Mild hop char informs up-front burnt wood chip essence, but swampy sour-scented ale lacks firm foundation to compete with less watery average brews.

Caramel malt-enriched ale with pure spring water lightening fragile spiced hops, bleached mocha, and dried fruit. Soft yeast texture brightens overall mood. Brewery defunct: 2002.

Following in the British tradition despite American auspices, rich pine-fruited ale balances casual cascade hop bittering with subtle malt sweetness. Strangely reminiscent of some Canadian ales due to its briny salt-watered finish. Not unique, but damn fine nonetheless.

Hazy golden mainstream fodder integrates peachy clementine-tangerine juiciness with hop-embittered grapefruit rind sedation. But murky vegetal earthiness, trifling spiciness, and tinny finish negate early gains.

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).