gift from the trees

I stubbornly resist the demands of summer for light beer!  Not always, I have my IPA every once in a while, but damn if I won't take every opportunity for stout.  Even a maple stout.  Arbor Ales Goo Goo G'joob is there to do the job.  Gah gah g'job?  That'll sound better after a beer.

The syrup comes right on top in the aroma, and really it's a very breakfast-y smell.  I can even imagine buttery pancakes hiding somewhere.  It has a heavy look, opaque and dark tan head.  Although that maple sweetness does slide across the tongue, there's a lot more smoke than I expected.  It's a nice balance between sweet and bitter, not letting the beer get too sticky.  It might be a tad on the bitter side, leaning towards the ales in that sense, but the maple lends it a darker feel than the typical citrus and meadow notes of ales.  Several sips in bring out the woodiness, the reminder of barrels resting quietly in dark cellars, patiently releasing their essence to their contents.  It's fairly strong at 12%, but the texture is light and frisky.  It wouldn't be too hard to drink too many of these, actually.  With chocolate or salty snacks, several could be consumed before you know it.

Supplier: Be Hoppy
Price: €4.80