Allagash Hugh Malone

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

Sample from 750 ml bottle, RBSG Minneapolis Grand Tasting, June 23 2007. Solid, thick and lasting off-white head topping the dirty bronze body....hoppy, lightly funky and the first things that pop into my head as I nose it; at first it’s more IIPA than Belgian Strong, but gradually the fine Allagash yeast exerts itself, some nicely mellowed dried caramel and light earth tones competing with the grapefruit and underripe apricots for dominance....alas this interest is not kept up on tasting it, for it is dull and flaccid in the mouth despite the heavy carbonation; I never thought I would describe an Allagash beer as "soda-like" but this one is, the light body and strong fruitiness are far too dominating, malts just don’t assert themselves enough and the yeast fades quickly....a real disappointment, though I will confess this was near the end of the tasting and my palate wasn’t at its best. Still I appear not to be alone in assessing this as one of this brewery’s weaker projects to date. Hope to resample a full bottle sometime.

Bottle from Mike at the beerinator gathering 7/8/07. Poured a golden amber with a thin white head. Nose is hoppy with belgian spices. Flavor is similar and smooth. I thought this was much better than the scores its been getting here. Yes, its way overpriced and probably not worth 20 bones (ok, definitely not worth it), but I still thought it was on par with some of the other american hopped belgian-style beers on the market.

750 ml bottle poured a hazy copper with a lasting creamy ivory head. Aromas of carmel, orange peel, pine, light grapefruit and a hint of spice. Palate was light bodied and crisp. Flavors of orange, carmel and hints of pine and spice with a crisp lightly bitter finish.

Bottle: Pours a copper color with a white head. Aroma, fruity citrus, some pine, spices, and yeast. Flavor, bready malts, and some yeasty notes, some citrus, caramel. Odd beer.

Beer sampled at the RBSG ’07. Pours a deep orange amber brew with a nice off-white head that dissolves to a fine film. Aroma of tropical fruit (grapefruit, mango) flowery hops and a touch of black pepper. Taste is more bready malt than yeasty or hoppy. Medium bodied with a light carbonation, some caramel character with a light herbal aftertaste. Finish has a slight lingering hoppy/oak taste.

Partly cloudy copper body with a medium beige head. Surprising nose that is both a bit funky and a bit stinky (leathery?). Taste is mainly rough grainy malts, tree bark and generic half-fruity Belgian yeast. I enjoyed the earthy backbone and the blend of woody/bark flavours with the fruity notes. However the finish was really short and the whole thing was somewhat forgettable/generic. Well brewed but for an Allagash this is below par. Was supposed to be a hop extravaganza and it is probably where it lacks the most. Harder to find and more expensive than the other superior Allagash products. $20/bottle !?!?! Hugh Mustbekidding.

750 ml bottle. pours amber in color with a white head which does not last long. Aroma is floral/citrus hops and malty. Taste is lite hops, yeasty, bready and lightly spicy, with a dry finish. Very good Hoppy Belgian Strong.

Murky. Mild aroma of floral hops. Dark amber with big foam. Hop finish of pine, with a bitterness lightly kicking in. Moderate palate. Not particularly attuned to my tastebuds.