The (relatively) warm weather this past weekend had me feeling adventurous and reminiscent of the great outdoors. I looked in my fridge and the bottle of Saranac Adirondack Lager from Matt Brewing Company was speaking to my nature nostalgia.

In the past, I’ve relied on Yuengling as my steady lager choice, but I’m always open to expand my repertoire. I’m a fan of lagers in general, so I was eager to see how the Saranac Adirondack Lager lined up against the others I’ve had in the past.

I poured the beer into a pint glass and watched its amber-gold color fill the glass. It produced a creamy, pale head that was about the width of my thumb, and I noticed a woody oak-ish aroma. This was on par with other lagers I have tasted, so there was nothing out of the ordinary yet.

I had ordered a cheeseburger and fries for take-out to bring home and pair with my beer, and the Saranac Adirondack Lager definitely helped wash down the food. There’s something so American about drinking a craft beer with a burger and fries, and on the eve of the Superbowl, I felt super bro-y.

The beer tasted fine, and had a hint of the same oaky aroma in its flavor. I’m more a fan of hoppier, distinct-tasting beers, so while lagers are perfect for casual drinking (read: binge drinking), I think I would prefer an IPA the next time I’m pairing a beer with my dinner.

The Saranac Adirondack Lager succeeded most in its ability to remind me that better days are coming, when I can go off on a hike on a whim without worrying about shoveling three feet of snow off my car or getting frostbite within twenty minutes of being outside.

Maybe it was the clever marketing and packaging of the beer — or maybe it was the memories I have associated with downing heaps of Yuengling lagers during the summer—  but drinking the Saranac Adirondack Lager seemed perfectly fitting for the moment, even if it didn’t stand out amongst its peers.