Saranac Black Bear Bock

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

Serve in Dimpled mug, Snifter

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A dark reddish copper bock with a thin off white head. A good caramel malt in aroma with wooden notes, and notes of berries. In mouth, a roasted malt, with caramel, nuts, but no esters or bananas. Closer to a dryish brown ale. Not to style. Bought in Potsdam, NY, Feb. 2007.

Bottle poured a clear golden amber with a small lasting amber head. Aromas of bread, toasted malt, carmel and earthiness. Palate was light to medium bodied and crisp with a smooth finish. Flavors of carmel, bread, toasted malt and light earthiness with a smooth lingering malty finish.

Pours a transparent amber brown with a thin, spotty-lacing off-white head. Aroma of lightly sweet, toasty German caramel malts with a touch of light fruits and oxidation. Body starts about average with a touch of sweetness and some earthy noble bittering hops. Finishes drier and bittersweet. Pretty bland and maybe even a touch too old.

Bottle from Capone’s. Pours dark straw coppery with minimal off-white head. Nose is caramel malt, earthy hops, corn flakes. Tastes somewhat tart, earthy, vienna malty, with backup hops and a crisp dry finish.
Earlier Rating: 3/2/2007 Total Score: 3
Bottle from Pat’s. Deep coppery pour with aroma of caramel malt, some fruit, some slight brown sugar. Medium to light palate, not terribly complex, with flavors of mostly caramel malt, plus some slight brown sugar, hops, and apricotty fruity notes.

12 ounce bottle from Harris Teeter Barracks Road Charlottesville, VA. Pours an orange copper color with a moderate head, average head retention and average lacing. Very malty aroma with slight grain, nutty and caramel notes. Taste is also very malty, with nuts, caramel, grain, raisin and tart fruity notes. Medium bodied.

Bottle @ home picked up at Supermarket Fort Collins. Pours a touch hazy, dark orange appearance with a foamy, cream colored head. Quite roasty, nutty, caramel malty, slightly minearlic aroma. Mild chocolate, burnt toffee/caramel malty, nutty, somewhat metallic/mineral-like flavor. I’m not a big fan of this one.

Pours copper with a thin white head. Smells fruity and sweet. Tastes sweet and malty with a sugary finish.

Bottle 355 ml
Appearance: Clear brew , dark amber in color with medium plus tanned top.
Nose : Mineral , refreshing hop style , sweet malty bottom , aroma reminded me of standard Polish lagers.
Flavor/Palate : Malty , nutty front with medium good depth. Sticky with subtle nutty feel > Quiet smooth and drinkable. Straight forward simplicity well done. Felt, as it was lighter than noted 6 % .

Bottle (12oz). And continuing my "see Saranac, buy Saranac, rate Saranac" habit .... Clear deep burnt copper pour, large lasting frothy off-white head. Smells mostly of roast cooked vegetables, eventually I begin to get a little more herbal hops and roast caramel, even some iron earthiness. The taste is pretty simple, no vegetal ugliness, just overly sweet light roast caramel malt, a little sweet hay hoppiness perhaps. Still, slick, sugary mouthfeel, not much character at all, but not horrible by any means. I finished it.

Bottle. Pours a ruby brune body with an off white head. Malty caramel with hints of vanilla and a light hop bitterness. Some hints of cherry and nuts. Not bad.