Ma
Tree House Brewing Company

MaMa
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From:
Tree House Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #4
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,191
Avg:
4.1 | pDev: 7.56%
Reviews:
79
Ratings:
476
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 23, 2023
Added:
Mar 28, 2013
Wants:
  35
Gots:
  113
In commemoration of our head brewer and co-founder’s grandmother’s birthday, we have once again brewed this super fruity yet balanced amber ale! Hints of oranges, tangerines, and stone fruit grace the palate before a sweet malty caramel character provides balance and depth. A real treat that drinks well on any occasion. Happy Birthday, Ma. We love you!

Ma is a very special amber ale brewed in remembrance of Nate’s grandmother. A fiery Irish spirit who imparted deep values of dedication to family and love, Ma was one of a kind. This beer mirrors her spirit with bright notes of citrus, pine, and soft fruit boosted by a rich caramel base and a medium body. A wonderful beer to celebrate the New England transition to cooler weather. We encourage you to drink to honor Ma, and to those whose souls we carry deep in our hearts.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by scxcrunner:
Photo of scxcrunner
Rated by scxcrunner from Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Oct 24, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of DavetotheB
Reviewed by DavetotheB from Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a 16oz can dated 11/13/23 into a pint glass. Can message: "Be Kind"

It's really kind of an ugly beer. Let's not say what it looks like...Pours an opaque brown with about a finger and a half of off-white head. Decent retention and excellent lacing are saving the appearance.

Aromas of citrus and pine. Maybe some sweet dark fruits in there as well.

Definitely some fruitiness in the taste backed up by some strong piney bitterness. Getting some citrus tang as well.

Full-bodied pretty thick mouthfeel. Low to medium carbonation. Bitter aftertaste.

This is probably the juiciest amber ale I've had. Interesting take on the style.
Dec 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Dec 20, 2023
Photo of thebeers
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a murky, rusty-amber color with two fingers of dense tan head. Good retention and rings of lacing.

Fruity NEIPA hops — I get mostly sweet tangerine, maybe a little ripe plum, too — mask whatever kiss of sweetness exists in the nose.

Wow. The taste is nothing like the aroma. There’s a strong rye spiciness to it, earthy bitterness and a hint of molasses. Hints of pine show with the hints of citrus.

Medium bodied with peppery carbonation.

The disjointed parts make for a totally incongruent drinking experience, but it ultimately tastes pretty good if you ignore the look and smell.
Dec 22, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Oct 31, 2022
 
Rated: 4.19 by AirBob from Massachusetts

Sep 27, 2022
 
Rated: 4.37 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Sep 19, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Jdells09 from New Jersey

Sep 05, 2022
Photo of farrago
Reviewed by farrago from New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a full three finger head, light tan in color with good density as well as retention, solid lacing ring left at the surface line. To my eyes the liquid is as amber as red, densely hazy but manages to stay translucent. The green hops hit you first in the nose to remind you with IPA specialists the apple never falls far from the tree, more tobacco ash and pine sap than malted milk ball, caramel or granola notes, not discerning any distinct fruit aromas. Medium-bodied, carbonation right-sized and adds the correct amount of creaminess to keep it fresh as well. Citrus and pine upfront, almost minty at times, here the general hoppiness better knit in. Scone, toffee, root beer notes bring it into better balance for the beer category. Then turns bitter through the finish. A stylistic interpretation. (Canned 9/29/01)
Nov 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.28 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Oct 29, 2021
 
Rated: 4.1 by 322wingedfoot from Pennsylvania

Oct 26, 2021
 
Rated: 4.15 by Khaack from New York

Oct 26, 2021
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Canned 9/29/21. “Yo yo” stamped on the bottom of the can. I get it, Yo-Yo Ma

We’re back with another deviation from TH’s typical IPA output, this time with an amber ale. This is a style that can be great if done correctly, but is also quite easy to screw up. Let’s hope that Tree House’s take on the style is more of the former than the latter but we will soon find out

Pours a turbid amber orange with 3 fingers of soapy off white head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves decent lacing

Things are starting off promising in the nose with some spicy hop complexion, though there's also a bit of their tropical vibe running through it as well. I'm picking up on aromas of toasted red malt, piney hops, white pepper, caramel, honey, light cantaloupe, and some grapefruit pith

It sticks to more of a spice and malt driven vibe in taste, and it's definitely for the better. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting peppery hops, toasted grain, caramel malt, pumpernickel, and light wood. The swallow brings notes of piney hops, black pepper, doughy malt, toasted grain, pithy grapefruit, and rye bread

A medium body pairs with moderate zippy carbonation, resulting in a crisp and refreshing beer. Finishes off dry with a nice bready sweetness to balance the spice

This is a solid amber ale, just hopped to shit as expected from TH. Definitely tasty and easy drinking, but Maine's Zoe still remains my favorite of the style, and it will take better balance than this to dethrone that
Oct 25, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by doctorgary from New York

Oct 13, 2021
 
Rated: 4.21 by craigbelly from Iowa

Mar 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by Mendonka from Massachusetts

Mar 02, 2021
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.77/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Can from tfontana, thanks again!
Lightly hazy deep amber in color with a tightly bubbled beige head that persists. Bready toasty maltiness with bits of earthy citrus to counter.
Feb 08, 2021
Photo of BEERMILER12
Reviewed by BEERMILER12 from Maine

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours a dark ruby red/mahogany color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a thin cap that leaves decent lacing

S: Caramel, citrus, pine, and a touch of toasted malt

T: Follows the nose. Starts off a bit fruity with some caramel maltiness. Citrus and pine stand out. Moderate sweetness balanced by some earthy bitterness. Finishes with lingering caramel and citrus

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth

O: A very solid hoppy amber that is well balanced and super easy to drink. Candied hop/malt combo works well together. Worth a drink
Jan 19, 2021
Photo of Ajtucker350
Rated by Ajtucker350 from Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not my fav but still amazing from TH
Jan 14, 2021
Photo of VoodooBear
Reviewed by VoodooBear from Puerto Rico

4.39/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: 16 oz. can with the canning date on the bottom. Served in a Teku.

Appearance: The dense, off white, one finger head stays around for a while and leaves behind a lot of patchy lacing that covers the entire glass. It's a beautiful, slightly hazy amber color. 

Smell: There's a strong citrusy grapefruit aroma followed by a delicate pine scent and a musty, malt note in the background. They all mix together beautifully to create a wonderful bouquet.

Taste: It starts with a strong, fruity grapefruit and lemon presence which is kept in check by a soft, malty caramel flavor that comes in right after. There's a soft bitterness that makes it interesting but not uncomfortable to drink. 

Mouthfeel: It's full bodied, creamy and with just the right touch of medium carbonation crispness.

Overall A fantastic amber ale, plain and simple. Heaping on praise for Tree House in this day and age seems redundant so we'll just leave it at this: You'll be hard pressed to find something better, or even as good, within the style than Ma. 
Jan 06, 2021
Ma from Tree House Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 476 ratings