Creamy Irish Stout/ German-style amber lager mixture receives wood-singed toasted hop deepness to complement black molasses sappiness. Receding cola finish allows toffee and almond notes to penetrate roasted barley seam.
All posts by John Fortunato
SARANAC BELGIAN WHITE ALE
Weak pale-clouded sunshine-hued off-dry Belgian-style derivative picks up early bubblegum scent and tart grapefruit-orange peel souring. But as tangy lemon bitterness fades, unripe banana invades blunt perfumed hop thrust, sweet clove lag and bread-crusted edge, becoming thin, watery, then metallic. 2011 re-tasting: carbolic Seltzer watering precludes candi-sugared lemony spritz, orange-dried coriander-ginger spicing and herbal tinge.
SARANAC ADIRONDACK LIGHT PILSNER
Musty-scented, fizzy, flat, and watery, but less predictable than chemically processed ‘light’ crap. Meager lime-y citrus notes perk up otherwise glum finish.
SARANAC ADIRONDACK AMBER
Easy drinkin’ ale lacks distinction. Light grain-roasted pale malting receives minor hop spiced fruiting. Unexpected holiday ale seasoning persists.
SARAH HUGHES DARK RUBY ALE
Mild maroon-hued bitter with unique dry red wine essence. Purple grape esters recede to bittersweet black cherry tartness lightened by sour chocolate wisp, crystalline watering, and flat carbonation. Mild dirt-grained grid is only so-so.
SAPPORO STOUT DRAFT
Premium draft from island of Hokkaido brewed with malted barley. Typical Far East pleasantries such as sweet yeast penetration, mild grain influx, and simple hop bitterness lighten its appeal so don’t buy this if you’re expecting a heavily rich stout, ’cause it ain’t one.
SAPPORO RESERVE MALT LIQUOR
Stolid pale body brings wearisome malt-soured rancidity, glutinous rice-wheat murk, corn-oiled ethanol flow and moldy green grape esters to moderated blunt hop bitterness. Dry rice-sugared lemon spritz stays distant and mild whiskeyed barley roast get pasty at the finish. Beware: Canadian version really stinks up the joint.
SAPPORO PREMIUM LAGER
Japan’s oldest brand (now also brewed in Canada) proffers sweet cereal-malted corn sugar contingency deteriorated by inappropriate sharp-hopped metallic pang, gluey honeyed rice pasting and sour Scotch snip. Harsh enzymes mire dilapidated finish of slick golden-cleared lager.
SAPPORO DRAFT LAGER
Light, straw-hued, ceramic cold-filtered pilsner with sharp hopped carbonation, malted grain embellishment, and lemony lick lacks consistency and dense texture of Sapporo Reserve.
SAPPORO BLACK STOUT DRAFT
Odd. An imported Asian dark beer in sturdy 22-ounce gold and black can effectively re-creating Euro draughts. While coffee-espresso bittering and kiln-smoked caramel malting stand out, it’s not particularly thick, rich, or creamy. Still, despite being ultra-smooth, it’s hardy to the bittersweet mocha-oiled finish.
SANTIAGO CERVEZA DE ORO
Palest skunk-scented dry pilsner maintains meager corn-sugared barley toasting and faded caramel malt dash depleted by phenol hop fizz. Soapy lemon dishwater aftertaste sucks worse.
SANTA FE WHEAT ALE
After swigging this astringent orange rind-embittered off-dry ‘wheat,’ you’d swear it was a mislabeled pale ale. Interfering bland tartness and sour acidity lead to its demise, losing candied honey undercurrent in the shuffle.