Autumn Maple - The Bruery

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

"I yam what I yam what I yam what I yam."

--Popeye the sailor man

Murky English toffee with hazy orange highlights along the bottom edge of the glass. A barely audible 'pffft' on crown cracking led to a high altitude pour, which led to a loose collection of ecru colored bubbles that isn't lasting long and isn't laying down any lace. It goes without saying that undercarbonation is an issue. The beer itself still looks fantastic.

Since no pumpkin was used in the brewing of Autumn Maple, calling it a pumpkin ale isn't valid. Having said that, it smells like a pumpkin ale. Since yams don't taste like pumpkins, the spices must be causing the confusion. By my nose, cinnamon and nutmeg are the most prominent. Also present are allspice, vanilla, molasses and maple syrup. Other than a lack of power brought about by a lack of bubbles, I like it.

It's a damn shame that these guys released such a potentially awesome brew when they had to know that it was horribly undercarbonated. In spite of that, AM's deliciousness is obvious. That is, if you like sweet, generously spiced pumpkin ales... which it isn't... but you get the idea.

Molasses and maple syrup ensure that this big ale is on the sweet side, although it's nowhere near as sweet as a big malty barleywine or some double stouts. It's doubtful that very much of either one was used or they would have overpowered the other ingredients. That sort of restraint was not used when it comes to the spices... and the beer is better for it.

The flavor profile consists of yams with a thin coating of maple syrup, golden brown sugar, a surprising amount of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of clove from the Belgian yeast. The alcohol is buried (almost) without a trace. Oh, what depth and complexity might have been present if proper carbonation had created more volume.

Mouthfeel was bound to take a significant hit. However, it isn't as if the beer is totally flat, so I've decided to cut it some slack. As one who prefers fewer bubbles rather than more bubbles (in most cases), an average score seems reasonable.

I knew about the carbonation issue prior to purchasing this 750 ml bottle. I pulled the trigger anyway because the thought of a yam-based Belgian brown ale with a 'pumpkin ale' palette of spices sounded too good to pass up. If The Bruery fixes things with the next batch, look out.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2008 16:41:03 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Joey for sending this bottle out to the Southeast. Arrived yesterday and immediatly thrown into the fridge. This one was served chilled and poured into an oversized wine glass. Consumed on 11/08/2008.

The pour was rather uninspiring I have to admit. I had heard about the carbonation problems on this one, and it really hit home once I opened the bottle. No head, no foam, no bubbles, no nothing. Just a flat, lifeless, brown liquid. Nearly opaque in its darkness was the only saving grace to this one.

The aroma was pleasant, albeit a little lighter then I was expecting. Nice touches of molasses and maple syrup weighed in heavily, though the spices seemed to be all but covered up under a bit too hot alcohol profile. The flavor though started to redeem itself quite nicely. Rich notes of maple syrup and molasses washed over the tongue immediatly, falling into a spiced yam like flavor that was layered on top of a nice bready malt profile. Lots of alcohol in thiso ne, as the sips starting to warm as I went through it. The carbonation level came into play again in the feel as it just did not have any life to it and it really could have benefitted from this here. Still though, admirably sippable for sure.

Overall, I am looking forward to getting this one again next year, as this years batch has suffered far too greatly from lack of carbonation. It just felt lifeless and dull, which is a shame as this may have been a remarkable brew otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2008 01:35:11 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Bruery

A: The pour is a dark amber color with a mild off-white/khaki colored head.

S: The nose is sweet and spiced, a nice combination actually. I pick up the array of spices used along with a really pleasant sweetness, but not so much the yams. Lots of nutmeg, brown sugar, and maybe a touch of maple.

T: Though I did not notice them on the nose, I get quite a bit of yam flavor (which is nice because I often don't get pumpkin in pumpkin beers). Again, the nutmeg and brown sugar are strong and provide a really nice flavor. A nice bready flavor, almost of rye bread, actually.

M: The body is medium with a low to moderate carbonation, even on tap.

