Allagash Confluence Ale

Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Ale
Portland, Maine USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: NOV 14, 2009 January 2009 Bottle Date; Sampled July 2009
A very careful pour yields a billowing, off-white colored head that starts out a glass filling four-fingers in height, plus adds an additional, almost two-fingers of structurally sound height above the rim of my 25cl tulip glass. The head only slowly recedes, forming nice structural formations as it does so as well as leaving nice lacing patterns on the sides of my glass. Nice aromas of ripe pear, floral melon and apple are noticed as I visually inspect this beer. The beer is a hazy, pale amber color that shows an orange-gold hue when held up to the light. A nice, slightly grassy, cracker-like grain aromatic quickly yields to a firm, but not dominating, funky Brettanomyces note that provides notes of light phenols, a musty blanket note, plus a touch of muskiness. The fruit character is the most recognizable character in the nose though, with nice notes of Meyer Lemon, orange zest, and a touch of honeysuckle joining the afore-mentioned ripe fruit notes. There is an earthy yeastiness to the aroma that melds nicely with the fresh grain notes.

Nice and effervescent as it hits my tongue, the beer is a bit drier than the expressive, up front fruit aromatics might have suggested. This is very light bodied, but still has a hint of body and viscousness to it especially in the finish where it manages to just stick to the palate. Slightly tart and tasting of ripe green apples, some floral melon qualities as well as some notes of ripe pear. These notes morph into a orange-zest like citrus note towards the finish that tends to linger for a bit on the palate. Musty Brettanomyces notes add a certain woody white pepper note, a touch of phenolic soaked cotton ball flavors, some spiciness that is similar to oak. There is some more structure in the finish from a nice hop bitterness that is noticeable, but not domineering. There is perhaps just a hint of malt sweetness to this beer, much of the time I think I am imagining it because of the floral fruit notes found here, but there does seem to be a touch of something that boosts the malt character just a hint. Other malt notes of unsalted saltine crackers, a touch of grassiness and a nice crushed pale malt note.

This beer remains stubbornly effervescent until the end of the bottle; this works quite well with this quaffable-beyond-its-alcohol beer. I like the balance in the flavor between the spicy fermentation notes, the fruit, the pale malt and the fresh hop character that this brew has. At times the zesty hop character really comes through quite well; this must have been quite a bit more hoppy when freshly released. It is eminently quaffable with just enough Brettanomyces influence to keep my interest piqued throughout. Definitely a wonderful effort and I like that the Allagash house Brett strain has’n’t run rough-shod over the rest of the beer (though that can be nice at times too). I wish I had a couple more bottles of this to age.

27th August 2009
Cloudy orange beer. Frothy white head. Semi dry and frothy palate. Wheaty malt with a little spice and repressed fresh orange, peach and a trace of mango. Semi dry fruity malty finish with a little aniseed. Very drinkable.

Bottle from February 2010, over 2 years old. After taking the cage off, the cork exploded like a bullet to my ceiling. Pours unclear orange honey in color with a huge bubbly white head. The aroma brings pleasant sweet and spicy Belgian yeast notes with some delicious tang. The flavor is sweet and lightly fruity with light spice dancing on the tongue. The body isn’t overly bubbly after some time to settle and a little swirling, quite nice.

From notes. First reviewed 12/11/2011. Served on tap in a snifter at Bangers and Lace. Confluence has a faded dark yellow color, further muted by a haziness in the center of the glass. A frothy white head is modest in size from the tap pour but lingers for the duration of the glass, leaving a few splotches of lace down the glass. The malt base is crackery in the nose, with some white pepper and spice that helps the smell pop. Some lemon zest, white pepper, and musty funk. The aroma is wild, yet delicate and not very complex. The flavor starts with a fair cracker malt base, with some white pepper and general spiciness. Throughout the rest of the sip, a mellow lemon zest tartness blends with a Bretty funk. Nothing about the flavor feels that full developed, though. A chalky mineral flavor seems to protrude here and there as well. The body is on the light side, with a full, creamy carbonation that has a bit of a crisp bite to it as well. Overall, it has a relaxed feel. The first problem is that this is built using the Saison style as a base, which is not my favorite beer. Even so, Oro de Calabaza and Fantôme Saison are much more enjoyable. This is just a mediocre attempt at a wild. Maybe more time would improve it, or maybe it is better in the bottle, but I was not impressed. If the goal is to create a mild wild, they have succeeded.

fabulous Belgian, and I am so glad I aged it and it worked. Light coloured body with enormous white foam. Belgian yeast aroma, a bit funky. Delicious, what a treat with supper.

Thanks Alex from HopsAndVines.net. Pours a hazy orange with a 3 finger super frothy head. Aroma is all Brett with a touch lemon. Taste is a nice Brett with a light potpourri flavor on the very back end. Decent. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Pours extremely foamy with dense rocky head, pale amber with signature "greenish" brett haze, visible effervescence. Aroma is sweet tarts candy, citrus, light barnyard funk, champagne yeastiness, minerality, sour green apple. Taste is same as smell, perfectly tart and complex. Body is frothy and light, velvety and minerally, effervescent, finishes bone dry with a funky sweet tart aftertaste. Overall, this is an insanely delicious and well-crafted ale but for $25 a bottle, this one is for special occasions only.

March 2011 bottle, pours a slightly hazy golden yellow with a huge billowing white cloud of foam. Aroma is distinct brett, some pineapple, musty, and lightly spicy. Taste is not as good as the aroma promised, some sweetness, bread and crackers, some doughy malt, light fruits, pineapple or pear, the brett is just barely present.

2011 bottle. Poured into a snifter. First thing you notice is the huge Champaign head. Aroma has the fruity sourNess from the Brett. Flavor is mildly sour, and has the spice of a Belgium. OMG, this is amazing! Palate is bubbly and slightly chalky, but finishes clean and dry. So complex, I love this! Serve cold, not so good when it warms above 50f.

I just cracked a 09 bottle and was very happy to smell the aromas as strong as ever. The caramel taste was not as pronounced as it is off the self, cutting the smooth transitions of flavors but I’m just being picky because I love this beer!

shared 2009 bottle. pours an orange color with a 2 finger white head which falls rather quickly. light funky Brett nose with lemon and orange notes. med body with citrus notes, light funk, spice and grapes. dry leather finish with light citrus notes along with sweeter malts. I was expecting a bigger Brett presence on this one, but still a solid wild ale, but not worth the price tag.