Tree Tapper Maple Brown
North High Brewing Company

 

What it lacks in look and aroma, it makes up in taste and finish. Enjoyed on tap at Miller's Ale House in Columbus, had no lacing at all, and barely any aroma. The taste is brown sugar, pecan, and a fine bourbon finish with every sip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canned 9/25/18. Nonic pint.

A: pours a dark brown, light easily penetrates showing a reddish, cola-like quality through the bottom 3/4 of the glass. Roiling carbonation and chunks of floating yeast. Initially 1.5 fingers of sandy head, but recedes to a thickish cap that lingers, but does not last until the end. Rings of lacing as I drink it down; impressive for how relatively old this is.

S: the smell is RIGHT for a brown. Chocolatey, nutty, medium roast Colombian /breakfast blend coffee, sweet underlying malt base.

T: taste follows the smell. Toasty, nutty, just off-sweet arrival. Bready, lightly sweet, chocolatey malt middle; a little hint of that bloody/flinty taste I sometimes get with darker beers but it is subdued. Do I taste a hint of smoke here? Perhaps a hint of root beer or sasparilla? Getting a little cloying as I reach the end of the glass.

M: hefty, burly brown. Active carbonation stops it from leaning into heavy territory, but it’s close. Slick.

O: Nutty, sweet, hefty. Pleased to report this is a really good brown. I’d still rank Squirrel higher, and probably Stone Fort and Mt. Carmel, but I would be interested to compare this to Turbodog. This is clearly heavier, but it’s also 6.2%. Despite how sweet this has become at the end, I really like it. Wouldn’t get six though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L-The beer pours a dark brown, almost black. The head is fluffy 2 fingers of mocha. The head recedes to a thin film leaving light lacing.
S-The nose is malt heavy with a slight smokiness. Maple is light but noticeable.
T- On the palate this is a very typical brown ale. Malt sweetness up front finishing lightly smoky. The maple here is fighting to be noticed over the roasted malts and loses in the end.
F- Mouthfeel is pretty light. I feel like the beer is slightly overcarbonated which only highlights the thin mouthfeel.
O- A solid brown ale. The maple may have faded a bit from when it was originally canned. I would drink it again.

 

A bit more noticeable maple in the aroma, but it’s there in flavor along with a little bit of chocolate and nuts. Pretty solid base with a solid medium body and dark bread flavor. A solid brown ale.