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Hi, brown. When I think of brown, I think of my friend Cameron (not that Cameron) who became a Brown through marriage. I haven't talked to her in so long. I wonder how she's doing. Would she like a brown ale from Maplewood? Has she even heard of them? Is she aware of the deliciousness that they have to offer? We may never know. Either way, I hope she and this beer are good.
The color is brown, but I'd say it's more of a mahogany brown, as red appears to have seeped in a bit to give it a slightly nicer color than the straight brown. The head is off-white, and it does not wish to stay in the glass at this time. Therefore, there is the shadow of a ring, but the top is empty, and I won't be getting any lacing. The aroma is roasted malt and vanilla. It's like it's a porter, by the smell of it, and there is little better than a well-sorted porter.
First sip has very little vanilla in with the coffee, smoked malt, and bitter chocolate. I really wanted the vanilla to smooth things out, and I dislike when coffee inserts itself (even when it comes naturally from the malt). So, I guess on the whole, I don't really like it. It's not hitting with coffee so hard that I'll throw it out, but I figured I would taste nuttiness from the brown ale, and that isn't presenting itself.
Tip-in is coffee, toffee, and scorched chocolate. The middle finally reveals the vanilla, floating on top of the others like a dazzle of bubbles above a big, dark fish. The finish is bitter coffee, earth, and dark chocolate.
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Bottom Line: Not their best.
1.75/5
