Allagash Musette

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

Serve in Thistle

Bottle dated December 2006. Poured a rather cloudy light brown with a very thin head. Intially served a little cold but as it warmed the sourness faded to a little more light malt and spice. Sourness persisted throughout the tasting, not what I’d expect from a scotch ale. Didn’t pick up the expected oak from the barrel aging. Something I’d like to try again.

Bottle: Poured a deep copper color ale with a big foamy head with good retention and small lacing rings. Aroma of sweet malt with some notes of light oak. Taste is dominated by a big sweet malt base with some toffee notes. The bourbon and the alcohol were not discernable. I was expecting more peat malt and less sweetness but I enjoyed this one very much even thought it stray very much from the style guideline.

750 ml bottle dated December, 2006. Pours a hazy brownish amber with a moderate off-white head that lasted until about mid-glass. The aroma was nice with some oak notes along with some malt and a bit of figs. The flavor is less interesting with a bit of oak, some molasses and light malt, and a bit of spice. The components seem to be there, it just doesn’t seem to quite come together, resulting in a beer that is a bit dull. Moderate dryness at the finish with some warmth from the alcohol. I expected more smoothness and flavor out of this beer.

wauw! This is indeed speciel & great! Unclear amber with a red hew and fantastic head & lacings. Sweet & vinous aroma and taste with clearly notes from the bourban casks. So smooth & soft/filling! Oak, dried fruits & light alcohol warmth!

Bottle from the wine frig. Aroma of something more like fortified wine or whiskey. Caramel, dark fruit, spice, and arguably wood, aromas. Dark amber color with a beige head that softly collapsed. Almost medium body with substantial, smooth, carbonation. The flavor is toffeeish, with some dark fruits, alcohol coming forth, a touch of vanilla, and definitely wood. After a bit it goes a little earthy, and some spice notes are detectable.The finish is quite dry, leaving the mouth puckered. The alcohol leaves, and oak is noticeable - apparently causing the puckering. It seems reasonably complex, and it’s a great tasting ale.

Caged corked 750 ml. bottle, bottling date of August 20, 2006, 10% ABV, sampled in a snifter. Poured a cloudy deep amber with reddish orange hues, billowing pale tan head that slowly receded into a soft sudsy lacing, only a little ringed lace at the top of the glass. Exceptional nose, malts of a scotch ale melded with a flavorful Belgian yeastiness. Rich aromas of caramelized bananas, raisins and licorice, earthy spice, sweet toffee, oaky vanilla, a wisp of smoke at the edges. The alcohol is light, spicy and estery. The mouthfeel is more like a Belgian ale, the plentiful carbonation lends an airy creaminess to the light body. Dry and smooth, a sipper you need to be careful with. Its easy to tell that a strain of Belgian yeast was used, earthy spices and clove, traces of ripen mushy bananas. As this warms more fruit tastes come out, plump raisins and figs. Mild backing from the caramelized sugary and toffee tasting malts. The alcohol is quite tame, just a low temperature warmth in the mouth with a soft spicy sting at the end. The oak bourbon barrel flavors are semi-hidden, a little vanilla and bare traces of smoky whisky in the aftertaste. I thought this was immensely enjoyable on a cold misty evening, warms the soul, another top notch ale from Allagash.

Cloudy, dark reddish-brown pour. Large, foamy, off-white head with excellent retention. At least 1cm of foam stuck around until the very end, leaving thick sheets of lacing in its wake. The aroma is about as complex as I’ve ever encountered. There are so many layers to dissect. I picked up sour, vinous red fruits, apples, cherries, red grape juice, sweet caramel, figs, hazelnuts and honey. Boozy French oak adds both a calming vanilla scent and a slightly smoky overtone to he aroma. The flavor shows red fruits of every variety, accompanied by caramel, ripe figs, raisons, and a healthy dose of vanilla and oak. Medium body with a slightly fizzy mouthfeel that calms down a bit as it settles. This is an incredibly complex, vinous brew that is alot to analyze. I recommend devoting an evening to this one in order to obtain complete comprehension.

I really like this. Strong aroma that hinted at a dark fruit, with alot of dark sugar and some brandyish alcohol, and a final woody touch. Flavor is moderately sweet, with warm caramel, light raisiny fruitiness and a woodsy finish, along with warming alcohol. Pretty smooth, full bodied. LIght carbonation (brown color, lightly cloudy, full tan head).