Saranac Pale Pale Ale

Saranac Brewing, the US representative in the World of Beer 10-pack I received for Christmas, is a New York based brewery that, inferred from their online selection of beers, both current, seasonal, and discontinued, is quite prolific.  Today's tasting, Saranac Pale Pale Ale, was apparently a part of their 12 Beers of Summer seasonal set release last year.

Saranac Pale Pale Ale poured a pale orange in the glass, with some carbonation trails and a thin, almost non-existent head.  The nose was one of the most perfectly balanced blends of citrus and pine I've smelled for a hop profile.

My first taste of Saranac Pale Pale Ale was greeted by a fizzy, orange-lime front, with barely-there barley notes. There were subtly perceivable notes of a dry, gingery spice as the ale faded into a stale bitterness at the end.

Saranac Pale Pale Ale is a middle of the road take on a middle of the road variety.  The nose was fantastic, the taste just pretty good.  I'm certainly interested in trying other beers by Saranac, and I don't discount the possibility some of the flavors may have faded by the time I opened this (no expiration date, but it was a 2010 summer release...).