Try?
People think I'm crazy because I'm always drinking beer that's not what they consider "normal". Piffle, I say, where's the fun in being normal? You won't do very well going through life trying to be normal all the time, now will you? And so it is with beer. Variety is, as they say, the spice of life after all.
Speaking of spice, there are lots of things you can add to your beer to make it abnormal. One of those that I really enjoy is maple. Maple syrup in your beer, you say? Don't knock it until you've tried it, say I. And one of my very favorite maple beers is Saranac Maple Porter, a seasonal specialty beer from those wonderful Saranac folks in Utica, New York.
Brewing a maple beer is like walking a tightrope, I think. Not enough maple and your drinkers are left wondering "Where's the maple?". Too much, and you have an overbearing, overly sweet beer. But I think Saranac Maple Porter has always managed to walk that line quite nicely, and truth be told this is one of my very favorite Saranac brews. I'm always happy to see it available, and would that it were available on a regular basis.
According to Saranac's website, their Maple Porter is made with black and biscuit malts, hopped with Fuggles and Goldings, and of course real maple syrup. The beer has an alcohol content of 5.3% by volume.
Saranac Maple
Porter pours to a dark mahogany color (though held to the light it almost
looks appropriately like maple syrup) with a thick and creamy tan head formation
and a delightfully appetizing maple nose. The body is a bit thinner than I'd
like in a porter, but that's the only quibble I have with this truly wonderful
brew. Close your eyes and you can just imagine each sip as a bite of chocolate
chip pancakes smothered in rich maple syrup. The chocolaty malt provides the
pancake flavors while the maple recalls the syrup, but it's definitely an
allusion you'll recognize. There's a hint of caramel too.
The maple flavor is noticeable right on into the balanced, subtly bitter finish. And that's what I really like about this beer: it's a maple beer that actually packs some maple flavor, something not all beers that have "maple" in the name do. What's more, the maple flavor melds wonderfully with the roasty dark malt notes, making this a truly remarkable brew.
As I said, one of my favorite maple beers on the market. A rare beer to be sure, so when you see it, buy it.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler
