Allagash Grand Cru

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

Batch number 7, aged at least a year.

A pleasing, chill-hazed amber, with a thick cake of head that whizzed back from the dead with only half a swirl.
Just a little bit corky, but nothing too overpowering, which gives it a nice, woody touch. It mingled well with the generous hops. Then followed subdued alcohol, and sour orange peels.
Mid to low carbonation, the yeasty spices shine a bit more in the palate. Again some orange zest, and firm malt sweetness comparable to peach and papaya sugars. Decent hop finish gives the aftertaste a feeling of unripe fruits, apples mostly.

Pours a golden brown with small but lasting head. Aroma is big almost like a red wine, fruity and slightly spicy. Flavor is sweet, like a normal belgian ale at first, but the flavor drops off quickly and leaves behind a kind of strange spiciness for the finish. I don’t think the spices used and the belgian style really go together. The beer was also a little on the watery side, not full tasting and seemed under-carbonated. A decent beer.

Enjoyed with friends on Thanksgiving (2005). Batch #10. Hazy amber with a frothy head. The aroma greats me with yeast and fruit (pear, cherry) and spices like nutmeg and allspice (maybe some cardamom). Spicy flavor with clove, coriander, cinnamon. Belgian yeast flavors (light) and a light sweetness. Adequate body (light-medium). I think this went the best with my turkey; though overall I was not that impressed with the brew. Good but nothing I’ll seek out again.

Aroma of sweet spices and fruits. Appears cloudy with a slightly off white fizzy head. Flavor typical of a belgian beer. Lots of spice present. Ok for a winter offering, but not as good as the english style winters.

another good winter beer. it has a nice golden color to it. a nice sweet aroma as well as some type of spice. the aroma is the same as the flavorit it sweet and has a nice spice toit as well.

another winner from allagash. everything I try is great.. Had this at the Brewtopia beer fets in NYC - -it was excellent - at least thats what I wrote that day - It must be true.

750ml bottle batch 10 poured a light copper with a long lasting white head. Aroma was sweet, spicy and fruity. Palate was light bodied and dry. Flavor was fruity and spicy with a dry sweet finish.

750 mL bottle, batch #8. Pours clear and clean copper with a tall fizzy and frothy "loud" head that stays mostly throughout with lined lacing. Cellared oak and yeast (dust) start with sweet ligthly roasted caramel malts following and wheat, fruit (banana, grape) and spice notes. Sweet medium acidic caramel malt flavor with yeast and fruits to finish. Medium bodied and fizzy palate that ends somewhat dry, very lively carbonation.