Fall in a Bottle

Lately, I have been trying to get my hands on a few beers that I have heard great things about in the beer community. The Bruery in Placentia, California brews what they call Autumn Maple. From the name, I am sure you can conjure up what this beer is all about, but it's soo much more. Patrick Rue, the owner and brewmaster of The Bruery, wanted to do a pumpkin beer, but didn't want to follow the norm. This seems to be the motto at The Bruery. They typically take classic styles and modernize them. I love innovation! Instead of using pumpkin, he took another classic fall treat, sweet potato pie and through that shit right into the brew kettle. Yams, Molasses, Maple Syrup, Vanilla and fall spices! The beer pours a deep brownish amber color with a very unique, almost caramel colored head. Tilt the glass and sniff. One of the most floral drinks I have ever smelled in my life. The first smell I picked up was the molasses and spice. Yams don't have much of a smell to begin with, but this beer really has a faint sweet potato pie smell. It's far and away the best fall beer I have ever had. At 10% alcohol, I was expecting much more kick, but that is the difference between a great brewer and a place like Iron Hill. The alcohol is present, but great brewers find a way to mask it. Think Grey Goose vs. Popov Vodka. I picked this up at Landis Market in Wayne, PA. It's a shithole, but they have great beer. Tune in next time beer cronies