Maplewood (2020)

Have a reservation for 1 on Friday 12/18 at 315pm but didn’t win any of the 3 lotteries so I’ll pass it on to someone picking up. It can be transferred to someone else. Send a message if interested and we can work out the details.

 

Reservation has been taken.

 

Ours went 3/5, all 3 with the full 6 can set. Pure dumb luck, it seems.

 

My group of two went 2 for 2 with a Hazelnut and a PB, so we each end up with a can of each. Kind of weird, but it all works out in the end.

 

Anyone want a Cuppa review?

I went with PBC tonight (packaging is fantastic. They outdid Goose for sure). Nose was certainly PB heavy. I read Untappd reviews about missing coconut and I disagreed. I was met with toasted coconut on the finish in the very first sip. However, I can imagine if you drank them cold in a Maplewood pod that it would be a different experience. So it’s super PB forward in the way that Cuppa PB and Great PB Hype were. Coconut is supporting as is the barrel. I don’t know if the barrel would shine more after the adjuncts fade this winter or not. 8 ounces was great, the next 8 ounces felt a bit tiresome (I usually don’t say that actually). I certainly enjoyed the beer and the purchase. For comparison’s sake in terms of enjoyment, I liked it more than Prop 20 but certainly less than Vanilla/Xtra Dubl Benthic.

 

Tonight’s Cuppa review is for BA Hazelnut:

I was nervous about opening it based on the early lukewarm check ins. But it’s hard to compare a 5 oz cold pour in the Maplewood pod compared to the at home experience of having the full can at a range of temperatures. The initial sip proved to not be a hazelnut bomb like I expected. However there was something on the finish of the initial sips I was struggling to articulate into words. In any case, as the beer came to room temperature, the coffee came out more. I don’t always taste much coffee in the Cuppas let alone the BA Cuppas with all of the adjuncts. While that would be welcome, I did get a slight vegetal note with the coffee. There’s certainly barrel presence though the adjuncts hide the intriguing 15 and 16 year Weller barrels used as part of this beer’s blend. Overall a nice BA Cuppa but I’d have it behind PBC in my rankings. Will do VR his week as well.

 

Cuppa VR:

Wow. Definitely the hands down winner for BA Cuppa of the year. The vanilla is present without being cloyingly sweet or too in your face. There’s a nice barrel presence with the rye spice providing for a great finish. This is definitely in the class of Vanilla/Xtra Dubl Benthic and perhaps even the best of the 3. Don’t trade tours away!

 

So I was lucky enough to get some cans in the recent lottery and this is my first ever Maplewood beer... Holy hell this is fantastic. Thiccc, subtle barrel and the peanut butter absolutely pops. I’m really, really impressed.

 

First ever Maplewood? And this is why proxies are terrible.

 

my bad, it was Kevin from Michigan, Not Jeff

 

“Kevin, you’re such a disease!”

 

This brings back many memories

 

I had the ability to buy two cans through the lottery and try something from a brewery that I haven’t experienced before... Now I’ll work Maplewood into the spots I stop at when visiting Chicago which happens pretty often in non-COVID times. I guess I don’t understand what’s so terrible about that. You do you though.

 

He may have just been offended because you described it as “thiccc”

 

Those 3 C's were for Chicago. I thought I was being respectful.

 

4 like the flag and you would’ve nailed it

 

Yeah, the Vanilla Rye was incredible. It took a longer time than usual for the depth of flavor to reveal itself; chilled, it was very good, but it wasn't until it hit room temperature that the vanilla really opened up and the chocolate & coffee accents emerged; plus I got almost no barrel & booze until then as well.

Really glad I took my time with this; I didn't realize that there was still 5 oz in the can after my initial pour until over an hour later. It was like finding $100 in your winter coat that you haven't worn for 9 months.

 

It can be the best feeling in the world. It can also suck as a completist when I’m ready to call it a night and I discover those 5 ounces of triple IPA are all warmed up and waiting for me.