Burton's Maplewood Farm Maple Bacon Stout
Goose Island Beer Co.

 

 

 

 

Review from notes taken on 4/23/10. I was hesitant about posting this review based on the amount of time that has lapsed since I wrote these notes but oh well, worse has been done I guess.

On tap at the Clybourn location. This beer had me the most excited over all other things listed on their menu. It was presented to me looking very dark brown in color. When held to the light there is some redness that shines through. There is not much head to speak of, swirling the brew doesn't do much. The smell is a bit smokey with dark roasted malt character and some sweetness somewhat reminding me of molasses moreso than maple. The sweetness of this brews nose really shines through the back countered by some citrus hop inclusion. The taste is dark and roasty grain, chocolate malt provides some bitterness along with hops and a slightly smoked as well is present. A long drawn out aftertaste has some smokey bacon quality about it that just doesn't scream bacon to me. I think there are smoked beers out there that don't include bacon as an ingredient and have more bacon-like flavor than this. Another downside of this brew is a lack of moderate carbonation leaving this dull and watery inside the mouth. This was a decent beer, don't get me wrong but it needs some work. The name/description is better than the product.

Part of a beer flight at a Goose Island brewpub in Chicago. Had to include this one, as maple and bacon are two of my most favorite flavors!

Sits in the glass an intensely dark purple-brown. Not much head to speak of, though a parchment-colored ring of foam clings to the edges.

The nose is breakfast in a glass. Acrid dark roast coffee grounds play off an understated maple sweetness. Find me some eggs and let's get the day started!

The flavors of the maple play a much more forceful role in the taste, according a pleasing sweetness. A savory, meaty character also emerges. It doesn't taste like bacon, per se, but it alludes to the taste of bacon. An interesting coalescence of flavors.

The mouthfeel is a bit disappointing: light and nearly flat.

If they had bottles of this, I would've picked one up on the spot. Alas, I'll have to wait until the next time I visit Chicago to pick up a pint -- with breakfast this time.

Appears a midnight black with a creamy tan head that slowly fades out. Scattered bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of obvious maple, cocoa, vanilla cream, and a touch of smokiness. I'm not getting a whole lot of "bacon" in the aromas. Is there really bacon there? Apparently so, according to the gentleman I spoke with. The bacon is trimmed of fat and added during secondary.
The taste mimics the aromas with flavors of light smoke, cocoa, maple, with a tiny bit of smokiness.
Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied, slightly sweet up front, and smooth in the finish. It's an addictive beer that I enjoyed much.

I know bacon has been wildly popular for some time, but I was taken back when I saw this on tap.

Served in a standard pint, the beer is jet black with a skim of a tan head and some good lacing.

The nose is of maple wood smoked bacon & roasted malts


The beer is sweet and slightly smoky. The bacon is MIA at first and then rushes in with the aftertaste. The maple flavor is more prominent as it warms. Roasted malts and a hint of coffee through out.

It has a silky smooth mouth. The flavors all work and the beer is well integrated. It is a once a night beer for me, but it is yummy.

Note that I was with three other folks having lunch before the Cub game and all loved this beer.

Served in a snifter glass at a recent visit to Clybourn for Sunday brunch. What else goes well with your brunch than a maple bacon stout?

A: Thick dark black in color with a thin brown head.

S: Some smokiness, but not as much as the name of the beer would imply.

T: A little sour tartness in the taste with some sweetness from the maple. Dark fruit flavors with plums and figs.

M: Medium bodied with a roasted coffee finish.

D: Worth a try, but not something I'd want to pick up again. Other beers I think would pair better with my brunch than a heavy stout.

Pours black with a small tan head.

Scent of chocolate, maple syrup, and a hint of smoke/bacon. I was expecting more bacon in the scent, but I am a sucker for maple.

Taste of maple, sugar, some roasted malts, and a hint of bacon. As with the scent, there is little bacon in the taste, which is a bit disappointing, but the maple flavor does redeem it a bit.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth with low carbonation.

Reviewed from notes.

Pours black with minimal head. Served in a snifter.

Smells smokey and heavy on the maple.

Taste is mapley sweet, some smokiness. Smooth, but the maple is a bit much for me.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, lower carbonation.

Drinkability is low. This is thick, higher ABV, and a sipper.

The maple flavors in this just don't do it for me. Would not have this again.

On tap @ Goose Island Clybourn (Chicago, IL) on 4/23/10. Served in a snifter.

Pours a fairly black look at first but holding it up to the light actually reveals a good bit of ruby color coming through the body as well. This is topped with a ½ finger of darker mocha colored head that stays rich with a nice full flare-up, leaving a spotty cascade of lacing which slowly slides down the sides of the glass. The aroma is sweet with chocolate and the maple syrup (although it's coming off a bit more like toffee or caramel) with some backing dry roasted character that's reminding me a good bit of a Dry Irish Stout. Some smoky meat notes are coming out along the back, although I don't know if I would have immediately identified it as bacon if I hadn't known better. I'm also getting some mellow earthy hops along the back but the nose here is mostly sweet overall.

The taste is chocolate and dark roast, with the maple syrup coming out in a much more pronounced manner this time around and really keeps the profile on the sweeter side. A tingle of earthy hops runs along the back, leaving spice and dryness across the finish. Once again, I'm getting a smoked meat texture from the back toward the back of the swallow (which does linger some) but it remains at only really just a hint of it. Very dry finish on this for the most part. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a mellow and creamy feel to the carbonation that keeps this easy moving. I'm not really getting much alcohol out of the body at all and as I matter of fact, I actually think that this could have overall used a bit more depth and beef to it.

Ultimately, I think that this sounded way cooler and tasty than it ended up being. Neither the maple syrup nor bacon (which my understanding from the literature at the brewpub seemed to indicate that real bacon was used) were overly identifiable to me and the body and flavor profile largely just felt like it could have used some added presence on the palate. This sounded promising when I ordered it but ended up being a bit lackluster.

Thanks to Diego for bringing this rare treat.

A: pours a dark brown hue with a small tan head. No real retention or lace.

S: Aromas of roasted malt, candied malt, and chocolate.

T: Roasty with a mild maple sweetness. Mild chocolate, with no sign of bacon at all.

M: Medium in body, smooth.

D: Just okay. Darn, my first bacon beer and I am left saying where's the bacon?