Allagash Curieux

the initial taste is very similar to bourbon. it finishes great though, w/out the burning sensation of a whiskey.

The Allagash pours like a Belgian Ale. I can taste that Belgian yeast. But it is saturated with subtle bourbon flavors. They linger in your mouth like a fine drink in a Louisville hotel where you were once over charged for two shots. $75 for what? you yelled. Only it wasn’t you who yelled that. It was me. Allagash underwhelms some beer geeks, but I almost always like their subtle flavors. This one is no exception. I’m really enjoying that undertone of bourbon mixed with the ale. Very nice. Or as Mr. Food says on his banal taped food show that concludes our local news every night at 5:30 pm and that drives my wife crazy: “It’s soooooo good.”

Served in a snifter, on cask at Pizza Paradiso in DC. Transparent, rosy, amber body with a thin, white head. Aroma of vanilla, oak, yeast, slight malt, candy, and honey. Flavor is extremely well balanced. Many barrel aged beers have way to much oak, alcohol or something else to be tasty. This been had only a mild oak, bourbon and vanilla flavor. The abbey tripel portion of the beer was still relevant, with slight malt, fruity esters and Belgian candy all lurking behind the Jim Beam flavors. Finish was slightly sticky and a little dry. I have not had this from the bottle, but I have to imagine this beer was meant to be on cask. The absence of carbonation allows the flavors to coexist and the warmer, cellar temperatures allow the unique flavors and aromas to come out.

750ml - Light gold, fizzy appearance, fleetign head, Cocoa Puffs and bourbon on nose. Creamy palate with strong cocoanut on end. Nice lacing throughout.

Draft at Capones. Hazy orange body with thin head. Aroma is light citrus oranges, and yeast. Flavor has a crisp orange feel to it, lightly sweet, light wood and alcohol burn and a little earthy. Good stuff.

2005 vintage: Aroma is stunning. lots of bourbon, wood, and vanilla. Beer poured with good bit of haze and looked slightly yellow and built a rather small 1 finger head. Flavor was just as good as the aroma. Vanilla is the lead characteristic followed by wood, some toast, and finishing with that satisfaction of taking a sip of bourbon that just sits on the back of your throat. Excellent brew.

Great beer. Very expensive($18 per bottle). Beer is aged in Bourbon Barrels and you can certainly taste a slight hint of bourbon. Pretty much pours a light amber color and not a huge head. Fruity, well balanced. Slight hop finish is nice. Enjoyable.

Good solid Belgian. Slightly more complex than their straight up Tripel. It is well balanced, less sweet and spicy than most tripels which is a nice thing.