Long Trail Harvest Vermont Maple Brown Ale

I believe I have written this before but if I see a beer with maple syrup in it, I am going to buy it. Not all the beers I have had with maple syrup in them have been winners, but like coconut in beer, I can’t seem to pass them up. When I saw Long Trail Ale Harvest, a Vermont Maple Brown Ale, I had to give it a try and write about it.

Over the years, I have become a fan of Long Trail Brewing’s catalog. The VT IPA in particular tastes fantastic and is very reasonably priced for a 12-pack. I also really enjoy their Cranberry Gose, Limbo IPA and their flagship Long Trail Ale. I had high hopes that their Harvest Ale would become a fall staple in my refrigerator. From the moment I got a whiff of Long Trail’s Harvest, a Vermont Maple Brown Ale, I thought I found a beer that was going to do just that. Chocolate, maple syrup, caramel, toffee, coffee, earthy hops all seemed to beautifully come together in the aroma.

Before I took my first sip, there was something that kept my hopes in check-- the 4.4% ABV. That is light beer territory and for a Fall beer that is extremely low. Not only did that give me concerns about the flavor but it also gave me concerns about body. I think it goes without saying but the cooler weather of Fall demands a beer with a bit more body and warming alcohol to it. I wanted Long Trail’s Harvest Ale to prove me wrong on all of these fronts but it sadly did not. It had the mouthfeel of light beer. There is decent flavor there but it is extremely watered down. The dark chocolate, coffee, maple syrup and toffee are muddled together before an earthy hop finish. The beer finishes clean, but what would you expect from a light beer masquerading as a brown ale for the Fall season?

While Long Trail’s Harvest lacks the flavor and body one would expect from a Fall beer, I did not completely hate it. As I said earlier it by no means tastes bad, it is just incredibly average. I would love to see this beer with at least a 5.5% ABV. More body would give this beer a chance to let its flavors shine. I have a feeling that would dramatically bring my overall rating up.

Overall rating: 2.75/5


Rating Scale:
1. Repugnant and undrinkable
2. Acceptable but forgettable
3. Good, worth a purchase
4. Excellent, a step above the norm
5. Truly Exceptional. Drop everything, BUY IT NOW!

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Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Fall Recommendation: Southern Tier Harvest

Fall beer is everywhere now and after several days on the cooler side, as well as the return of football, I’m finally excited about it! When I reach this point I tend to go to a bottle shop and look for my fall favorites and a few new ones to try. One of my particular favorites is Southern Tier’s Harvest Ale.

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I think ESB(Extra Special/Strong Bitter) is an underrated style that I wish more breweries took on. I understand it is not a particularly flashy style but sometimes the occasion just calls for something very drinkable. I have always found Southern Tier’s take on Harvest Ale to be particularly fun because it really turns up the hoppiness for the style. It is noticeable the second you start to pour it into a glass.

Southern Tier Harvest Ale moves away from the sessionable beers of summer with a higher ABV(6.7%) and a lot more flavor. The great thing about Harvest Ale is its balance and drinkability, which is typical of the style. While the grapefruit, orange, pine and earthy hops are a bit more pronounced than the style typically calls for, the malt sweetness provides the right amount of balance to this. The finish is crisp, dry, and clean, making it easy to reach for a second bottle. Unlike a summer beer however, the ABV starts to show up a bit sooner.

Southern Tier Harvest Ale was one of the first Fall seasonal beers outside of the Oktoberfest lagers & Pumpkin Ales I tried during my early days of craft beer drinking. I found it complimented the crisp, cool Fall weather perfectly. It has been a beer I have enjoyed for over a decade now and recommend everyone give it a try at some point.


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Look for me on Instagram & Untappd and Twitter @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews check out: http://www.acraftylook.com

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!