Resolution #1: Drink more craft beer in 2010
Since it's the time of year to make resolutions, how about making one that you won’t mind keeping: add more craft beer to your list!
With the varieties of craft beer available on the market today, there are choices for every palate. And here’s a great bonus: your decision to drink craft beer also supports local businesses, a cause near and dear to our hearts. Learn everything there is to know about craft beer by visiting www.brewersassociation.org.
It's Ladies Night: Free Massages, Ice Cream, Big Discounts and More
Ladies, give the guy in your life the night off—this is your special night to shop for holiday gifts at The Brewery Shop. It’s Ladies Night at the Brewery from 5-8 PM this Thursday, December 17th, with everything 20% Off. It gets even better: visit the Varick Street store and enjoy free chair massages, ice cream sundaes, dance music and of course all those great Saranac beverages while you shop! Bring your list and save 20% on all Saranac and Utica Club clothing, hats, glasses and steins at The Brewery Shop. Invite your friends and meet us for Ladies Night, this Thursday 5-8 PM, at The F.X. Matt Brewery, Varick St. in Utica.
That's the ticket!
Here's your chance to win a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the historic F.X. Matt Brewing Company! Our third annual Saranac Golden Ticket Promotion is now underway. There are 15 Golden Tickets hidden inside 15 random Saranac “12 Beers of Winter” packages, and if you find one, you win! The 15 lucky winners will be treated to a day at the Brewery with Nick and Fred Matt. Your day will include a look at the inner workings of one of the nation's oldest breweries (guided by the owners), accommodations at the historic Hotel Utica, a gourmet dinner featuring Saranac beers paired with each course, and more. You can enter online here (no purchase is necessary), though we’re sure you’ll want to enjoy the great taste of our seasonal beers in your search for one of the Golden Tickets. Get your 12 Beers of Winter today and good luck!
It's Time for the Season's...dare we say it?...Best Beer
It comes around once a year during the holidays, and some people can’t get enough. No, it's not Santa—it’s Season's Best, one of our oldest seasonal brews. A blend of domestic and Belgian malts combine for a light nut-like character in this popular Lager. It's a dark amber worthy of accompanying darker soups and pork ribs, or a few friends relaxing around the fireplace on a cold winter's night. Though this favorite has been around almost since Saranac was first brewed, its popularity continues to grow. We're sharing the love in 6 packs and in draught this year. Find it at your local grocer or in our gift shop; it’s the perfect holiday gift for your hard-to-please beer fan. Having trouble finding Season's Best? Try finding it using our Saranac locator on our website or email info@saranac.com. Happy holidays and enjoy!
Serving up something warmer: our thanks
At this special time of year, we take a moment from our brewing (we’re kind of obsessive about it) to thank all of you who are the heart and soul of Saranac. We brew it because we want to share it with you, our dedicated and discerning drinkers, who appreciate great beer. There’s nothing like having a fellow aficionado feel the same pleasure, excitement and discovery when tasting a new or traditional brew. So thanks very much, Saranac fans, suppliers and distributors, employees, family and friends, for all your support year round.
And don’t forget to appreciate a relaxing and unique breakfast with friends and family: meet us for Kegs & Eggs at the Brewery on Black Friday morning, November 27th from 8 AM - 12 Noon. For only $5, enjoy breakfast, live music, door prizes and Saranac beer!
We couldn't have said it better.
We think our beers are great—we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t. So it’s especially rewarding when others appreciate the same qualities in our beer that we do. We’ve seen a lot of positive Saranac talk online (thanks!), including this new video review by Chad of Chad’z Beer Reviews on the Brew and Cork website. Chad reviewed our phenomenally popular seasonal brew, Saranac Pumpkin Ale, on the craft brewers’ site.
Chad has reviewed dozens of brews in videos posted on YouTube and elsewhere, and has become something of an expert among online beer aficionados, so we appreciate his praise. It should be noted that he and the Brew and Cork site are completely independent of Saranac, and receive nothing in return for reviews. He does these tastings on his own, and reviews them with no outside influence, so you know it’s from the heart.
We say take his advice and open a Saranac Pumpkin Ale now. This full-bodied amber-colored ale carries the fantastic mood of an Adirondack Fall day to you. You can almost see the colors and smell the rich scents of autumn. Yeah, we feel it, too. Just don’t keep it to yourself—share it with friends this season before Pumpkin Ale leaves us for another year.
