Saranac Pale Ale

part of a 6-pack mix, pours nice slightly cloudy amber color with a finger of off white head. Nice classic pale ale balanced aroma of malt and light hops. Flavor is a little disappointing, initially malty (tastes a little like a bad amber), the hops make a late entrance and save the beer. A forgettable brew.

12 oz. bottle. Reddish pour, clear, with a one finger head. Leafy malt aroma with some malty notes. Taste is malt forward, slightly grainy, with some leafy and citrus hop notes.

Thick, tan head atop a dark golden clear brew, this sweet plae ale balances hops and various malts to fine effect.

Bottle from GBBF 08. Attractive pale chestnut colour with lasting thick beige head. Hopped with English goldings and fuggles. Beautiful strong English hop aroma. The Fuggles just sing. Classic English ale? Aroma reminds me a bit of Meantime IPA. In the mouth though things turn downwards a bit. No idea of the ABV. The malt is there, but gets hugely over-ridden by these big bitter EKGs. Throws it out of balance. According to the ad in Ale Street News it’s won an award. I have to ask how? It’s not horrible, but it is terribly unbalanced. Right, if you let it warm up a bit, the toffee malt comes through. This balances the hop. Still a biting almost sour finish, but at least there’s some balance. Aroma is stunning, an interesting beer, but an example of an English pale ale? Oh no. Try Courage Pale Ale and see if it’s like this. Still I did like the English hops.

12oz bottle. Pours amber with a fizzy white head, some lace. Smells caramelly hoppy with some sweet caramelly malts as well. Tastes nice and sweet caramelly malty with some slight caramel hop bitterness as well. Medium body, good carbonation.