Saranac Rye Pilsener
Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery

Brings the darker color, I guess that's the rye. Smallish 1/4" offwhite head. Aroma was not rye. Wasn't really anything to speak of.

Taste kind of reveals this was a darker beer in color, but not in substance. Again, devoid of hop, malt or yeast flavors. Lots of carbonation on it. Why do all their beers taste the same? Only one yeast strain?
Some toffee and caramel notes, but they aren't well integrated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First smell and taste is very spicy, lots of carbonation. Future sips, take this beer almost to an adjunct lager level. Not much flavor or smell. The spicyness and the fact that it isn't sour is the only thing that sets it apart. Very dry mouthfeel, and the small head retains itself throughout.

nice copper hued amber color with a head that was maybe an inch or so high and balanced out well along the walls of the glass. Aroma was heavy hops at first, citrus and pine, but as it warmed some balance is brought forward by bready malts and hints of caramel. Nice and smooth, clean finish had a nice bite to it but mellowed tremendously as it went down leaving a semi dry, semi sweet finish in its wake.

A- Clear straw. Head retention is decent at about half a finger. No lacing.
S- Smell tends toward spice, but despite the rye componant it smells more like they spicy characteristics of noble hops than it does of rye. Somewhat grainy.
T- Sweeter than I expected, though this only slightly a negative. Again, spicy, but I really feel this is a product of hop selection rather than rye. Although the further down the glass I get the more I think the sweetness is restraining the rye.
M- Body is moderate, carbonation is a bit too fizzy in the mouth.
O- A decent enough pilsner I suppose, but the rye characteristics were underwhelming. Refreshing and easy enough to drink, but not particularly outstanding.