Allagash Curieux

Bottle from Wade’s Wines somewhere in Ventura County, CA. Poured a gold color and smelled of sweet malts and fruit. Tasted of a little bit of apple and pear with a hint of bourbon. I was very impressed with this brew. Just wish is wasn’t so expensive at 15.99 for 750ml bottle.

Sampled out of the big bottle. Full of strong malts and loads of bourbon afternotes. A excellent brew.

On tap at O’Brien’s Pub 14th Anniversary Barrel-Aged beer night 1/15. A- Pours a light orange hue, off white head is mostly dissipating, minimal lacing S- Brandy and oak dominate, subtle aromas of sugary sweet fruits, some malts and vanilla as well T- Oak and bourbon notes ride in first, subtle molasses and alcohol warming in the midsection, finishes dry and sweet M- Medium-bodied, oily texture, mild carbonation D- Interesting blend of flavors with a strong wood presence, however most of the tastes dissipate quickly leaving not much in its wake, underimpressed with this trippel

Tinged gold pour into a sample glass. Funky yeast aroma hit me right away, but it enhanced the flavor which was had notes of oak and rum. Very good!

On tap at Three Floyds and served in a snifter. This beer poured a lightly hazed golden orange with a thin head of slowly fading off-white foam that left some even lines of lacing down the glass. The aroma was made up of candied oranges and pears, light clove and coriander, and also just a hint of bourbon. The flavor was bright and full of sugar-coated oranges, pears, honeycrisp apples...all tinged with a mellow bourbon note. Quite delicious! The mouthfeel was full-bodied and lush. Moderately carbonated. I love Allagash’s tripel, but the bourbon barrels add another layer of flavor to a great beer.

On draught at Birreria Paradiso. Cloudy straw colored, aroma of yeast and orange peel. Flavor of coriander and citrus. Malty finish well balanced with hops. Nice one.

Draught at The Reef. Opaque gold with a big white head. The aroma is sweet, floral, woody, very bourbon tinged and alcoholic. The flavor is mostly bourbon, which is nice, but covers the tripel up almost completely. Rich caramel and wood leading to a pretty dry, slightly alcoholic finish. Medium bodied and quite drinkable. Interesting and a great sipper, but the balance is squarely with the barrel influence.

There’s not much Allagash can’t do. The Bourbon hints spotty - strong here, missing there - but it makes each glass an adventure. It’s overall very good, but not GREAT.