One New York Life

Maple Nut Brown Ale
Brewed By: Tommyknocker Brewery
Brewed In: Idaho Springs, CO
Type: Brown Ale
ABV: 4.5%
Awards: 2000 World Beer Cup Gold Medal

What They Say: A delicate amount of Maple syrup is added to each barrel of our award winning Maple Nut Brown Ale to impart roasted sweetness. This addition balances the nut flavor produced by Munich caramel and chocolate malts used in the brewhouse, producing a drinkable dark amber ale with a relatively low alcohol content.

Website: It looks like something thrown together on a free Angelfire site in 1996 (complete with wood paneling and jagged lines) and kept it. The information is fine, but it looks very low rent. Perfectly acceptable, though.

Why I Picked It: It was on the draught list at the unbelievably awesome Sunset Grill & Tap in Boston. The maple caught my eye.

—

Presentation (5): I love Tommyknocker’s labels. Each beer has its own different little picture. This particular one has a mischievous lil lawn gnome pouring a bucket of syrup in to a barrel of beer. The label on the neck also informs you of what, exactly, a Tommyknocker is: Tommyknockers were mischievous elves who slipped into mining camps with the Cornish miners in the 1800s. 5

Originality (5): I’m prepared to be proved wrong, but is there any other brewery that adds maple to their beers? Especially an ale? And, if not, how are Magic Hat, Long Trail, or Otter Creek (the Vermont breweries for you non-Northeasterners) not on this yet? Idaho of all places has to come up with your ideas? 5

Taste (10): The maple is glaringly obvious. Regardless of any other stuff they might mention on the label. It’s the first thing you taste when it gets in your mouth and the last thing you taste when it goes. I can’t blame them for the marketing as it’s called “maple ale” and they say that maple syrup is added to every barrel. Unfortunately, it’s a bit too sweet to work. 5

Body (10): The best of this beer is the body. It’s a thin and undercarbonated ale. It smells like maple syrup and holding it in your mouth, you get an entire head full of maple syrup. I really can’t fault them for much. They promised a beer that whole-heartedly would remind you of maple syrup they delivered. 8

Efficiency (10): A “relatively low” ABV coupled with a very sweet taste translates to low efficiency. 3

Versatility (10): Also unfortunately low. The beer is too sweet and not strong enough to be useful in most situations. You won’t be able to make a night out of it and you certainly will never have more than two or three of them at a sitting. The best way to enjoy this particular beer is to have one in their variety pack. Apart from that, it’s not something you’ll drink every day. 3

Final Grade: 29 (of 50) – OK beer.

* — I had this marked originally on my top ten list as “Tommyknocker Maple Porter.” That doesn’t exist. I was thinking of Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter. Unfortunately, that appears to be out of season. So, this was written as part of the Top Ten Series, but is actually just a normal review.