D: This is a really nice beer to enjoy a glass of when it starts getting a little cooler out (though that won't happen for some time here in Southern California). I always look forward to this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2010 02:14:54 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a beautiful burnt umber with orange streaks and a nice off-white head.

S: The yams certainly come through in the initial whiff. Lots of spicing on top. Even without actual pumpkin, I've got no problem with this being classified as a pumpkin ale--all of the same spicing with a nice twist. In addition to the usual cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, maple and vanilla definitely come through with a little bit of brown sugar and molasses.

T: Much like the smell. When poured from the fridge, the sweetness was more noticeable, along with the sweet potatoes. As it warmed up, more of the spices and other notes started to show more presence.

M: Medium bodied without much--if any--alcohol presence. No carbonation issues with this year's batch.

D: Quite drinkable, especially for the style. One of my new favorite fall seasonals.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 17:25:07 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Just when I had started asking when we'd see more tuber-based beers, this comes along. My fervent prayers have been answered in the form of The Bruery's Autumn Maple!

Appearance: Pours a clearish, dark, deep, garnet-hued body with a very thin, whitish head.

Smell: Toasted yams, caramel-scented malts with a rich, smoked spice blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and balmy allspice. Molasses and maple are present, though remain light. Slight fruitiness.

Taste: Tastes of caramelized grains match well the flavor of maple-glazed over-roasted yams (similar in many ways to a pumpkin ale, but lacking that squashy, vegetable quality you occasionally get). Slight touch of molasses. Minor appleskin and raisin fruitiness. Rather all-around robust spice character. Tiny nod of cracked cloves from the yeast. No more than a touch of earthy hop bitterness. It certainly hides the alcohol well. Drying finishes with a final adieu from the yams.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-low carbonation. A tad undercarbonated, but, then again, isn't the entire season of Autumn?

Drinkability: Fairly good. It's definitely unique, which is never a bad thing, and with a few tweaks here and there, particularly in the carbonation department, The Bruery could have a real winner on their hands.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2009 20:51:27 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: A beautiful looking Belgian style, with a tea brown color and a frothy head that sticks and laces with the best of the continent

Smell: Yams, clove, nutmeg and allspice, underneath - maple and molasses also dominant

Taste: Maple, nutmeg and molasses overwhelm the tastebuds at the outset; so much so that it is hard to taste the malt character of the beer underneath; if you wait long enough, the spices start to come through, however; after the swallow, the sweetness abates a bit to let in the yam character (and the Belgian yeast elements as well) but the damage was already done

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with a creamy feel; slightly prickly carbonation

Drinkability: An execeptional but ultimately flawed beer, to my palate; great look and feel, but the molasses is just a bit too much and overwhelms the palate; if the sweeter elements were a bit more subtle, this would be extraordinary

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 01:57:14 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Bruery in Placentia, CA.

Pours a hazy orange with a foamy beige head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots and streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, yams, brown sugar, and spices. Taste is much the same with a mild spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2012 01:53:45 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

1.63/5  rDev -57.3%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

Bottle: Poured a light burgundy color ale with a very thin bubbly head with no retention and no lacing. Aroma of yams is dominating with some sweet malt. Taste is also dominated by yams with some sweet malt but absence of carbonation and overpowering of sweetness renders this beer quite gross. Body is very thin and somewhat oily with no carbonation and alcohol was not apparent. I must admit that I am very disappointed by this one - no carbonation and grossly sweet makes for a total mess. This is surprising considering the very good beers I had from the brewery previously.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2009 01:55:06 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very interesting and complexly challenging, it's easy to draw comparisons to American Brown Ales and pumpkin additions. But this is different- let's see how...

Pouring a medium brown with a mild haze, the beer builds a very sturdy foam stance with stubborn staying power. A dirty-white foam (not quite tan, but darker than eggshell) attempts to lace but never makes it happen. Still the head formation and retention is impressive.

Spicey cinnamon and brown sugar adorn earthy-sweet scent of... I guess, yams?. Again I want to think it's pumpkin but with more earthiness and starchy scents. This all builds on a mildly toasty Brown Ale base. But this Brown Ale compliments the spicy start with built-in notes of white pepper, corriander, and alcohol.

