Allagash Black

sampled with the phoenix crew... reddish blackish brownish color (mix and match, take your pick) with orange at the edges. it’s topped by a creamy tan head which leaves some spotty lacing. mellow aroma of grain, chocolate, floral belgian yeast, some coffee/nuttiness and a hoppy/herbal/stick-like dryness. the flavor is very familiar yet i’ve never tasted this before... woodsy, malty grain, chocolate, toasted nuts and a little yeast. dry mildly bitter finish. a very pleasant grainy coffee aftertaste lingers for quite a while. medium-ish body. terribly light and drinkable. creamy soft carbonation makes this so silky and smooth. this beer is really warming... not hot or boozy. rather there is something comfortable about it?...

Bottle. Pours black with a small ring of tan head. Aroma of roast, coffee, and sweet roasted malt. Flavor of lots of coffee and roasted malt, some peanut brittle and roasted nuts. A nice body- very rich, silky, smooth, and creamy. So drinkable for a stout. Quite enjoyable. I would like to see more Belgian characteristics in this one however.

From a growler filled at Bellport Beer and Cold Soda. Pours black with a moderate, dense, light brown head that lasted through three-quarters of the glass and left a light coating with each sip. Very pleasant aroma of chocolate, lightly roasted malt, and a few notes of coffee. There is quite a bit of chocolate in the flavor, along with some lightly roasted malt. After several seconds, a very nice hazelnut flavor emerges. Only slightly bitter at the finish. Very rich, silky mouthfeel. Delicious!

Bottle. [thank you, myrup]
Pours deep redish black with a big, frothy/bubbly beige-brown head. Aroma is nice, lots of cocoa, light yeast, good sweet chocolate. Low carbonation, nice light creaminess. Flavour is very nice, sweet chocolate, lightly vinious and a good yeast presence. Finish is dry and cocoa-based. Really good.

Sampled at Bocky Bash on 7-5-08 Mild aroma of coco on the nose. Black body with tan head. Seemed like this had a cola carbination to the flavor. Sweet chocolate there also. Not a very good read on this beer for me, but a decent brew.

7/5/08 at the Seattle International Beerfest. Aroma is mostly true stout, with cream, sweet roast and only the lightest of fruity esters. Appearance is very dark brown with a well maintained cream colored head. Flavor is roast malt forward with moderate bittering, mostly from toast. There’s good creamy sweetness throughout. Mouthfeel is full bodied with a moderate carb texture. Overall, not as Belgian as expected, but that certainly doesn’t hurt this well made stout.

Sampled at Bockyhorsey’s Bocky Bash on 7-5-08. Dark brown pour with a ring of foamy tan head. Aroma of roasted coffee and malt, with some chocolate and caramel sweetness. Flavor is all of that, with a sour fruitiness hiding in the background. A little lighter than I was expecting in the flavor and on the palate, but really a great brew.

Bottle tasted at the 7/5/08 Bock Bash locals tasting. Pours a clear dark brown with bubbly tan head. Nose is coffee, cocoa and bakers chocolate. Taste is coffee, mild chocolate, some hops and a bit of funky sourness in the finish. Light to medium mouth feel.