43 - Saranac Irish Red Ale

It's almost St Patrick's Day, where scores of non Irish people and people who were related to Irish people hundreds of years ago, get drunk and wear stupid hats while combining all of the green articles of clothing in their closet to honor a dead Irish man who was declared a saint for chasing away snakes. WTF?

But this is about the beer, not the behatted douchebags or snake charmers. And Saranac, my favorite half decent beer brewer has half done it again. It's a good red ale. But they are very careful at Saranac not to make it too good. They understand that over acheiving would hurt thier image so they make it thier goal to get it just right, not too good and not crappy. I have stared liking red ales since this blog started and that is why I half like this one.

I give it 3.6 out of 4 chased snakes. Not bad!

39 - Saranac Imperial Stout

I am usually metsa metsa about Saranac. I think they are good, but that's about it. But that was until I had this Imperial Stout. I love Imperial Stouts in general, but I liked this beer quite a bit. This is the best beer Saranac makes. They might consider only making this beer going forward.

It was smooth and sweet and dark as hell. It had a great head and a nice thickness.

I give it 3.8 out of 4 Saranacs.

11 - Saranac Black Diamond Bock Dark Lager

Before I get balls deep into this review...The banana beer from last night was not banana-y at all. I was straining my taste buds to even catch the faint inflection. I mark yesterday as the beginning of my quest for a banana beer, and I will make my own if I haven't had one by the end of this year.

Anyways the Saranac Black Diamond Bock Dark Lager is crisp, tasty beer with the zesty zing of the Bock...I chose the bock because I wanted some bock perspective. And out of the past few bocks this one is solid...maybe a bock can only get so good, cause this seems better than some, but not much different. Kelly notes hints of pepper...like the banana, I do not catch this hint. I need something with some flavor and this one tastes good and definitely drinkable. But nothing more vibrant or exciting...just solid....wait for it...solid as a bock.

While I am hoping for a beautiful banana beer in 09, I am also feeling destined to find a bock that transcends the typical run of the mill everyday hard working bock.

Sarnac gets the double black diamond out of a possible quadruple chair ski lift.