Allagash Interlude

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

Glass, 5 ounces, bottle, 750 ml, from Todd Bailey, at the future site of the Brasseurs du Temps brewery; eye: amber, no effervescence, clear, tiny ring of beige head; nose: "gueuze", acidity, green apple, oak; mouth: "gueuze", acidity, green apple, oak, finale in "gueuze" with a good presence of oak, full body, light astringency, average carbonation; overall: nice surprise FRANÇAIS Verre, 5 onces, bouteille, 750 ml, de Todd Bailey, bue dans le futur site de la brasserie des Brasseurs du Temps; oeil : ambrée, pas d’effervescence, claire, petit anneau de mousse beige; nez : « gueuze », acidité, pomme verte, chêne; bouche : « gueuze », acidité, pomme verte, chêne, finale en gueuze avec une bonne présence de chêne, corsée, légère astringence, carbonatation moyenne; en résumé : belle surprise

Bottle from 2006. Pours a hazed, rusty orange color with a billowing off white head. Nose was a bit funky with hints of red wine from the barrel. flavor was quite boozy with some wine barrel funk. I think this might be the best and most interesting Allagash I’ve had to date.

The body was dark amber with an off white head. The aroma was bretty with some leather and pears. The taste was a little bit of leather with some pear cores. There was also some black pepper spice. A decent brew, I liked the overall package, but woudl like a little more character. Better than many of Allagash’s special editions.

2007 bottle courtesy of drewbeerme. Pours a hazy amber-orange with a thin off-white skin. The nose is a sour/sweet citrus and sour cherries with a bit of yeasty funk. Medium-bodied with assertive, active carbonation and a dry, sour finish. Neutral to slightly acidic citrus and lightly bretty funk with a dry slightly oaky finish. An inventive brew; it didn’t blow me away, but I did enjoy it. Thanks for the bottle, Andrew.

Jan ’07 bottle. Aroma of oak, wildflower honey, light fruits, onion skin, and funky barnyard brett. Taste is more of the same. Tasty.

750ml bottle from The Lighthouse in Manchester. 2007 vintage Pours a virtually translucent amber-red with a thin film of off-white head. Smells sweet, fruity, and sour/acidic. Tastes fruity, bready, and sour/funky, but not overwhelmingly so. Flavors are extremely subtle and balanced. Medium-bodied with surprisingly low carbonation. Wow. This beer is the most unique beer I have ever encountered, unlike any other beer I’ve had. Delightfully sour/funky, but not a sour bomb. Nothing wrong with this beer, very well-crafted doubt. Even at the cost, (about 17$ per bottle), I would not hesitate to buy up more. Can’t wait to see how it ages (have a bottle of 2007 and 2005 aging now)!

Orange-copper in colour with a lingering white coloured head, thin and light lacing. The aroma is acidic, some sourness, citrus, must and yeast, some bread. The flavour is bretty, yeasty, woody, basement must and mould with some light alcohol coming through. Acidic mouthfeel, medium body, medium/high carbonation. Finishes long, bretty and musty.

I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting much coming into this but it turns out to be one of the better beers that I have had this year. I must get more of this. I had no idea that Allagash could make a beer this good.

750ml bottle obtained in a trade with kmweaver, thanks Ken.
Opened on March 15, 2008.
Bottled in January 2007.

Cask @ GLB 08’. Pour is hazy straw. Sour yeasty nose that is very faint. A let down in the taste department. Soft fuzzy mouthfeel that is hard to describe. I think its an leftover from the brett’s work. not viscous or oily just soft and buttery. light bitterness and brett funk are present.