Allagash Grand Cru

Brewed by Allagash Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Portland, Maine USA

750, corked and caged. I do love these guys, but I honestly can’t remember exactly what--kind of an overall love, rather than a love of a specific coupla beers, I suppose. This is a nice if somewhat underwhelming BSA. Pours very dark brown with a towering white head, crystal clear underneath though. Fruity, sticky nose: red pitted tree fruits, green apples, cotton candy. Medium body, fairly still. More of the same candies and fruits along with some caramel on the mid-palate. Sticky, sugary finish. Ordinarily, you might think my sweet tooth would have me all over this concoction, but it’s a bit much. Maybe cellared? I dunno. Doubt I’d bother, even as well-made as this one is, it’s just too sugary.

Bottle. Aromas start with caramel for the malt, orange peel for the hops, and must and earth for the yeast. In the background there are notes of alcohol, nutmeg and pear. Head is fizzy, white, with good lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is a nice amber/orange. Clarity on the first pour was sparkling clear, then hazy on the second. Nice balanced flavors start with lighty sweet and acidic then finish lightly sweet, acidic and bitter. Palate is medium, between watery and oily with lively carbonation, and finishes lightly dry. Very good Belgian strong.

Bottle. Pours with a beautiful hazy copper color and a nice medium head. Aromas of strawberries, bread and caramel. Flavor of caramel, dark fruit. Finishes with some spice and hops. Nicely carbonated, nice medium body.

Pours a light copper color with a white head. Aroma is fruity, spicy, and some clove. Flavor is malty, banana, clove, and spice.

A oeachy color with a frothy head. Big candied orange aroma, with some wine like notes. Spicy on the front, with a bit of melon and vanilla, and not too sweet. Great beer indeed.

Bottle-Boy, I am behind on the ratings. Hazy oranged colored beer with a white foamy, medium head that didn’t stick around. The aroma was SWEET with orange and apples dominating. The flavor was a mixture of wheat with fruits. The finish was fizzy with no alcohol noted.

Yeasty, spicey, fruity aroma. Hazy orange color with a head that tries to lace while departing. Thin to medium body; creamy carbonation. Touch of orange flavor, maybe some clove, mildly sweet caramel/candy. Arguably seeded fruit flavors present - touch of pear? Spicey and fruity, but it all blends very well. Seems to have a touch of golden sultana. Really very good stuff. The finish is not overly sweet and the spice hangs around somewhat. Perhaps a bit of anise. Any hop is fruity rather than bitter. Good drink.

Amber with a creamy (though small) white head; malty, yeasty aroma; very smooth mouthfeel; spicy and slightly smokey flavor; finish starts spicy and fruity and ends with a balance of malt and hop with a touch of smoke.