The Bruery's Autumn Maple Is What's On Tap

By the Beer Professor JW Faulkner @Beer_Professor

As the seasons change, so does the style of beer (but not the style of my beer reviews). Though it is perfectly fine to drink any style of craft beer throughout the year, November continues the trend of winter warmers and darker stouts and porters. This weekend I am drinking a hybrid style brew that combines Belgian yeast with styles that are akin to fall / pumpkin; this weekend, The Bruery’s Autumn Maple is What’s on Tap!

Though I am not an avid Belgian beer fan-it’s not because I do not try or want to be, the style does not jive with my pallet–I do enjoy this fall seasonal brew. Once the beer is in the glass there is an overwhelming sweet aroma of classic fall spices of cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla. There is a hint of malt but the beer’s aroma profile is definitely inviting.

Interestingly the taste is not overly sweet, as I was expecting with the aroma, but the dominating flavor of the beer is the yams; which it should be, Autumn Maple is made with 17 pounds of yams! The yam flavor is paired nicely with sweetness of the maple syrup and brown sugar combination – almost taste like candied yams. After the initial sweetness taste, the yeast and species standout on the backend; lots of allspice and cinnamon.

There is a warming spice attribute to this beer which is counter to most Belgians ales that makes this beer perfect for a raw autumn night. This weekend I am going to pair Autumn Maple with a hearty meal; a pepper corn rubbed pork loin. The sweetness of the beer should balance the front end spice and overall heartiness of the pork loin.

Cheers!

Beer Stats

Style: Belgian-Style Brown Ale

Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 10%

Bitterness (IBUs): 25

Color (SRM): 15

Color: Almost a deep red / brown

Beer Review Stats

Beer Advocate: 85 and 85

Rate Beer: 93