Allagash Four

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

IMO...whatever Allagash was shooting for they missed. Big alcohol kick but flavorless. I think I paid about $11 for a bottle of this this, definitely not worth it.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry, GregClow & blankboy -- courtesy of HogTownHarry. Dark brown. Allagash yeast aroma (I’ve had enough to recognize it!). Strong alcohol and spicy malt in aroma as well. Taste of strong alcohol, yeast, spices, and red wine. Thick mouthfeel, yet somehow thing and lively tasting. Formidable! Fruity tasting as it warms. Cinnamon / caramel lingering aftertaste. Not complex, but really really solid. And I had the biggest sample which knocked my socks off for a bit! Thanks Harry for sharing this!

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry, GregClow & tupalev -- courtesy of HogTownHarry. Pours a dark hazy copper with a spare white head. Aroma of caramel malt, brown sugar, hops and alcohol. Flavour follows the aroma. Alcohol is present but doesn’t taste like 10%. Good but there are better beers in this style.

Clear ruby-purple body. Very large off-white/eggnog colored head. Leaves wonderful lacing. Variety of sizes to the bubbles. Smell is rich malt, apples, cherries, yeast, and lightly of alcohol and sugars. Taste is strong but not crisp like most Belgian quads. The alcohol doesn’t seem as strong either. This beer couples lemony hops with pit fruit and dark chocolate. Creamy consistency in mouth. Overall a sweet ale with a very strong hop presence in back of mouth and tongue that don’t seem to match each other. The final palate is actually really not that good. Alcohol is not emcumbering at all for a beer with such a high ABV. And finally, do not let the 97% overall ranking fool you. For this style, the beer is only in the 65 percentile.

Bottle (750ml). Shared with blankboy, GregClow and tupalev - courtesy of me. Poured deep cloudy copper-brown with a thin white head. Aroma of ripe apple, raisin, mild caramel roasted malt, alcohol, even a hint of raw mushroom - quite spicy and while not totally blended, very appealing. Taste same as aroma - very warming - alcohol bitterness emerged as it opened up, but a good fruit/caramel balance. Mouthfeel was almost syrupy but lively, and alcoholic. I found this very refreshing and *strong* - glad I didn’t have to drink the whole 750ml myself. Very nice!

The corked and caged 750 ml bottle yields a large, rocky light tan head that left great lacing atop a brilliant, hazy copper penny colored body. There are bold old aromas of caramel malt, molasses, ripe banana, orange rind and alcohol, which grow stronger as the ale warms to room temperature. Palate entry is quite sweet, but immediately tempered by a warming and drying alcohol flavor. Mid-palate introduces the flavors suggested in the nose, but I also identify plum and raisin. The excellent long-lasting finish is rather dry with the aforementioned alcohol and hop flourish. I am unable to determine the bottling date for this ale, but I would imagine that it is on the youthful side and might be improved with some cellaring.

The uncapping of the metal wire cage, and the pulling of the cork was followed by an resounding pop, that reassured me, that the seal had held well. The beer poured out quite lovely, with a clear reddish amber body, and an unevenly rocky, large, beige head. The aroma was very malty, with a muted spiciness. The mouth watering smell consisted of banana, orange peel, plum, saffron, coriander, and fresh cut hay. The scent was good, but not as prominent as typical for the great examples of the style.

The taste was generously malty, with a buttery mellowness, which I can proudly attribute to the year plus stay in my cellar. There was also a drying presence of faded hops and subtle spices to keep the sweetness in balance. The yeast imparted a bit of sourness as well. The interplay between these elements presented a harmonious complexity.

The body was a little delicate for the style, but the sticky mouthfeel was enough to allow the flavors to shine through. The maturity of the flavors concealed the sugar derived alcohols quite well. Made a perfect nightcap, especially when paired with a wedge of semi-soft Brie cheese. The only slight downside to the whole experience was the fact that the taste did not change very much during the consumption of the entire 750 ml. bomber. Despite that, a very pleasing beer.

Poured with a sweet, head stays around. Flavor was a little syrupy malt, and a full mouthfeel. This it a nice quad that should get even better with age.