I love the state of the brewing industry today. Beer lovers are enjoying beers and styles they've never seen before, and some of them are like the brew I'm reviewing tonight, Saranac Caramel Porter in that they really work!!!

Saranac Caramel Porter shocked me the moment I popped the cap on the bottle. When I first read back in 2000 on Saranac's website that that year's winter sampler would include a Caramel Porter, I thought that Matt was referring to malt. Malt is the lifeblood of beer, and one type of malt is in fact called caramel malt. This is a new beer; one Matt has never offered before. So naturally I wanted to try it, and purchased a twelve pack of Saranac’s 12 Beers seasonal collection. I raced home, searched through the assortment for my bottle and popped the cap. Wow! I smelled caramel, not rich and sweet caramel malt, but wonderfully chewy, candy caramel notes. They wafted from the bottle to my nose and demanded my attention.

I should have read the neck label on the beer before opening it. Then I would have known this beer actually has caramel as an ingredient. The label reads:

Saranac Caramel Porter is a robust, flavorful porter reminiscent of a by-gone era. True to brewing tradition, we've used dark caramel malt as well as Fuggles and East Kent Golding hops for a smooth, yet slightly bitter roasted flavor. Look for hints of real caramel used in brewing this delicious brew. Enjoy!

Hints of caramel? This beer screams caramel! Saranac Caramel Porter is deep caramel in color with a light head formation and a sweet caramel candy nose. The palate is malty and smooth, but the big star here is the caramel candy flavor. This beer is just like chewing a Kraft caramel square, but not as sweet. There’s surely enough malt here to remind you you’re drinking a beer, but rich, chewy, luscious caramel notes permeate. That said, the finish is remarkably balanced. This is not a cloyingly sweet brew.

This is a fantastic beer, BUT…I had one major gripe when it was first released in winter 2000. To get this beer, you had to buy the Saranac 12 beers collection. Don't get me wrong; the collection in and of itself is not a bad thing. You get 12 different delicious beers in it. The problem is I LOVE this caramel porter, and I wanted more than one bottle! To get a six-pack though, I'd need to buy six twelve-packs. That's a lot of beer, even for me. Fortunately, Saranac eventually released the Caramel Porter for a limited time in six-packs. Let’s hope they do so again.

For now, though, I recommend buying Saranac's 12 Beers sampler again this holiday season. Not only will you get to try a wonderful new brew, but you'll also enjoy 11 other interesting styles as well. For 2002, the Saranac 12 Beers collection once again features a bottle of the Caramel Porter. If you’ve missed it in the past, now is your chance to try it.