Allagash Curieux

’09 bottle thanks to KGAGNE (BA)!Hazy yellow-gold, thin white head. Sweet nose of bourbon, wood, and lemon. More bourbon in the flavor, also light pepper, banana, and lemon. A little thin and hot. Not bad, but I think the bourbon kills off most of the tripel and what remains is an odd collection of sweet barrel with light, grassy citrus.

Wow, this is a huge beer! This one will knock your pants off if you’re not careful. I drank it on an almost empty stomach, and felt its effects just about right away. This tripel pours a cloudy light amber color with a minimal head. But the head lurks with some stickiness around the edges of the glass. The nose is full of fruits, light bread notes, yeast, alcohol and bourbon. The body is generally smooth, but the flavors beg you to carefullly sip. The flavors are very strong and upfront. I tasted notes of orange peel, bread, yeast, alcohol, light floral hops and grass. The flavor I enjoyed the most, though, was the bourbon toward the back end and in the finish of the beer. The bourbon mixed in really well with the other flavors, even bringing out some of the fruit notes. One of the fruit notes that was really brought out was the oranges. The flavors reminded me of enjoying Grand Mariner, but with a carbonated feel. I really enjoyed this beer, even if it kicked my butt a little.

Pours a hazy copperish golden yellow color with a 2 finger creamy white head that has good retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cap that leaves sporadic spots of soapy lacing. Earthy oak/wood aroma with crisp light fruit and citrus notes. The bourbon presence is there but doesn’t dominate and is actually quite subtle. Smooth medium body which was very surprising considering the high ABV. Very flavorful and not too hot. Alcohol is excellently masked making it very drinkable. Sour earthy oak wood flavor with some sweet crisp light estery fruit notes, mostly apple and pear, slight citrus peel notes and again a nice bourbon presence. The bourbon flavor is well integrated and doesn’t overpower the other flavors. Very well balanced with some more bourbon flavor coming through in the oaky dry finish.

750ml bottle Bottle 5/07 11% ABV 11/3/09 (Binny’s Naperville)-Pours a hazy yellowish golden with a small white head. Aroma of bourbon, belgian yeast, brett, and slight vanilla. Taste of bourbon, vanilla, yeast, and alcohol. This full bodied brew is very well balanced and quite tasty. Well done.

bottle, golden color with sweet fruit and wood aromas, flavors has some buttery oak, banana, apple, spices, lasting finish

Tap at Toronado SD ($7). Pours an apricot-like brownish yellow with thin layer of off-white head. Aroma of floral bouquet, lemon, pear, wood, and sweet malts. Flavor is sweet but smooth. A malty sweetness merges into an earthy woodiness. Spice and a light bourbon flavor emerge as well. Interesting finish that is sweet, slightly bitter, and quite woody. Very quaffable for an eleven percenter!

Bottle. 25.4 oz. (2009) Pours hay colored, murky golden with a medium, pungent, white head. Incredibly unique aroma: strong vanilla, wheat, breadd, hops, and, oddly, warm butter. Medium body for such a high ABV, which it hides very well. Nice lacing throughout. Extremely long, crisp finish. Excellent tripel.

sample draft at Waywood Beverage!! pours an opaque honey color with a very thin white head...retention could be better. outstanding aroma of blood orange and herbs with a hint of vanilla slight breadiness. flavor has light vanilla and bourbon with some mildly spicy hops up front and the end is dominated by oak notes. mouthfeel is creamy at first but gets a bit watery in the finish. still has an oaky, dry lingering finish. very nice beer...i defintiely had seconds!