Thoughts on Matt Brewing Co. beers?

I agree with what most people are saying. Saranac makes a lot of "good" beers but nothing really outstanding. I really enjoy their White IPA (fresh), Red IPA, 4059 porter, and Big Moose. I usually pick up at least one of their seasonal mix 12 packs. It seems like they are trying some new things with the High Peaks series. The price is usually decent also. I guess what I'm saying is...I Like Saranac

 

They are what got me into craft and I am always sure to check out what is in their seasonal packs. I have family from upstate as well so I usually pick Saranac up when they are in town.

 

While all of their beers are thinner than I'd like, the Red IPA and White IPA are pretty good. And Black Forest is still one of my old favorites, but I'm also an upstate NY guy and grew up drinking Saranac Trail Mix and 12 Beers of Christmas packs, so maybe it's all nostalgia driven.

 

yeah, I live in ny.... and will always support local anything..... dairy, produce, beer etc... and I have had quite a few saranac beers.................. but nothing outstanding..............now look at ithaca brewery...... they have a few beers out there... but no wheres near what saranac has put out in their past.................and in my opinion their flagship is flower power ipa..... they have some other offerings but when people hear ithaca brewery.... they think flower power.... I think saranac is only one great brew away from fame............. sometimes thats all it takes..... now get after it!

 

And honestly, their Irish Stout was pretty good. Better than Guinness, pretty much the exact profile for the style.

 

Their High Peaks Robust Chocolate Orange Porter was SOLID! I was really impressed with that beer.

 

They make a decent pumpkin ale.

 

Underrated and easy to bash, AKA a target for BA snobs. Their beer isn't bad at all, and usually on sale for ~$20/case around here

 

Don't they brew the Kirkland Signature beers for Costco?

I've yet to be impressed with what I've had, but I haven't tried all these seasonals ye are on about.

 

Really put them off, then found a Winter Seasonal pack and went through it.

So far my highlights are the 4059 porter and the simple Belgian Ale.

I was also extremely confused by their bottle dating for the longest time and just wouldn't pick up their stuff.

 

If you run the Utica Boilermaker (15k road race) you get all you can drink Saranac Pale Ale and a pretty awesome live concert/party at the brewery as your reward. I'm fairly certain that's the fastest I've gone from 1 to 11.

 

My dad, who tries every beer I hand him, but doesn't really seek out craft beer, makes sure there's some Saranac in the fridge whenever I head back to Upstate for a visit. Do they make me do my Happy Dance of Joy ( http://m8.photobucket.com/image/snoopy happy dance animated gif/KristieJenner/animated dancing/SnoopyDance.gif.html?src=www&o=1 )? No. Do I enjoy those beers? Yes. BTW, the first brewery tour I ever did was the Utica Club/Matts tour in 1969. My folks let pick 2 days on a 2 week vacation to do what ever I wanted. We went to Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame, and Matts for the tour. They got beer, I got root beer. I was 9, I guess there were drinking age rules even then.

 

You can also run the 5k, or pick a discarded number out of the garbage. All they require is a race number. I actually have a friend who has sported the same one since about 2007 and parties it up every year.

 

During senior week before graduation at my upstate NY alma mater we had a beer truck pouring at one of our events. One of the last kegs they had on draft was the Saranac Pomegranate Ale. Up to that point, I had lived by the old mantra that "fruit doesn't belong in beer" and likewise avoided it until it was the last thing on draft. Of course, when you are 21 and broke it doesn't matter how unappealing a beer is. If it was free, I'd drink it. Suffice to say, on that hot early June evening I was quite impressed at how thirst quenching that beer was, and have since turned many converts onto that particular beer. You might even say it was a very early gateway that has led me into lambics and many other enjoyable fruited beers. I don't buy too much Saranac these days (though their variety packs are great for picnics and such), but on a hot Summer day there are few beers I enjoy more than Saranac Pomegranate Ale.

 

What I came in to mention. The High Peaks series seems to be where its at as far as Saranac goes. I enjoy a few of their other offerings and will pick up a mixed 12 pack from them every now and then, especially at their reasonable price point.

 

dig the pale ale and blueberry ale.

 

I believe that's Gordon Biersch, at least for CA.

 

The High Peaks series is hard to find. Ive only seen one store around here that even carried 1 of those beers. Not saying they are whales but they sure arent readily available.