Matt Brewing Company - Saranac Black & Tan

Many people like their black and tans to be layered, and usually, we do too. However, the flavors are so distinct from the component brews in this mixture that their flavors are retained and it’s almost as if the crafty folks at Matt Brewing Company have managed to bottle layered B&T’s! Actually, like any good B&T, the distinct flavors from Saranac Irish Stout (Black) and Amber lager (Tan) hold their own, but they also complement one another fabulously. Expect this brew to smell like a stout, with a roasty bitterness in the aroma, yet this mingles gently with the strong malt aroma supplied by the German style amber lager. The flavor is quite malty, with roasted espresso notes, a touch of dark cocoa, and a bitterness in the finish that fades to sweet malt aftertaste. Expect a nice complexity in the finish – beginning with the roasted bitterness of the stout and giving way to a lingering malty sweetness. Overall, we found it to be a highly drinkable, very smooth Black & Tan. And if you’re not a fan of the full-bodied, full-flavor of a regular Irish stout or extra stout, this would be a good starting point as it retains the distinct roasty character of the stout while taming it with a German-style sweetened amber lager malt.
NOTE: Consider serving it just under room temperature to truly experience the full flavors that this beer has to offer.

It seems appropriate that one of the oldest breweries in the United States, founded by a German immigrant from the Black Forest region of Germany, would be founded near one of the oldest state parks in the U.S.. German-born immigrant and brewer, Francis Xavier Matt I, left his homeland in order to fulfill his dream of owning his own brewery. He arrived in the U.S. in 1878 (a mere 13 years after the conclusion of the American Civil War!) at the foothills of the Adirondacks in upstate New York, and within 10 years had created The West End Brewing Company which quickly became one of the largest and most successful breweries in the Northeastern U.S. Today known as the Matt Brewing Company, the brewery has survived two World Wars and perhaps even more remarkable, Prohibition. After the days of Prohibition, F.X., then 74, was joined by his sons Walter and Frank Matt, and a tradition of family brewing ensued. Under the leadership of the third and fourth generations of the Matt Family (Nick and Fred, respectively), the Brewery has earned a reputation as one of the most respected specialty brewers in the country, producing a variety of distinctive, flavorful beers. Management of the Matt Brewing Company has spanned four generations – a very uncommon feat in the world of U.S. microbrewed beers since most were founded within the past 30 years. This practice of family run breweries is more common in the master breweries of Europe, such as those found in Bavaria, and is a tradition that F.X. Matt I clearly brought with him to the states. It’s been more than a century since F.X. created the first of his brewery’s malty treasures and set in motion the legacy that is the Matt brewing tradition. Today, each of their brews is a flavorful testament to time-tested recipes and their literally generations of experience. For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call 800-765-6288 or check out their web site at www.saranac.com.