Allagash Musette

2006 Bottle. This is one I’ve had for awhile and decided to open this when my friend Ross decided to pay me a visit. This brew pours out a deep brown with a rich tan head that explodes from the glass. The aroma is earthy, nutty, and deep. The tastes is very smooth of dark fruits, plums, oak, and a caramel/toffee flavor. A slight bittering towards the end of the sip. An enjoyable brew and one I certainly wouldn’t turn down if offered again.

Bottle. Body is a fairly deep brown with a bit of murkiness and an inch or so of head (it seems to be sticking around, too). Aromas are sweet fruitiness (dark fruit), a bit of an earthy direction and seems a little musty. Flavor has a very vinous quality up front and ends with a bit of a raisin sweetness with some bourbon burn... I’m not sure these three elements belong in the same bottle. Alcohol really comes through heavy in the finish (a little like drinking jet fuel or something). Burps have a bit of a smokey flavor to them.

Dry-hopped version, available on draft at Publick House, Boston. Pours a murky copper color with absolutely no head, only a minimal ring of carbonation. Nose is quite like a flemish sour, with that vinous oaky character, with hints of sour cherries and crabapples and some leafy hops. Thin but smooth on the palate, with slightly less sourness than the nose implies, more deep fruits and a cognac warmth. Hops come up towards the finish with a pleasant rooty bitterness. Nice.

This poured an amber apperance with a moderate white head. The aroma contains some oak, dark fruit like raisins, and spices. The flavor is rather sweet and malty with some caramel, raisins, molasses, and a tad bit of the alcohol showing. Overall a nice beer.

Pours deep copper with a thin off-white head. Big malt notes compliment dark afruit. Nice long finish. The alcohol is slightly forward, but this is still an excellent beer.