul 19, 2008
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  38
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Magister_Beav:
Photo of Magister_Beav
Rated by Magister_Beav from Vermont

3.25/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Sep 06, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of AccipiterofBeer
Reviewed by AccipiterofBeer from New York

3.95/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured into a shaker.

L: 3.75 amberish red. Excellent clarity. Small white head that dissipates over time. Plentiful carbonation at the start that tapers off.
S: 3.75. Copious Bready malts. Rye. Dark fruits.
T: 4 follows the nose. The malt is toasty. Slight kiss of hops.
F: 4.25 nice and light. Thin to medium bodied. Ticklish carbonation. Sessionable.
O: 4. This is a fantastic take on the Irish Red Ale.
Mar 05, 2021
 
Rated: 3.74 by TonyStarks2231 from New York

Jan 29, 2021
 
Rated: 5 by Kwright from North Carolina

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

3.53/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Early afternoon, cool cloudy Feb day...let's have a Red! Needed good cheaper beer this week. Liked Saranac German Roots...so
let's go ! Saranac Irish Roots 12 pack for $15 at Walmart!

Look - 12 oz. bottle poured into pub glass for only an average/small dense head, sexy deep red copper, clear body. Great color. Head fades fast.

Smell -- Faint malty sweet toffee fruity aromas, and like the head: Very Pretty, but I want more of it to be there .
Nothing hoppy expected here and none present.

T---Follows nose, and in lacks presence there too. Good, malty, Carmel-y familiar "Irish Red" taste, and above the macro giants, but not by enough. Better than Killian's, easily. There's a finesse in Saranac beers, and hey, it's at Wally for big butt sudsers on the cheeps like me.

F----watery, with slightly underpowered carbonation , lighter than expected. Super sessional!

Overall, it's an above average cheap beer. Very easy to down quickly. One that's not to savor and discuss much...it's a pretty simple affair. One of the grocery store bargains in the craft area. Right by the mainstream ones.
I could see repeating these, if you know what you want and know what to expect: A light red beer that is pretty decent for neighborhood norm core celebrations in March.
Feb 26, 2019
Photo of edward_boumil
Reviewed by edward_boumil from New York

3.69/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
L: ruby red/mahogany colored. Minimal head retention, though can be coaxed by agitation. No lace
S: dark sugars, get some raisin, toffee molasses, dark fruit overall.
T: repeat of the nose but with a mild earthy hop bite toward the finish.
F: pretty light and drinkable, though a bit cloying at times. Has a strong carbonation
O: solid red ale, easy to drink with enjoyable flavors
Feb 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.48 by Rockhead from Virginia

Jan 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.52 by ProNR from Florida

Jan 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.76 by Arg914 from New York

Jan 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.79 by O-Meg from New York

Jan 20, 2019
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.08/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Man I remember these Saranac step dad tier beers going back to the late 90s. This is one of the most elite new balance tier ones of the group. Pours in a brown and dark red color, 1/2" off white head, this looks pretty decent for style. Aroma of wet malt, wood. Levels of caramel and toffee are minimal.

Taste is a mild soft earthy malt affair. Carbonation seems higher than average. Bitterness is subdued, although ironically this seems about hopped to the same levels of their pale ale (woefully underhopped for style there). Even a raisin aspect in the mouth feel. This is the quintessential red ale that hasn't been part of adventurous palates for decades. But if your step dad comes over in his big dog tshirt, he might enjoy this on his riding mower that helps keep his new balance shoes from turning green.
May 04, 2018
Photo of Offa
Reviewed by Offa from California

3.54/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Brownish amber, medium tan head steadily shrinks ti wisps and foamy ring.

Aroma mild wet wood, bread crust.

Taste is nice toasty caramelly bread, hints of wine, wood, earth. Moderate sweetness with mild bitterness. Feel is a touch thin. A simple but enjoyable beer.
May 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by paulish from New York

Mar 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by RBorsato from Virginia

Mar 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.34 by BeerSexLove from Virginia

Mar 16, 2018
 
Rated: 2.86 by Hunamaga from New York

Mar 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.25 by avisong from Virginia

Mar 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3 by TheBeerbarian from California

Feb 25, 2018
 
Rated: 3.43 by dirtyharry2489 from West Virginia

Feb 25, 2018
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Look: It pours amber with tinges of red. It is clear with a tan colored head with low head retention.

Smell: There is a light caramel aroma with a bit of grass. There are also low levels of toast and earth.

Taste: There are caramel flavors with low levels of earth and floral elements. It has a bit of grainy sweetness to it.

Feel: It has a medium light body and the carbonation is close to the high side.

Overall, it is a decent beer with the balance towards the malt.
Feb 23, 2018
Saranac Irish Red Ale from Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery
Beer rating: 77 out of 100 with 345 ratings