Remove tops from beer cans with can opener; lightly oil insides. Sprinkle soda on dates. Heat beer to boiling and pour over date/soda mixture; set aside to cool. Cream together butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and eggs. Stir in flour. Add nuts and cooled date mixture. Spoon batter into cans, filling only half full. Bake with cans standing up on cookie sheet, at 180ºC or 15-30 minutes; look for tops to split and test for doneness. Do not cut bread for 1 day; bread may break up, if it is sliced while still warm. ----