Best Features: memorable, well-balanced, MAPLE!

Cannery Brewing Company, located in Penticton, B.C., has several beers available through the government liquor stores. Cannery Brewing Maple Stout combines several unique flavours that leave a very favourable and long lasting impression. The big 650 ml bottle is somewhat unassuming. As soon as the bottle is opened an intoxicating maple aroma is released. The aroma is so inviting that we waited for the beer to cascade in the glass and for a nice rich head to develop. Once the beer settled in the glass and I took the time and smelled the concentrated aroma directly from the bottle -wow! Although I am not usually a fan of beers sweetened with adjuncts (additives), maple is one flavour and aroma that I find almost irresistible. In the glass the beer was a great colour; dark toffee brown with a thick light brown head. The sweet malt and maple aroma followed through into the taste. On the tongue the beer starts off sweet with a mild roasted coffee and dark malt finish. The medium body and lower combination meant that the flavours in the beer lingered on the tongue for the perfect amount of time. After the first sip it was very hard to resist a second (and a third). Cannery Brewing Maple Stout is sweet but also well balanced - the rich flavour is not overwhelming because the roasted bitter malts counteract the sweetness to make this beer unique. This is the perfect beer to share with friends.

This beer is definitely a treat on its own - however try this beer with something lightly salted, to further enhance the sweetness, or pair it with maple smoked salmon or maple chocolate. Cannery Brewing Maple Stout would also be the perfect beer to cook pancakes, chocolate cake and stew.

Beer Fact: Rick and I sampled this beer a couple of weeks ago and were so impressed we immediately had to phone the owner of the brewery, Ron Dyck, to tell him how excellent his product was.