Saranac India Brown Ale pours to a russet reddish to very light brown
color with a medium creamy head formation and an herbal, spicy hop nose. A
fine layer of Brussels lace clings to the sides of my glass, and a steady
stream of tiny bubbles rises from bottom to top of my glass endlessly. A sip
reveals a palate with a gentle touch of caramel malt laced with toasted nuts
and chocolate.
Did I mention the hops? There be hops here, matey. You'll pick them up right
away, of course, at first permeating the brew with an herbal, tea-like
aroma, then becoming increasingly bitter into the finish. At last, it
deposits a lingering bitter buzz on the tongue. That's the whole point, of
course, a brown ale that's very hoppy like an IPA.
To my taste, this one needs a bit more work. I like it well enough, but it
leans more to the hops than the dark malt, and I find more of the IPA aspect
than brown ale (much more). I don't think it's quite so well executed as,
say,
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale.
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.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler