Iron Chef...Brewing?

It's been over a month since I started working at Troeg's and I'm happy to say that my feelings about the job have not changed. I'm still loving it. The people that work there are a huge part of why I'm enjoying it so much. Unlike my last job, there's no us/them division between those in charge and those who aren't. It's not uncommon to see the owners working the bottling line or driving a forklift. Likewise, you'll occasionally see John, the head brewer, asking a homebrewer about experiences with a particular technique or for thoughts on a new recipe.

To keep the good vibes going, John has come up with a bit of friendly competition: a brewing contest. The only limitations are that it: 1) must be brewed onsite with the brewery's 5 gallon pilot system, 2) it must be ready to drink by the first week of August, and 3) it must use the common "Iron Chef" ingredient. This round's ingredient is sugar. The twist is that each team was given a different form of sugar: molasses, honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup. The winners get their names on a trophy to be displayed in the brewery's tasting room. John also mentioned the possibility of the best beer being brewed on the big system and released as part of their Scratch Beer series.

All the employees were divided into 4 teams. My team drew maple syrup. We've got some recipe ideas already, but are unsure of the best way to get the maple to come across in the finished product. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.