Dull and unconvincing, closer to mellow-grained pilsner with light barley sweetness and tempered spice hop fizz. Brewery defunct: 2007.

Charging more for 11-ounce (instead of twelve) 4 pack (‘stead of 6), bold amber compares favorably to Samuel Smith (though it’s a half-level below) and its regal name matches its ‘Superior’ affluence. Barley roasted chocolate hazelnut and mild apple-plum dalliance sweeten palate. Firm yeast foundation solidifies its base.

Faint fruited sourness and dry hop bitterness pace full-bodied pale ale, gaining strength as grainy persistence lingers to bold finish. Nothing fancy or pretentious, just pleasant and easy to imbibe.

Astringent English-styled pale ale with fruity thrust, toasted nuttiness and candied caramel malt pleasantry in need of punch, bite and finish. Why does Saranac always lack that extra ‘something’ to put them over the top?

Delicious off-dry fructose malt formality leads to spruce-y hop lather and succinct orange rind-soured apricot-raspberry-blueberry tang. Bitter black currant ebb-tide and dainty floral rim inform barley-toasted cracked wheat spine. Tantalizingly fresh and modestly bold.

Hippie chic psychedelic bee label, citrus-y ‘Hempen Ale’ aroma, and fruited pale malts confront bitter-grained luster for rich frothy-headed complexity. Heavy Brussels lace coats the top as yeast sediment cakes the bottom of mellow Beatles-inspired curiosity.

Brisk roasted barley template receives creamy malt richness, absorbing well-hopped soda-like fizz of highly carbolic moderate body. Mild fruitiness sweetens polite grain finish. Serve to pilsner fans as an alternative.

Moderate amber-paled clear-bottled mediocrity brings modest crystal malting and mild corn sweetness to delicate off-dry bitterness. But watery flow lacks resilience of Wychwood’s much better Fiddler’s Elbow and autumnal Hobgoblin (though the bewitching scarecrow label’s a scream).

Bright citric nose enjoins soothing barley-oats confluence, dry pumpernickel-rye reminder, and distant piney floral hints as sourdough sways upward. Minor juicy grapefruit souring embitters cocoa malts, consuming dense alcoholic acidity.

Aromatic orange rind prominence and tangy grapefruit-peach-blueberry medley lead heavily carbonated bitter-hopped dry body. Prudent honeyed malt sweetness gains organic earthiness, animated floral accent, and meager kiwi-quince-melon hint to piney finish.

Fine sunset orange ale offers cracked wheat, doughy biscuit, and sweet tobacco triage to deepening raw honey bittering. Lingering spruce hop finish receives floral grapefruit-lemon twang and dried tobacco nuance.

Pronounced mocha malt creaminess and prickly hop spicing illuminate beguiling fruitiness. Concordant yeast-thickened sinew richer than lighter-bodied pale ale competition. Roasted barley-nut insurgence heightens exquisite backend.