Allagash Interlude

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

2005 bottle. Hazy, golden-amber appearance; light head formation, decent retention, attractive lacing. Brett in the nose is balanced with the vinuous qualities: tartness and red wine; full, appetizing, complex nose. The belgian profile underneath seems to suggest an abbey tripel: plenty of spice, pepper, yeast; all of which is well-balanced by the barrel aging and secondary fermentation; the tartness is engaging without being overwhelming (shows the reserve of Russian River); the vinuous qualities are well-blended, showing Burgundy/Merlot qualities, light tannins, and oak. So many magnificent things going on with this beer: a light toastiness, a vinuous profile, a belgian tripel background. All balanced nicely.

Pours a light amber into a trappist glass. Sour barnyard and rose aromas. Fizzy, dry and crisp with a fruity wine (white/red/rose) flavor. Tart, quick wild yeast finish.

750 ml bottle, in an awesome trade from slob. Pours a hazy medium amber wit a slight ruddy tint and a small beigey head. Aroma features sour fruit, oak, along with a bit of funk and barnyard, but still some sweet notes - very attractive. Delicious sour-sweet, fruity and tannic, spicy and pepper, red wine notes, some good hoppiness and vinuous characteristics. Medium to full body with creamy carbonation.

750ml shared with clarkvv at The Sunset Grill, Boston. Nice aroma, some sour cherry, caramel and a woody character. Taste is quite woody and definitely has some bretty sourness, some cherry fruit once again noticed. Slightly tart/acidic mouthfeel.

Pours a hazy amber color with a thin white head. Very good aroma and flavor of belgian funk with hops and apples. There is a white wine quality to it which is interesting, also the alcohol is not apparent, there’s also nutmeg and yeast. The palate is light and dry with soft carbonation. Very good.

Bottle at ZBF 06. Pours a clear golden, with a white head. Aroma is sweet, fruity and some spice. Taste is sour, fruity, some alcohol. medium body and a sour/fruity aftertaste

Bottle: Shared by Styles. Aroma of brett, apple, and a touch of alcohol. Pours a bright transparent golden-orange with a small white head that quickly fades to a ring. Lots of apple in the flavor, at times sweet and cidery and other times sour apple. Light brett in the finish with some light woodiness. Very tastey.

2005 bottle provided by Styles: Nice deep honey color with a small fizzy ring. I get brett, horse blanket funk, tart grape, clove, oak, and a bit phenolic on the nose. The taste is cider like at first, very fruity and woody. Get more yeast and malt notes towards the center before finishing with a major dose of brett twang. Very yummy and should only get better. The mouth feel is clean and refreshing, very enjoyable. Yep it is plambic in nature but I so love it. Gotta get me some more.