Saranac American Pilsener
Review Date
You've heard of
the beer that made Milwaukee famous. Saranac is the line that made Utica
famous, and probably kept the brewery alive at the same time. The F.X. Matt
brewery was a regional brewer in upstate New York for many years, surviving
on the local popularity of their Utica Club brand as well as a few others.
In the eighties they began to do contract brewing for brands like Brooklyn
and Dock Street to supplement their business by using excess capacity.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
Also From This Brewery
The Saranac line was an attempt by Matt to tap into the budding microbrewery
movement. It has been highly successful for them, and including various
seasonals encompasses almost any style you can think of. This is a great
line of beers for the newcomer to the craft brewing scene, since there are
quite a few beers that are more flavorful than mainstream American beers but
not so bold as to scare him away. The American Pilsener is a great example
of this.
Saranac American Pilsener is a "light bodied American wheat"
according to the label. This is a bit confusing since this is supposed to be
a pilsner. It would be better to call this a lager brewed with wheat. The
beer is light golden in color with a light, fizzy head and a delicate malt
nose. The palate is light bodied and crisp but there is an underlying malt
character and a wheat tartness. There's also a touch of Cascade hop
aromatics and Tettnang bitterness in the finish. That makes the beer
quenching and refreshing, and perfect for the hot summer months.
