6th March 2015
Bottle share gathering at Bruce’s. Thanks to Leighton for supplying this long held want. Hazy amber beer, short lived off white head. Smooth palate, semi dry, mild fine carbonation. Nice caramel and toffee - maple. Mild ripe fruits. Mellow bitterness and spice. Light dry finish. Nice job, well joined up and a little off the beaten track.

Bottle shared at Bruce’s place. Thanks to Leighton. No water added ? Clear light amber dark orange coloured pour with a fleeting fine head. Aroma is sweet, woody maple, raisin, wood. Flavour is composed, sweet, maple, light light wood, little sprutz. Light honey, some jammy fruit. Palate is full sweet, sticky, velvety, lowish tingling carbonation. Some wood tanin. Very sweet but I like it. Fetch me some pancakes.

Bottle split at Bruce’s, thanks to Leighton for this number, 06/03/15. Lightly hazed golden orange with moderate off white spotting. Nose is sticky toffee pudding, sweet maple syrup, butterscotch, sweet man sweet! Taste comprises caramelised sugar, sticky toffee pudding, rich maple syrup, light spice. Full bodied, oily mouthfeel, sweet licks and booze in the close. Drinks below its ABV but not really for me, to sweet and not enough balance, sippable stuff between friends though!

Bottle thanks to Leighton. It pours clear brown with minimal head. The nose is rich, sweet, maple, dried fruits, raisin, honeyed cereal, booze and fruit cake. The taste is rich, sweet, umami, maple, wood, candied peel, faint burnt notes, oily, stone fruits, raisin and light spice with a dry finish. Full body, fine carbonation and oily mouth-feel. A bit more carbonation. Would be nice. Actually not as sweet as feared. Alright.

Bottle shared in London - many thanks to Wally. Pours clear amber-gold with a bubbly white head. Rich malty aroma with nips of caramel, figs, bread, dates. Medium to big sweet flavor with some brown sugar, a bit of oily maple syrup, toffee, bread, golden raisins. Full bodied, chewy, with fine carbonation. Lightly warming on the finish with further maple syrup impressions, caramel, stewed fruits, bread. Nicely nuanced. Very tasty.

Bottle at Bruces... Copper.. Thin white lacing.. Soft toffee fruit... Soft malts.... Sweet crystal.. Soft toffee malt... Soft sweet toffee fruit...

Bottle, with thanks to Tooch4321! Pours clear reddish amber with a small off-white head and some lacing. Aroma is grain, maple, honey. Flavor is medium sweet, maple, sugary, oaky, little bitterness until the far finish. Medium body, just a touch of heat, ABV is pretty well hidden, actually.

Bottled in May of 2012. One of many of these in my cellar. It’s the first time I’ve had this fresh so figured I’d open a bottle now and then again in a year, etc. Poured into a wine goblet at the recommended temperature of 50 Degrees F. Shared with 5 great friends! Bottle #99.

A - The cork and cap was insanely hard to take off. My hands are in pain now. Guess you should NOT have this fresh? Absolutely no head at all. Slight alcohol legs on the swirl but really it’s not very carbonated. LOOKS and POURS just like maple syrup. Dark golen brown appearance, not many bubbles. Zero haze or clouds.

S - This beer is ALL maple There’s this cane syrup smell to it and molasses and wood scents. It’s very complex though with some earthtones that carry through to the back of your throat long after the scent has faded.

T - Up front, there’s this bitter sweetness that was very unexpected. Way more bitter than I expected. It’s a big punch in the mouth with maple sweetness and bitterness. The bitterness tastes like rusty nails and burnt cedar. Not all that pleasant. Once that fades, there’s this excellent maple syrup finish that makes me thirsty for more.

M - 60% carbonation on the mouth swish. Medium body (lighter after the swish). Finish is ultra-sweet maple syrup with thyme and chives. Sort of this herbal maybe even basil leaf finish.

O - So, the question. $30? Is it worth $30 a bottle? Is it worth the 2 hour drive to Waitsfield VT and standing in line for 30 minutes? That’s the question. I believe, this beer is completely time & materials. Sean Lawson collected enough sap to fill nearly 400 bottles of beer and then brewed it up and placed that beer in barrels for a full 12 months before bottling by hand and trucking it to a farmer’s market for us to buy by the bottle. I believe THIS is worth $30 and I’ll buy more bottles to support Sean and his craft. However, the final product, it’s taste and overall rating is worth $15 to me. This is my opinion. I love maple syrup, I’m a New Englander and I’ll buy more but, this is $15 worth of beer, not $30.