Allagash Hugh Malone

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Incredibly complex. It’s citrusy, bitter, malty, even a little chocolaty... then it hits you with a whole spice cabinet full of herby notes. Basically... it’s an incredible beer.

Thanks to discovolante65 for the bottle. This is a special release beer and is considered by Allagash as a "Tribute Beer" which is for charity. I guess that makes me happy for the cause. 8.5% alcohol, 750ml. Pours into my Duvel glass with a foamy three finger head. Half dissipates quickly and the other half sticks around a bit. The liquid is a nice rich orange/red/amber with some definite opacity. By the time I’m done staring at it, the head is now a nice film floating over the beer, nice lacing is left behind. Smells similar to the other BIPA I’ve had though slightly less robust and intense with the hops and more like a Belgian strong pale ale. Has some acute fruity smelling hops that meld with a belgian pale ale medicinal/herbal sort of scent. The taste of this one is a bit of a letdown compared to the other BIPA I’ve had. The flavor upfront is a bit stale. it is juicy and malty, reminiscent of a sweeter dubbel or tripel, but it is also somewhat lacking. Hops are there with some citrus/medicine/herb flavors and some bite in the end with some prolonged bitterness. The hops seem too pungent and one-dimensional. Just had a simcoe IPA last night but this one did not impress me as that one did. Alcohol is present and bites the tongue and throat a bit, it could be better hidden. I didn’t particualrily enjoy the mouthfeel it had a bit of a dry finish but was also watery and oddly carbonated. It’s hard to compete with the Belgians, and since this is a one-off product it may have been rushed a bit. But overall its a solid beer but weak categorically. It got much better as it warmed up and the yeast was swirled and poured in in the second pour, but the 750ml was quite enough, thank you.

Cloudy gold color pour with a white head. Slightly tart aroma, with yeast, light fruit and lemon. Flavor is yeast, fruit honey, light tartness. Good stuff!

Sampled at Brewvival 1. Hazy yellow pour with white ring of head. Tart and simple saison. Large carbonation. I really missed the hops in this one. Would like to try again with a fresh palate.

Pours a dirty yellow with a small head. Aroma is of sweet malt but the taste allows the hops to come through. Well balanced.

Bottle. Thanks to curly! Pours hazy amber/gold, thick white head, great lacing. Nose is quite tea-like, obvious that there were hops here once, but no longer. Lemons, musk, stale hops, Belgian yeast, and a quite potent grainy character round this out. Flavours are again tea-like showing the influence of the hops, and the carbonation is lively and effervescent, but the hops fall flat and the beer tastes stale. I REALLY hope this is an older bottle...

Pour was cloudy golden with compact white head. Candy malt and citrus nose. medium body with sweet malt, soapy and citrus. lingering bitter and viscous finish. Not a fan at all.

Pours a hazy light yellow, with a thick, creamy white head that seemed to last forever. Thick lacing through the whole drink. The aroma was fruity with undertones of pepper and wet earth. character. The beer was extremly effervescent and light on the tounge. The esscence seem to float away, even at the first touch to the mouth. The flavor was a spicy peppery with a citrus character and toasted caramel malt presence. The hop bittering was high, yet restrained, the hop flavor was earthy with some citrus. This felt more like a BPA than a Strong Ale, but really nice all around.

Allagash will soon be non existent in South Florida, with the distributors dropping them from their inventory. So while I was in central Florida I jumped at the chance to pick this one up. Has a darkish pour with a thick, fluffy head. The retention is pretty good as is the head retention. The aroma was a good amount of hop presence as does the malts. Both are prevalent in the flavor, which is more on the sweet side, but nothing too too sweet.

En fût. Verre de 8 oz dégusté chez American Flatbread (Burlington, VT). Arôme: Odeur d’agrumes avec une pointe d’épices. Apparence: La couleur est blonde. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût d’agrumes avec une pointe d’épices et de caramel. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement huileuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Arrière goût légèrement citronné. (Rating #3342)