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.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For
reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.