Twelve Saranac Beers of Xmas #6 - Black & Tan
Written: Dec 30 '03 (Updated Jan 03 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good black and tan with good mixture of flavors
Cons: Not as good as Guinness and Bass/Harp.
The Bottom Line: I like it - I would drink Yuengling Black and Tan out of loyalty first, but this is a good alternative.
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| martytdx's Full Review: Saranac Black and Tan |
"On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love offered a smile, as she poured this beer - a mixture of two styles."
• about SARANAC •
Saranac beers are brewed by the Matt Brewing Company, a brewery located in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in Central New York. Over a century old, the brewery is currently being run by the third and fourth generations of the Matt Family (Nick and Fred, respectively). Today, the company brews a number of different beers (27 different beers in the recent past, including seasonals and limited editions), as well as 5 different soft drinks.
• about BLACK & TAN •
Ever since I had my first Yuegling Black and Tan, I have liked this style of beer. So, I was interested in seeing what the Saranac version had to offer me.
The beer poured into the glass with a rich reddish-brown color, topped with a tan, frothy head. The aroma of the beer is definitely heavy with the malts, almost like the stout.
Brewed with a multitude of malts (chocolate, caramel, black, two-row and roasted barley) and a complement of hops (williamette, German hallertauer, East Kent Goldings), Saranac Black and Tan gives off a good mixed flavor. The malts hit the tongue first, a fusion of chocolate and coffee which lingers for a moment before ending with a bitter finish. The mixture works well for me, giving me both ends of the spectrum in a single sip, although the transition is a bit abrupt (if there is any such thing with beer).
Saranac Black and Tan has a medium body, perhaps a bit lighter than some B&T's, but about equal to that of Yuengling's version. This beer is a bit more bitter than the Yuengling counterpart, and definitely carries more carbonation. With a healthy ABV of 5.1%, it has a bit of punch to it, as well.
• final THOUGHTS •
As far as Black and Tan's go, this isn't Guinness and Bass, but it isn't supposed to be. It IS a rival to the local B&T giant around here (Yuengling), but it is priced slightly higher. Head-to-head, the Saranac is a little better but loses out to brand loyalty for a local. If you can't get Yuengling, though, find Saranac's version - it's one of the better black-and-tans out there for the price.
• random BEER FACT •
Pennsylvania has had more breweries in its history than any other state. In 1910 alone, 119 of the state's towns had at least one licensed beermaker.
For More Information
www.http://www.saranac.com/
• related SARANAC REVIEWS •
1st Day of Xmas - Saranac Pale Ale
2nd Day of Xmas - Saranac Stout
3rd Day of Xmas - Saranac Black Forest
4th Day of Xmas - Saranac Caramel Porter
5th Day of Xmas - Saranac Belgian White
7th Day of Xmas - Saranac Adirondack Amber
8th Day of Xmas - Saranac Indian Pale Ale
9th Day of Xmas - Saranac Golden Pilsener
10th Day of Xmas - Saranac Traditional Lager
11th Day of Xmas - Saranac Single Malt
12th Day of Xmas - Saranac Season's Best
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
martytdx
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Marty
Location: New Jersey
Reviews written: 481
Trusted by: 180 members
About Me:
Doing what I can to try new places, restaurants, books and beers.
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