Chopbiscuit Preeminent Booze Review: Saranac Pale Ale

We figured it's time to get back to our roots here at Chopbiscuit and continue the reviews of The World's Best draughts. We have poked fun at our favorite canned beers in the past, but ultimately we love the best in beer making. Whether it's a Belgium White, American Brown Ale, Japanese Rice lager or an oatmeal stout - We enjoy a good beer.

So, let's continue the exposition with our reviews.

Right beer - wrong glass

Brewery: Matt Brewing Company
 
Beer: Pale Ale 

Beer style description: English Pale Ale


If you live in Upstate New York, you're familiar with Matt Brewery. Many of us growing up have thrown down a Utica Club or ten. USA Today reported in 2005 that sales increases of beers such as Utica Club and Pabst Blue Ribbon are part of a 'retro' beer trend among younger beer drinkers during the past several years. It's the PBR with out all the nostalgic douchebaggery.

Let's chat about Saranac Pale Ale. The Washington Post provided a unique perspective on both the Saranac Pale Ale and on the Matt Brewery itself. Saranac Pale Ale was named a finalist in the newspaper's "Beer Madness" tasting, a competition that playfully mimics the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament.

Good cheers to the team from Utica.

Saranac Pale Ale is a good English Pale Ale. The beer has a nice and decent balance to it. This beer is minimally priced for a Pale Ale in Upstate NY. Even though it's often a safe guard for me, I do like buying this beer and supporting the brewery. Pretty light on the palate but it has a pleasant taste and an above average body. Very refreshing and simple ale.

Chopbiscuit Draught Review: Budweiser Light Wheat

It was a first of many for this humble beer guru last night. First time making a bad dip. First time for watching multiple Bravo shows with my wife. First time drinking a wheat beer from Budweiser. I have a few friends that share inappropriate feelings for BL Wheat, so I thought I would give it a swig and see if it went down like a decent wheat. Since I (your humble beer lord) spend my days in the food and beverage development business, I figured I would add some critiques of the most popular American draughts across the country. I will not segregate premium ales, nor inferior lagers, just a straight opinion on what is on your shelf at the local grocer, dive bar or convenient store.

Budweiser Light Wheat

This style takes on and beer that is specially herbed and or spiced. This is anything from the common spiced Fall Pumpkin beer to Christmas beers with nutmeg and cinnamon to ginger beers to heather ales. Some brewers will throw just about anything into the brew kettle; hot peppers, hemp, ginseng or spruce needles. It's a middle America take on the popular Blue Moon.

The Tasting

I've actually been curious about this brew for a while now, so when I got the chance to try it finally, I dove right in.

At first Bud Light Golden Wheat smells like a bud light, but after that initial whiff I pick up some orange, nutmeg and a wheat notes.

A friend described this beer as a mix of Hoegaarden and Bud Light, and I think in a general sense that he was correct. All of the bud light flavors are there, but they are muted or dulled. The void left by the loss of all that taste-bud-popping bud light flavor is replaced by a bit of orange, coriander, and a pretty noticeable wheat character. It's an insulting comparison to Hoegaarden, but Bud Light Wheat is better than Bud Light and their shitty Super Bowl commercials.

Chopbiscuit Grade:

B-

Chop Biscuit Draught Review -Natty's Elm Street IPA

We figured it's time to get back to my roots here at the Chop Biscuit and start the reviews of The World's Best draughts. I've  poked fun at some favorite canned beers in the past, but ultimately we love the best in beer making. Whether it's a Belgium White, American Brown Ale, Japanese Rice lager or an oatmeal stout -

We love good beer!

So, let's start the exposition with our first review.

Brewery: Natty Greene's Brewing Company  Greensboro, NC

Beer Style Description: English India Pale Ale



English IPA was first brewed in England and exported for the British troops in India during the late 1700s. To withstand the voyage, IPA's were basically tweaked Pale Ales that were much more malty and boasted a higher alcohol content and were well-hopped, as hops are a natural preservative. This boated well for long ass hauls across the Atlantic. Historians believe that an IPA was then watered down for the troops, while officers and the elite would savor the beer at full strength. *The Douchebag elite! The English IPA has a lower alcohol due to taxation over the decades. The leaner the brew the less amount of malt there is and less need for a strong hop presence which would easily put the brew out of balance. Some brewers have tried to recreate the original IPA with strengths close to 8-9%, but rarely get that high.

Reviewer: Poncho Sinatra

I had a glass of Natty's Elm Street IPA on a recent Jaunt down to Greensboro for the Battlefield Earth reenactment at the Greensboro Battlefield. Kidding of course, it was a work outing that ended up at Natty's fine dining establishment.  I was unfortunately tainted by a horrible draught I received from the waiter on a previous trip and I believed the tap lines were doing this beer justice, so I re-ordered this draft at this time and it was a bit more forgiving.

Overall, this is a really refreshing and enjoyable IPA. The Ale had some interesting floral notes which was a bit strange at first, but learned to like after drinking a few sips. It's not the most flavorful, but it would be the perfect brew to crack open on a hot day in the summertime. It's a little bit sweeter than the average IPA, but I enjoyed that difference. This is a nice example of the style and I would definitely drink it again.

What They Say:

Smooth, easy drinking India Pale Ale. Crisp on the palette with subtle hints of Golden Hop flowers.

This drink would be a little too classy for Georgetown Alumni.

Chop biscuit Rating:

C+