Allagash Four

Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Portland, Maine USA

Aroma was moderatly malty and slightly hoppy with a hint of flowers, banana and coriander. Poured a large head which was creamy and off-white with good lacing. Was light murky brown in color. Moderatly sweet initially with a heavy acidic finish. Finish was full, syrupy, and heavily astringent.

Sampled at Max’s Taphouse in Baltimore. Pours a clear copper color with no head and some tight bubbles. Aroma is wheaty and yeasty with some hay and whiskey. Flavor is malty with sweet candy, yeast and some brandy. Finish is thick and boozy. Could either use more complexity or some more subtlety.

Not sure how a beer can be prettier than this...unless the bubbles were packed in a little tighter!!! Fire-in-a-glass...inferno orange with incredible carbonation that rises from the ashes to create a white smoke-like cloud of a head. That head starts at 3-inches but never goes away...and so when the second glass is poured, it grows to 4. The alcohol is completely invisible in this one. Bready-Belgian characteristics/spices in the nose. Dark fruits, brown sugar, caramel all find their way onto the palate. I can see why they call it 4: 4 malts, 4 hops, 4-inch head...I’ll give it a 4!!!

Tap at Barcade: Nice hazy amber with a rich tan head. Evident Belgian character in the nose. Candi-sugar, figs, dates, toffee and other dark Belgian malt notes; inviting. Creamy body with tight carbonation that becomes more tamed as it sits and warms. Mild citric notes upfront, giving off some citrus fruit subtleties. Then comes the dark Belgian malt character giving way to figs, prunes, slightly sticky brown sugar sweetness, and a more spicy finish of clove and moderate peppery alcohol. Fairly solid American example of the style.

750 ml bottle. Pours a clear amber. Medium sized, creamy light tan head. Sweet aroma and flavor. Floral notes, some banana. Warm alcohol ending, very dry. Nice beer.

Heavily malted as the description suggests. Aroma of hops and a sweet malt palate mixed with dark fruits. Taste is similar but carries too much of a yeast flavor for my tastes. Kind of like a very strong dark wit. Not bad though.

The hops stand out on the initial sip with some sugary malty bananas and prunes with a muted spicy character. The alcohol lingers in the finish with a certain yeasty character to it that lends a slight bitter edge almost of whiskey. This was my contribution to the NEPA case swap. For a quad it seems awfully drinkable except for the alcoholic kick. The palate has some dryness and is not overly carbonated despite the cork lying above (this was bottled in 2005). Case from Ace Beverage, Eynon, PA.

750ml caged&corked bottle. Pours a deep, murky copperish brown with amber and red highlights. The foam pours thick, cloudy, and soft. It eventually fades into almost no head and leaves very light specks of "lace" on the glass. The aroma is thick with fruit - banana, pineapple, sweet cherry - and has a subtle must to it, too. Notes of spice and alcohol also permeate the smell. The beer starts bready with touches of spice and cake. As the beer nears mid-palate, flavors of brandy, sweet malts, soft fruit, and spice strengthen. The middle of the tongue and back detect a light, fruity hop bitterness which is complex and complements the malty sweetness nicely. The finish also has a touch of bitterness from ethanol. It ends warmingly and medium in fullness vs. dryness. The mouthfeel is quite briskly carbonated and is playful - a nice way to lighten this otherwise thick and decadent brew. Overall, another awesome beer from Allagash. As much as I don’t like how expensive these big bottles of their special beers are, I keep finding myself paying it up because of how delicious these things are...