Saranac Belgian White – Beer Review
June 18, 2009
I thought I’d keep the Belgian White theme going here at The Brew Club with a review of Saranac’s Belgian White. Liz recently reviewed Long Trail’s Belgian White and liked it enough to give it a very respectable 4 star ranking! I also enjoyed Long Trail’s version of this popular style and while its fresh in my mind I thought I’d give Saranac’s version a try.
Its been over a year since we’ve tried anything from Saranac Brewing. The Saranac Caramel Porter, which style-wise isn’t anything like a Belgian White, was enjoyable enough to get one of our first 4 star ratings. So, Saranac can make good beers, but how does the Belgian White rate?
I’ll cut to the chase. Not so good.
Compared to the Long Trail Belgian White, Ommegang Witte, Hoegaarden or even Blue Moon, this was thoroughly disappointing to me. The Saranac Belgian White had all the ’secret ingredients’ of a nice Belgian White, but it just doesn’t compare really. Let’s start from the top.
Pouring this Saranac beer, it really didn’t create much of a head. Usually, one expects that foamy, pure-white head from a Belgian White, but as you can see in the picture it was kind of weak. If I had the ability for time-lapsed photography, you would see that head completely gone in about a minute from pouring. So, it struck me as a little dull.
The color was nice, a little darker than other Belgian Whites I’ve had recently, and while the beer does appear to be slightly unfiltered, it was also comparatively much clearer than the other Belgian Whites previously mentioned. As a matter of fact, the longer this beer sits in my glass, the clearer it becomes! By the time I’m getting to this very paragraph, the Saranac Belgian White is practically clear in my glass. (I do reviews in ‘real-time’ – so there)
Not that the wimpy head, relative clearness or the darker color make this a disappointing beer, but the aroma and taste just weren’t there either. Smelling the beer, I could just barely – barely pick up any of the spices or citrus that one comes to expect from this kind of beer. I thought the malts were more pronounced than anything. Yawn.
Same with the taste. This beer had a barely perceptible citrus flavor, and almost nothing from the spice department. Otherwise, it was a light feeling beer that was easy to drink, not heavy or sticky and might make a good summer beer as many wheat beers do. But, with so many other choices in this crowded beer style, you can do much better than the Saranac Belgian White which really stuck me as watery and uninspired.
No Soup for you Saranac Belgian White! Rating: 
What do you think of the Saranac Belgian White? What is YOUR favorite Belgian White beer? Why not let us know by commenting below?
Cheers! Scott
Posted in 1 Star Reviews, Ales, All Brews Reviewed, American Beers, Wheat Beers
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June 18th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
It’s great to see how many white beers you guys have over there, and I’m really enjoying Liz’s real time reviews, I might try one of those myself one day. Keep at it Liz!
As for favourite white beers/wheet beers, I think it’s a close run thing between the Kronenbourg Blanc and the Grolsch Premium Weizen (both of which I’ve reviewed in the past). And looking in my beer fridge, I find I have three bottles of the Grolsch and one of the Kronenbourg, so it looks like the Grolsch just tips it.
Bob the Brit’s last blog post..Mustard
June 18th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
No soup for you! You’re going to be an expert on Witte before long!
Seriously, I can’t add much to this post. I had Saranac Belgian White, but it left absolutely no impression, which means I didn’t like it. You mentioned that this beer was water and uninspired–this is my complaint about nearly EVERY Saranac beer. The only Saranac I really have enjoyed was the black lager, but I believe that is because drinking it out of the growler made me feel like a beast!
nate’s last blog post..Beer, Bikes, and Better Business
June 18th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
@Bob, Liz didn’t do this review, I did! No soup for you!
@Nate, I remember that manly photo from your blog and I imagine many beer visitors tremble when they see it. (I know I did) Folks, you can go see this for yourself if you’d like.
http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2009/05/14/drive-by-beer-reflections/
Scott@TheBrewClub’s last blog post..Lakefront Brewery Belgian White Beer Reviewed
June 18th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Whoops! That’s me soupless… abject apologies mate!
June 18th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Not a problem Bob – although I won’t tell her, I think Liz is a pretty good beer reviewer so its kind of a compliment that you mistook my review for one of hers!
Scott@TheBrewClub’s last blog post..Beer Review – Long Trail Belgian White
June 18th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Another good American White Ale in my opinion is Avery White Rascal. If you can grab that I would say give that a try.
Mike’s last blog post..Claymore Scotch Ale
June 18th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Since we are weighing in on American versions of White Ales, my vote goes for Celis or Celis Grand Cru from Michigan Brewing. This is the guy who did the original Hoegaarden recipe. I do think that White Rascal is a good one though. By the way, this the season for Saison and Lambic, too
michael reinhardt’s last blog post..Beer, Bikes, and Better Business
June 18th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
P.S. I’ve only had their Saranac’s Brown and maybe one other…horrible.
michael reinhardt’s last blog post..Beer, Bikes, and Better Business
June 18th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Thanks for the tips everyone! I’ve also heard that ‘Whirlwind’ by Victory is pretty good, so I have a few more of these to try!
There’s Michael again with the peer-pressure!
Scott-TheBrewClub’s last blog post..Beer Review – Rolling Rock
June 24th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Sorry to hear that this beer was a disappointment. Weak color, flavor, head. . .yep, sounds like one I’ll pass on.
Parched No More’s last blog post..Beer Review: Peak Organic, Espresso Amber Ale