Local shops shuttered their doors. Employees took the day off. Parents dumped their kids at daycare. The reason? Abnormal Beer Co. fans had to be ready for the highly anticipated release of Maple Mornings Imperial Stout.

Craft fiends stalked the brewery’s website to prepare for this coveted brew, their trigger fingers ready. At 2 pm, the Maple Mornings frenzy officially hit. With a maximum of 3 bottles per person, fans snatched up the supply much faster than it arrived, and the lucky few who tried it gave it a whopping 4.36 on BA!

Desperate maple fiends from around the country flooded trade forums with ISO requests, offering to pay San Diego locals extra to ship a bottle of the coveted brew.

Why so desired, you ask? The Abnormal brewers added 50 lbs of 100% pure maple syrup from Vermont to the batch, making an alluring aroma of maple to captivate the fortunate bottle holders. Emerging into maple daze with the first taste, hints of bitter coffee balance with smooth vanilla. Maple Mornings sneaks a 12.5% ABV into the flavorful sweetness, along with the thickest mouthfeel Abnormal fans ever tasted from the brewery.

From acquiring to tasting, now you can experience the Maple Mornings craze without the frenzy -- it’s much more enjoyable this way.

Rated 4.36 on BeerAdvocate; 4.32 on Untappd