Saranac starting to improve

I used to think of Saranac as inexpensive drinkable brews. But their latest variety pack just did not taste good. I’d rather buy cheap Trader Joes brews instead.

 

Hm. We don't have Trader Joe's in CNY, but we do have Wegmans (Syracuse and west, anyway). Saranac tends to have maltier stuff in the winter pack, which I personally don't think they do very well, so maybe that's why it was so disagreeable to you.

 

I thought the chocolate orange imperial porter they brewed earlier this year was fantastic. Most of their regular lineup is solid stuff with a broad appeal. Living in Utica, I know tons of people who would pretty much never drink any craft beer if it weren't for Saranac.

 

Their new Belgian Pale Ale more damn good, as were Diamond Bock, Chocolate Lager and 409 Porter. Their Caramel Porter is one of the worst beers I have known. They make a decent schwarzbier.

 

If you had been given a Founders Breakfast Stout when you were 16, that would have been illegal.

 

I have not had Saranac in a long time before I bought variety pack. I drank halves of the 6 bottles and poured out the rest. The other 6 bottles I gave away to my craft beer co-worker. He did not like them either. My guess is the hops they are using does not go well with their grain bill. Or their ingredients are too cheap. In any case with so many choices out there I’m not taking the risk with them again.