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Sat, 05 May 2007
3 hoppy brews - Saranac IPA (07:22)
I am an IPA (India Pale Ale) lover, and recently found that the Saranac IPA "Limited Release" product will be available all year in my area (near the brewery). So for all the folks in upstate New York, and anywhere else this brew is sold, here is the ideal IPA to have in your cooler. Here's why:On the pour
You can pour this one in your best clear mugs, it's crystal clear, has a nice head which lasts well, and a great IPA aroma, with various hop esters evident. The head will thin but not vanish over the reasonable drinking time of the mug, (until it gets warm - what a waste that would be). I like to serve at 52F, it's tasty enough to hold it's character colder, and doesn't become unpleasant at anything I would call drinking temperature (up to say 65F) as it loses the first sensation of coolness. But if you have a fridge which is 40F or colder, you may find that letting the bottle warn for a bit will improve the experience.
The taste
The reason I call this perfect is that it is a balance of enough hops to be clearly an IPA, while not making lager drinkers wonder where their taste buds landed. And the balance of bittering vs. aroma hops is perfect to my taste, neither is overpowering, but no one will complain that hop character is missing.