Lawsons Mad River Maple

Mad River Maple is an IPA sold as a four-pack of cans, and the name points to maple as the defining ingredient. Maple in an IPA usually sits in the background rather than reading as pancake syrup. Expect a faint caramelized sweetness and a woody, toasty note under the hops, which tends to round out the bitterness without making the beer taste sugary. No ABV or IBU is listed for this product, so treat the strength and bitterness as typical of the style: most IPAs fall somewhere between 6 and 7.5 percent ABV with a clearly present hop bite, and a maple version often finishes a little smoother and slightly drier than its aroma suggests. The hop character in an IPA of this type generally leans toward pine, resin, citrus peel or stone fruit, and those flavors pair well with maple's warmth. The malt backbone is typically a touch fuller than in a crisp West Coast IPA, which gives the syrup character something to attach to. Serve it cold but not frozen, around 45 to 50°F (7 to 10°C). Straight from the back of the fridge it will mute the hops and the maple, while a few minutes on the counter lets the aromatics open up. A tulip or shaped IPA glass works best because the narrowing at the top concentrates hop and maple aroma; a standard pint glass is a fine second choice. Pour into the glass rather than drinking from the can so the aroma can develop. For food, think of dishes where sweet and savory already meet: smoked sausage, pulled pork, bacon-topped burgers, roasted squash, and sharp aged cheddar. The beer's bitterness cuts through fat, and the maple echoes glazes and caramelized crusts. Spicy dishes such as jerk chicken or hot wings also work, since the sweetness takes some edge off the heat.