Why we picked it: Tommy picked it...Tommy picks good beers! It's a limited release as well.
About Saranac Immortality: Saranac Imperial Amber ale brewed with a portion of locally grown heirloom hops, this beer showcases big citrus and herbal hop character with a firm, resinous bitterness. German specialty malts provide a bold amber color and lend a balanced maltiness. Available only on February 15th and October 1st.
This amber nectar is worthy of the gods, but it's all too human: people played a big part in making this beer. Several varieties of hops were used from this year's Hop Harvest at Wrobel Farms. Notice the earthly notes from the heirloom varieties, balanced with a splash of floral and citrusy hops.
Beer Advocate Score: 87 and 89
Color: Medium Amber
Aroma: Floral and Citrusy
Mouthfeel: Medium
Style: Imperial Amber Ale
Malts: North American 2-Row, Vienna, Carastan
Original Gravity: 18° Plato
Hops: Centennial, Cascade, Brewers Gold,Heirloom
Food Pairings: Spicy fare, grilled meats, Mexican and Thai dishesABV: 7.5%
IBU: 75
Case Cost: $42
*website: http://www.saranac.com/our-beers/high-peak-series/
Hard to believe it's 7.5 abv. Great beer getting ready for hump day happy hour. Does anyone do this with the suggested food pairings? I want to order some spicy thai
ReplyDeleteI like the sentiment of getting ready for a happy hour...gotta prep, can't just show up sober and be horrible. Veteran move
DeleteDelicious choice. I like all the Saranac brews. Nice pick.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a robot
DeleteGot to admit I again had really low expectations. I mean, I've drunk my share of Saranac in the day, but it was mainly in the mid-nineties when my old roommate and I had finished of all the sixers of Sierra at the Home Food Store and the Adirondack Trail Mix Pack was the next best offering. Keep in mind this was in a time when Pete's Wicked Ale was a bar staple and you could still drink Tupper's Hop Pocket. But I always considered Saranac to be sort of a smalltime Sam Adams. Decent but easily avoidable. Honestly can't remember the last one I had. So, again, low expectations.
ReplyDeleteBut again we have what I would consider a winner. It's no Toaster Pastry but a solid red ale. Although after last night I like hops with my red ales. To me it tastes every bit of the 7.5%. I'd drink it again but will definitely be reaching for my Toaster Pastry Tallboy before going here again.
Spot on, last nights beer provided a nice balance, this one is just straight in ro face (see what I did there). Although, saying I prefer the pastry tallboy has an odd ring to it.
DeleteThe wife had a bad day so I was lucky to get half the beer (I think she will be getting her own set next year). I thought the beer was good and could taste the 7.5% the closer to the end of the beer. Since they are smooth, I think you would have to really keep tabs on the number you drink or they would sneak up on you.
ReplyDeleteYour wife drinks your beer after a bad day? Mine just screams at everyone and waves her arms around wildly. To be clear, you're winning in the game of life
DeleteWell spoken sir
DeleteI was suspicious about a Saranac beer. I am a sucker for beer variety packs and Saranac has plenty usually filled with strongly mediocre beer. I figured there had to be some really good ones I was missing though and Immortality delivers most of the way. I'm not a huge fan of red and this one tastes more of red so I can't definitely can't mark this above the toaster pastry. Still it is quite tasty and revived my hope in Saranac. Like those who commented before me, this could be sneaky being 7.5%. Killing a six pack of it may not be in best interest since I feel that it hides a moderately strong alcohol content. First two beers have been great, looking forward to more!
ReplyDeleteUnrelated to Andrews post...tonight saw just 18 posts before midnight...fair warning, Katy will hunt you down if you don't post. This you do not want
DeleteOn the same sentiments as Bill. Saranac is usually avoidable at most any cost unless the wife is shopping mix pack specials. This one smells and tastes all of the 7.5, but it's not 'boozy' and is smooth enough to keep me coming back.
ReplyDeleteIt's never good when Bill posts early because he usually nails it and then we all fall into the trap of saying 'see bill's post' . Here forward bill is penalized one day , thus putting him behind on all future beers and posts
DeleteOut of spite, I am going to go buy an extra sixer of Samichlaus and post my comments on that now. After drinking all six of them. Which would be awesome.
DeleteYeah I guess it was OK
DeleteNice citrus nose and nice color as well. I'm feeling good about this one. I get the malts and like it very much. Similar to last nights beer but I think tonight's is more bitter. Very good beer. I wish this was 19.2 Ounces too! I could have a few of this. Good selection. 8.5 Out of 10, B+
ReplyDeleteCitrus...oi vey ! Two days, two fruit references ... Are you trolling me ?
DeleteMeh...its drinkable, but not something I'd select out of a line-up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my guidance re: last nights post.
DeleteTomorrow she's aiming for a two sentence review.
DeleteIn Short: "Just one please"
ReplyDeleteMore than the usual bitterness for a red ale, I think this could use a bit more aging to allow the 4(?) hops to blend more.
Not bad, Not bad. Drinking from glass very similar to the one pictured on the blog. For 7.5% the beer is very subtle and not overpowering at all.
