Tap Handle #51: Saranac - Pale Ale Canoe

This is a great tap with lots of detail. There are some rare varieties, such as the Season's Best or Pumpkin Ale. The difference in varieties involves the color of the outside of the canoe as well as the label.

Click through to read more about Saranac Pale Ale...


Saranac is made by the Matt Brewing Company in Utica, New York. Founded in 1853, it is the second-oldest family brewery and the 15th largest brewery in the U.S. After working at the Duke of Baden Brewery of the Black Forest region in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, Francis Xavier Matt I immigrated to the United States in 1880. Matt worked at the Charles Bierbauer Brewery as lead salesman and brewmaster in Utica for a few years before reorganizing it into The West End Brewing Company in 1888. During Prohibition, the company stayed afloat by producing soft drinks under the label Utica Club. After the end of Prohibition, Utica Club became the name of the brewery's flagship beer, promoted during the 1950s and 1960s by two puppet characters, Schultz and Dooley, voiced by Jonathan Winters. The brewery, later renamed Matt Brewing Company, became popular throughout the Northeastern United States based on Utica Club and its current flagship beer, Saranac. The company is in its fourth generation of family ownership and is led by Nick Matt (chairman and CEO) and Fred Matt (president).

Saranac Pale Ale is an English-style Pale Ale brewed with 6 different malts and possessing a copper amber color and a crisp finish. Recommended food pairings are lamb, beef stews, and cheeses. Weighted average on ratebeer.com is 3.03 out of 5.

Saranac Official Website