Brews and Blues Beer and Smokin’ Blues

Saranac Black Forest

The last time I was in Gail's Hops and Grapes, I spotted this bad boy sitting in the cooler down low and out of sight, so I snagged it.  Saranac Black Forest from The Matt Brewing Company in Utica, New York is schwarzbier, which is a black lager.    I was relatively unfamiliar with this beer style until this year when I tried the Schwarz at my local brewery.  I was quite surprised.  When you look at a beer like this one with the dark color and dark cream colored head, it immediately puts your mind in the stout and porter frame of thinking.  Upon your first sip, you are pleasantly surprised with a rather light body, crisp flavor, and a fantastic taste of caramel malt balanced with a fruity hop punch right behind it.  This beer is pretty darned good, but I won't put it on par with the New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale, but it is very similar to the Samuel Adams Black Lager.  If you have never tried a Schwarzbier, I would recommend giving one a whirl sometime.  You will be surprised!