Allagash Musette

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

Serve in Thistle

The beer pours dark amber. The nose is light but has hints of wood and spice, although I can pull a specific spice from the nose alone. The head poured a think white but settles down to a thin white that says with the beer the whole time. The first taste is many oak mixed with malts and a light yeast. The finish is a nice smooth woodiness with a light spiciness. The aromas of the beer get better as it warms. Over all I found this beer to be delicious. This beer will be great after it has rested a few years

December 2006 750ml. Pours into the chalice a clear amber-burgundy hue. Pour creates an impressive 1" frothy, tight beige colored head with superb retention throughout. No lacing noted. Ddn’t seem to get a whole lot of punch from the aroma side of things here. Nothing off, but very reserved notes of caramel apples, fresh cut hay, brown sugar, vanilla, white grape and a touch of cut wood just barely tickle the olfactory nerve. Very smooth and fluffy mouthfeel with a lively carbonation but a silky finish. The flavor has a bit more oomph than the smell. Moderately sweet notes of caramel candy, melted brown sugar, buckwheat honey, nuts, toffee, vanilla bean and just a hint of grass and oaky chardonnay come through. A faint touch of hoppy bitterness makes a late appearance. Any perception of 10% alcohol is fairly non-existant making this a deceivingly easy big Belgian-style beer to put away. Economically not such a great deal at $16.99 when you can get the real deals from overseas for a lot less. Not sure what Allagash is thinking of at that price.

750ml bottle. I don’t have a thistle. I figured Allagash wants this to be Belgian-inspired so I’m drinking it from a tumbler. AM pours a dark metallic color with a large creamy-looking white head that leaves heavy lacing. It smells malty and has the candy smell of some Belgian beers. This beer is medium-bodied and a little oily. The flavor is sweet, reminding me of cream soda in a way. There is a little bit of woody flavor and the Belgian yeast really shows through. There is no hint of the bourbon at all and that is fine with me. The finish is mildly sour. The finish is rather clean considering the oily body.

75 cL bottle. Pours hazy orange to amber with a diminished white head. Light fruity yeasty aroma, sweet and with a mild vanilla note. Quite sweet flavoured. Shows a light yeasy spice note and a mild smothing vanilla oak flavour. Ligh alcohol warming finish. To sweet for my liking although the vanilla oak smoothness suites the beer well.

March 2008 Bottle. Pours a dark amber color with a medium frothy light tan head. The aroma is a pungent caramel and sugar. Decent lacing on the glass. The taste is a smooth light malt with raisin and brown sugar. Hides the alcohol well. A very good scot ale from Allagash.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry, blankboy, jerc, mabel & tupalev - courtesy of HogTownHarry. Hazy reddish-gold with a wispy head. Aroma of sweet malt, sour fruit, spice and pineapple. Medium bodied. Flavour has some nice woody notes and a bit of smoke alongside the pleasant maltiness, some fruit in the finish. Not bad, but like the others at the table, I felt like there was something missing.

UPDATED: APR 16, 2008 On tap at Publick House in Boston. Pours dark amber with minimal light tan head. Aroma of caramel, brown sugar, and whisky. Really nice taste. The flavor has real complexity, with notes of chocolate and dark fruits in addition to the caramel and whisky. The whisky is present throughout, but adds to, rather than dominates the flavor. Warming alcohol on the finish. Excellent offering.

On tap. Very interesting stuff, seemed more like a sour than a scotch. Poured a hazy amber color with a moderate off-white head. Aroma of caramel, light brown sugar, funk, brett, and light oak. Flavor consists of some caramel malt that leads into a lightly hoppy, funky barnyard yeast that is a bit tart, and finishes with some oak. Full on the palate with some oak bite on the finish. Very nice and definitely interesting.