Maple Ella
Free Will Brewing Co.

on draft at the brewery, in small snifter glass

dark brown in color, clear, not much head. boozy aroma of dark fruit, malt, dried apples and a touch of maple. taste doesn't have much apple, but a touch of vanilla and caramel, the flavor seems smoother and less boozy than the various vintage of regular Ella I've had. thin to medium bodied.

Pours a clear, dark tawny color with a finger of short-lived sandy, tan head. It quickly settles into a messy crown that leaves no lacing.

Mild aroma with stone fruit, leather, caramel malt and a hint of maple.

Appropriately sweet with more fig, plum, vanilla, caramel, light maple and a touch of apple. This is balanced out, however, by more leather, some slight stale bitter hops and a kiss of alcohol heat. It might be that I let this age nearly a year, but it’s better than I remember regular Ella tasting.

Medium bodied, on the border between sticky and creamy, with modestly strong fizz.

The barrel touches here are light, but definitely add some nice character to the beer. Better than I expected.

Pours a dark amber/brown with thin foamy tan cap. Thicker collar around the glass.

Aroma is boozy and syrupy. Brandy is noticeable.

Flavor has layers of sweetness, malt and boozy brandy. Woody barrel, A hint of vanilla and sweet earthy maple.