This isn't my first strangely flavored ale, but I'm still going to enter this with quite a bit of trepidation. It has been a long time since I recall having an imperial ale, and I'm not even sure what to expect from the base beer before they've decided to add what I can only assume is maple and milk sugars. Although, sugars would definitely drive up the ABV to the significant 8.6% that is in this beer. Will it drive up the taste? I am just going to jump in and find out.
First sip isn't making a very good case for itself. The maple hits very far forward, but the bitterness of the ale counteracts any sweetness that would originally have been there, and the result is a very stuffy beverage. I suppose I should have remembered that imperial stouts and imperial porters are both similarly difficult to approach, and using an imperial ale as the base may undermine the frivolity with which they intended to produce this beverage. I don't want to speak for them, so I can't really say what they intended. But I can tell you is that I don't particularly like the sip. Maybe I will like the gulp.
Tip-in is maple and light carbonation with almost a grit from the malt. The middle sends only slight carbonation to the roof of the mouth while the rest of the beverage is gentle and mildly sweet with alcohol noticeable and maple syrup oozing smoothly down the throat. The finish is where the bitterness and dryness seem to catch up with where sweetness should be as maple turns foggy before sending it into the trail off.
Bottom Line: I encourage brewers to try different things, but try something different.
1.5/5
