Thoughts on Matt Brewing Co. beers?

for me that was probably Falstaff or Hamms...

 

...and F. X. Matt in the east, dba The New Yorker Brewing Co.

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As far as world class they do brew Brooklyn Chocolate Stout under contract unless that has changed.

 

Remember the good ol days when the 12 beers of x mas was actually 12 different beers ( except for that one year where there was a crummy pilsner, a lager, and a light beer. That year sucked.).

 

Was it ever 12 different beers? I thought it was 6x2 originally.

 

Are all their beers bad? I think not. Some are actually pretty good. If I heard right, they have a new brewmaster, who is really raising their game. They're not among the elite brewers, but for how big they are and how long they've been at it, they are far from horrible. For that matter, Genesee/Dundee isn't half bad either.

 

Saranac 12 Beers of Christmas, 2000:

1. Irish Stout
2. India Pale Ale
3. Belgian White
4. Scotch Ale
5. Traditional Lager
6. Black Forest
7. Black and Tan
8. Pilsner
9. Adirondack Amber
10. Pale Ale
11. Caramel Porter
12. ESB

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I really enjoy Saranac. nothing they make has ever blown me away, but they do make consistently good beer. I think they're great for getting people into craft beer. Their Belgian White in the light blue label (2006?) was one of the first craft beers I ever sought out actively. Now, I could tell you the last time I picked up something from them with purpose, maybe 3 years or so. But their Caramel Porter is a comfort beer for me

 

Yup. That was the year. I did buy the shirt and the 2 really nice gold rimmed pilsner glasses. I think the best year was when they had the single malt, chocolate amber, vanilla stout, winter wassail, black Forrest, caramel porter, ipa, pale ale, rauchbier, adi. Lager and a couple others I can't remember.
Saranac was a great gateway into craft beer and they are now slowly becoming a brewery that makes beer to satisfy the geeks with their high peaks series. That blood orange and chocolate imperial porter was pretty damn good IMO.

 

what an amazing beer that was! they don't brew it anymore unfortunately. I was never fond of fruit beer either, but like you said, on a hot day that beer was perfect. The label was super cool too.

 

I could swear that they do still brew pomegranate ale.

 

Oh, but they do sell it in 6 packs! Not sure if they do where you are but I've seen it here.

 

Shoot - now wish I kept my number from this years race. I'm not going to run again but their Blueberry Summer Ale was thoroughly enjoyable.

The Pumpkin Ale is one of my favorites.

 

I have to admit that their White IPA is growing on me. It is pretty tasty with a fairly low ABV bill.

 

Living in the Rochester, NY area in the 1980's, Saranac was the only craft product easily available other than Sam Adams. I enjoyed their products then and still do although Saranac is nowhere near as popular in NH as in upstate NY. Unfortunately, it's particularly difficult to find their High Peaks products but I can still enjoy most of the beers in their seasonal 12-packs.

 

They are a good brewery nothing great they are still above average.

 

Te

they have Black Forest in sixers

 

Is this true?
I saw the Kirkland Series at Kona's Costco visiting some family in Hawaii last year. Defenitely went no frills
on the packaging, but didn't try any, I was after the KBC Mix Pack & SNPA Cases

 

I think this is a very respectable review.
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/99/39272

 

Some BAs came from much better beers, thanks to relatives and older friends who started them off with a bang.

I drank my share of Saranac in my early 20's for two reasons: it was a regional brewery, and it was less expensive than most other offerings. I don't think I ever went "wow, this Saranac beer is awesome," and just this weekend I found myself utterly turned off by Big Moose or whatever it is in the winter pack that someone had given me.

So yes, I do agree that something like their mix six pack (if they still make it) could be helpful for someone who doesn't have the kind of guiding friends that I did. But personally, I just think there are substantially better beers to be had for a negligible cost difference (Great Lakes and Sierra Nevada jump to mind).