Flavors bound with the vegitable (yams), yeast (fruity/spicy) and residual flavors of maple syrup. Notice that the beer doesn't allow for added sweetness from maple syrup, only the taste. But not is all terrific as the Begian-y tartness mixes with the astringency of added spice for a taste/texture that might be more bitey and distracting than benneficial. Low on hops, this kinda beer doesn't need 'em. The beer has enough balance built into it's complex matrix.

Creamy and full from the start, which carries pasta the mid palate before starting it's late phase. The starchy aroma and flavor manifests itself in texture even moreso. An abrupt late drop of texture brings about the astringent feel and unappealing type of bitterness that closes the beer without drying. The battle of early creaminess vs. late bite will bennefit the former but the later does hurt a bit.

I love the concept and refusal to go with the norm (sounds like something Dogfish Head would have brewed), but the execution needs some work. I need more savory flavors and sweetness from the maple syrup and I need a more pungent/earthy flavor of Belgian Brown (maybe a Flander's Bruine) to counter the sweet/starchy base of maple and yams. Though asking the impossible, a guy can dream- can't he?

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 04:50:46 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Drafting Room, Exton, PA.

Appearance: Hazy copper. Long lasting bone-white head. Standard lacing (might have been due to a dirty bar glass).

Aroma: Caramelish malt and non-descript spice.

Flavor: Spice, caramel, fruit (apple, berry), subtle underlying tart note. Spicy zest of ginger (or is that alcohol? Or a combination of both?). Maple and cinnamon in finish with a spritz of alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body with a standard carbonation level.

Drinkability: While chilled it's really quite unique and interesting. Only as it warms and you progress through the glass does the spicing really appear. So, pretty damned drinkable!!!

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2009 23:24:19 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

Big thanks to Jonesy77 for this bottle!

I figured this would par nicely with the Wisconsin evening during Man's Weekend, and I don't think I was proven very wrong. It pours a hazy dark garnet topped by a half-finger of off-white foam. The nose, as many in the room said, elicits memories of Thanksgiving dinners past: candied yams, sweet potatoes, maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, candi sugar, and Belgian yeast. Only the last couple (especially the yeast) were absent from my past November meals. The taste isn't as delectable, but still holds notes of maple syrup, orange zest, ginger, banana, clove, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel apple. This ain't as much of a meal, but still sits nicely in the tummy. The body is a light-ish medium, with a moderate carbonation and a very smooth feel. Overall, a great brew, one I was more than happy to share with my buddies after a long day o' fishin'.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 05:34:10 | More by TMoney2591

WesWes

New York

3.55/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a hazy amber/red color with a thin offwhite head that fades to spotty lacing. The aroma is good. It has a really nice yam aroma with a hint of molasses and pumpkin spice. There is a warming dryness that I equate with the maple syrup. The taste is decent. It has an overly complex taste. There is a little too much going on with this one. It has your typical pale and crystal malt flavor with yams and spice. This would have been adequate enough. On top of this you have molasses which adds a buttery/syrupy taste and you have maple syrup which adds alcohol and a nasty dryness in the finish. The mouthfeel is average. It is a full bodied beer with less than adequate carbonation. This is a nice attempt, but I would be more willing to try a scaled down effort with more carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 01:29:36 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a glass into a belgian tulip (Duvel). Beer is brown and carbonation is steady, no head to speak of, white bubbles, no lacing left on the glass. The beer smells like pumpkin pie spice.

I just noticed that this beer is classified as a pumpkin ale even though the label states "Belgian Style Brown Ale Brewed with Yams....We don't need pumpkins in our beers!" So I would call this a CLEAR misclassification. This beer needs to be reclassified.

Beer is clear but if not careful, the yeast will dislodge from the bottom of the bottle and the last sips will be yeasty. Overall the beer is well balance, especially when you consider the high ABV (10.5!). It finishes a little dry, but the complexity of the flavors come through. I'm not sure what I expected from a beer made with yams, but it was pretty good. I don't pick up much of the maple character, but I'm not sure how much I should. Good beer, interesting, check it out.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2009 04:02:17 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Exiled for sharing this bottle at a recent tasting.

