Maple Mistress
Saucony Creek Brewing Company + Gastropub

Maple MistressMaple Mistress
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From:
Saucony Creek Brewing Company + Gastropub
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Pumpkin Beer
Ranked #59
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
88
Ranked #13,997
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 13.23%
Reviews:
102
Ratings:
546
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 21, 2022
Added:
Aug 19, 2013
Wants:
  40
Gots:
  132
In the autumn of 1720, Captain Jack Rachman and his pirate-mates were celebrating their victories in typical hard-drinking tradition. Suddenly a British Navy sloop surprised them. The drunken pirates hid below deck, leaving Captain Jack’s mistresses Anne Bonney and Mary Read to defend the ship. The women shared a reputation as “fierce hell cats,” but the British Navy eventually overtook the pirate ship. Captain Jack and the pirates were sentenced to hang. Anne visited her lover in his cell before his execution, and instead of loving words her scathing comments live on throughout history, “Had you fought like a man, you need not have been hang’d like a dog.” Their legacy inspired us to brew an equally ferocious Imperial Pumpkin Ale brewed with pirate rum spices. We added a touch of autumn flavor with roasted butternut squash and natural maple syrup.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.04 by Eychung from New York

Sep 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.18 by Spade from Pennsylvania

Sep 04, 2022
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Reviewed by Emichaelbray from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I tried this at Saucony Creek’s brewpub in Reading, PA. Odd location for the pub - sits between a crack motel, a bus station where drugs are sold and used openly, and train tracks. So definitely go with outdoor seating. The neighborhood has character.
This review is of a bottle purchased back home in Philly. Obviously it’s different but it’s a lot like I remember from a draft pint. Poured into a Moosehead Radler glass. Cloudy, orangey stuff. 100% opaque. Looks like sun tea my grandmother made.
I get more cinnamon than nutmeg smelling it. Autumn spices, even allspice, dominate for me. I know this is squash not pumpkin but it really reminds me of pumpkin pie. I think the maple syrup is throwing me off.
A different spice is dominant in the flavor. Maybe what is often sold as pumpkin pie spice? But not so specific like the nose. I taste squash or whatever on the back end. It’s actually unpleasant without a follow up pull or a sip of water for about ten seconds. Goes away after that but I noticed it. The maple syrup is there somewhere and is a nice addition.
It’s a heavy beer and the alcohol is present in the feel. Not upfront in the taste so I guess it belongs in feel… but rich, heavy brew here.
I like it but I am not surprised by the sub-90 rating. It’s something I would grab a single of here and there but at the price they want for four of these I’ll pass. It’s the same price as Boulevard Dark Truth and Chocolate Ale four packs which to me means a lot of unsold Maple Mistress.
Apr 15, 2022
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Reviewed by JJKBeerLvr from Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bottle into pint glass. Has canned on date of 07/30/2021. Drank this less than 1 month from purchase.

Appearance: Dark amber/orange. Hazy like a NEIPA.

Smell: Pleasant, with a spicy aroma. Strong maple and pumpkin aromas, and pepper aromas dominate. Some caramel aroma to a lesser extent.

Taste: Very nice and a unique taste. I can definitely taste the maple, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice, and there are some other spicy flavors which makes for a unique taste. Good aftertaste with the spices dominating. I like this better than many other pumpkin ales I have tried.

Mouthfeel: Strong bodied. Medium-High alcohol, which matches the 9.5% listed. It has a nice thick feel when drinking.

This is an interesting beer by Saucony Creek. It is something different that I will buy again.
Sep 24, 2021
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Reviewed by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania

3.81/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip glass. Bottling info is indecipherable to me.

L---Mostly clear, burnt amber color. Fluffy, off-white head has good retention and left beautiful lacing.

S---Cinnamon, nutmeg and Maple syrup, as expected.

T---Follows the nose. Cinnamon, nutmeg, Maple syrup.

F---Medium/full bodied. Has a bit of syrupy thickness.

O---Cinnamon, nutmeg and Maple syrup has been done before. It's just lost in the vast sea of pumpkin spice beers.
Aug 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.28 by bgillespie from New Jersey

Feb 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.35 by D-man20 from Pennsylvania

Jan 26, 2021
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Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

2.66/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Thanks to Ozzylizard for this one, from a LIF during NBS BIF #12. 160z can (dated 8/14/20) poured into shaker pint. Poured a lightly cloudy amber color with just a thin cap of white head that had low retention and lacing.

The aroma was mostly vegetal, with some light maple support.

The flavor was the same, but with the addition of some hop kick.

The body was medium, crisp, and carried good carbonation throughout.

Drinkability was a chore, what with hating squash, and not being that big on maple.

