Allagash Gargamel

Formerly brewed at Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Portland, Maine USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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A generous pour into my large Tripel Karmeliet tulip glass produces a three-finger thick, pale tan colored head. The beer is a richly red tinged, dark amber color that shows a lightly hazed, red stained gold color when held up to the light. The aroma smells floral and fragrantly of raspberries, but there is a lactic note that was noticeable as I was pouring this and if you dig for it there is a fair amount of funky Brettanomyces character in the finish. This last contributes a musty, phenolic soaked blanket note, as well as a touch of musky barnyard character. I like that the raspberry doesn’t completely dominate the nose, but it is still quite strong and most definitely easily the loudest aroma here by a long way.

The beer is quite dry, with a lightly bracing tartness. The beer has a certain lightness to it that I wasn’t quite expecting from a beer of this strength; it almost seems a touch too thin. The raspberry notes in the flavor are held well in check by the overall dryness of this beer; there is still a fleshy raspberry pulp flavor here as well as a bit of tannic raspberry skin character that mixes with tannic oak notes that lightly coat the teeth. The oak also contributes a spiciness to the finish that mixes with a touch of warming alcohol. The raspberry notes are quite floral in some ways and the fruitiness provides a perceived fruitiness to the middle of each sip. The tartness seems to be derived largely from the lactic fermentation, but also from the raspberries used. The tannic notes and spiciness from the oak balance, quite well, with the light lactic acidity. The body seems to pick up a bit more heft to it as time wears on, perhaps it is just my palate getting used to the beer; this doesn’t become heavy, but does pick up a touch of slickness that works a bit more than the almost watery character that I noticed at first. The oak and the alcohol in the finish contribute a touch of peppery piquancy to the finish. Up front some vanillin mixes in seamlessly with the floral raspberry character; how can you go wrong with raspberry and vanilla flavors.

This is not bad; it is nothing like what I was expecting, even though I don’t really know what I was expecting here. It isn’t all I had hoped it would be though either. It could use a touch more sourness (which might actually help balance this beer somehow) and the body seems a bit thin at times. It could use a bit more complexity; perhaps more funkiness whether acidity, Brett or yeasty spiciness; even a hint of sweetness might be welcome. The beer started out a bit on the weak side but finishes with a much stronger showing that ultimately pushes this into the enjoyable category for me. This ends up being a solid first entry to this limited series by Allagash and I can only hope to try the future releases in this series.

Served in an Allagash cervoise. Pours an orange-copper color with a nice, two-finger white head with really nice retention and some spotty lacing on the way down. There’s a thin collar throughout. The nose carries a nice bit of buttery oak with some vanilla in there as well. Behind that comes a bit of caramel and raspberry, plus a good dosage of earth. Smooth oak really dominates, and then is followed up with some nice funk and earthiness. Vanilla is fairly-prominent. The fruit is in the background at this point. The flavor is incredibly smooth as well. Again, there’s a really fantastic oak presence with light toffee and caramel. Light acidity comes through on the background along with some raspberry must and a nice earthiness. Vanilla in the background. Very smooth and creamy, which heads to the feel. Medium body with moderate carbonation. Light sherry-like oxidation comes through toward the finish. Faint acidity through the finish. The feel might be the best part of what is really an all-around fantastic beer, and is one of the best American Wilds that I’ve had to date.

Bottle from a trade over a year ago with Kan. Thanks again. Been saving this for a while for a milestone rating, and since 3000 occurred at a tasting, figured I was due for a bottle of something all by myself. Pours a lightly hazed red tinged brown with a thin white head. Big sour acid right away, acetic and a touch of nuttiness to it. There’s also the softest caramel and cocoa hints as well, and chocolate covered cherries. Medium bodied, spicy carbonation still. Warming alcohol shows up right away, still a vibrant and lively beer. Spicy and warm, more chocolate covered cherries, this time with a hint of almonds and nuts. Light lemony acidity. More acid, very fine carbonation, nutty. Finishes with a long lingering bright acidity, tart old wood, dusty cheesy funk. Not a mind blowing experience, but still quite nice. Long lasting funkiness on the exhale.

Bottle looks great. Beer in the glass deep golden, almost brownish. Starts intense sourish, not too much and not too dry. Fine spicy notes and also some fruity hints make the beer very interesting. Finish not as sour as the beginning. Well balanced and very drinkable. An awesome beer!

Nice fresh raspberries on the nose with some niice brett playomg the backbonme to the rasberry. Fuck yeaj nose. Reddoishj gomlden amber nose color nice foam. Raspberry frersh tart, funky brett. Dry fruirty tart bakanced. Very light belgian notes underneath. Fucking good shit.

thanks suzygreenberg! never thought I would get to drink this. peaches and cream!! bananas and blow. blueberry and mild tartness. so creamy with such a lasting tart character is amazing. delicate yet strong. kudos. killer. thanks suzygreenberg! never thought I would get to drink this. peaches and cream!! bananas and blow. blueberry and mild tartness. so creamy with such a lasting tart character is amazing. delicate yet strong. kudos. killer. thanks suzygreenberg! never thought I would get to drink this. peaches and cream!! bananas and blow. blueberry and mild tartness. so creamy with such a lasting tart character is amazing. delicate yet strong. kudos. killer. thanks suzygreenberg! never thought I would get to drink this. peaches and cream!! bananas and blow. blueberry and mild tartness. so creamy with such a lasting tart character is amazing. delicate yet strong. kudos. killer.

I think I finally found a sour I love. Orange / hazy pour with big sour fruit aroma. Vanilla, wood, berry taste with a big dry tart finish.

A: The beer pours amber in color with a short lived, small, off-white head. S: Upfront I get a strange smell of maple syrup, perhaps it’s just the vanilla and oak? After that it’s tart fruits, though I wouldn’t have guessed raspberries. Mild strawberry and lemon aromas with some grassy funk. T: The flavor is nicely sour with hints of vinegar, but primarily lactic acidity. Tart berries, grass, lemon zest, and oak. There’s a mild earthiness to the beer along with some green apple skins. M: Medium in body with a lively carbonation. O: Overall a good but not great beer. It was pleasantly tart, and there were some nice flavors to it, but nothing that really grabbed my attention.

Thank you Peter for sharing this treat. Pours a reddish tan with rosy highlights and a medium off-white head. Funky aroma with raspberry fruit, malt, and soft barnyard characteristics. Malt plays a larger role in the flavor than I was expecting--the alcohol less so, which is surprising at over 9%. Mild tartness, multi-layered wild fermentation notes, soft raspberry, and mild hops spice. Quite a delicate body for a beer with these stats. A very intriguing, unique drinking experience.

The beer pours an un-noticeable light clear brown with not head or lacing. The aroma is on the lighter side, the front is mostly sour notes, some light horse blanket. The back side doesn’t have a ton going on a little raspberries a tiny bit of oak. The taste is very light in taste and feel. It starts off lightly sour then finishes with a ton of oak and alcohol, its a very creamy stick feel. Overall, ok nothing special for a wild, a lot better than Vagabond.

Big thanks to Dan for sharing this! Poured a hazy burnt Siena with a near white head that dissipated to the edges. Aroma was full of sour fruits with a bit of a grain and bread backing. Flavor was sour throughout growing to be somewhat acidic raspberry with a grain backing. Not as much brett as I would have liked.