Saranac Single Malt Ale
Review Date
Once a year, the
F. X. Matt Brewing Company (aka Saranac) of Utica, New York, releases a very
special collection of beers for the holidays in a convenient twelve-pack
carrying box. Known as the Saranac Twelve Beers collection, the assortment
is a great way to try a variety of beer styles without shelling out a lot of
cash because twelve different beers is exactly what you’ll get. Some of
these are year round offerings by Saranac, some returning specialty
favorites, and at least two will be brand new treats never before sampled.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
Also From This Brewery
This year (2001-2002) is no exception, and by shelling out about $11 you’ll
be able to sample the following brews:
Year Round Beers:
Pale Ale
Adirondack Amber
Black and Tan
Black Forest
Traditional Lager
Pilsner
Returning Limited Release Beers
Scotch Ale
Extra Special Bitter
India Pale Ale
Caramel Porter
New Beers
Mocha Porter
Single Malt Ale
An important thing to know about F.X. Matt and Saranac is the fact that the
brewery and its beers have been a driving force in the beer renaissance that
is sweeping America. They’ve accomplished this not only by brewing an
impressive array of beers sold under their own Saranac label, but
also by contract brewing a wide array of beers for other companies too.
These contract brews range from lesser known brands that appeared at the
dawn of the craft brewing movement like Newman’s Albany Amber and Saratoga
Dortmunder to the extremely popular Brooklyn line of beers, the Dock Street
brands, and now Boston’s Tremont labels.
Matt has now taken contract brewing to the ultimate level with their “My
Beer” program. That’s right, you too can now have your own beer bottled with
your own personal label. No need to spend hours slaving over an oven home
brewing up a batch, just contact Matt for pricing information and shipping
costs. Who knows? Maybe you could be the next Jim Koch!
Although they’re currently riding the crest of the craft brewing movement in
America, Matt certainly has its feet firmly planted in brewing tradition and
history. Founded in 1888 by German immigrant F.X Matt I as the West End
Brewing Company, the brewery that would one day become famous for its
Saranac beers was only one of a dozen breweries in Utica at the time.
Through they years Matt surged ahead of its local competition and survived
prohibition.
After repeal, the company gained local fame with its popular Utica Club
brands and entertaining commercials which featured Schulz and Dooley,
a pair of beer steins come to life for the sole purpose of touting Matt
beers. Eventually, with the brewing renaissance in the early eighties came
the Saranac line of brews that brought Matt national acclaim. The first beer
in the line was the flagship Adirondack Amber, a beer that could be called
the father of the Saranac line, which today boasts delicious beers the likes
of the Single Malt Ale.
Saranac Single Malt Ale is an aptly named brew, not just because of the fact
that it’s made from one variety of malt and one variety only, but also
because it conjures forth images of single malt Scotch to which beer is a
close relative. Just as one distills wine to make brandy, so too is whiskey
made by boiling down unhopped beer.
Saranac Single Malt Ale pours to a golden amber color with an appropriate
scotch like hue (perhaps the power of suggestion?). The brew forms a thick
and fizzy but short-lived head and has a sweet malty nose. The palate is
definitely malt dominated, very biscuity and caramelly, chewy, rich and
sweet in the finish. A slight Fuggles hop aroma is present in the beer but
the main topic here is malt, malt, and more malt. One hundred percent
Scottish Maris Otter malt is used, a variety popular with distillers in the
production of fine Scotch.
This is a wonderfully intriguing brew, well worth the full price of the
12-pack alone (but of course you’ll get eleven more delicious brews too).
It’s a delight for beer lovers, but Scotch enthusiasts too will enjoy the
malt character much akin to a fine single. I would also surmise Saranac
Single Malt to be a good tool for budding scotch lovers in their quest to
appreciate malt flavors absent complex alcohol notes and warmth. 
