Allagash Curieux

Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Tripel
Portland, Maine USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip

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.

On tap at Timberwood Grill. Poured dark honey color with fine white head. Light floral, peach and spiced aroma. Flavor is a smooth honeyed bourbon with creamy palate and cinnamon finish. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Persimmon nose with green apple underneath, oddly tart for a tripel. Hazy amber, medium lacy head. Persimmon and peach flavor. Bourbon is prominent but not overbearing. Weighty and full bodied, but not viscous. Finishes oaky. This is a very multi-dimensional beer. There are sour, sweet, bitter, boozy, light, and heavy aspects to this beer. How Allagash manages to get them together all in one beer without creating a mess is a stroke of genius. It even has made me rethink my dislike of bourbon barrel aging. In imperial stouts it becomes a chore, in a tart well made tripel it is an elegant delight. Game changer.

Hazy golden yellow pour with off white head. Aroma of yeast, peach and lychee. Taste is sweet light fruit, caramel and definate oak whiskey barrel dominating the aftertaste. Nice carbonation and mouthfeel and alcohol burn is overly present.

Bottle for Super Bowl XLVI. Fairly light, golden and somewhat hazy. The aroma is fairly robust, creamy though. The aroma is somewhat whiskey-laden, but wow the beer certainly drinks with a big whiskey kick. Nicely blended into a smooth golden ale. Outstanding! (#4468, 2/5/2012)

750ml bottle. Bottled December 2011. Picked up at a local grocery store. Pours a clear deep golden hue with a two finger fluffy white head. Very attractive brew. Lush fruity aroma. Pears & peaches soaked in vanilla and bourbon. Quite a heady aroma. Same fruits are in the flavor as well as the vanilla and booze. A bit of misc spice as well. Delicious. Full palate with active carbonation. Warming, sweet finish. A little pricey, as all of Allagash’s offerings are, at $14.99 a 750ml bottle. Treated myself to this to celebrate my 55th trip around the sun.

Draught at Rattle ’N’ Hum, NYC, on January 30, 2012
Cloudy golden color, white head. Sweet, malty, honey, alcohol taste. Gut warming alcohol. Smooth mouthfeel, low bitterness. Sweet, malty, alcohol scent, a bit acidic.

Dec 2011 750ml bottle. Pours a lively crystal-white head that flattens to float a few millimeters thick at the center and covers the body with a half-finger-thick ring around the glass. Lacing is white and covering. Body is a hazy amber with sparse, small columns of effervesence. Aroma is mild: cereal, banana, and a little earthy. Flavor is medium sweet. Alcohol warms the finish very slightly and pleasantly. Overall body passes the lips lightly, though texture swirls in the mouth thick and creamy. The only finish is sweet on the tongue and warm on the throat. A very balanced, mild beer. Very good as I would expect at $20 for the bottle.

2010 Draft. Cloudy dark yellow with a small white head. The aroma is mostly vanilla, oak, and bourbon, with some lite spice and alcohol. The flavor starts out smooth and sweet, with an almost creamy texture, then lots of bourbon barrel and vanilla. Finishes with banana and warm alcohol and moderate dryness. A little boozy, but pretty good. Tripel aspects are quite muted though on account of all the whiskey barrel.