The beer pours a hazy brown color with a white head. The aroma is very nice, but it is very strong. I get a ton of sweet potatoes as well as some assorted spices which include nutmeg and brown sugar. The flavor is more yams, brown sugar, alcohol, nutmeg and cinnamon. The yams come off very similar to pumpkins, making this beer taste like a top-notch pumpkin ale. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. I love the use of yams in the beer. Very creative and very well done.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2010 02:23:57 | More by Mora2000

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.38/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a couple of scattered bubbles that quickly disappear. The beer is a rich mahogany color that shows a hazy, brownish red color when held up to the light. The aroma smells fruity with notes of raisins, a touch of rum, baked brown sugar and perhaps even some notes reminiscent of sweet potatoes (I don't know why these are marketed as yams in many parts of the US). There is lots of toffee character, a substantial caramel character as well as a touch of spiciness that reminds me of a touch of nutmeg, ginger, perhaps some all spice and some white pepper and a touch of something herbal.

The beer is almost, though not completely flat; there is just a touch of carbonation that adds a hint of texture to this beer. It is rich and chewy, but lacks a certain fullness somehow because of the lack of carbonation; it almost seems a bit thin somehow, but I wouldn't want it to be thick and rich. Sweet flavors of raisins, brown sugar glazed sweet potatoes and a deeply caramelized flavor. The beer finishes with a soft spiciness that provides a bit of piquancy / warmth (the alcohol), a touch of woody pepper, a touch of allspice, some cinnamon, ginger and a soft, almost neutralized nutmeg note. The finish has a touch of astringency to it, perhaps even a touch of hop bitterness though this last is subtle.

I like that the spice character is quite subtle, it is hard to guess what is spice and what is fermentation derived here, which is exactly how I prefer it. The beer itself is not too bad, it definitely really needs the texture and vitality that carbonation would bring to it. I definitely am looking forward to getting the next, carbonated batch of this.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2008 02:36:25 | More by Gueuzedude

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Vintage 09 on tap at Tap & Table. I had this from a bottle once before and it's better this time around. The color is a really nice autumn brown and very clear. From the bottle it was cloudy and brown kinda muddy. The spices are really well done in this beer the usuage of yams in the batch is great idea as well. It's slightly sweet but mostly spiced. This beer is awesome for the thanksgiving season! Definitely try it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2011 22:15:26 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.73/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours orange/crimson with a sliver of beige head. Loads lovely carbonation beads hug the side of the glass Minimal head retention && less lacing

S: Brown sugar, cinamon

T: Follows the nose, a touch of maple syrup sweetness/dryness up front, along with boozey pecans and cherry & sweet potatoes. More sweet tater, a bit of molasess, figs, pears, dryness as this warms, very warming . Finishes dry with yams, cinnamon, & brown sugar

Drinks very easy, much better than the first bottle I had last summer, both were purchased in North Carolina

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 04:11:23 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

4.45/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Approximately 400 mL on-tap at The Bruery and a growler, a yam beer, but brewed in the style of a pumpkin ale,

A: Pours a deep burnt orange, before trying it I expected it to be lighter, but I think the deep colour goes well with strong nature of the brew. Fair head retention. Edit - The growler I had of this brew had excellent head retention, it looked really good so I'm upping the score.

S: Fall spices galore, definite nutmeg and cinnamon, allspice is used here too, but it's tough to pick out everything.

T: Spicy upfront with a bite of cinnamon. Yams come into play with a sweet finish with their characteristic taste, some marshmallow and an undercurrent of molasses and maple syrup throughout the whole drink. As close to October in a bottle as I've found so far.

M: Mouthfeel is spot on, the perfect amount of carbonation for a beer of this size. Full-bodied, viscous and spicy, no booze to speak of.

D: A beer that drinks as if it had much lower alcohol, but it still contains some heaviness making it more of a sipper. Best of the style I have ever had, I can't wait 'til it comes out in bottles, I know what I'm drinking this Halloween.

