Allagash Curieux

On tap at Gingerman. Pours a cloudy, light orange with a white head. Nose is of orange, wood and alcohol. Taste is of drinking a fruit parfait or orange dreamsickle with wood. Mouthfeel is sweet and dry with alcohol and some carbonation.

On tap at the Peekskill Brewery. Pours a hazy yellow gold with a medium white head. Almost sour barrel notes, light bourbon, apple, pear. Fresh and complex. Lemony, smooth, light bourbon, wheat. Finishes dry with some light lingering whiskey notes, and a touch of banana yeast. Really tasty.

A: Poured out of a 22 oz bottle into two tulips. Good-sized, white head that stayed around for most of the drinking (which took quite a while). Very decent lacing on the sides of the glass. The beer was quite cloudy, and a nice, orange-yellow color. Sediment was left in the bottom of the bottle. S: Wow, there’s a lot going on here. Quite a good amount of yeast, and definitely some orange in there too. The alcohol comes through, but not too strongly, and the oak is quite present as well. T: Just as much going on as in the aroma. Starts off tasting orange and slightly bready, from the yeast, followed by the warmth of the alcohol in the back of the throat (not overpowering, but it’s definitely there). After a few sips, the bourbon-flavor starts to come through. Finishes ever-so-slightly dry, and the flavor lingers for quite a while. M: Medium-bodied, and very creamy... feels extremely nice on the palate. Average carbonation balances it off perfectly. D: This is an awesome beer to sip over a long period of time... the high alcohol content keeps it from being chugged. Definitely to be savoured with someone else who is likely to appreciate it.

Bottle. Moderate malt aromas all around withgrain for the malt, lemongrass for the hops, mold of the yeast, with notes of pineapple, cask wood, corriander, vanilla and a faint hint of bourbon. Head is average size, white, with good lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is murky amber. Flavor starts moderately sweet and acidic, and finishes lightly sweet and moderately acidic and bitter. Palate is medium, oily with a lively carbonation and finishes lightly astringent and dry. An Abbey Tripel with some good weight to it, yet still manages to be refreshing, with great balance to boot.

A contemplative elixir masquerading as a strong brew. Oaky and earthy and promising more burn than what it actually delivers. Smooth, like a good whisky-- but wait, it’s a beer! Initial opening of the cork strongly reminds one of honey, first and foremost, and then other things....many things. Whatever you want it to be. Better than a good wine.

If you’ve ever wondered where bourbon gets its flavor, here’s the answer. This beer, aged in bourbon barrels smells perfectly whisky-ish. There’s a touch of bread in the nose, maybe a hint of orange-flower, but basically, this is the soul of bourbon turned into a beer. Best for contemplative, after-dinner drinking.

07 Vintage, pours cloudy amber gold, nice puffy head that wains after a short while. Wonderful complex flavor, bourbon is faint, not overpowering at all, with some oak/vanilla in there too.. Yeasty, slightly sweet, rich, nice long finish. Alcohol well hidden, but I felt it right off. Wonderful smell, mild oak and bourbon with some bakery shop aromas. Wonderful balance, I really like this one.

Sample from 22 oz. bottle. Pours gold, just a tad hazy, with a small white head. Aroma of citrus, bourbon, fruit, sugar, and a touch of soap. Flavor is even better, with bourbon, citrus, butter, booze, and a pinch of vanilla. Warming alcohol and a slightly sticky mouthfeel. Still doesn’t seem like 11% ABV. Light to medium body. Dry, fruity finish.