Saranac Big Moose Ale

I have 2 more Saranac brews to sample from their '12 Beers of Winter' collection - Big Moose Ale and India Copper Ale.  Shooting unsuspecting wildlife sounds like a fine way to prepare for travelling to the far east, so let's go with the Big Moose today.


The brew is an American Pale Ale, with less of a hoppy hit than the IPAs I've recently been trying.  It's milder and has some fruity hints. 

This was probably my favourite of the Saranacs so far -it's exactly the kind of ale I was hoping to get from a brewery in the Adirondacks; for me it really conjured up images of hiking in the woods and communing with nature.  While drinking beer.  Which probably isn't a great idea if you're hiking, but as long as you don't run across the eponymous Big Moose, you'll probably be safe.

Here's the lowdown:

Aroma - Malty, less hoppy than some other winter beers from Saranac.   Faint whiff of pine, appropriate for a beer from the Adirondacks.

Appearance - reddish gold with a moderate head.  Some mild carbonation.

Taste - malty, subtle, with citrus notes becoming more prominent as the beers warms to room temperature. 

Aftertaste - slight bitter finish, but pleasant nonetheless.  Pine and grass notes work their way in too, making for a subtle and enjoyable palate.

I'm giving this 4.5 out of 5 - a really thoroughly enjoyable brew which I can't wait to try again.