Allagash Four

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

Deep orangey brown, big puffy head that settles into a gentle skin. aromas of whiskey and toffee, yeast, and green grapes. Toffee malt and fruity yeast dominate, fairly light in the mouth for all of its bombastic proclamations of "four, four FOUR". It’s not bad at all, but just not nearly the level of complexity that I’d expected.

Poured into a tulip glass. The color is lighter and less hazy than you’d expect for a quadrupel. Just about the same hue as the empty bottle it came out of. Head is white instead of tan, and 3 fingers high. The foam isn’t as dense as a real Belgian beer would have, but it does leave nice lacing. Aroma is good but not very complex. Sugary dates provide the classic dark fruitiness, and some cookieish malt. Nice and malty in flavor, with that ever-present date note as well as raisin and some fleshy fruit. I don’t know if this beer was made with spices but there is a spicy component to the flavor. It could be peppery alcohol though. Body could be a little richer, carbonation is high. Does not compare favorably to authentic examples of the style. Still, this beer is pretty easy to drink despite the high abv.

Pours a redish brown. First things first, 10% is unknown. Well hidden. Well crafted beer. Dark fruit and spices. Worth a try.

Pours deep amber red with a frothy head that disappears quickly. Aroma of candies sugar, yeast, and raisins. Sweet malts present right up front (fairly complex with notes of candied sugar, dark fruits, and citrus), followed by alcohol finishing slightly bitter. I like to see my quadrupels hide their alcohol a little more effectively, but an interesting concept, and a quite enjoyable beer.

draft @ uber tavern - after enjoying a few bottles of this over the last year, i was delighted to see this on tap at uber; bright orange with reddish hints and cream colored head; sweet aromas of candy, yeast, fruit and sugar; creamy texture and just divine; one of my fav beers

Pours an attractive red-orange color with frothy white head. Nice lacing. Aroma of candied sugar, belgian yeast, dark fruit, dried fruit, cocoa, and floral hops. Flavor is sweet but nicely balanced with dark fruit and some citrus hoppiness as well as candied sugar. Another good one from Allagash.

On tap at Firewaters. Once again Firewaters served this beer WAAAY TOO COLD, for a beer bar I’m shocked on how cold they serve their beers. Pours a muddy amber brown with a small off white head. Sweet aroma with notes of candied sugar, yeast, and dark fruit. Flavor is similiar to the aroma with lots of sweetness and dark fruit components and very well hidden alcohol for a 10% beer. After drinking this and the DFH Santo Palo I was very nicely buzzed and well I should be for $19 worth of beer!!

Bottled. Thanks Mum! Pours out in a hazy brownish amber colour with a low creamy white foam. Dark, deep, fruity and yeasty aroma of figs, black cherries, brown sugar, sweet licorice and raisins. Full bodied with a smooth mouthfeel. Flavour of of figs, raisins, brown sugar, salty licorice, yeast, almonds and black cherries. Long warming finish of pepper, black cherries, brown sugar, prunes and alcohol. Total score is Four.