Allagash Bourbon Black

Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Foreign Stout
Portland, Maine USA

Serve in English pint, Snifter, Tulip

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Draft. Pours near black with a thin head. Sweet and roasted malty aroma with more sweet bourbon. The flavor has bourbon, light roasted malts, toffee, and molasses. Not bad.

Sampled at FoBAB 2010. Dark brown/blackish pour. Tan head. Aroma is bourbon, chocolate mousse, some wood and vanilla. Flavor is very smooth, nice bourbon notes with a bit of oak. Somewhat salty. Nice mouthfeel. Alcohol not to prevalent. overall, excellent.

On tap at Paradiso. Pours pitch black with a small tan head. Little lace. Aroma is whiskey, chocolate ganache, Godiva liquor, light cayenne pepper. Very oily palate. Lots of rich vanilla and some cognac showing through in the taste as well as some light flemish sour notes, vinegar, sherry. Some sticky sweetness in the finish. Yum.

On tap at The Map Room. Pours a cloudy, darker brown body with a few amber highlights around the edges. Finger-width, dense and creamy, tan head that dissipates slowly and leaves a nice lacing throughout. Aroma is big bourbon and wood with a moderate roast, a light vanilla, a touch of dark chocolates, some dark fruits, and a light Belgian yeast. Flavor is similar. Big bourbon and wood up front with a bit more of a dark chocolate and moderate roast backing. Some vanilla in the middle with a light dark fruit and Belgian yeast hint. Bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate lead this into the finish where it ends pretty dry with a medium-light roastiness, some wood, and a bit of a cookie malt sweetness. Lengthy aftertaste following a pretty creamy, medium body and a soft, moderate carbonation. Overall, a nice beer. Lots of bourbon, wood, and vanilla with a solid chocolate, moderate roast, light dark fruit, and touch of Belgian yeast. Highly enjoyable.

Draft @ Hulmeville Inn. Dark pour with tan head. Huge bourbon notes, dark malts, chocolate and roasted notes. Barreling dominates beer.

(draught) cloudy deep brown, creamy fine tan head. Nose of raisin, cream, light bourbon and vanilla. Taste of banana, light whiskey, vanilla, nutty, alcohol. Medium carbonation, tasting some alcohol on the palate. Decent but wish it was richer or smoother.

On tap at TnD and served way too cold. Pours opaque black with moderate black head. Smell is all bourbon, oak, and vanilla. Flavor is the same with a little roast/toast. Taste is moderately bitter. Body is relatively light and creamy. Much less intense than say, Kentucky Breakfast Stout. A decent beer, but I think I prefer the plain Allagash better.

Draft at ChurchKey in DC. Dark pour with a tan head, big lacing. Nose is oaky, smokey and a hint of bourbon. Mouthfeel is nice, smokiness continues with some fun Belgian spice and just a hint of bourbon. Quite good!

Poured from a tap at flying saucer. Pours a nice dark color with a smooth tan head leaving good lacing. Aroma is bourbon forward with notes of vanilla, toasted malt and maybe even some chocolate. Flavor is very smooth bitterness with not as much bourbon as is on the nose. I can pick up the beginning ester flavors and roasted malt. Mouthfeel is full overall with good carbonation. Not amazing but would drink again.

UPDATED: MAY 16, 2013 Draft at Eulogy. Start of a barrel. Opaque brown pour in a tulip glass. Nice foamy tan head that left some lace. Slightly medicinal chocolate liquor. Definite bourbon barrel notes. Tootsie Rolls. Not much aroma once the head dies down. Silky palate. Smooth finish. High ABV is well hidden. Nice, but lacks complexity. Update: Having it on draft again during an Allagash event at Moriartys. Similar looking, though much less lace. Started too cold but warmed up to some deeper complex flavors.