Overall, this was a solid enough brew, but missed the mark. Try as an experiment.
Nov 22, 2020
 
Rated: 3.77 by buzzy from Pennsylvania

Oct 05, 2020
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Reviewed by EnderFett11 from Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured moderately hard from a bottle into a snifter glass, forming a finger of tan head that soon faded to a ring of lacing. Deep orange color, slightly hazy. Smell is slightly sweet maple syrup with some pumpkin/squash. Taste is a balanced mix of pumpkin and maple syrup throughout, mixing at the beginning and end of a sip. Sweet, but not excessively so. Just shy of medium bodied. Never had a combo of pumpkin and maple syrup, definitely enjoyed this.
Oct 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Sep 22, 2020
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Reviewed by trevormajor from Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass at around 40 degrees.
L - Copper, hazy with an off white head that lingers
S - This beer smells just like the custard pie my Mom makes me for my birthday. Lots of nutmeg and cinnamon.
T - Taste is more complex, with notes of gourd, maple syrup and spices.
F - medium mouthfeel, carbonation throughout
O - I could do with a bit less spice, but the beer is complex and interesting for a seasonal. Please put a bottled on date on your bottles!
Sep 02, 2020
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Reviewed by Trailboss76 from Virginia

3.22/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Huge, frothy, tan head. Yes, you do pick up a little hint of maple/something sweet in the aroma. Very, very, very murky amber color. A good bit of carbonation. The first couple of sips strikes me as odd - can't come up with a different adjective than that. Initially sort of flat on the flavor. Seems sort of muddled and not knowing what it wants to be. With the name Maple Mistress, I thought this might almost be a dessert beer. However, I would not buy this beer again to drink all by itself. I paired up with some mixed nuts and it was more enjoyable then. Originally tried this beer approx. Oct. 2018
Mar 24, 2020
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Reviewed by lastmango from Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured a beautiful copper brown with a two finger white head. Moderate lacing is present. Butternut squash, vanilla and brown sugar nose. Taste of malt, vanilla, maple syrup, caramel, mace, ginger, and cinnamon with a ginger lingering finish. High ABV is sneaky so watch out. Not a fan of pumpkin beer but . . . OMG . . . this is the tastiest pumpkin ale that I have ever had. Slightly oily and dry finish with moderate body and moderate light carbonation. I would definitely buy this again and again and again . . .
Jan 18, 2020
 
Rated: 3.68 by j0hnc2468 from New York

Dec 10, 2019
 
Rated: 3.63 by DISKORD from South Carolina

Dec 10, 2019
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Reviewed by Nass from Florida

3.94/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I like the bottle label artwork, but I don't see a date anywhere on the bottle. The pour is a beautiful copper color in the snifter glass. The taste is butternut squash upfront intermingled with some cinnamon, nutmeg, & ginger but I can't seem to distinguish the maple syrup. The 9.5% abv is well hidden. Moreover, for some odd reason this beer reminds me of custard pie. Cheers! B
Nov 29, 2019
 
Rated: 4.12 by travelguy from Ohio

Nov 26, 2019
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Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
(12 oz bottle; purchased cold single at Shangy's... decanted into a fat tulip)

L: brilliantly-clear, tawny-colored liquid; semi-tight, jagged, aged-white foam... thick, stretched, bubbly collar keeps long time; random duck head pattern in the middle (pointless pic though, random smear)

S: vanilla, ginger skin, cinnamon dust; caramel-creme... confusing, bold-fragrant, un-pumpkin-pie spice bouquet - yes, spiced-rum-like (actually quite Captain-esque) - but undeniably potent, spice-drenched flan aromas

T: caramel, coconut, pineapple, allspice... spiced rum taffy base, luckily not too syrupy-sweet at its core; under-the-radar bitter squash undertone in the aftertaste... maple aromatics in the aftertaste, maybe a bit of smoky wood coloring

F: oily-boozy smooth viscosity, thinned-out dry finish... almost an ideal cordial-like malt richness, syrupy swipe, and subtly-spicy soft burn to its creme-trails... surprising soft blast of boozy warmth

O: I guess it's a pumpkin ale, but then again it ain't... more of a spiced-rum-ed, maple-d, lazily-fermented American-ish styled tripel... has passing similarities to Pumking - now I'm eager to compare them, though Pumking is easily more cut-dry and consequently perhaps perceived as more pointedly spicy... this may actually be the closest match to Pumking I've tasted... I've had this on draft and a few times in bottle now, and I would potentially grab a few bottles of this, now that I have a tasting reference and seeing how it may compliment several decadent desserts (1619)
Nov 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4.09 by robotic_being from Illinois

Nov 15, 2019
Maple Mistress from Saucony Creek Brewing Company + Gastropub
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 546 ratings