Allagash Interlude

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: MAY 12, 2009 This is an excellent beer, and yet I was a little disappointed, because I had HUGE expectations based on my love of the other Allagash oak-aged beers and the price -- $19 (compared to $14 for Curieaux). It pours a golden ruddy color with a good head, nice lacing, and a continuous stream of fine bubbles. Big aroma dominated by oak and Belgian-y floral notes. More of the same flavor-wise, with some late fruity notes (cherry? peach?) and maybe a little anise. A pleasantly bracing sharpness hits the back of the palate late. Not as complex as expected, but still very very good. Truly, I do heartily recommend this, but I enjoyed the Curieaux and the Musette more.

2009 bottle. Pours a burnt orange color with a white bubbly lacing. Smells funky with a fruity undertone, orange peel and a bit spicy with a touch of alcohol. Taste is a bit fruity with a hint of bubblegum and a good funky slightly sour kick. Finish is dry with a bitter and mild finish. Much better than I had anticipated.

bottle from some shop in Atlanta. pours a burnt amber color with about 1 finger of head. The cork popped hard, so i expected it to foam everywhere and pour with a ton of head, but was surprised. smells sour mainly, with a bit of cherry underneath. not the best smelling sour I have had, but not too bad. Taste is bret sour, a bit, but the main flavor I have is merlot... a dark red wine. It also has that dry red wine finish. The more I drink it the more the sour fades and the merlot comes through. I really wish this was more sour. the nose lets you think it is crazy sour, but the taste is disappointing if that was what you were looking for. The more I dig into this, the more I dislike it. If you are a Merlot fan, this is for you. if you dont like red wine, like me, dont buy this.

Cask at the GBBF 2009. I tried this beer early on at the festival as I was worried that it might run out and I’ve always wanted to try it. I think this was my mistake since I found it completely overwhelming. The aroma was sour-smelling with some cranberry and it appeared a bit dingy in colour. The flavour was really overpowering of sweet taffy, cherries and sourness. I thought I detected some cinnamon. It had an okay finish.

750ml. bottle (2010) aged in wine barrels with Brettanomyces. Shared by my good buddy, the beerbastard. Thanks Joel. Pour is opaque orange, with a smallish white head that diminishes to a ring. Minimal carbonation. Aroma is wine, wood, and barnyard funk (Brett). Taste is sharp, acidic, sweet and sour, but not overly sour. There is wine, some wood and a bit of bitterness. The 9.5% ABV is well concealed. Finish is crisp, refreshing, sweet./sour and bittter. Nice summer ale.

* did not like would never buy! what a waste of money!!!* aroma: smells like a sweet tart sour pour, nice n ballanced though, not to the level of the big mouth pucker beers.. i am salivating though. app: burnt orange reminds me of an illuminated pumkin patch. its reflection on the face of the looker is like a glimps of all mystery.. flavor: odd chemical tartness. not a refined classic, lots of peper with a big creamy malt back drop. its all good.... just an odd balance. the more you drink the more it balances.. i would have rather had some of the wine out of whatever poor barrle they wasted with this unbalanced mess. palate: fine OA: nope, nother strike for me and allagash. seems this brewery lacks many years of experiance.

This is one of the most peculiar yetr amazing beers I have ever had. I read quite a few reviews going into this, and yet I’m still perplexed by this beer. It poured an overly attractive amber/pumpkin with beautiful a white head and soft steady lacing. The smell is truffels, champagne, slight alcohol permeate heavily with this beer. The taste is sweet and sour with grapes, slight honey, mushrooms, wood, like a muscato di’ asti. This beer is a king in it’s class, absolutely enigmatic and amazing all at the same time.

Appearance: This beer poured a nice golden-ruby reddish color with a huge fluffy off white cloud of head. Smell: The smell was dominated by a musty funkiness(in a good way) with nice hints of fruit and yeast. Taste: Despite the strong funkiness of the beer I was still able to detect a vinous quality which I assume was from the Merlot and Sirah barrels. The wine added hints of white grapes while the yeast used added a nice sourness to it. Nice hints of cloves and pepper were also detected. Mouthfeel: Nice crisp and tart finish with a medium body. Overall: This beer is incredible. I only wish we could get this in New Orleans.

Pours a clear and light gold color, with a decent white head. Smell is potent and strong. Lots of fruity funk, lemons, sourness, and hay. Taste is funk dominant. Taste is creamy, malt forward, and crisp. But most of the flavors are funky, spicy, and very sour.

Tried it on tap at Smoky Oak Taproom. Just not having a good week with Belgians. Pours cloudy and light- taste sort of threw me off. I mean, I drink beer for the taste. Want my beer to taste like beer. A bit too out there for me. For the more adventurous types this one. Give them full marks for bottle conditioning- was the perfect amount of carbonation.