ReplyDeleteI like. By the time I took the opportunity to really notice this beer, about 3/4 of it was gone. I'm not sure if that is a commentary on the beer, the kind of day I had or both. Anyway, I found it enjoyable. Almost like the little brother of the Toaster Pastry. Nice color and nice lacing on the glass. Flavorful and substantive. A little too bitter at the end, but not bad. Just one is good, but I would drink this again. I give it a 7 out of 10.
ReplyDeleteI was like a kid running to his advent calendar today. But after 6 Sam adams it all kind of taste the same
ReplyDelete6 Sam's on a Wednesday, well played.
DeleteGet off the Sam Adams! There is a world of beer out there that is not remotely as mediocre as Sam. Just sayin
DeleteChad - tomorrow drink the advent beer first, then the Sams, if you must.
DeleteGlad I tried it but just one is good for me. It was good overall and the citrus was subtle enough that I didn't mind it. Last night was much better and now think I graded yesterday too harsh, C+.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Megan, Meh is what I thought as well. Right now the pop tart one leads the pack for me but the beauty in all of this is there are 22 more to try, looking forward to the next one.
ReplyDelete#leadership
DeleteI can’t remember if I’ve had an imperial amber before. It sounds like a fine idea. The label’s not bad - is that a hop bud imbedded in a piece of amber? I guess that’s kind of cool if that’s what it is. Interesting that the ABV and IBU are almost identical to last night’s selection, and overall it does remind me of that beer. I wish I could taste them side by side, but I think the most notable difference is the hop combo. The description mentions earthly notes and I do get that – reminds me of why I love rye beers. I really like the aroma I get when I raise the glass to drink, better than that from last night. Overall, another solid selection that I would probably not have purchased on my own.
ReplyDeleteYou are gonna love the wookie jack. One of the best rye's out there
DeleteMark set the bar high with his barrage of post last night. I wonder if he can keep it up all month long.
ReplyDeleteThis was a solid beer but I had higher expectations given it's limited release/availability. I was hit with the floral and citrus aroma once I opened it but the first sip was the heirloom hops, I guess (I'm not sure what Heirloom Hops is supposed to taste like.) I give this a B, I would have more if it was available, but I'm not standing in line on February 15th for it's next release.
My take is they wait till February for the next batch because it takes them that long to sell their inventory of this wicked brew #menotlikey
DeleteBolter's commentary may hold strong as long as he has Icehouse in his fridge.
DeleteHands down the best Saranac I've ever had. That's not saying much but it's actually a decent brew. Packed a maltier punch than the mythical "toaster pastry" and still has a decent ABV but its just a standard Red Ale. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. B
ReplyDeleteI'm usually not a fan of ambers, and this brew is no different. It's boozy, but otherwise just the same old malty amber that can't keepy interest. Meh. I'll give it 4/10.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually not a fan of ambers, and this brew is no different. It's boozy, but otherwise just the same old malty amber that can't keepy interest. Meh. I'll give it 4/10.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to thank Schulz for participating in day 1 of the 24 DoB with a blog post...good run, see you next year!
ReplyDeleteThis is no different than years past.
DeleteOh Immortality...you had me at Imperial!
ReplyDeleteI am generally not a fan of amber ales, but this one has character. Deep complex malts and 75 heirloom hopped IBU's. I don't really know what the fuck heirloom hops are but heirloom tomatoes look funky and taste delicious so if it's anything like that I'm on board.
Agree that saranac is known for mediocre brews...no more mediocre than the macrobrews out there, but usually easier on the wallet.
Keep an eye out for the high peak line and they are doing an insider series that looks killer on draft only. I grew up in that neck of the woods so I have a soft spot for saranac. Really glad they have started to make some great beer.
Anyway...I like this beer simply due to it's character and assertiveness. I was a little disappointed in the head. I'm a little tipsy as I finish the beer. I would grab a sixer of this anytime I saw it at the store. Pretty sure it would not be on my regular rotation if it wasn't limited release tho.
Wish I had another...
Not nearly as good as the Toaster Pastry. I'm still blown away by that beer. Anyway this was decent. Definitely on the boozy side, wouldn't have minded a little more hops.
ReplyDeleteMy judgement may have been impaired by the 7.7 abv winter warmers that mysteriously showed up at an office function earlier. We had Becks, Stella, and a Goose Island winter warmer. Very strange selection.
I enjoyed this beer (although not as much as the Tasty Pastry). Slightly bitter with a strong finish.
ReplyDeleteC+
The roasty malt is there, just buried under a plethora of hops. The misuse of the term "Imperial" to mean "really hoppy" rubs me the wrong way every single time. Just another ditch concept to stand out in an oversaturated IPA market.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first Saranac I've had. I thought it was okay. Certainly not a favorite, but I appreciated the punk. I enjoyed the first red Ale a little more.
ReplyDeleteI too had low expectations for this beer just because it was from Saranac. However, I really liked this offering. It grew on me throughout the glass. By the end I really wanted another. The malt on this was pretty completx - a little citrus a little toffee. The 75 IBUs were pronounced. It reminded me a bit of a barely wine. Interesting beer. A-
ReplyDelete