Sneak Peak: We’re currently shooting the latest Fred and Nick Matt Virtual Tasting video, to be posted next Thursday right here on Beer Bloggles, featuring our 12 Beers of Winter. So get your 12-pack and palate ready, stop back next week, and taste along with Nick and Fred.
Let them eat beer!
We all know beer goes well with food (see our previous post for some pairing ideas). Why not try throwing it IN the food! Test out your cooking skills with this yummy recipe. It’s becoming a fall staple in our employee’s kitchens.
Saranac Octoberfest Curried Butternut Squash & Apple Soup
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and halved
3 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and halved
2 yellow onions, peeled and quartered
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt & pepper
1 clove minced garlic
1 1/2 cups Saranac Octoberfest
6 cups vegetable stock
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup heavy cream
cheddar cheese
Toss squash, apples, onions, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper together and spread on a sheet pan. Bake vegetables in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until squash is tender. Puree cooked vegetables with Saranac Octoberfest beer until smooth. Combine mixture with vegetable stock and remaining ingredients, except cream, in a stock pot over high heat. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in heavy cream. Garnish with shavings of sharp cheddar cheese.
-Recipe courtesy of our friends at the Willimantic Brewing Company and Main Street Café in Willimantic, CT.
Not so handy in the kitchen? One of our Saranac faithfuls let us know of a tasty and ridiculously easy Sunday football treat:
Two polish sausages with two bottles of Saranac Pomegranate Wheat. Cut the sausages into 2 inch pieces and place them in a crock pot or slow cooker on medium for a couple of hours along with the Saranac Pomegranate Wheat. That's it! Eat 'em plain or serve on soft rolls with mustard.
-Recipe courtesy of Melissa Manfredo from Clinton, NY
What's your favorite Saranac recipe? Let us know. If we get enough, we may put together a cookbook!
12 Beers of Winter '09
You can't miss this year's 12 Beers of Winter™, with four new beers!
The winter's most popular mix pack, Saranac 12 Beers of Winter, is back! Where else can you get six award winning beers in one great holiday package? This year, we are bringing back an old favorite, Maple Porter, along with four new flavors, and an encore by Belgian Ale. Enjoy one at home, with your friends or give it as a gift! Whatever you decide, you won't be disappointed!
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- Saranac Winter Lager-NEW!
- Saranac Black Lager-NEW!
- Saranac Rye IPA-NEW!
- Saranac Big Moose Ale-NEW!
- Saranac Maple Porter
- Saranac Belgian Ale
Look for Saranac 12 Beers of Winter™ in stores October – January. We'll be doing a tasting with Nick and Fred Matt again for this pack real soon. Available in limited quantities and only while supplies last!
12 Beers A Falling with Nick and Fred Matt
Nick and Fred Matt had a few beers and reviewed our new variety 12 pack, 12 Beers A Falling. Take a trip with them to our 1888 tavern where you will hear their thoughts on the six different brews: Saranac Octoberfest, Saranac Pumpkin Ale, Saranac Black Forest, Saranac Irish Red Ale, Saranac India Pale Ale and Saranac Caramel Porter. Grab a 12 pack of your own and let us know what you think! Cheers!
Share a Saranac at the Utica Music & Arts Fest!
We're passionate about our beers, but we're also passionate about live music. We've had the pleasure of sharing the Saranac stage with great bands like Enter the Haggis, moe., Blues Traveler, and many more over this summer.
The grand finale is this weekend. It's the 2nd annual Utica Music and Arts Fest and we couldn't be more excited. There will be over 250 bands and artists from across the region that will decend upon Utica for a weekend of music, art, food and fun.
The heart of the event is right in the Brewery district, on Varick St. where you can check out all of the different venues, take a Brewery tour (at 1pm and 3pm on Saturday only), and enjoy some ice cold Saranac brews. There will be free transportation between venues and even free cab rides home throughout the weekend.
We're especially excited to welcome The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co., to the Brewery this Friday, September 11th as part of our Summer Concert Series. There are still some tickets available which you can purchase at the door. The gates open at 6 pm and the show is at 7 pm. Join us and share a Saranac at the show and after at the Utica Music & Arts Fest.
If you want more information about all the events that are happening this weekend, here are some links to the venues, bands and the official site of the UMAF. We'll see you this weekend!