Brown and Hard Maple
The difference between brown maple and hard maple is the hardness and grain. Hard maple is the classic light, smooth maple that comes to mind when you hear maple. Brown maple has more variation in the grain, with grey/green mineral streaking. It is slightly softer, though still a hardwood, as it comes from a different part of the trunk. If you want a darker stain or paint for your finish, it is a good choice. If you want a classic light maple look, then hard maple is your best bet.