Maplewood Silver Morning 4Pk

Maplewood Silver Morning 4Pk is a doppelbock lager brewed in Chicago, Illinois, at 6.8% ABV, sold as a four-pack. Scoring 89 out of 100 on BeerAdvocate with a "Very Good" designation, this malt-forward lager draws direct inspiration from the classic Bavarian doppelbock tradition and has earned an 88/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine in a blind evaluation by certified BJCP judges.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.8%  |  Origin: Logan Square, Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Doppelbock Lager  |  Brewery: Maplewood Brewery & Distillery (est. 2014)

Production & Heritage

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery was founded in 2014 in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood and holds the distinction of being the first facility in Illinois to operate both a brewery and a distillery under one roof. Silver Morning is brewed with rich malts and noble hops, staying true to the German doppelbock tradition — a style originally developed by Bavarian monks as sustenance during fasting periods. The recipe is openly inspired by Ayinger Celebrator, one of the world's benchmark doppelbocks, yet Silver Morning puts a local stamp on the style with its own malt character and balance.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toffee and bready malt rise first, followed by caramel and raisin. A subtle layer of dark fruit rounds out the nose with gentle warmth.

Taste: The entry is smooth and malt-driven, with dark breaded malts, toffee, and brown sugar leading the way. Mid-palate, flavors of raisin and dark cherry emerge alongside earthy, herbal hop notes that provide structure without bitterness. Caramel sweetness weaves through without becoming cloying.

Finish: Medium in length, subtly dry, and nicely balanced with lingering toasted bread and toffee. The medium-light carbonation and lightly warming alcohol create a smooth, rich close.

How to Drink Silver Morning

Silver Morning is best enjoyed at cellar temperature — around 48–52°F — in a tulip glass or traditional stange to concentrate its malt aromatics. It also works in beer-forward mixed drinks: try it in a Bock & Stormy, substituting the doppelbock for the ginger beer base to add malty depth; a Black Velvet, layered with dry sparkling wine for a brunch-worthy contrast of bubbles and dark malt; or a Beer Old Fashioned, using a reduction of Silver Morning as a syrup base alongside bourbon, bitters, and orange peel.

Best For

• Cold-weather drinking sessions when you want rich malt character without heavy ABV
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates German lager traditions
• Pairing with a holiday dinner spread or charcuterie board
• Introducing someone to the doppelbock style with an approachable American-brewed example

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Silver Morning taste like? Silver Morning delivers a malt-forward flavor profile dominated by toffee, brown sugar, dark cherry, and raisin, with earthy herbal hops providing balance. The body is medium and smooth, finishing subtly dry with toasted bread character.

How does Silver Morning compare to Ayinger Celebrator? Silver Morning is openly inspired by Ayinger Celebrator, the Bavarian doppelbock benchmark. Both share a rich, malty core with dark fruit and toffee, though Silver Morning sits at 6.8% ABV compared to Celebrator's 6.7% and tends toward a slightly drier finish with more pronounced herbal hop notes.

Is Silver Morning good for sipping on its own? Silver Morning is an excellent sipper, particularly when served at cellar temperature around 48–52°F, where its complex malt layers and subtle warming quality come through most clearly.

Where is Silver Morning made? Silver Morning is brewed at Maplewood Brewery & Distillery, located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The brewery was established in 2014 as the first combined brewery-distillery in the state.

What foods pair well with Silver Morning? Roasted pork or bratwurst complement the malty sweetness; aged Gruyère or Comté echo the toffee and caramel notes; dark chocolate desserts match the dark fruit character; smoked brisket benefits from the lager's clean, dry finish; and hearty rye bread with mustard mirrors the bready malt backbone.

What sizes does Silver Morning come in? Silver Morning is commonly available as a four-pack, which is the standard retail format from Maplewood Brewery & Distillery.

Is Silver Morning worth the price? Silver Morning positions as a craft doppelbock in the mid-range price tier for specialty lagers, and its 89/100 BeerAdvocate score and 88/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine support strong value for a style that demands quality malt and patient lagering.

Why Silver Morning?

Doppelbock is one of the most demanding lager styles to brew well — it requires clean fermentation, quality malt, and extended cold conditioning to avoid the heavy, syrupy character that plagues lesser examples. Silver Morning earns recognition from both BeerAdvocate (89/100) and Craft Beer & Brewing's BJCP-certified blind panel (88/100), placing it among the more respected American-brewed doppelbocks. Its origin at Maplewood, a dual-purpose brewery and distillery, reflects a team with broad fermentation expertise. For drinkers drawn to malt complexity, dark fruit warmth, and a clean lager finish, Silver Morning is a compelling Chicago-made take on a centuries-old Bavarian tradition.