Maple Mistress Ale by Saucony Creek Brewing Company
Trying a local beer today, that brewing company is located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Saucony Creek Brewing Company is trying to break the mold and strive for originality in the booming business of Micro-Breweries. They focus on farm to pint and small batch creations that go with an open minded 'say we won't ' type of attitude. They currently have a 15 barrel brewhouse system into 30 barrel fermentation tanks that create about 6,000 barrels. Saucony Creek Brewing Company was established in 2013 and have been creating beers even since. The beer I am trying from Saucony Creek is the Maple Mistress Ale. Maple Mistress Ale is an Imperial Ale with an alcohol by volume of ABV of 9.8% and an IBU of 8. I saw this bottle at a local bottle shop and I was intrigued, so I figured let's try this brew out. Upon looking at the label, I saw that this was an ale brewed with butternut squash and with maple syrup/spices added into the brew. The artwork on the bottle is another thing that captured my attention and made me want to try this ale.
Appearance of Maple Mistress Ale
Looking at this brew there is one thing that sticks out to me, that is the color and the clarity. Maple Mistress Ale has the deep amber color of a Pumpkin Ale. In addition the beers is translucent and the head or foam does not retain itself except for a little white ring around the inside of the glass. The aroma is making me think this is a Pumpkin brew as well because of all the spices you pick up as you begin to pick up the aroma. As you pick through the spiced aroma, you begin to notice hints of butternut squash/pumpkin and maple syrup aroma. Which to me, goes with the along with the Mistress picture on the bottle holding Pancakes with syrup and butter. I like who the image on the bottle is noticeable in the aroma. For the spiced aroma, I picked up nutmeg and cinnamon that are the most prevalent.
To me, so far this beer is setting up to be a Pumpkin Ale. I am interested in seeing where that taste of this brew takes me, as the aroma has guided me to a Pumpkin Pie so far. I drove in for the first sip and this beer followed a pumpkin ale path as far as taste. I first got hit with the flavor of the spices and that is where I noticed the nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves. After the spice notes, you pick up on a buttery sweetness of the butternut squash. As I finished my first sip, I picked up on finish of butternut squash with a hint of vanilla and ending with a maple sweetness. In terms of body of this ale, this is a full bodied ale that hides the high ABV and has a heavy mouthfeel. As I drank this beer, I notice the farm to pint quality and picked up on the unpatseruization, which helps keep the farm to pint feel alive in this brew.
Overall, I think this is a good brew and an ale worth trying as we get closer towards September. I look forward to trying this beer in the BrewPub to fully understand Maple Mistress Ale and get the uniqueness of this brewery. Anyone looking for an ale with spices this is an ale that you should consider and enjoy.
Maple Mistress Ale by Saucony Creek Brewing Company
One thing that should be added to this post is the story on the bottle of Maple Mistress Ale. Goes as followed, 'In the autumn of 1720, Captain Jack Rachman and his pirate-mates were celebrating their victories in typical hard-drinking tradition. Suddenly a British Navy sloop surprised them. The drunken pirates hid below deck, leaving Captain Jack’s mistresses Anne Bonney and Mary Read to defend the ship. The women shared a reputation as “fierce hell cats,” but the British Navy eventually overtook the pirate ship. Captain Jack and the pirates were sentenced to hang. Anne visited her lover in his cell before his execution, and instead of loving words her scathing comments live on throughout history, “Had you fought like a man, you need not have been hang'd like a dog.” Their legacy inspired us to brew an equally ferocious Imperial Pumpkin Ale brewed with pirate rum spices. We added a touch of autumn flavor with roasted butternut squash and natural maple syrup.'
Check out Saucony Creek Brewing Company on their website and their Twitter.
Saucony Creek Brewing Company Website
Tweet @SauconyBeer Twitter
I also wanted to share that I have been using an awesome bottle opener from Bullets 2 Bandages. I have a .50 Caliber Bullet Bottle Opener from the company. This is a company that supports Veterans and is a company that I will continue to support. Here is a little about them: Bullets2Bandages is a mission-driven, socially conscious apparel and accessories and unique company designed to give thanks to veterans, those fighting for our country, and the families who provide them with love and support at home.As Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers, Erik Spalding and Cole Evans were once responsible for defusing and disposing the explosive devices that have become all-too-common in Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon exiting the military in 2010 they felt they had a responsibility to create a way for people to say “Thank You” to their fellow soldiers and the veterans that have fought for our freedom and safety. As founders of Bullets2Bandages, they created a way to take an instrument of war and transform them into a symbol of pride, gratitude, and healing. Make sure you check out this craft brew and this awesome company that supports our troops.
Check out Bullets2Bandages website and their Twitter.
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