Saranac Black Lager

Brewed by Matt Brewing Company
Style: Schwarzbier
Utica, New York USA

12oz bottle. Large beige head atop clear blck-red body. Aroma is medium sweet, roast, some coffee, light raisin. Taste is medium sweet, roast/coffee, caramel, light bittersweet chocolate. Watery light-medium body, nicely drinkable.

Probably the best beer in the ’09 Winter pack. A very dark brew, it has a big shot of malts in the flavor - roasted coffee mixed with chocolate. Goes down very easy and warms the soul as it goes down.

Very beery smelling, I mean like lots of lager aroma without that cheap beer smell. Black but not as opaque as most real schwartz beers. No sediment on the bottom. Very roasty flavors, leaves a burnt effect on the tongue. This beer is someplace between a dark lager and a schwartz. Not quite the personality of a schwartz but certainly there is some bitter old wet burned wood that has been sitting around for a while after the flame went out. Decent amount of carbonation and I’m not sure if I detect any of the choco or coffee in here. Overall a good dark beer experience withpout any real rudeness. Finish is like this stuff was filtered thru old wet partially burned wood.

This was OK. Poured more of a brown than a black. I could see light through the glass, which disappointed me. German Black Beers should be black as night! Aroma was very faint. Taste was good but not noteworthy. Mouthfeel was the best attribute, smooth and full. Aftertaste was average. I’d drink it again if it was available but I wouldn’t search it out to buy.

What else can be said about this agressive, strong, black bomber. The darkness in straight forward brillance which dives into the fact that the briew brings alot to the table. Nothing can ever suggest other......

12 oz bottle, from winter sampler. Decent beer, couldn’t quite pick up on the coffee notes in the beer, but still decent malt flavors. A bit sweet, but certainly not overwhelmingly so. Recommended, especially with winter sampler pack.

12 ounce bottle from the winter sampler. Pours a clear dark ruby color with a thin to moderate sized head. Decent head retention and good lacing. Aroma of dark lightly roasted malts, caramel and raisins. Taste is roasted malts, nutty notes, caramel, leafy/minty hops, cherres. Medium bodied. The best in th sampler so far.

Pours a dark translucent brown with a small off white head. Aroma is roasted malt and coffee. Flavor is light malt with some roasty notes, nuttiness, and a bit of bitterness in the finish. Very weak thin mouthfeel.