Serving type: growler

09-21-2008 18:22:34 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into tulip glass:

Pours amberish brown with a thin bubbly head that disappears to barely a wisp. A few dots of lacing stick.

The smell is of yams - coated with brown sugar, maple syrup, pepper, mild cinnamon and nutmeg and a touch of molasses. A Belgian yeast strain throws in some bubblegum and cotton candy that (surprisingly) blends well together.

The taste of a Belgian bubblegum/sugar sweet dominates the sweet yams and spiciness that were present in the nose at first. But, as it progresses, they come through again, mixed with a sweet maltiness. With all of these sweet descriptors, it doesn't become cloying, though does remain sweet in character. A mild spiciness and touch of tannic dryness keep sweetness from being sticky. Alcohol is reasonably well-covered, though some appears as it nears the end.

Carbonation is somewhat effervescent, though falls off. Lighter bodied than expected, but has a malty smoothness.

An interesting brew with interesting ingredients that work well with the "Belgian-esque" character. Creative, and enjoyable as a unique autumn brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2009 01:22:58 | More by jwc215

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I decided that I really haven't tried enough beers from The Bruery, so more support is in order. This was the first beer of this new declaration.

It seems as though some people are using yams in their fall beers as opposed to pumpkins. I can appreciate that, since I certainly don't need any more pumpkin beers in my life. So whereas using different ingredients is cool, it seems to me like the yams just thicken up the beer as opposed to giving it any broad character that will be more than minutely noticed. If one wanted to be negative, one could say it clogs the beer. But it isn't so much a bad thing. Just making a note of it. So overall here, we get a thick dark Belgian ale that is quite hearty. Which makes for a good fall beer and an excellent alternative to all those stupid pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 05:32:38 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage

A: Poured a murky brownish color with reddish hues and a nice dirty white head

S:Some caramel, brown sugar, hints of yams, figs persimmon, light pumpkin

T: Maple syrup, yams, brown sugar, Earth and hints of pumpkin at times, maple, booze is still very prevelant but man has this beer come alive!

M: Is sticky and sweet. Lots of flavor, warm, carbonated well.

O: Outstanding and this beer aged wonderfully over a year or so

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 15:50:27 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Deep ruby amber color. Light passes and reveals a cloudiness to the brew. The head is modest, leaving some streaks of lace.

An autumnal smell of nutmeg, clove and cinnamon. Quite sweet with darker toasted malts--think cinnamon toast.

Starts with toasted (dry) malts. Slightly sour. The swallow brings out a strong alcohol warmth, along with the spices of black pepper and what I would think to be pumpkin, but I guess is yams. (Blindfolded, I would never come up with that). The aftertaste has an element of homebrew here.

The body is rich and the carbonation is low. Overall, this is a big beer, worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2012 16:32:34 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to G311 for this brew.

750ml

Poured into a chalice a nice reddish color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy/creamy light tan head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, slight yeast note, very slight tang, cherries. The taste is malty, alittle yeasty, sweet, cherries. Medium Body. Drinkable, a nice brew, glad to finally get a chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 20:23:52 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a two finger cream head that fades quickly to a ring leaving traces of lace. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Cloudy brown/amber color with a ton of yeast left in bottle. Nose is maple syrup. Flavor is sweet maple syrup, malts, spices, hints of yam and alcohol. Not cloying. Pricey at $12.45 for a 750ml bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, MA.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2010 22:23:26 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a tulip glass)

A- This beer pours a hazy dense brown body with a glowing base and a creamy light tan head that last for a good bit. There is a microbubble net that glides up the side of the glass.

S- The light cidery note gives way to a melanoidin toffee note in the finish.

T- The cidery flavor has some yeasty ester character to follow with a brassy molasses tang in the finish with a iodine yeast flavor that lingers a bit. There is a sweet potato note that comes through a bit in the last few glasses.

M- The medium mouthfeel has a soft alcohol warmth that grows as the beer opens up.

O- The well-blended flavors make it a bit mute with the iodine molasses brassy character sticking out and not any real malt character or other flavor to grab on to.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 17:01:52 | More by rhoadsrage