Allagash Curieux

Poured a nice hazy gold color, with a slight head that didnt want to go away. The aroma was big on the bourbon which was fine by me, with a little citrus thrown in for good measure. The taste was very pleasant, it started very rich and malty, and moved on to something slightly more pungent. A oaky citrusy blend that was bold, but quite pleasant. It ended with a pleasant warming effect that let you know it was 11 percent alcohol. I quite enjoyed this beer.

750 ml bottle. Bottling date August, 2006. Pours a brilliant but slightly hazy gold with a moderate head that lasted almost to the bottom of the glass and left heavy sheets of lacing. Very pleasant aroma of bourbon, oak and a little bit of vanilla. The flavor starts out with light malt and moves into a warming bourbon and oak flavor. The warming alcohol presence lingers after the swallow and does not interfere at all with the flavor. Well done and very enjoyable.

On tap at Clark St. Ale House, Chicago. A light bodied tripel with hints of bourbon. Maybe a little wine flavor? Interesting, but I need to try it again when my palate is fresh.

Bottled, 2007 Ed. Cloudy, golden body with sparkling lines of bubbles--like champaign--and topped with a small-but-tenacious white head that leaves behind delicate lace in the form of rounded spots, irregular streaks, splotches, and sometimes these are connected. The mouth is fullish (despite a lighter body) with an incredible amount of creamy, foamy carbonation and a somewhat wet finish. The oak barrels dominate the aroma, giving it the smell of wine, while the beer itself is somewhat fruity and alcoholic with lemon, whey, and probably some other things. The taste is coying and fruity with lots of sugar, white wine, and a sour finish of oak, citrus, green grapes, and an alcoholic tone of what I’m assuming must be the bourbon. As it warms, there is a touch of whiskey on the aroma. Warming and strong; tastes like wine, and the good news is that it doesn’t give me a terrible headache like wine does. Goes down easy; alcohol is powerful but well-blended; refreshing, with a long-lasting, sour finish.

A perfect gleam of sunlit, clear chilled lemony yellow. Until the end has reached the bottle and it gets all opaque from the yeast and looks like a gorgeous plastic mold of lemon ochre. Starchy, weakened, plummeting capping of off-white, loose foam creates the roofing. A settled dense, bubbly foam is left at the edges to collar the top like soft ice cream pushed up from a spoon. Inky drawn out lacing splats across the glass with a light embrace. Softly delicate, lush, and inviting nose of plump citrusy juices, soured candied sugars, and some semi sharp white grapey wine-likeness sweeps to the front on every wiff. Smells much like a fine Italian lemon sorbet. Taste is vibrant, full, and seeping with a long lasting heated touch of bourbonyness soaked into every inch of the citrusy Tripel ale envelope. Sealed with many malty edges, this sucker gets right in there and makes itself welcome in your soul. Wonderfully pungent and yet soft and delicate in nature along the path of its bittering citrus notes of lemon, orange, pineapple, and tangerine juices, pith, and peels. Perfect malty balance underneath with a semi sweet and tenderly present candy tone. Throw in the always present twinge of bourbony twisted heat and grapey-like flavors and this is one hell of a fun package to open. Feel is about medium bodied; closing in on fullish; good malt presence sticks it to you right quick and lets all the little things play their part as it firms up the hold of absolutely fantastic, mildly pungent, citrusy sugars, and fun, take their time to unfold under the heat of a great and grapey bourbony kick. The 11% is evident in smell and taste but not really taken into account while consuming as it goes down with ease. That said, the bourbon that is there does hamper a bit of its overall downability. But not enough to really take away from the performance at hand(bottle). A very solid offering from Allagash!

22 oz bottle, from 2005, courtesy of WeeHeavySD. Jon graciously gave this to my wife and I to celebrate the birth of our daughter back in April. Many thanks, Jon. I shared this with my wife, as well as my Neighbor, Thom. This stuff smells divine - sweet, tart and lots of oak. Flavor is really nice, albeit very sweet. The bourbon is not overdone, and in fact adds an interesting detail to an already complex beer. I love a good tripel, and this is definitely a good one.

@ the GABF 2007 Taste is alcoholic and thin (if that can be possible for an 11 percenter). There was a slight oakiness that was only perceived after I was told about it. Definitely, hot. Definitely. The alcohol overshadowed everything, especially any great enjoyment of the beer.

Tried it on tap at SIB 2007, i’m usually not a belgian triple style but throwing this in a bourbon barrel makes it one of the best beers I’ve ever had. Strong bourbon aroma and palate, Hella dank!!!