Beer of the Week

The beer: Imperial Maple Sunday

The brewery: Lone Pine Brewing Company, Portland, Maine

Description (from the can): "Every fourth Sunday in March, sugarhouses across Maine open their doors for tours, music, and most importantly, a pancake breakfast with Maine maple syrup. Brewed in collaboration with the Maine Maple Producers Association, with local syrup from our neighbors at Merrifield Farm, Imperial Maple Sunday is our dialed-up contribution to one of Maine's longest standing and most delicious traditions."

Would I buy it again? I don't actually remember buying this beer or where I got it, but I'm incredibly glad it made its way into my beer collection, because it's extremely good. I love maple syrup, I love brown ales, Lone Pine would have had to supremely screw up to make this beer not one I enjoyed. Fortunately, they stuck the landing: it's wonderfully thick and maple flavored while still maintaining the brown ale maltiness. No hoppiness to speak of here, which is a relief. I would definitely buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Kanc Country

Brewed by: Woodstock Inn Brewery, North Woodstock, Vermont

Description (from the website) (trust me, it's down there): "Big, rich, robust porter with roasty notes balanced out with real NH maple syrup sweetness. Maple syrup made right next door at Fadden’s Sugar House."

Would I buy it again?: This is a winter seasonal beer, but it's perfect for a cool fall evening with that distinctive autumn crispness in the air. The maple syrup matches very well with the porter, making for a hefty beer with just the right amount of sweetness to it. So yes, I would buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Maple Pale Ale

Brewed by: Out.Haus Ales, Northwood, New Hampshire

Description (from Untappd): "Single Malt Pale Ale brewed with Maple Syrup." (Not very exciting there.) 

Would I buy it again?: The maple part of this beer was what really intrigued me (and their tag line is top notch). I love maple syrup–flavored beer, and the prospect of a light pale ale flavored with maple syrup was something I couldn't resist. Unfortunately, this beer is a pale ale first, with the maple syrup finishing a very distant second. You can taste the maple, just barely, but otherwise this is a pretty standard pale ale. It's fine, but I'm a little disappointed. If they take another swing at it and add some more maple syrup, I'd definitely try it again.