Waffle Sauce
Rusty Rail Brewing Company

Got in a BIF from Ozzylizard. 16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 8/20/2022. Pours crystal clear dark ruby red/brown color with a 1-2 finger foamy and fluffy off white head with poor retention, that reduces to a thin spotty lace cap. Minimal spotty lacing and some streaming carbonation on the glass. Aromas of big maple syrup, brown sugar, pecans, caramel, toffee, toast, light chocolate/herbal/dark fruit, and yeast earthiness. Taste follows with big maple syrup, brown sugar, pecans, caramel, toffee, toast, brown bread, light chocolate/herbal/dark fruit, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal/roasted bitterness on the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; creamy/bready malts, light sticky hops and chalky roast in the mouthfeel. Mild increasing warmth of 8% after the finish. Very impressive imperial brown, leaning a bit more towards the English style, but not too fruity on yeast. Good malt complexity and not too sweet on flavorings.

Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a chestnut color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, pecans. Taste follows the aroma, maple syrup is present. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.

 

 

 

 

It's a brown ale, but it's not dark brown. It's bright, although opaque and it has dark copper-amber fringes. The head is lightly biege, modest and apparently enduring. All that sits for observation, just recently emptied a pint can and ended up in a clear glass liter mug. There's more roasted barley to the aroma than the additional flavors. But, maple and pecan can often be subtle, especially when up against some of the other ingredients in ale. Fear not, both are there to taste, with the earthy bite of the pecan dominating. The maple certainly adds a little sweetness, but that exact character is a little harder to identify. That's OK, as it's sweet enough. Since it's unlikely real pecans and real maple went into the wort, that might be expected. The body is rich enough and the mouthfeel is smooth enough to make this work. The lack of notice of the ABV may have you checking the can to be sure this is an Imperial Brown Ale. The ale even provides some nice glass lacing, a testament to the body. Overall, this is a fairly good IBA that probably would appeal without the flavorings. But, they are nicely done and add a couple more taste layers to enjoy.

- Maple Pecan Imperial Brown Ale.

A: Cherry-Mahogany coloring is steadfast with a two inch stance and tan, frothy smooth texture. The carbonation is very light while thick creamy bands of lace generously cover the glass walls.

S: The pecans come through nicely on the opening wiff, pecan pie sweetness with some frosted cinnamon bun. A backing of fresh cocoa and chocolate adds to the maple syrup richness to provide a rich aroma that is well balanced and not over the top, but rather gentle, smooth and of a more natural tone. With some warming a dark rich hersey chocolate malting comes out.

T: The flavor was sweet brown malt, spicy pecan pie with a rich chocolate base. Some brownies, dried maple syrup and a waffle malting. A hint of marshmallow rounds things out.

M: Mouthful was creamy, softly carbonated with a full and lush feel. A nice weight on the tongue as well glow of spicy brown malt and alcohol on the inner cheeks.

O: Overall the brown ale is a style I feel is severely under-represented as well appreciate, and its always a treat to find not only a brewery willing to take this on, but do a great representation as well. I always wonder why not more try this malt forward beer style, but feel the hop craze IPA's might have something to do with it. I at first thought this would be an over the top gimmicky flavored beer by the beer label, but as it turns out, was only minorly accented with small flavors that complimented the rich brown malt base. Natural flavors as well a hearty base and alcohol dosing makes this a surprise visit worthy trying.

Rusty Rail Brewing Co "Waffle Sauce"
16 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating
$3.49 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ

Notes via stream of consciousness: This is a "MAPLE PECAN IMPERIAL BROWN ALE" with natural flavors and caramel color. Hmmm... ? It's poured a hazy, very dark chestnut brown body beneath a short head of densely foamy off-white. The aroma suggests a sweet brown ale with maple syrup. It's pretty good so far although the head retention could have been better as it's already dropped away. The flavor is the most important factor so let's give it a taste... it's pretty decent. It's a little thinner than I thought it would be, but maybe that's a good thing as it might get cloying if it was richer while still being as sweet as it is. Let me give it another sip... I'm definitely getting the maple syrup, some butter as well, and pecan. There's caramel, some toastiness, a touch of sweetened cocoa powder, and an underlying fruitiness that gives it more depth. It's pretty nicely balanced although still sweet, and I really see it as a dessert beer. I'm about halfway through it and I'm kind of over it; of course it's 9:30 AM and I think that maybe it would be a better after-dinner tipple. In the mouth it's medium bodied and smooth with a moderate, fine-bubbled carbonation. I keep thinking about whether or not it's big enough or perfect as it is but I have to just let that go as it is what it is.
Review #8,443

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes you just have to say why? A beer with a dose of maple syrup? If this is what you are looking for, then have at it. For me, there is a limit what I am willing to share in my beer and this is one of those. Did not care for this one.

 

 

The pour is chestnut brown. The taste is maple syrup, pecans, & molasses. There is no date on the can btw. This was a tasty & rich beer. Cheers! B